G&J Bircham Building With Two Hyundai HX25AZ Minis

Norfolk groundworking specialist contractor G&J Bircham has added two Hyundai HX25Az mini excavators to its fleet, primarily for use on house building projects across the region. The 2.6-tonne machine is the largest model in the Hyundai line-up that can be easily towed behind a light commercial vehicle or pick-up, allowing the company to relocate the machines between sites when required.

“We’ve been replacing older equipment from another supplier and pretty much all of our excavators are Hyundai now,” said Director Gavin Bircham.

“The HX25Az is just an ideal size. We can move them about ourselves on a trailer. The Hyundais are very reliable machines and the operators really like them, particularly the big, comfortable cabs.”

Bircham’s fleet includes five Hyundai HX85A 8.5-tonne excavators and two 13-tonne machines. The latest models were supplied by East Anglian compact equipment dealer Tobin Plant and have been delivered complete with Strickland hydraulic quick hitches and a range of buckets. Hyundai’s HX25Az models come with a three-year warranty.

“We’ve known Simon Tobin for years,” said Mr Bircham. “Tobin will be providing service while the machines are under warranty, and we have our own fitters for after the warranty period.”

G&J Bircham was founded by Gavin’s father and uncle in 1970, providing out a range of groundworks for local contractors and builders. Mr Bircham joined the business in 1996 and it remains family-owned to this day, with both his mother and sisters involved in the running of the company. Employing around 26 people, the company carries out all forms of groundworks for housing, small civil engineering projects and the highways throughout Suffolk and Norfolk.

“We complete everything up to damp proof, including roads, sewers, foundations, domestic drainage, slab paths and patios,” said Mr Bircham.

The HX25Az is powered by a Stage V diesel engine, delivering 18.5kW (24.8hp) and a peak torque of 81.4Nm. This drives tandem variable displacement piston pumps with a maximum flow rate of 28.2 litres/min each, providing plenty of power for digging and lifting. With a zero tailswing design, the 2.6-tonne machine is available with a choice of dipper arms, providing a maximum digging depth of just over 2.5m.

Despite its compact dimensions, the HX25Az boasts a spacious, comfortable cab, that delivers good visibility all around the machine. A 5” full-colour monitor makes it easy for the operator to set controls and monitor performance, while auto-shift travel speeds and standard proportional joysticks reduce operator fatigue.

All A-Series compact excavators feature an automatic safety lock, to prevent unintentional machine movement and an overload warning lets the operator know when lifting capability is being exceeded. The machines also come with safety valves on the boom, arm and dozer cylinders, with cylinder guards fitted on boom, arm and bucket rams. All attachment hoses are routed through the main boom structure, to avoid accidental damage when working.

“They are good quality machines and we have put them both straight to work,” said Mr Bircham. “We are busy at the moment, with three active sites across Norfolk and Suffolk.”

“Tobin Plant would like to thank Gavin and the team and G&J Bircham for their valued order of the two HX25Az machines and we look forward to working with them in the future,” said Simon Tobin, of Tobin Plant.