Thriving in a competitive market

Shannon Valley has grown over the past three decades to become one of the Republic of Ireland’s largest contractors. As the number and size of the company’s construction projects have developed, so has its fleet of Hitachi construction machinery.

A growing fleet

Shannon Valley has grown over the past three decades to become one of the Republic of Ireland’s largest contractors. As the number and size of the company’s construction projects have developed, so has its fleet of Hitachi construction machinery.

The 224-mile (360.5-kilometre) River Shannon is the longest river in Ireland. It’s fitting that one of the country’s most significant construction companies takes its name from the famous waterway. Shannon Valley hails from Drumshanbo, County Leitrim, which is close to where the river flows into Lough Allen.

The company was founded by Michael English in 1991 and celebrates its 30th anniversary this year. The large team of over 400 employees is headed by Michael’s three sons and equal partners, Mick, David and Dermot. With up to 40 projects in operation around Dublin and further afield, Mick and Dermot take responsibility for the sites while David looks after the maintenance of the construction machinery.

The company is based at the Shannon Valley Centre in Donabate, County Dublin, which was built in 2005. The spacious yard, workshop, warehouse and office are a hive of activity, especially as these facilities are used to help maintain and service its fleet of construction machinery.

The business provides an array of solutions, ranging from demolition and road construction, to bulk excavation and drainage. As well as construction-related activities, it also offers plant hire, haulage and quarrying services.

“Despite the financial crisis, we were busy up to 2010 and then it was very quiet for two years following the collapse of the Irish construction market,” says David. “So, we had no option but to do some work in Poland for three years.

“Thankfully, the situation has now improved at home and we’re back working here on a full-time basis. Dublin is buoyant and we have other site development work being carried out in the south of the country.”

To have the flexibility to manage so many projects, Shannon Valley has a large fleet of construction machinery at its disposal. It operates around 100 excavators (from one to 80 tonnes), as well as dump trucks, tipper trucks, articulated trucks, bulldozers, and crushing and screening equipment (among others).

Loyal to Hitachi

Michael purchased his first Hitachi excavator (a UH063) in 1989 and now there are approximately 50 Zaxis excavators and ZW wheel loaders in the fleet. “We still have the UH063,” says David, “and it has more than 30,000 working hours. After my father started the company, the market grew and our business developed quickly in the second half of the Nineties.

“During that period, we bought many Hitachi EX220s, EX300s, EX400s, EX600s and other models. These machines worked hard and clocked up many hours. We have continued to buy Hitachi machines, because the whole range is strong, particularly the large excavators for their durability and reliability.

“Some of our operators prefer Hitachi excavators, because they are smoother to operate and more precise than other brands. We have also found that Hitachi wheel loaders are trouble-free and have developed well over the years.

“Currently we have more demand for 8-, 13-, 20- and 30-tonne machines for our projects. Hitachi equipment is easy to maintain and we have an excellent relationship with our dealer TBF Thompson [a sub-dealer of Hitachi Construction Machinery (UK)]. I’m very happy with the service that they provide.”

Shannon Valley, TBF Thompson and Hitachi have combined to develop and maintain a highly durable and reliable fleet of construction equipment. The incredible work ethic of the English family, the versatility of their Hitachi machinery and the tri-partnership’s commitment to invest in the latest technology will ensure that they will continue to thrive in a highly competitive marketplace.