Construction Plant News profiles the prodigious history of Sheffield-based Hamilton Plant Hire
The proud tradition of bequeathing a business to your offspring is a well-worn path in the building sector, and one plant hirer has been keeping it in the family since as far back as 1890. Still based in Yorkshire’s steel city, when the eponymous William Enzil began trading, Queen Victoria was still on the throne but, with some of the most advanced and highest spec machinery that the industry can boast now on its books, this is a firm that wants to look as far forwards as it does back.
Of course, Hamilton didn’t always exist as a plant hirer, evolving, like so many before, from a father and son team armed with nothing more sophisticated than a handcart. In those days painting and decorating was their trade but, with fresh impetus from the founder’s son, this would evolve into civils projects, including structural concreting and steel work. “The firm acquired a few items of plant with which it undertook its own contracts,” declares the Tom – the present Hamilton at the helm – “and, when these were lying idle, forged a business opportunity in renting out its own machinery for self-drive hire.”
Today, Hamilton Plant Hire focuses purely on that business, and can now extend to a nationwide reach from its South Yorkshire depot. “We are strategically located virtually in the centre of the UK,” continues Tom, “and as a consequence can service virtually anyone in the country.” In fact, 2018 saw Hamilton equipment at work as far afield as Bristol, London and the Scottish Borders. That machinery is dominated by models from the premium manufacturers, with nearly all its excavators from 1 ½ tonne to 30 tonnes supplied by Hitachi, with a few additional Kobelco units. Explains Tom: “We’ve been running Hitachi diggers for some years now and their reliability has inspired a loyal following amongst our customer base and, because we’ve virtually standardised the fleet with that brand, our service engineers now know them inside out as well.”
When it comes to dumpers, Hamilton can offer a full range of mainly Thwaites machines from 1 – 10 tonne, together with rollers from Bomag, and 9 and 14 tonne telehandlers from JCB. The company’s tippers can also provide a muck away and aggregate delivery service to its clients. Hamilton reports that demand is particularly strong in the 8, 13 and 20 tonne weight classes, and has been investing in those units as a consequence, whilst the six tonne dumper remains the volume product in that class.
Changing Fleet
When a plant hire firm has been operating in the sector for as long as Hamilton has they can tell a story of the industry’s trends. Take, for instance, its backhoe fleet, once 40 strong and now down to two, where the combination of 8 tonne mini and site dumper has superseded the previous machine’s site functions. Similarly, operated plant has become more popular, with Hamilton able to call upon a pool of trusted drivers on whom they can rely, and finding the individuals with the right skillset can often be problematic. “We insist on sending only drivers we know to site because, ultimately, it’s our reputation on the line,” Tom insists, “but finding people with the right experience and training is a trial.”
Hire companies can also bear witness to the work that is driving the construction industry at any one time, and for Hamilton the residential market is where much of its equipment is currently occupied. Equally, some preoccupations may change but certain challenges remain and any hirer will tell you that keeping its rates at a competitive and health level is its guiding principle. “In this business there’s always someone willing to undercut you but we’ve built a very loyal base of repeat business over the years,” declares Tom proudly. “Because we’re able to offer brands like Hitachi – that are perceived as bullet-proof in the industry at large – and which are equally well-maintained and serviced, it provides us with a level of credibility. There are some customers that come to us because they know we have a fleet of largely Hitachi excavators, for instance, and will even stipulate that it has to be that manufacturer’s digger, so it pays to invest that bit more in a premium supplier.”
Of course, whatever the machine there will always be mechanical issues, but Hamilton is confident it has the people and processes in place to limit downtime, as Tom outlines. “If there is a breakdown we’ll be on the scene the same day, and within four hours if at all possible. Many of the units on our books benefits from the latest telematics systems, and remote diagnostics. That means we can implement a preventative maintenance regime, and even tell when there might be an issue before the operator is aware that there’s anything wrong.”
“It’s about being problem-solvers, sourcing exactly what a customer needs, and above all maintaining a level of honesty. We don’t want to be promising clients something that we simply can’t achieve, and that’s something that’s ultimately appreciated.” Indeed, with nearly 129 years of trading already on the clock Hamilton Plant Hire is currently in the market for new premises in its long-standing home of Sheffield in order to service its continued expansion.”
