Business Central February 2021

ECR Equipment – everything covered Hawkes Bay company ECR Equipment is proudly locally owned and operated, o ering a one stop shop when it comes to hire, leasing and sales of forklifts, lift trucks and tractors for orchard and vineyard work. “ECR is big enough to service the larger players but small enough to be able to pivot quickly to meet urgent needs Deane started in the business at the age of 17 sweeping the loors and jokes he liked it so much he later purchased the company outright in 2010. Since that time he has grown ECR Equipment hugely adding additional dealerships and brands. The company now represents Landini, McCormick, TCM, Unicarriers, Jungheinrich, Aisle-Master and Total. During lockdown the business was an essential service and split into two teams operating in 12 hour shifts, six days a week to meet customer requirements. The company operates a 24/7 emergency breakdown service as when the industry requires service, it needs it fast. “Supplying the equipment is only part of the solution. Our customers also need good servicing and backup support when needed,” says Deane. “By completing most things in-house such as battery repairs, hydraulic hose work, tyres, we can o er a timely and responsive service.” When it comes to forklifts ECR Equipment can service all brands, even ones it does not supply. But generally it prefers to specialise in the brands it knows well. The company also holds a comprehensive selection of parts for the brands it sells. Keeping up with the latest developments is also important. A newer release that has been popular is the Landini REX 4 orchard tractor with comfortable lat loor. ECR Equipment is also at the forefront of the change to lithium ion batteries for forklifts through its association with Jungheinrich, a pioneer in li-ion technology that it has been developing for almost twenty years to optimise the performance of customers’ operations. The batteries o er key bene its to packhouses and other industries, with less downtime thanks to faster charging, zero maintenance and a long-lasting battery life with constant power. “With a wet acid battery, which is the norm for forklifts, you have to remove the battery and recharge it. With lithium ion batteries you just plug in and recharge while you’re having your lunch or smoko break. Much easier and safer.” It’s no wonder then the industries ECR Equipment works with are making the change and it is presently helping one packhouse to install the batteries in its entire leet. The technology works best for new sites rather than existing, as there is a large energy requirement for charging of the batteries. ECR Equipment also walks the talk and around 70% of its own leet is electric. Deane says any Jungheinrich equipment purchased from now on is also compatible with the new technology, making upgrading at a later date simple. The ECR Equipment team is a key factor in the company’s success and o ers in excess of 150 years expertise. It’s no wonder long term clients such as Hawk Group have been using the company for many years. WE ARE THE ONE STOP SHOP FOR ALL EQUIPMENT HANDLING NEEDS. YOUR EQUIPMENT SPECIALIST SALES, LEASE, RENTAL & 24HR ONSITE SERVICE WWW.ECRL.CO.NZ | 0508 367 554 | 400 ELLISON RD, HASTINGS PROUDLY SUPPORTING HAWK GROUP