Established by husband and wife team Mark and Patricia Burton in 1994, the company has a team of 14 full-time and five casual staff, including Mark and Patricia's son who has recently commenced his apprenticeship as a diesel mechanic.
Barossa Valley Hire's relationship with JLG equipment started 14 years ago. They were one of the first companies to purchase an R14 Trailer Mounted Cherry Picker, which was their largest capital purchase in the early days of operation.
"After the R14 we bought a second hand CM 2546 Electric Scissor Lift. From there the business has steadily grown," said Barossa Valley Hire owner Mark Burton.
The Barossa Valley Hire fleet now includes electric driven and diesel powered equipment.
Mark has received many comments about the fuel efficient running costs of the diesel machines.
"They're very economical, we never have any problems with them and the electric machines hold their charge so our customers can get a full day's work out of them," said Mark.
"Our organisation is committed to delivering 'above and beyond' customer expectations, and it's the same service we receive from JLG.
"The support we have received from JLG over the years has been absolutely fantastic, especially for a small rural company.
"When we started out they saw the potential of our business and provided the backing we needed to expand. You don't often get that from large corporations who sometimes see smaller businesses as being less important than the larger ones.
"One of the great things about dealing with JLG is they value your opinion. They ask what we as a business need from them and then deliver on promises," Mark said.
"JLG have been very responsive to our needs. As a small business you have to take advantage of new opportunities as soon as they arise," Mark explained.
"We can't afford to wait several months for new equipment delivery, otherwise the project you need if for will be completed before you get it.
"JLG have been holding a lot more stock, so when I order a new machine it's delivered quickly, sometimes within a week, depending on the machine. It's this type of backup we need and have always received from JLG."
Over the years there have been occasions where Barossa Valley Hire has needed to re-hire access equipment from other companies. This has provided Mark with the opportunity to use and compare other brands of equipment.
"After operating other equipment models, both my customers and I believe JLG machines are definitely superior. I wouldn't buy anything else."
While Barossa Valley Hire do their own general servicing and machine maintenance, JLG technicians undertake the yearly major servicing to keep the machines in perfect working order.
"Our service mechanics like working on the JLG machines. They're simple and have easy access to all the service ports. With the diesel machines the motors swing out so the mechanics can work on them unobstructed," Mark said.
"JLG's parts availability and backup service is excellent. On the rare occasion there's a problem on site, JLG respond very quickly because they understand that as a small business we don't have 10 replacement machines sitting in the yard.
"When we need something fixed straight away, they'll do their utmost to get someone on site that day.
"There's been times when a JLG service technician has had to travel up to three hours to a site to fix a machine. They don't hesitate, they just go out and get it done, which is exactly the type of service we need from a supplier," he said.
Much of the access equipment supplied by Barossa Valley Hire services the expansive Barossa wine region and operates in various terrains.
"In winter we get a lot of rainfall so some of our diesel powered machines work on thick muddy building sites," said Mark.
"There's currently a new shopping centre being built and some of our electric scissor lifts have been out on site. The operators really like the quick release pins on the roll cage handles so they can get through doorways easily without having to undo bolts."
Barossa Valley Hire will soon extend their fleet of JLG equipment with the addition of a 510AJ Articulating Boom lift. With its 15.8 metre platform height, 9.5 metre outreach with 7.6 metre up and over height plus standard four-wheel drive and oscillating axle, the 510AJ provides outstanding performance in rough terrain.
Mark said, "We expect the 510AJ will be primarily used by some of our customers in the wine industry who are building larger facilities and require the additional height offered by this model.
Barossa Valley Hire has a machine turnover lifecycle of eight years. Its oldest machine is a 3246ES scissor lift which still is in excellent working order and looks almost as good as new despite six years of constant worksite action.
"We take pride in our equipment and keep them in top running order," said Mark.
"And we definitely get a better re-sale return on the JLG machines."
A community focussed business, Barossa Valley Hire was heavily involved in a project with the Lions Club to build 'The Tinker Shed'.
They donated the use of JLG equipment to build a community shed filled with lathes, drill presses and sanders where retired people living in aged care facilities who no longer have a shed can go and make all kinds of things.
