The JOURNEY
Case studies from KUBOTA
Dragon spreads its wings – with vital back-up from Kubota
When Jeff Haines found it impossible to source a suitable concrete crusher for a home improvement project, he hit upon an idea that has culminated in a new company which is forging global expansion plans.
Trying to demolish an outbuilding in his garden, he wanted to source a crusher for the work, but this proved impossible as the only access was via a bridge and it was not feasible to transport heavy equipment over it. This prompted Jeff, an experienced engineer, to think about designing his own small concrete crusher. Two weeks later he had built a basic crusher box, powered via a take-off from his garden tractor, and in one afternoon the outbuilding was gone and the concrete recycled. After another nine months the crusher was on tracks and had attained CE certification.
SIX YEARS LATER JEFF’S COMPANY, DRAGON EQUIPMENT, HAS AN IMPRESSIVE PORTFOLIO OF MACHINERY AND HAS SOLD MORE THAN 150 MACHINES AND HAS WORLDWIDE GROWTH AMBITIONS.
From its factory on a former United States air force base at Stowmarket, England, the company manufactures three different size crushers, three models of lifters, a power barrow and an award-winning dust suppression system.
The latest and largest concrete crusher is the CR450 model which weighs just 1450 kilograms and is powered by a Kubota D722, 3-cylinder, water cooled 19hp diesel engine, which complies with EPA/CARB Tier4 and EU Stage V emission regulations. Combined with a 33-litre fuel tank, the machine can operate continuously for more than 12 hours.
To build on its growing UK market, Dragon Equipment made its first export sale three years ago to France and also to customers in several other countries such as Ireland and Portugal and has also held discussions with potential dealers including representatives from Australia, the United States, Peru and South Africa.
Even the UK lockdown due to COVID provided an opportunity for Jeff as it allowed him the time to design a new lifter range which can safely lift and move loads up to 1500 kg. The company also supplies a range of inter-changeable attachments such as a bag lift, log grabber, muck grabber, pallet bars and post hole borers.
A GROWING PRODUCT DEMAND
Dragon’s typical customers are mostly independent hire shops and Jeff said there is a growing demand for highly mobile, smaller crushers.
“People want to recycle – both from an
environmental and economical point of view.
The price of aggregates has rocketed so the
use of a concrete crusher becomes much
more economical. From an environmental
point of view it is good as there tends to be
fewer lorry movements and material handling
involved. Importantly, homeowners are
putting more pressure on builders to recycle.
Households want to recycle on site, effectively
becoming mini recycling plants which can
turn waste into saleable aggregate.”
Again, based on his own domestic experiences, Jeff designed the lifting range as he experienced the problems associated with moving material on a home project.
He added:“Sand was being delivered but the suppliers wouldn’t a deliver right onto my site, they would leave it in the lane leading to the property.
“That meant ten tonnes of bagged sand had to be moved manually and that prompted the idea of developing easily transportable, compact and versatile lifters and their attachments. From a health and safety perspective that also provides benefits as the lifters eliminate the potential physical toll placed on people who are lifting material,” said Jeff.
BUT WHY DID DRAGON EQUIPMENT CHOOSE KUBOTA POWER FOR ITS CR450 CONCRETE CRUSHER?
Jeff said: “Kubota is a very well-liked and well-known name in the crushing industry and I have worked with the company previously. Kubota can offer a global support service which dovetails perfectly with the fact that we want global distribution.
“We know that we can send a crusher which has a Kubota engine anywhere in the world and if there is an issue we know that we will get tip-top, local Kubota service.
“Aftersales support is paramount for us – we are not selling a piece of equipment and then walking away – we want to offer on-site help.
Of course, we did a lot of research regarding other engine makers that we could use but there was one, inevitable conclusion – Kubota.”
The Kubota D722 engines for the Dragon CR450 crusher are supplied by Uni-power, a Kubota Engine Distributor of over 35 years.
Managing Director, Phil Brown said:
“I have known Jeff for many years and I am
excited to be working together with him again
on such a great project. From prototype to
mass production, we have been and will be
working closely with Dragon Equipment to
provide OEM support. From past experience,
both with Kubota Engines and the work ethic
of Jeff and the Dragon Team, I know the
CR450 crusher will be a quality product that
customers can rely on with confidence”.
