For Chris Hore, owner of CJH Contracting, Yanmar has become a trusted name over the years. After nearly two decades building his Devon-based business from the ground up, he knows the value of reliable machinery.
Based near Exeter, CJH Contracting tackles everything from fencing and drainage to full-scale site preparation and final landscaping. Until recently, the company relied on a mix of hired equipment alongside a Yanmar SV26 conventional tail swing excavator – a compact 2,740 kg machine.
After years of positive experiences with the brand, including hiring through D&H Plant Hire in Cullompton, Hore decided to invest in two new Yanmar models: a C30R-3 tracked carrier (2,650 kg) and a C08 Hi-Tip tracked dumper (669-765 kg, depending on configuration.
All three machines were supplied by local dealer Machine Serve in Chulmleigh.
“I’ve had the digger for a while now and I love it,” Hore says. “But for years I had to hire in dumpers. Now I’ve got the whole package – and it’s all light enough to move myself without needing transport.”
“We’ve used wheel dumpers before, which are great in the dry; but they can sometimes spin and churn up ground when it’s wet. The Yanmar tracked machines are all-terrain, all-year-round. They’ve made a huge difference.”
One of the biggest advantages, he says, is mobility. With all three Yanmar machines falling within manageable towing weights, he can transport everything himself – removing the need for hauliers and giving him control over timings, logistics and site access.
Each machine has been specified to maximise output. The SV26 includes extras like check valves, auto idle and a Scandinavian tilt bucket for shaping sloped terrain. “We were building up levels by 14 feet. With the tilt bucket, I could track along the slope and shape it just right for future maintenance. Without it, the job would’ve been nearly impossible.”
This year CJH Contracting has added five new tools including a rotavator and pallet forks – allowing more jobs to be completed in-house without relying on hired gear. And while Hore says that the fleet is “complete” for now, there’s one machine that continues to tempt him.
“I’ve always had a soft spot for the SV60. Every time Phil [at Machine Serve ] has one in the yard, I find myself drawn to it like a magnet and wandering over for a look... Never say never.”
