DA Johnstone Plant Hire: Safety First

“If there’s one thing that swayed us towards Hyundai it’s the safety features. The quality of the camera system was a huge factor in us choosing Hyundai for our fleet,” said David Johnstone, owner of DA Johnstone Plant Hire Ltd.

The family-run company, based in Morpeth in Northumberland, supplies machinery for highways, deep drainage, landscaping, earthworks and wind farm projects across the North East and Scotland.

Over the last three years, Mr Johnstone has been updating his fleet, to improve fuel economy and on-site safety and the company currently operates a Hyundai HX130A LCR, an HX140AL, three HX210AL excavators and its latest model, an HX300AL. This 30-tonne excavator was added to the fleet last Summer.

Mr Johnstone explains why Hyundai is the brand that he has put his trust in: “Our fleet is predominantly made up of Hyundai machines now, mostly the 30-tonne, 20-tonne and 14-tonne excavators. We happened to try out a second-hand machine a few years ago and were instantly converted to Hyundai, they really are fantastic excavators. They are strong, fast, and the support we receive from our dealer, Taylor and Braithwaite, is second to none.

“The main selling point for us, however, is the safety element. This really is a huge priority for us, particularly as we work with Highways England, who insist upon the highest levels of safety on site. The camera system is a game changer. When our machines are out on busy sites, the operators feel so much more confident, because they know what is happening around them and can continue with their task without worrying about people or objects in their way.”

The telematic system available on the Hyundai A series machines has also been a factor for Mr Johnstone: “We’ve got machines operating all over the country and so the data we can access remotely is vital in ensuring that our fleet is working efficiently and profitably. The A Series machines are also very good on fuel economy, so we’re definitely getting value for money from our Hyundais.”

Established in 1996, DA Johnstone began life as a hire company with just one machine and since then has grown into one of the most reputable plant and machinery companies in the country. The Hyundai A Series forms a large proportion of DA Johnstone’s tracked heavy excavator fleet, with the largest machine being the Hyundai HX300AL.

Supplied by Hyundai dealer Taylor and Braithwaite, the HX300AL is a powerful 30-tonne crawler excavator, delivering 195kW (260hp). Powered by a Cummins B6.7 engine, the HX300AL is fitted with an Eco Gauge, which helps operators to reduce emissions and running costs by displaying the engine workload and fuel-saving status.

The Advanced Around View Monitoring (AAVM) camera system gives a 360-degree overview of the immediate working environment, while Intelligent Moving Object Detection (IMOD) technology senses and warns the operator when people or objects come within 5m of the machine.