The Advantage November 2018

THE
NOVEMBER 2018
SMASHING
THROUGH
BARRIERS
P.3
A look at why the rise of the compact machine
continues to be a dominating story in the
construction and demolition industries.

PARTS
You’re worn out. Your
equipment doesn’t have to
be.
PARTS
HOT-LINE
ABBOTSFORD
1-888-283-3276
KELOWNA
1-800-680-0233
VERNON
1-800-551-6411
ALL I WANT FOR CHRISTMAS
IS MY TWO FRONT
TEETH
Since 1947
For 71 years the people of BC have
trusted Avenue Machinery to supply
them with the parts they need to
keep their machines moving. We have
knowledgeable parts people who can
source any brand, any part, anytime.
That’s the Avenue Advantage
2

Potato Variety
Avenue Machinery sponsored the 2018 BC Vegetable and Potato
Growers potato trial. The event took place at Rod Swenson’s farm on
Westham Island. This important event brings together growers, food
vendors, and government to look at over 50 varieties of potatoes that
have been planted in sample batches. This hands on experience
had us observe the colour, feel, and yield size of row after row of
potato field samples. The opportunity lets growers receive feedback
on the available varieties; such feedback is important as they plan
for the future. During the event the BC Minister of Agriculture Lana
Popham said, “People’s eyes are on local farmers, they want local,
and they want choice.”. Avenue Machinery knows this is an exciting
time for BC agriculture. Bill Zylmans did a great job MC’ing the event
and MLA Ian Paton was on hand as well. Good to see Ian and Lana
working together for the good of our farmers.
Fendt Oktoberfest
Avenue Machinery held their first ever Fendt
Oktoberfest at Cedar Grove Farms in Delta
on October 3. The day gave farmers a chance
to hop into the German green machines and
experience what sets them apart. It wasn’t all
business though; bratwurst and beers were
served to keep the atmosphere casual. Special
thanks to Trevor Harris for letting us use his farm.
Avenue Machinery greatly appreciated spending
the day with local farmers talking about the type
of work they are doing and their equipment
needs. We know it’s more than just providing
machines, it’s following up with high quality
service and building long lasting relationships.
We’re committed to farmers across B.C and this
was a great day with our customers.
3

BIG PUNCH
WHY THE DEMAND FOR LITTLE KEEPS GETTING BIGGER
Small minded thinking leads some to wrongly believe
bigger is always better. Tough stuff comes in all sizes
and the right tool for the job should be picked for its
capabilities, not the size of its package.
Compact equipment is a Japanese concept that has
radically changed the way work is done. Operators
have been won over by compact equipment’s ability
to perform tasks that were previously undertaken
by heavy machinery. Starting with the first Kubota
excavators in the 1970’s, compact equipment has
been proving itself as low cost, light weight, and easy
to transport and operate. Though adoption in North
America was slow, a tipping point has been reached
with many now preferring the advantages afforded by
the smaller machines.
Rakowksi Cartage is a sought after demolitions
company. They work on large scale projects like the
decommissioning of the Atomic Energy of Canada
Nucular power facility and the Winnipeg Arena.
Currently they are in charge of the demolition work
required to prepare the Canada Post heritage
building in downtown Vancouver for updating, as it
becomes a futuristic Amazon office. The plans call
for a remarkable overhaul to the existing building.
It’s a heavy workload that includes a lot of concrete
crushing. Rakowski’s fleet of Kubota compact
excavators are more than up to the task.
All the attachments excavator operators have come
to expect are available for compact excavators. Claws
crush and balls wreck as owner Tristan Rakowski
orchestrates his crew through a grand performance of
controlled and measured destruction. The size of the
machines let them maneuver about the sometimes
tight insides of the building. The machines easily
open the old and squeezed space up, to modernize
it for Amazon.
The Skid Steer is a mainstay on nearly every job
site. It is the poster child for compact equipment,
having spent the last 30 years proving its power and
versatility. Skid Steers fit into small areas, turn on
a dime, and have the capacity to do hard work. In
2010 Kubota introduced their SVL Track Loaders, a
powerful skid steer with tracks. The SVL was quickly
recognized as best in its class. It has proved itself
invaluable to contractors, builders and landscapers;
none are surprised by the bucket breakout force and
lift capacity of this compact machine. It’s become
second nature to expect big things from the smaller
machines.
As building booms, the demand for compact
equipment keeps increasing. It’s become clear that
unless you’re building a highway or high-rise, any
machine over 8 tons becomes more burdensome
than helpful. Contractors and operators have to
The tight and cramped insides of the downtown
4
Canada Post Building
Re-imagined and opened up the historic building will
take on new life

