Reliable rental equipment from a supportive supplier makes the difference

UK contractor Davey Civils has rented a Hitachi ZX135US-7 medium excavator from Synergy Hire for a short-term project in the south-east of England. The company specialises in providing below-ground civil engineering solutions to the highways, water and commercial sectors.

The short-tail swing Zaxis-7 model was required in August 2025 for demobilising a site in Hawkhurst, Kent. It followed the upgrade of a Southern Water sewage and treatment works facility by main contractor CMDP and sub-contractor Davey Civils. The 13-tonne Hitachi machine was used to sort and load 15,000m³ of crushed ragstone into eight trucks per day and was expected to be on site for up to six weeks.

On projects such as this, Davey Civils works towards fixed deadlines, which have been arranged by the UK Environment Agency in conjunction with Southern Water. These require reliable equipment and the support of a trustworthy rental company that can deliver at short notice, if required.

Site Manager Keith Sturmer has worked with Synergy Hire for six years and appreciates the unwavering support he receives from National Sales Manager Ben Seaman. “Our relationship is extremely important – if I call him and say I need two machines tomorrow, he’ll do it. He jumps on board with everything we do. You need reliability, and they care, when you’re up against it.”

Making life easier

Additionally, Synergy Hire helps to make life easier for Davey Civils by assisting with documentation, advising on attachments, and arranging equipment transport and delivery – including organising road closures and movement orders when required.

“From the initial communication to the collaboration through to collection – it’s always a professional service,” adds Keith. “And that’s what you need to be successful.”

Davey Civils often hires 13-tonne Hitachi models, such as the ZX130-7 and ZX135US-7, as well as the 20-tonne ZX210-7, from Synergy Hire, a Hitachi Construction Machinery company. “Due to the larger counterweight, the ZX130 gives a bit more stability when lifting than the ZX135,” says Keith, “but it depends on operator preference.”

He always asks operators which model they prefer. “We have skilled operators, and if they are happy, they perform better. And it’s important to give them what they need to make the job easier.”

For experienced operator Karl Koppen, who has worked on excavators since he was 15, Hitachi is a strong choice. “I’ve worked with many different brands of machinery over the years, and Hitachi stands out for reliability and comfort.

“My favourite machine is the ZX225US with short-tail swing – if I had the money, I’d buy one myself! It is powerful and does everything you want it to. The ZX300 is also a great machine to operate.”

The reliability and quality of the Hitachi rental machines is also important to Davey Civils for meeting deadlines and creating a positive impression. “The excavators from Synergy Hire are changed every two years, so they are the right age with the right number of working hours,” says Keith. “I don’t think we’ve ever had a breakdown.”

“And it’s always good to have professional, good-looking equipment on site – first impressions count. It attracts the eyes of other people in the industry.”