TOUGH WORK NO PROBLEM FOR ‘BABY DOZER’ SSL

When civil contracting company Fulton Hogan needed a new skid steer loader for road repairs, it chose a Case 440 for its power and reputation for reliability.

"We wanted to use the 440 with a road profiler, which is very demanding- in fact, that's about as tough as it gets for a skid steer," said Fulton Hogan's Divisional Manager Surfacing, Gerard Killick, based in Dry Creek, South Australia. "We needed to be sure the machine we chose would be up to the task, so we were looking for the ability to get parts on request at short notice and a machine with a strong track record of performance and reliability. Case's solid steel construction and powerful engine mean we get the strength and pushing power of a large machine in the body of a small, manoeuvrable machine."

"The 440 is so powerful, it's more like a small dozer than a skid steer," said Case Victoria Sales Manager, Ray Yamak. "Most other companies don't offer the same heavy duty reliability in a mid-size skid steer. These machines are solid steel and built tough."

The Case 440 is used for small or limited access areas of road repair work thanks to its excellent manoeuvrability and tight turning circle. Fulton Hogan chose the high flow hydraulic kit option to make the 440 as efficient as possible.

"The high flow kit combines the Case-standard large, steel tank - which can hold more hydraulic fluid than a plastic tank - with an extra hydraulic pump to provide more fluid to power the profiler drum," said Ray. "That combination of extra capacity and more pumping power means even the most demanding applications won't drain the tank so the attachment won't run out of power. There is enough capacity for the fluid to cool down and be reused, making the machine more efficient and cost effective."

Safety and operator comfort are also important to Fulton Hogan, so they chose the Ride Control option and air conditioning.

"Ride Control makes the skid steer safer to operate at transport speeds because it literally smooths out the ride," said Gerard. "Air conditioning is important because it gets extremely hot when you're working on bitumen. We've had lots of very positive comments from our operators about how comfortable and easy to use the 440 is, which is great because, if the guys have good gear, they're more likely to look after it."

Looking after the Case 440 is easy thanks to the design, which provides external access to all maintenance points, such as greasing the pins.

"Greasing the pins is easy for the operator, so it's more likely it'll get done," said Ray. "Most of the pins are recessed, so they don't get damaged, saving money on replacement pins and making them easier to maintain. Exposed pins have the greasing points on the inside."

Visibility is an important element in operator safety and another reason Fulton Hogan chose the Case 440. Exceptional visibility is provided thanks to a reduced tower height and extra perforations in the cab screen, which provide all-around visibility, particularly to the bucket edge.

Fulton Hogan's fleet includes two other Case skid steers - one 1844C and one 1845C. The traditional Case Power Tan colour has been replaced by Fulton Hogan's company signature colour blue.

"All new gear gets painted in our company colours to reflect pride in our company and our fleet. We believe it portrays a strong brand image and professional presentation," said Gerard. "We buy Case gear because they have a good track record and very fair pricing from the dealership. We find Case is great to work with."