A rise in demand for commercial projects has seen Albury-Wodonga’s 23 Carpentry not only grow its business but also its fleet of Isuzu trucks.
Offering a range of services from traditional timber work to modern composite and metal facades, 23 Carpentry prides itself on having an eye for modern design and attention to detail.
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The company’s work includes striking wooden fit-outs on council buildings and cladding on Wodonga Library, through to a stylish re-cladding of the Bendigo TAFE and the Wodonga Justice Centre.
FAMILY BUSINESS
The company currently has a large team of carpenters and apprentices, headed by father-and-son duo Paul and Chris Seaton. A builder and carpenter by trade, Chris handles the overall operations and contract management.
He brought in his father, Paul, to assist with managing the workload after the business really started to take off in recent years.
A bricklayer for more than 50 years, Paul oversees the driving and delivery team that transport materials to site.
The fleet of Isuzu trucks includes a new NQR 87-190 AMT Tipper, the latest and largest addition to the trusted line-up of Isuzu NLR Tippers. As well as carpentry, the Seatons also carry out pool renovations, with the NLR nimble enough to navigate tight spots under residential garage doors. While constructing and putting the finishing touches on buildings is obviously their stock in trade, it’s also evident Paul and Chris are driving enthusiasts.
AUTO HISTORY
Paul said his own father did some racing under the number 23 back in the 1950s, while his brother drove in Auscar (Australian Stock Car Auto Racing) in the ’80s. To keep the tradition alive, Chris had a stint racing in Europe, also under the number 23. There’s nothing like keeping a good thing going. It certainly seems to be a lucky number for the Seatons.
“With my son Chris expanding the business, we purchased an all-terrain scissor lift and a Bobcat which we needed to get around,” Paul explained.
“We already had a range of Isuzu NLR Tippers which are very convenient for the staff to drive on a car licence, but we needed something specifically to transport machinery and materials to job locations.
“The NQR Tipper ticks all the boxes – it’s able to carry the load we needed and comes with a 3.8m tray, so we can use it for delivery and forklift material on and off.
“The reversing camera is indispensable to our operation, and the interior lighting is like a stadium. We couldn’t be happier with those extra features.”
Under the cab, the NQR 87-190 AMT Tipper is fitted with Isuzu’s 4HK1-TCC four-cylinder turbocharged engine, featuring power of 140kW (190PS) at 2600rpm and max torque of 513Nm at 1600 – 2600rpm.
With a healthy 8700 kilogram GVM, and six-speed Automated Manual Transmission (AMT), the NQR AMT Tipper provides operational flexibility.
This is doubled down with a considerable 12,200kg gross combined mass (GCM) and industry-leading 4500kg towing capacity.
NIMBLE AND CONVENIENT
“In terms of drivability, it has good visibility and an unbelievably tight turning circle – there’s none of that going back-and-forth again to negotiate an exit turn,” Paul said.
“The convenience of being able to pick up pallet loads of cladding, and also attach something like a splitter behind to cut wood and load what we need, is just great.”
Paul is also pleased the NQR’s fuel efficiency is comparable with a dual-cab ute, and is also confident the investment represents good value based on the purchase price they settled on with Richard Peneros at dealership Blacklocks Isuzu. Chris and Paul’s decision to invest in a fleet that has payload to spare and can efficiently manage building supplies – including waste – has proven to be a major plus for the business.
Their unique reputation for end-to-end service and a focus on preserving customer relationships in the region has proven a winning combination. The 23 Carpentry company stays up-to-date with the latest technology in tools and material, in line with its commitment to clients in providing the best service, quality and value.
“We offer a broad range of supplies and price options and we also like getting involved in the project from the start…we just try and develop a good relationship with everyone we work with, as opposed to the usual, ‘Thanks, see you later’ line,” Chris said. “Having started off with a ute for the business, we can see the savings in upgrading to a truck fleet.
TRUSTWORTHY AND EFFICIENT
“We’ve effectively eliminated having to get someone to pick up materials and equipment. We can just take materials and equipment anywhere we want ourselves,” Chris added.
The trucks have been really good for the business and fit perfectly for the tasks of 23 Carpentry.