Emshay Chooses New Over Auction

Emshay Enterprises is a family-owned construction aggregates business based in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan, Canada. Like many small businesses, its profitability depends on managing overhead costs. When the company needed a wheel loader to work its rock pit, it was presented with a choice: a used, auction-bought premium machine, or a brand new SDLG wheel loader. Emshay Enterprises chose the SDLG, and after almost two years on the job, the company is sure it made the right choice for its business.

Shayne Emmons, owner and president of Emshay, said its purchase of a SDLG LG959 was based on his company’s specific needs. He did not want to purchase a premium wheel loader laden with features he didn’t require. Also, he said, the company’s track record with used auction machines left much to be desired. “I used to go to auction sales and search for wheel loaders from the early 2000s, but once I put them to use, none of the machines lasted very long,” he explained. “With the SDLG LG959, I got a brand new machine with a warranty and support from Redhead Equipment, a dealer that I trust. Plus, the loader was priced very well—I was not paying for features that I didn’t need.”

Emshay is using the LG959 in its rock pit, and is only using the machine some 300 – 500 hours per year. 

Emmons said the wheel loader’s 4.0 yd³ bucket size has increased the company’s efficiency, feeding the company’s wash plant with up to 193 USt of rock and gravel in an hour, far more than the company was able to move with previous machines. Thanks to this superior performance, Emshay can keep the wash plant continuously running, removing silt from the construction aggregates and increasing the company’s yield.

The LG959 is also being used to load the final aggregate product into trucks for shipment. The increased bucket size also allows Emmons to load trucks with gravel in only four to six passes, where before, with a smaller bucket, it took up to eight passes. “I have buyers that load the aggregates themselves,” Emmons explained. “Quite a few have been very impressed with the LG959 and with my recommendation, are now considering purchasing one, too. would definitely recommend the SDLG loader and I may even buy another for our company.”

Emmons also purchased a scale to add on to the LG959, allowing the company to weigh aggregates onboard the loader. With the scale, Emshay can weigh a load onboard the machine, and then dump the rock directly into the trailer, rather than unloading the aggregate onto a scale only to reload it for shipping. “The onboard scale upgrade was useful and also very affordable,” Emmons said. Emmons also likes how easy the LG959 is to use and maintain. Sometimes, Emshay’s customers use the SDLG loader to load rocks onto their own trucks, and Emmons has never had to instruct them on how to use the machine—they are able to figure out its user-friendly interface without additional training.

(The previous article “Emshay Chooses New Over Auction” featuring Redhead Equipment SDLG customer, Emshay Enterprises, was archived in May, 2017 via SDLG In Action Magazine.)