Jack Adds 14-Tonne U145 To Growing Kubota Fleet

In his mid-20s, Jack Dickson is an entrepreneurial contractor and plant specialist who already has many years of machine operation under his belt. Growing up as part of the family’s holiday park business, Park Cliffe, his father had a number of compact machines over the years. Indeed, three generations of Mr Dickson’s family have dealt with local Kubota dealer P.V. Dobson, a relationship that remains strong to this day.

Having set out on his own four years ago, Mr Dickson was one of the first in the UK to take delivery of an 8.5-tonne KX085-5, the machine joining a KX080 and a U18-5 in his growing fleet. He recently became one of the first in the area to also put his name down for the heavier U145, Kubota’s 14-tonne newcomer in the mid-weight excavator market. As with his KX085-5, the U145 will be supplied with the optional two-piece main boom and equipped with an Engcon tilt-rotator, making it one of the most versatile machines in its weight class.

Working with a reliable group of self-employed operators, Mr Dickson takes on a range of projects from his Lake District base, operating throughout Cumbria and the Lakes and across to the west coast. The company is primarily involved in building works, drainage, forestry contracts and groundworks.

With a select number of compact machines to choose from, the business has to achieve maximum utilisation from each of the Kubota excavators. They are therefore operated with a wide range of attachments, including grabs, shears and grapples, as well as with buckets.

“The KX085-5 is one of the best machines that you can buy,” said Mr Dickson. “With an Engcon on it, it makes it a more versatile machine. And once you’ve had a two-piece boom with the tilt-rotator, you wouldn’t go back.

“But you can only get away with an eight-tonner for so long, with bigger projects, a larger machine was our next step. That’s why we’ve opted for the U145.”

Kubota’s U145 is a reduced tailswing machine with an operating weight of 14.5-15.2 tonnes, depending on specification. The excavator is powered by a 76.4kW (102hp) Stage V diesel engine. Along with the choice of main booms, the U145 can be specified with or without a dozer blade, adding to its digging and lifting stability and further boosting versatility on site.

The machine features three operating modes. Super Power delivers the fastest operation, while Heavy is best suited for arduous heavy-duty applications. Auto offers the greatest fuel efficiency, helped by standard Boom Down Energy Saving, Auto Idle and Auto Shut Down systems. The U145 is supplied with twin proportional auxiliary circuits as standard, along with quick hitch activation lines. A 7” touchscreen monitor in the cab, rear and side vision cameras, LED working lights and climate control complete the standard trim.

“As a small business, we rely on our machines and they have to perform,” said Mr Dickson. “I have always been concerned about reliability, but we’ve never had any problems with any of the Kubotas.

“Kubota machines are great, but at the end of the day, it’s all about dealer support. Most of our service work goes to P.V. Dobson, they are only 15 minutes away and I’ve been dealing with them since I was a kid.”

“We met Jack as a young man and over recent years we have been delighted to see his business growing and thriving. It’s great to watch his hard work paying off,” said Aggie Dobson, Director at P.V. Dobson.

 

“We wish Jack every success for the future and believe the new 14-tonne two-piece boom machine will bring him even more opportunities.”

 

With an order book stretching well into the months ahead, Dickson’s business certainly has plenty of work to be getting on with. With the U145 taking on larger projects and a heavier workload, the company looks set to go from strength to strength.