Avalon Group uses Cat equipment for the final touch

This story was produced by Caterpillar and originally published as an interview case study in Earthmoving Equipment Magazine. It has been republished (with permission from EEM).

When it comes to grading roads and thoroughfares, the application of final trim is vital to ensure that surface is meticulously shaped and smoothed to achieve the desired contour and finish.

It’s more than just grading a surface; it’s the final phase of the process to ensure the quality, safety, and durability of the road.

Final trim in road grading is the culmination of careful planning, precise execution, and quality control measures, transforming a rough construction site into a finished road ready for traffic.

So for final trim specialists, using the absolutely best equipment available is important to achieve the best possible result.

For the WA-based Avalon Group, there’s no doubt about which brand is best suited for such tasks: and that’s Cat® gear.

Earthmoving Equipment Magazine travelled to the northern WA Wheatbelt region of Geraldton to talk with Avalon Group owner Callum Williamson about the importance of using quality dozers and graders for finessing roadworks.

“Avalon specialises in final trim. It’s a highly sought-after service on all road and most infrastructure projects and forms part of the clients’ most critical stage of a project,” Callum said.

“Having recognised the shortage of final trim operators in WA, we progressively trained up skilled operators in GPS and UTS operation to support our clients.”

In the realm of road grading, GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite System) and UTS (Universal Total Station) play crucial roles in grading accuracy.

GNSS provides real-time positioning and navigation data while UTS uses electronic distance measurement technology to precisely measure distances and angles to a prism reflector. Used together, the synergy of advanced technologies achieves precise, efficient, and safe construction practices.

“This has also led us to own and operate other equipment such as specialised GNSS dozers and excavators to ensure we can supply our clients with the majority of the project needs,” Callum said.

"We have about 40 employees currently working all over WA on road, mining and infrastructure programs, with a number of local and Eastern States-based operators.”

For such a big pipeline of works, the fleet of equipment is understandably large, consisting of about 32 machines, 19 of which are the graders and dozers which are involved with the final trimming.

“Since the start of Avalon Group, Caterpillar has always been the manufacturer of choice for our graders and dozers. We use only Cat machines; to have their latest machines is a big, big thing for us,” Callum said.

“Our machines include various graders, and D6 to D9 dozers."

“We purchased a Cat D5 dozer only about six months ago, and apart from the graders, we have eight Cat excavators and minor plant, from 1.5 tonne mini-diggers to 50t diggers, as well the latest trimming machines."

“We’ve tried other brands but found ourselves always steering back to Cat machines because of their capabilities.”

Callum is particularly rapt with the latest acquisition: a Cat 140 grader with a 3D Grade Technology-fitted Trimble GNSS/UTS system.

The model represents an evolution in technology, performance, and operator comfort compared to its predecessors, with a more powerful engine compared to older models; advanced technology such as grade control systems and the GPS/GNSS ability for precise grading; a modern cab layout with ergonomic controls, adjustable seating, climate control, and reduced noise levels; and better fuel economy.

Callum said ease of operation was important when road grading, and a big drawcard for Cat equipment.

“I choose the Cat motor graders for my operators, not just for the comfort, but for the way components such as moldboards and slides can be adjusted,” he said.

“Our operators are trained to keep the graders tight to OEM specifications, to ensure we deliver tight tolerances every time. Caterpillar has made this easy with the top adjust drawbar and slide adjustments setup."

“It’s very easy to teach our operators to adjust heights as needed, to keep their trimming to great tolerance."

“It’s simple to adjust the top drawbar, the moldboard turn circles and the blade slide."

“They’ve got two bolts on the moldboards that you can take off, and just put a few shims in there to adjust. You can teach most any grader operator to do that, which takes only about five to 10 minutes."

“Also, the blade slides are no problem: with a couple of Allen keys and a big spanner, you can quickly adjust as needed.

“And you can do that on the road anywhere, you only need a few tools. And that’s something that Cat really thought about in its product and it really helps us in our grade operations.”

Callum said the C7 engines used in the standard 140, 150 and 140 graders were “great and reliable, achieving plenty of hours “.

working with westrac

Callum said crucial to Avalon’s success was its strong relationship with local Cat dealer WesTrac, particularly its customer support and new machine sales manager Greg Pike.

“Avalon Group has built a strong relationship with the WesTrac business over the years, allowing us develop our company as we grow,” he said.

“This ensures we can support a growing fleet and also that we have the latest tools and access to manage them to the highest standards."

“Greg is the ultimate one-man show. From the initial sale to the everyday operation, he is involved in some way shape or form. His technical knowledge and years of experience makes our life easy knowing that one phone call or email will get immediate action or advice."

“Our clients are always looking at us to provide a quality service. To do this we need to make sure we have the latest technology for not only quality but also reliability. Knowing that Cat parts and service is readily available is key to us delivering this service."

“Having access to breakdown and service parts anywhere in WA is critical. As we know breakdowns happen and downtime not only costs us but also our clients."

“Reduced downtime due to availability of parts and labour from WesTrac really helps Avalon Group keep strong relationships."

“Our expectations with WesTrac is to have our graders delivered on time, which they always have been, and the reliability of the workshops that they’ve got around WA that ensures our graders keep rolling and that it has the parts in stock for us to maintain reliability on our projects at all times.”

Fluid sampling proves crucial for Avalon

Callum also valued the constant updates provided by Greg on not only upgrades but also access to dealer programs that can offer savings to operations.

“Some of the services offered to us by WesTrac, such as undercarriage inspections, oil sampling, are key to a successful and cost-effective operation."

Avalon also utilises the Cat® S•O•S™ Services Program; which involves a routine check-up for oil, coolant and fuel and delivers insights to prevent unexpected failures and unplanned downtime. For Avalon, the results “have been fantastic,” Callum said.

Long-term relationship is a strong foundation

The relationship between Callum and Greg harkens back to 2014, when Callum was working in his father’s business, and the company bought a new Cat 246D skid steer.

“In 2016, after forming Avalon, Callum bought a used 140, eventually working his way up to a new 140 for a long term job in the south of WA,” Greg said.

“Before the purchase, Cal had been using a used roller that he didn’t need, and we were able to make things easy for him by trading this so he could get into his first new machine with little fuss. From there, we just kept working together."

“Avalon started with 140 graders and moved to the 150 grader when it came out. Since then, we have upgraded the 140 to have similar specs to the 150 but at a lower price point."

“The new 140 grader that Avalon bought is exceptional value for money.” Greg said. WesTrac was also happy to add modifications as needed.

“I make that process as simple as possible for Cal. I know he expects me to know what he likes, and what he doesn’t like."

“As you can see, this new 140 grader is a little bit different to every other 140 grader out there; we just did what he wanted and kept it simple for him."

“We had a specific build list with the latest grader, for example upgrades with blade lift accumulators and the addition of the company’s trademark black rims,” he said.

“Everyone is busy and time is valuable. The most important factor for us is to make the purchase to delivery as easy as possible for Avalon.”