KX40 digging the bowl for a skate park
“
realistically look at what they want to accomplish. It
costs more to run a big machine and the time savings
more often than not doesn’t negate the higher costs
of operation. Getting a lumbering beast to maneuver
through tight urban settings is a nightmare - if space
even allows it!
We took it four meters down - all with small
iron. This stuff packs enough power to do it all.
Bill Hargrave
Owner of Cedar Crest Lands
Cedar Crest Lands is a landscape designer that
works with municipalities to create functional spaces.
They have a large fleet of equipment that includes
machinery that is both big and small. They were
chosen to design and construct a skate park on the
old Arenex site in New Westminster. Company owner
and superintendent Bill Hargrave didn’t see a purpose
to bringing in one of his larger machines, feeling the
maneuverability of compact equipment would be an
advantage during the job. His confidence in his KX
excavators paid off.
“We took it four meters down - all with small iron. This
stuff packs enough power to do it all.”, said Bill when
asked about how the machines performed.
“
Compact excavators preparing the foundation
package from Avenue Machinery is an inexpensive
way to get the most out of your equipment. Making
sure service intervals are performed on time while
taking full advantage of all warranty work, as parts
wear, will stretch the life of your purchase and limit
downtime.
It’s taken time for compact equipment to smash the
perceptions of the past, but you can’t ignore the big
impact it makes on a day to day basis; on job sites
around British Columbia.
The easy up keep of compact equipment has also
lead to its popularity. Kubota has designed all of their
equipment to be easily maintained. Adding a service
Skid Steers have proven themselves
versatile material handlers
5

ICE, ICE thriving
BABY
in
winter
conditions
As winter becomes more imminent there’s no reason
for your machines to hibernate. Cold and snowy
weather gives your equipment another opportunity
to earn its keep.
While the rest of Canada tends to think of British
Columbia as a near tropical oasis, the people who live
here know this isn’t reality. During the last decade,
even balmy Vancouver has seen a 30% increase
in snow accumulation. This year early snowfall has
been recorded across the province and the Farmers
Almanac is predicting snow for the Southern Region
throughout November and December. As the white
stuff falls from the sky and the ice begins to form
you’ll need to stratagize for its removal.
Adapting to the winter isn’t a big challenge. Many
companies simply add a blade to an existing skid
steer or track loader. An RTV can be set up with a
quick connect blade and a spreader for salting and
sanding icy surfaces.
The right options and attachments let you maximize
your machinery investment. As winter approaches
take the steps necessary to prepare so you don’t get
left out in the cold.
It’s become normal for municipalities to try and
institute Snow and Ice Control Policies that shift
liability onto homeowners and businesses with
sidewalks adjacent to their property. Slip and fall
lawsuits based on these policies are mostly an
inconvenience as they are often defeated in court.
There is however, no question about where liability
lies concerning clearing walkways and parking areas
on your property. This is your legal responsibility,
one that must be taken seriously. While clearing the
snow from sidewalks, driveways and parking lots
you need to be careful where you pile the removed
snow. Keep it out of travel lanes, storm drains, bus
pickup/drop-offs and most importantly don’t block
fire lanes and fire hydrants.
Most snow that falls across B.C is heavy and wet
and is best cleared using a blade. It can be a
challenge to understand each blade type and their
ideal application. Hydraulically angled blades are an
ideal fit for parking lots while a split blade allows for
variable widths and is ideal for walkways.
Over the past few years the threat of snow has helped
landscaping companies round out their traditionally
seasonal services with new winter offerings. Snow
and ice removal contracts help keep business brisk.
6

USED EQUIPMENT
2016 Kubota KX91-3
Stock # C014260
Hyd Thumb, 420 hrs
$47,500
2011 Merlo 75.9
Stock # C07757
54’10” Reach, 3427 hrs
$183,700
2012 Kubota KC70
Stock # C011728
700kg capacity,618 hrs
$7,750
2012 Kubota M8540NPK
Stock # C017992
85HP, 3310 hrs
$39,900
2014 Kubota SVL 90-2
Stock # C013586
New tracks, 2477 hrs
$57,900
2017 Kubota RTV-X1100
Stock # C018917
Cab with heat, 602 hrs
$20,750
2011 New Holland Boomer
Stock # C019241
Bucket/Mower, 927 hrs
$16,500
2008 Kubota KX161-3
Stock # C018825
Hyd Thumb, 3857 hrs
$48,500
2011 Kubota SVL75
Stock # C017428
Heat/AC, 2536 hrs
$39,500
2014 Bobcat S450
Stock # C017955
1,300lbs lift, 614 hrs
$30,900
1986 Kubota B7200DT
Stock # C017149
TLB, 1301 hrs
$13,950
2011 Kubota KX41-3
Stock # C017406
New tracks, 2491 hrs
$21,900
FIND USED MACHINES
ON YOUR
PHONE
AVENUEMACHINERY.CA
7

IT’S
NOT
PUMPKIN
SPICE
www.avenuemachinery.ca
ABBOTSFORD
1521 Sumas Way
1-888-283-3276
KELOWNA
1090 Stevens Road
1-800-680-0233
VERNON
7155 Meadowlark Road
1-800-551-6411
GIVE YOURSELF THE
AVENUE