English
A first-class experience
Winter 2015
Ralph DiGiorgio, a Boston, Massachusetts-area contractor and developer, is a partner in Equipment North, a holding company that owns the equipment used by his other construction-related enterprises. Earlier this year, DiGiorgio visited the Doosan Real Operation Center (The ROC) near Tucson, Arizona, along with one of his business partners, Tom O’Connell.
New England contractor recounts his visit to The Real Operation Center for a first-class experience with Doosan staff and machinery
“If you had asked me about Doosan equipment a few years ago, I would have shrugged my shoulders and said, ‘I never thought about the company.’ But with age comes wisdom, so I am a little more open-minded these days about my equipment options.
“I had been loyal to mostly one brand until a couple of years ago when equipment prices started to creep up and service began to decline. About that time, Dan Clifford, an equipment salesman I had known for a long time, suggested I take a look at a Doosan excavator. My operators tried it, liked it and, as a result, I purchased a DX350LC from my local Doosan dealer, Equipment East.
“My interest in Doosan heavy equipment resulted in an invitation to visit The ROC, the company’s hands-on operation facility in the Sonoran Desert. I would not have taken the trip if my operators did not like our initial Doosan excavator purchase. They were so pleased with the DX350LC that I figured it would be worthwhile to check out the rest of the product lineup.
“I didn’t know what to expect, but when we arrived, there was this vast field of orange equipment. It was like a giant toy store. We tried every machine they had and were able to evaluate how the various sizes best fit our needs. In one case we thought we needed one size, but after running the equipment we realized that a different machine would suit our needs better. The location was set up so we could test the equipment in real-life conditions, and, believe me, some of the soil was mighty hard.
“Of course there were some fun events, too. We went golfing and skeet-shooting. The Doosan staff provided five-star accommodations and plenty of fine dining. All in all, it was a great experience.
“My advice: If you have a chance to visit The ROC, don’t hesitate. Jump on board. You will be very impressed. I was so impressed that I purchased two additional Doosan machines when I returned.”
Financial benefits drive equipment switch
Ralph DiGiorgio may not operate equipment these days, but he certainly understands what’s necessary for making his business successful. That’s why in the past two years he’s embraced the value that Doosan products bring to his bottom line.
“At first I was a little apprehensive about trying a new brand, but I figured when it was time to add equipment I’d let my operators decide on what they preferred,” DiGiorgio says. “When we needed to add another excavator to our fleet, I had them test several leading brands. A short time later we did the same with a group of wheel loaders. In both cases, the four operators who demoed the machines said they liked the Doosan brand best. I went along with their recommendations because they are the ones who use the equipment all day. If they are happy, I am happy.”
The operators said the Doosan machines were powerful, strong, smooth, quick, easy to operate and had great visibility from a very comfortable cab. DiGiorgio also liked the favorable economics associated with the Doosan products. “A lower purchase price was certainly appealing to me,” he says. “A quality machine at a good price makes a lot of sense.”
Fuel consumption is another financial factor that has been a pleasant surprise to DiGiorgio. “The DX350LC is consuming about half as much fuel as a similar-sized older excavator from another manufacturer,” he says. “With fuel prices around $4 a gallon, I figure I’m saving 200 gallons a month on the DX350LC. That’s $800 on that one machine. A similar savings on another Doosan excavator would allow me to make the monthly payments on a third machine. That’s getting a new machine paid for by the fuel savings on two Doosan excavators.”
As a result of those economic eye-openers, DiGiorgio is getting rid of some older equipment that is costing too much in fuel and repairs compared to the new Doosan machines. “I would rather pay the manufacturer to have a new machine than pay the fuel company to operate the less efficient, less productive machines,” he says. “That, to me, makes a lot more sense.”
