ExEcutivE REPORt Eastern Promise


Nick Johnson reports from North Norfolk, where a company is importing a variety of compact excavators, loaders and dumpers from China.


I


n the heydays of steam in Britain, the village of Melton Constable in Norfolk was


home to a locomotive works operated by the Midland & Great Northern railway. The lines were closed in 1964 but the land once used for building and repairing steam locos now houses an industrial estate which is home to a company selling compact plant.


As its name suggests, North Norfolk Vehicle Solutions (NNVS), is involved in the supply of vehicles. MD Ivan Kendle says the original focus was second-hand Scania and Volvo trucks, but the diminishing number of small owner operator customers and the increase in big fleet operations caused him to add plant sales.


Ivan acknowledges that there is still scepticism from some potential buyers. However, with major Chinese brands like LiuGong and Sany gaining UK market share, there is increasing interest in the equipment being imported by NNVS.


Now, as well as telescopic boom and conventional arm wheel loaders, there is significant stock of CE marked compact excavators and small dumpers at the NNVS base. Ivan says their appeal centres on not just attractive costs, but also their simple designs and the absence of complicated electrics.


The compact excavators available from NNVS are Rhino models (made by the Shandong Ken Stone Heavy Machinery Co) and Heracles HZM models (from the Qingzhou Huizhong Machinery Co). The smallest is a light duty 800kg Rhino Micro with a single cylinder 7.0kW Koop engine.


A 2.65 tonne Rhino B2 NX mini excavator with a 1,000kg payload Heracles HZM H100 dumper.


With a farming background, Ivan had grown up with machinery and this practical knowledge led him to start selling Chinese- manufactured equipment that could be used in agricultural, construction and waste- handling applications. His first involvement with a machine from China was eight years ago, when he bought a 10 tonne capacity Maximal industrial forklift truck for use by his own company.


The attraction of this forklift was that its price was less than half that of its nearest UK competitor. He admits it was a gamble, but the machine proved reliable and he still owns it today. So, when seeking new lines to sell, he again turned to China. The first container of Chinese machines included Heracles articulated telescopic boom loaders. Initial customers included farmers and a waste transfer operation.


For use as more productive hire machines, Ivan recommends the larger


1.2, 1.8, 2.0 and 2.65 tonne minis that are powered by Kubota or Yanmar engines. Other features include Continental hydraulic hoses, Varta batteries and heavy-duty starter motors. NNVS sells them with a 12-month parts-only warranty.


The biggest Rhino mini is the 2.65 tonne B2 NX excavator. This has a Yanmar engine, as does the Heracles HZM H100 articulated wheeled dumper which has a 1,000kg payload swivel skip. NNVS also stocks small tracked power barrows made to its specification. Sporting VSM (Vehicle


NNVS Managing Director Ivan Kendle on a 1.2 tonne Rhino mini excavator.


Solutions Machinery) decals, these include 400kg capacity standard tip and 600kg and 1,000kg capacity hi-tip variants.


The 600kg hi-tip tracked power barrow is powered by a Briggs & Stratton petrol engine. It comes with a self-loading front mounted scoop to provide greater operational versatility on site.


As many major brands are currently suffering extended delivery time, the fact that NNVS has stock may persuade more customers to opt for its machines. The company makes no secret of its ‘cheap prices’, but astute buyers will doubtless also carefully consider product quality, likely operating life and eventual resale value. n


The VSM badged high tip tracked dumper range includes1,000kg and 600kg payload machines.


36 Executive Hire News - Nov/Dec 2021


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52