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While Civil Works Taranaki is a relatively young company, having been established only a year and a half ago, owner Phil Walker has over 40 years of experience in contracting. “Before starting Civil Works Taranaki, I worked with Taranaki Civil for about eight years until they made me an offer I couldn’t refuse,” he explains during a visit to a large roundabout installation project by Fulton Hogan near Waitara, 15km north of New Plymouth.

When Taranaki Civil closed down, Phil seized the opportunity to purchase its equipment, along with a full order book, ensuring work for his team of three, which will soon expand to six.

“The bulk of our work consists of large drainage projects, though we also handle retaining and roading. We don’t focus on residential projects; bigger projects suit us best. Most of our work is for companies like Fulton Hogan and Wheeler Contracting.”

With a 90-section subdivision about to begin, the fleet has grown to accommodate the increased workload. His new 13-tonne Hyundai HX130A crawler excavator arrived just two weeks before this interview, and Phil says it’s already proving essential. “We needed it for this project right away, so to be honest, we haven’t even had the chance to take a day and learn all its new features yet, but we’ll take a few days soon to get familiar with them.”

Although some features of the HX series are still to be discovered, Phil’s familiarity with Hyundai equipment played a key role in his decision to invest in the HX130A LCR. “I really like Hyundai machines; they just get better and better. This one is so much smoother than other machines I’ve used over the years. We're digging near a major fibre cable to Auckland, so we must be extremely precise. For this kind of high-risk work, you need a machine with smooth operation and really good feedback through the controls.”

The Hyundai HX130A LCR boasts several key upgrades, including the Fine Swing Control system for smooth swing operations and reduced shaking during lifting. The optional Proportional Auxiliary Hydraulic control offers more precise speed control, and one-pedal straight travel is ideal for long-distance movements on-site.

The Intelligent Power Control (IPC) optimizes power for different working conditions, ensuring the machine is never underpowered or overworked. Phil says the Hyundai HX130A LCR gives him all the grunt he needs, and in a great overall package.

“The 13-tonne size is perfect for us. It’s powerful, but also fits on an eight-wheel transporter, which is important because our yard doesn’t accommodate large trucks,” he adds.

In tight urban settings or along public roads, the zero-swing design of the HX130A is crucial for safety and efficiency and has been a big benefit to Phil as well. 

One noticeable benefit Phil appreciates about the new machine is its upgraded camera system. The upgraded Advanced Around View Monitoring camera system provides a comprehensive view of the surroundings, even offering a 3D ‘bird’s-eye’ view of the excavator. Intelligent Moving Object Detection alerts the operator when objects or people are detected within a 5m radius. Since drainage work is Phil’s primary day-to-day task – and one that often involves crew members working close to the machine – he says that the Hyundai HX130A’s operating software allows him to turn off the Intelligent Moving Object Detection feature when necessary, preventing the alarm from sounding continuously.

Phil also customised the excavator before delivery, asking to remove the blade, and opting for a double ram hitch for their compactor attachment. “Porter Equipment made it easy, and the support from their team, especially James Adlington, has been outstanding.”

In all, Phil found the ordering process very easy, guaranteeing the machine delivered to the site met his exact requirements for the busy months ahead.

“The backup you get through Porter Equipment is superb,” he says. “Taranaki Territory Manager James Adlington is great to deal with, and always has a solid answer to any question you might have.”

In addition to the two Hyundai crawler excavators, Phil plans to upgrade his four-tonne excavator soon. "The replacement for that machine will likely be a Hyundai as well. If not, I'll still go through Porter Equipment for what I need. You can’t go wrong with them, and Hyundai diggers have always proven reliable, so I wouldn’t go anywhere else."

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- Photos & Interview by Cameron Officer