equipment profile - Finning Canada

GROUNDBREAKER“They’re kindof like a Swissarmy knife –you can do alot of thingswith them.”“They’re just getting on the radar,” saysFinning’s Grant Dykstra, a small tractorspecialist who notes that compact tractorsmake up the fastest growing segment inNorth America’s heavy equipment market.“They’re kind of like a Swiss army knife –you can do a lot of things with them.”The sturdy line features engines that rangefrom 22.5 to 52 horsepower, ensuring thatowners are getting the most out of themin their numerous applications.The tractors can mow, rototill, dofinishing work in spots with tightclearances and even move bales tofeed cattle. Renowned equestriancentre Spruce Meadows actually hasfive of the mini tractors on site tohelp maintain their grounds.“The thing the owners like themost is that they’re compact andrugged,” says Dykstra. “They’re metal, witha rugged front axle and there’s no worry ofoverworking them. They’re good, quality tractors.”Finning heavy equipment mechanic BradHepworth, who works out of Fort MacMurray,liked the line so much that he bought anMT225 for his hobby farm in Colinton, Alta.Hepworth and his wife take care of two biggardens on the property, in addition to hispigs and chickens, so he got a loader and arototiller for his tractor.“It’s real handy to get in tight spots,” hesays. “And it’s got a lot of power. I had differentoptions and I tried out all of the tractorsout there. But I like this one.”What the Hepworths especially like is theno clutch transmission that makes it easy todrive. “It’s quick and it’s user-friendly,” hesays. “For out here, it’s perfect.”Cat Stories WantedTo the layperson, seeingsomeone operate a bigCat excavator, a toughlittle loader or a handygrapple is no big deal.But for those peoplewho have invested theirtrust and hard-earnedbucks in the yellow,Caterpillar is more a culture than simply abrand. And they have many interesting talesto tell.Remember Tim Loewen? In October of2005, the Chilliwack native and owner ofPine Meadows Tree Farms Ltd. said good byeto the single life and tied the knot with hislovely fiancée Tracy Wollard. The dedicatedCat customer received a special box from hisFinning Canada rep Ray Gerein but insteadof the typical gift-opening frenzy on the dayafter the wedding, Loewen and Wollard wereencouraged to open up the present beforethey walked the aisle. Inside were two pairsof sparkling new Cat boots that the couplewere instructed to wear during the ceremonyand beyond. Just why a beautiful brideagreed to wear black boots with hergown might be a mystery to most, butit is a statement on what thebride and groom thinkof their trusty 287 Catloader.Dan Bustin isanother memberof the Cat family.Bustin, the ownerof a logging business,Medara ContractingLtd., and anemployee at Garnet Contractingin Campbell River, B.C., participatesin the local Cops For Cancer fundraiser on anannual basis. He got involved in 2001 after hisgood buddy from Garnet, Don Jinda passed away fromcolon cancer. Every year, Bustin does a little home-salonwork to his ‘do before shaving it to the wood in time forthe charity Cops event. The most recent style included abright yellow dye job with the Cat logo carefully craftedinto the back of his head.Up in Fort McPherson in the Northwest Territories, ahulking piece of Cat iron had a huge impact on all the peopleof the tiny hamlet last winter.Continues next pagewww.finning.ca Winter 2006 • TRACKS & TREADS 9