Fogarty was so impressed with his commitment and perseverance, and the excellent trade-in deal he got when buying his first Komatsu excavator – a PC120-3 – that he’s stuck with the company.
He works a 50 km radius north of Gisborne, around Matawai and Motu, primarily doing farm jobs such as bulk earthworks, drainage, tracking and support units, often in difficult terrain.
“I find there’s enough work around to keep me busy,” he said.
Since buying his first Komatsu, Fogarty has had another five Komatsu excavators, culminating in his most recent purchase, a PC130-8 delivered earlier this year.
“I’ve had excellent performance from all my Komatsu excavators – along with very good support,” he said.
“My first machine, the original PC120-3, did 14,000 hours before I traded up to a new machine.”
He then bought a PC120-5, followed a few years later by a PC120-6 – both of which he sold at about 5800 hours, then another PC120-6, which he traded at 11,000 hours on a PC130-7. This machine was traded earlier this year at 9000 hours for his latest PC130-8.
“Komatsu with its local service agent Heavy Equipment has looked after me very well over the years, which is why I keep buying them,” Fogarty said.
“Komatsu sales reps have been good to deal with, and I’m very happy with the current salesman I deal with, Les Reid.”
His machines are set up as “just basic machines – I’m old school” with only standard buckets.
“I do a lot of bulk earthworks, and I don’t feel the need for tilt buckets or other attachments; I’m just as productive with the standard bucket,” he said.
Fogarty’s major concession to modern technology is using Komatsu’s KOMTRAX remote monitoring system.
“I get reports back from Komatsu on everything that’s happening with the machine; it monitors everything,” he said. “It’s marvellous technology; it’s going very well.”