Adelaide Hills-based GE Hughes Construction has taken delivery of seven out of its 11 new trailers made specifically for heavy materials hauling. Built by Bulk Transport Equipment (BTE), the new quad dog trailers, five-axle dog trailers and semi tippers are designed to withstand the rigours of quarry applications, tough road conditions, and heavy-duty rock and materials transport.
The move comes on the back of GE Hughes’ dedication to build on its reputation of reliability and to ensure it exceeds its customers’ expectations using state-of-the-art equipment that offers safety and efficiency. To that effect, GE Hughes has also recently added two twin steer bogey axle Scania trucks to its lineup, both of which are pulling five-axle dogs featuring SAF-Holland axles.
GE Hughes is a family-run building company specialising in residential, commercial and civil works including, owner-designed new homes, extensions and additions, residential and commercial fit-outs, concrete works, steel fabrication, wineries and cellar doors, and renewable civil works in wind, solar and batteries. GE Hughes has been operating from a single site in Lobethal for almost 50 years.
A key point of difference of the business is its diversification that allows several trades to be managed in-house by its own team and equipment. This, combined with the company structure, allows more versatility and consistent delivery of high-quality work for the clients.
Its current fleet includes 37 trucks in addition to various plant and equipment. GE Hughes has its fully-equipped workshop run by a highly trained team of diesel and auto-electrical mechanics, a brake tester and a shaker.
GE Hughes is currently installing a fully automated truck-wash onsite that will be first-of-its-kind in the Adelaide Hills and one of the only three in entire Adelaide. Owing to its reputation for great service and quality equipment, GE Hughes has also been entrusted with managing leading building materials and aggregates supplier Holcim Australia’s statewide concrete plant replenishment.
GE Hughes’ upgraded fleet is all set to meet these increasing business demands. The seven new trailers are working at 20 different quarries across South Australia carrying heavy bulk haulage materials.
“The new trailers are reliable, durable, safe, and low-maintenance,” says GE Hughes Director, Duane Hughes.
“The build quality and attention to detail matches our needs perfectly. The construction is robust and ideally suited for quarry work, with features such as Quicksilver body liners adding that resistance to internal abrasion.”
GE Hughes turned to Bulk Transport Equipment (BTE) a couple of years ago due to durability issues with other equipment suppliers.
“It is beneficial that we are dealing with someone who has experience in the industry and is not just a salesman,” Duane says.
BTE Director, Alan Griffiths, recommended going with SAF-Holland axles for the new trailers since SAF-Holland’s products are capable of meeting the build quality and durability that Duane’s team was seeking.
The project brief for this order included adding features such as manual override for tarps, rock sheet panels that stop hard, sizeable loads affecting the sidewalls, floor liners, extra lighting, high tailgate lightning that creates extra visibility, and extended warranty on the axles.
Although GE Hughes’ professional relationship with SAF-Holland is relatively new, there is much optimism as the team is certainly happy so far. “The SAF-Holland braking technology compliments Scania’s hi-tech safety standards perfectly. This gives us confidence to exceed our customers’ needs on time, and safely.”
With seven already in use and four new trailers currently under construction, GE Hughes seems poised to attain its target of an upgraded fleet featuring advanced technology.
.jpeg)
.png){kind=small}
.JPG)
