Initially undertaking small, local contracts in the Stockport, Manchester and Cheshire areas, it now delivers multi-million-pound contracts for a range of large-scale clients.
Typifying that growth is the company’s latest project - delivering a new £108 million state-of-the-art aluminium can recycling facility for Novelis in Warrington. This will double the plant’s capacity resulting in an annual CO2 reduction of more than 350,000 tonnes for Novelis Europe.
Helping to reduce emissions on this new project will be Williams Construction (Stockport) Ltd’s latest JCB investment, a pair of reduced tailswing 145XR tracked excavators which join the company’s impressive all JCB line-up.
It’s always been JCB
Williams Construction (Stockport) Ltd Owner and Managing Director Gareth Williams said: “We started the company with a JCB backhoe loader and have continually invested in more of the British-built products as and when we’ve needed them. We’ve been a loyal JCB customer since I started and firmly believe that they are the ideal machines for our applications. We find the machines reliable, fuel efficient and they deliver the production levels we need to do our work. As far as I’m concerned, the JCB product is the best for us."
“We now have over 20 JCB machines in the fleet ranging from mini excavators up to the 220X, as well as site dumpers and a Loadall telescopic handler, to the latest arrivals, a pair of 145XR reduced tail swing excavators. They are all backed by the excellent service we get from the team at Gunn JCB who we have been dealing with for the entire three decades.”
Excellent excavators
Increased workloads have demanded Williams Construction (Stockport) Ltd upscale their fleet and central to the company’s business in recent years have been JCB tracked excavators.
The company previously ran JS130 machines, before replacing them with the highly acclaimed JCB X Series range. This investment has included 140X and 220X models then most recently, their latest purchase of two 145XR reduced tailswing excavators. The new additions are designed to deliver the same performance as the conventional 140X, all in a compact design with an ultra-tight slew radius.
As Gareth Williams explains: “I first saw the 145XR at the Hillhead show and immediately knew it would be an ideal fit for our operations. We already have the 140X and have found it to be a great machine. It does exactly what we need it to do. It’s a powerful and precise digger, it’s capable of fine grading work, it’s an excellent all-rounder, even handling a breaker with ease."
“I spoke to the JCB team at the show and ordered them there and then. They are ideally suited to our contracts where space is at a premium. Our machines are often working closely with our lads on the ground and with the reduced size and great camera system, it should increase the safety aspect on site too.”
The 145XR reduced tailswing model builds upon the success of JCB’s larger 245XR, delivering impressive performance in a compact design with a minimal counterweight swing. The 145XR has a 27% shorter counterweight overhang than a conventional 140X, making it an ideal machine for working within a highway carriageway, or on confined urban job sites.
Seal of approval
Given the 145XR boasts the same world-leading CommandPlus cab, designed for optimum operator comfort, as its conventional tailswing stablemates, it’s safe to say the Williams Construction (Stockport) Ltd operators are also firm fans of the new machines.