One of southeast Queensland's leading excavation companies has commissioned its 70th Toyota Huski skid-steer loader in 24 years.
IBS Excavations has equipment based in Brisbane, Chinchilla, Gympie and the Sunshine Coast.
Its current fleet of 12 Toyota Huskis includes 'mini' models for restricted-access sites.
The 70thHuski on the IBS Excavations fleet is a 650kg operating-weight 5SDK-8, one of the most popular of the six Toyota skid-steer loader models available.
Company owners Scott and Jenny Trafford bought the business in 1988and have significantly expanded it since, including the addition of an in-house service department and OH&S officer.
"The Huskis are fantastic loaders, and I love Toyota equipment," Jenny Trafford said.
"They are bullet-proof and the back-up service is a real credit to the Toyota Group. Why would you go anywhere else?"
IBS Excavations has a fleet policy of low-hour machines to ensure maximum reliability for hire customers.
Scott Trafford said he bought Toyota skid-steer loaders for many years through Brisbane-based Huski specialist Paul Allen (now managing Toyota Material Handling's Darwin branch), and now through area sales manager Syd Williams, grandson of Sir Sydney Williams, who pioneered Toyota skid-steer loader sales in southeast Queensland.
"Paul was in sync with our low-hours policy. He would contact you when a loader reached a certain number of hours, because he might have an owner-operator or plumber who wanted a low-hour machine," Mr Trafford said.
In addition to plant hire, IBS Excavations specialises in footings, foundations, site cuts/preparations, pools, land clearing, drainage, bulk excavation, rock breaking and trenching.
Toyota's Huski skid-steer loader range is sold and backed nationally by Toyota Material Handling.
Models range from the compact 4SDK-4 right up to the 900kg operating load 5SDK-11.
IBS Excavations with their Toyota Huski skid steer loader