By Tom Foster
Based in Narromine in western New South Wales, Australia, Flowtech Industries stays busy with irrigation and electrical work that requires equipment with muscle. But there’s also a lot of distance to cover. So when the time came for the company to invest in its own equipment, the Ditch Witch SK900 was their clear choice.
Lucas Walsh is the Director, and only full-time employee, at Flowtech Industries, where he’s either on the equipment himself or using the services of subcontractors.
The landholders and companies of the region rely on his expertise and equipment. “We’re in the electrical, irrigation, insulation and maintenance space,” says Lucas. “We run sub mains for pump stations, installing irrigation pipe, and we’re also taking on a few sprinkler systems.
“Outside of that, Flowtech Industries does maintenance on everything irrigation: pumps, irrigators, water meters and all the electrical components that go with that.”
Value delivered through commitment
There’s obviously plenty of trenching and digging to be done, and until recently Lucas had been renting third party equipment when it was needed. But things progressed to the point where the company owning its own equipment was more efficient.
“I wanted to invest in something of my own,” Lucas related. “I wanted something a bit bigger than what I’d been hiring, but I didn’t want to go to something the size of a typical skid steer. I needed something I could tow to remote locations with the vehicle I have, not a truck.”
After looking around at available equipment and weighing up the pros and cons, it was the Ditch Witch SK900 that was the right fit for Lucas.
But it wasn’t just the SK900’s impressive performance that helped sway Lucas’ decision.
“I did some research and narrowed it down to three manufacturers. I made enquiries with them all, but Wayne Cox from Ditch Witch CEA towed the SK900 six hours from Sydney just so I could have a look at it. He let me have a steer of it and whatnot, then he put it back on the trailer and towed it back to Sydney.
“A few weeks later when the purchase went through, he towed it back out to Narromine, delivered it, and took me to lunch,” smiled Lucas. “He has been exceptionally supportive throughout the process.”
The right investment, the right fit
One of the other companies could service units in Narromine, but, given Wayne Cox had already made two trips out to Narromine, Lucas felt sure service with Ditch Witch CEA would be exactly what and where he needed it to be.
“We’ve completed a sprinkler system project with the SK900 already,” Lucas explained, “and we’ve moved a heap of dirt with it. We’ve towed it a couple of hundred kilometers…it’s going well.”
His initial impression?
“It’s very smooth. It’s maneuverable, it’s got the horsepower and it’s quiet,” Lucas said. “I’ve had some of the other contractors come have a look at it and we’re all very impressed.”
