62 | Dependable gear ensures customer loyalty Hautapu Hire focuses on supplying larger hire equipment, including 4- to 12-tonne rollers, 5- to 20-tonne excavators, tractors and trailers. CONTRACTING Hautapu Hire T T Sue Russell “When customers hire from us, they know they’re getting top quality and dependability.” In 2011, having seen a gap in the market for machinery hire, Seton Kibby decided it was the perfect time to establish Hautapu Hire, just east of Cambridge, Central Waikato. As can happen, it was a conversation at the pub that started Seton really thinking about the benefits that machinery hire would bring to the district. “I started with just a few bits of gear and one customer and just grown it from there. Roughly a year later I bought Cambridge Hire Centre.” Cambridge Hire Centre, located on Shakespeare Street in Leamington, offers customers an array of building, section maintenance and outdoors equipment from air-compressors, BBQ’s, chainsaws and general gardening equipment through to generators and light towing equipment. The two businesses are separate, but complement each other to offer customers a wider variety of gear for hire. Seton is in no doubt that the growth and continued success of his enterprise has come down to the loyal support of local customers. As a result, over the years he has solidly grown the fleet available for hire as demand has justified. Hautapu Hire focuses on supplying larger hire equipment, including 4- to 12-tonne rollers, 5- to 20-tonne excavators, tractors and trailers. As a result, the bulk of customers are from the civil and construction sectors, who in turn are behind massive roading and subdivision development in and around Cambridge and the Waipa District. Seton says with the comprehensive range of equipment, maintained to the highest standard, he is pleased with the current level of stock and doesn’t have any current plans to expand his product offering. “I think that’s key to being successful in this game – ensuring you have the ability to maintain your gear at peak condition all the time. When customers hire from us, they know they’re getting top quality and dependability. This machinery has to be reliable and do what it’s supposed to do.” Business has generally been a bit up and down of late, Seton says, but that’s a common experience in businesses serving the construction and civil works industries. Hautapu Hire is a small business, with Seton running the dayto-day operation, supported by a very capable administration person and a truck driver. A local mechanic helps to keep the fleet in tiptop order. Gear can be in use across a large footprint of the country, and in these cases Seton says the equipment is stored in various localities for ease of access. He says he is happy with the situation and equipment offering of both Hautapu Hire and Cambridge Hire Centre. “We get very positive feedback from our customers about the quality of our gear. It’s something we pay a great deal of attention to, and I’m sure it’s contributed to our quality reputation,” he says. For Seton, looking back on his journey with the two businesses, he is pleased with what has been achieved and the fact that operating in the equipment-hire sector has helped contribute to the overall growth and development of the town and wider region. Curin Contractors Ltd E S T 1 9 9 6 Start your building project off with professional excavation and ground preparation services. Contact us today to discuss your project! 07 827 1869 office@curincontractors.co.nz www.curincontractors.co.nz The HeavyDiesel Mechanics You CanTrust. 022 586 6927 www.umm.co.nz Quality Service, Repairs and Maintenance. • Field Service • Diagnostics • Parts & Repairs • Hydraulic & Auto Electrical Repairs
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