Back in 2014, TDL Equipment became the official UK partner and distributor for China’s largest excavator manufacturer, SANY. Since the launch at PlantWorx in 2015, the SANY brand and reputation has gone from strength to strength amongst owners and operators alike.
Fighting off competition from some of the industries more established brands such as Caterpillar, CASE and Volvo, the £2 million deal is made up of 23 machines and is not only the largest ever SANY order from a European dealer but is the biggest single investment for the new Glasgow based owners, Centre Plant.
Set up 26 years ago by Pat McBride and his father Peter, Centre Plant is the sister company to Allma Construction, a leading infrastructure and groundworks company. The pair boast 80 years experience in the construction industry and with 55 excavators between 13-35 tonne alone, it’s fair to say, both TDL and SANY had to meet high expectations.
Centre Plant had a long-established relationship with Case but having heard Allma were looking to replace machines and possibly supplier, Grant Maclaine, TDL’s regional sales manager explains how Europe’s biggest SANY deal came about, “I contacted Willie McMillan who at the time didn’t know much about the SANY products. Initially the discussion was about replacing 12 machines so we offered them a 14 and 21 tonne machine for demo”.
Impressed by TDL’s presentation, Managing Director, Pat McBride explained how the decision to invest in SANY was made, “We put two of our most experienced operators on the two demo machines, guys who we knew would moan and groan if there were any problems. The feedback was very positive”. Who better to provide such positive feedback than experienced operator Donald McCall, Donald put the SANY SY215 demo machine to work giving an all round glowing report emphasizing how the “digging power at full stretch is very impressive” combined with the impressive strength, he explained how “a full bucket of wet mud at a couple metres depth is no both. The machine is a true all round performer, even at low revs”.
The SANY quality spoke for itself and following the successful demo period, the order went from 12 machines to 23 machines, ranging from 13 tonto 36 tonfeaturing 15 SY135’s, 7 SY215’s and the SY365 due in shortly. The SANY machines have proved their quality time and again with standard spec including automatic air conditioning, two-way auxiliary hydraulics, rotation circuit and the SANY 1-3-5 warranty package provides peace of mind – offering the new owners 1 year/ 2000 hours on the machine itself, 3 years/ 6000 hours on powertrain and major components and 5 years/ 10,000 hours structural warranty on the chassis, boom and arm.
But Centre Plant didn’t stop there, their machines come complete with Hill Tefra hydraulic hitches, Strickland buckets, vandal guards, boxing rings and green beacons.
Centre Plant are one of a growing number of SANY customers, with companies such as AB2000, WH Malcom, Garriock Bros and Dow Waste Management investing in the brand. Thanks to the quality and power of the SANY products and the strong aftermarket philosophy from TDL, the team are excited to see the continual progression and growth of the brand as more people begin to break away from the “norm”.
