In the world of earthworks and construction, the choice of machinery can make or break a business. Join us as we step into the remarkable journey of Dan Slaghekke from Heavnleigh Earthworks, where the choice of ‘beautiful shiny yellow Cat machines’ has set the stage for success. From inception to execution, Heavnleigh Earthworks’ reliance on Cat equipment and Cavpower has proven to be the cornerstone of their growth.
A Vision Takes Form
For Dan Slaghekke, owner of Heavnleigh Earthworks, when it was time to purchase machines for his new Earthworks business, he knew instantly that it was always going to be the “beautiful shiny yellow Cat machines” that he would trust his future with. Now the owner of two Cat excavators that haven’t missed a beat with over 1600 hours between them, Dan couldn’t be happier with his decision and experience with Cavpower.
While on a trip up in the north of Western Australia, walking along on the Exmouth Esplanade with his partner, Dan decided his days of FIFO work and mining were over. After deciding to start an Earthworks business based in Adelaide, Heavnleigh Earthworks was born and today they specialise in Civil works, Wet Hire works, and plenty of residential projects around the north of Adelaide. With a fleet of two Cat machines – the Cat 306 NextGen and the Cat 301.7 NextGen – his team of three operates seamlessly. One operator commands the 306, while the other maneuvers the 301.7, leaving Dan to oversee business operations and jump into the cab when the situation demands.
Exceeding Expectations
We caught up with Dan and his team in the suburb of Elizabeth, where the Heavnleigh team was carrying out some Wet Hire works. Watching Dan’s operator in full swing putting the 306 NextGen through its paces, it was obvious that the joystick controls of the 306 were second nature, and seeing the performance and productivity of the 306 NextGen was an impressive sight.
“One of the main reasons we decided to purchase Cat machines was during my time in the mines, I had seen these beautiful big yellow machines everywhere, and I knew from working away in the mines how reliable and well-built they were. When setting up my business, I didn’t want to risk any downtime, so we went with the most reliable brand we knew, and that’s why we chose Caterpillar.” shared Dan.
Talking with Dan on site, it was clear that his two NextGen machines exceeded their expectations. The 306 currently has over 600 hours and the 301.7 has over 1000 hours, with neither machine having any issues and working exceedingly well with their onsite demands and environments. The fact that both machines are stick steer models has further added to the ease of use for the operators and enhanced their productivity.
Experience With Cavpower
“When we were ready to start buying our first machine, the 301.7, we called the team at Cavpower, and they made the process so easy and were a joy to deal with. They arranged our finance, got us sorted completely with a few buckets and a trailer, and 4 to 5 weeks later, our machine turned up, and it was just so easy,” said Dan.
Dan continued, “Any time we have had a small issue with either of the machines, we have called Cavpower field service, and within 24hrs they have been on site to sort out any issues, but again we haven’t had a breakdown or anything significant, so we couldn’t be happier.”
Heavnleigh’s Cavpower Sales Represantitive is Samantha Mitchell, who has been a part of the Cavpower team for 12 years and recently stepped into a sales role six months ago, which she loves.
After taking care of Government tenders in her previous role, customer interaction and the ability to work closely with businesses and individuals to help build their growth has been a standout feature for Sam. “So now, working as a Sales Representative, I’m thoroughly enjoying building relationships with my customers and getting out on the road to see what they and their teams are up to. Then sharing info and insights on the latest and greatest Cat machines, attachments and technologies that can positively impact productivity and efficiencies for their specific businesses.”
Curious to witness Dan Slaghekke’s journey and his unwavering trust in Cavpower and Cat machines? Watch the video below: