Waikato Post Ramming (WPR)

Waikato Post Ramming Builds on Eight Years with Kobelco

For more than four decades, Waikato Post Ramming (WPR) has been helping lay the foundations for projects across the Waikato, Coromandel and Bay of Plenty area. What started as a fencing business has evolved into a specialist operation focused on pile driving, retaining and drilling foundation work, with the company tackling increasingly complex projects as building standards and construction methods have changed over time.

Today, the business is led by second-generation owner Brad Albiston, who continues to build on the reputation established by his parents more than 40 years ago.

“Dad and Mum started the business over 40 years ago and have grown it into something pretty special,” Brad said.

“We’re now second generation, family owned and operated.”

The company works across a variety of foundation applications, installing piles for residential, commercial and infrastructure projects. Over the years, Brad has seen significant changes in both the scope of work and the engineering requirements behind modern construction.

“Originally, Dad started as a fencer and had the opportunity to do some pile driving for a house foundation,” Brad said.

“Back then, the poles were only around two metres long. Today, we’re working with lengths of 16 to 18 metres as if they’re nothing.”

As building regulations and geotechnical requirements have evolved, foundations have become larger, deeper and more demanding to install.

“Foundations have changed significantly over the last 40 years, particularly with earthquakes and liquefiable soils,” Brad said.

“They now need to be deeper and stronger to support modern structures.”

Those changing requirements have also influenced the type of machinery WPR relies on. The company operates a range of specialised attachments, including drop hammers, drill heads and vibros, placing unique demands on both machine stability and hydraulic performance.

Around eight years ago, WPR introduced its first Kobelco excavator to the fleet. Since then, the company has continued to invest in the brand and now operates four Kobelco machines.

Its latest addition is the Kobelco SK235SR-7, a short-radius excavator chosen specifically for the demanding nature of the company’s work.

“The reason we went with the SK235SR-7 was that we needed something close to the 30-tonne range, but still capable of working in tight spaces with zero tail swing,” Brad said.

“It also needed the stability and strength to handle drilling and pole driving at the depths and weights we’re working with.”

For WPR, hydraulic performance is one of the most important considerations when selecting equipment. The business regularly changes between specialised attachments, each requiring different flow and pressure settings depending on the application and ground conditions.

“The hydraulic system is critical for us,” Brad said.

“We run multiple attachments, all of which require different pressure and flow settings.”

“The ability for the operator to adjust those settings directly in the cab is a huge advantage.”

The ability to make adjustments on site helps improve productivity while allowing operators to quickly optimise machine performance for different tasks without requiring additional support.

While hydraulic performance is essential, Brad says stability remains one of the machine’s standout features.

Pile driving and foundation work regularly places equipment under significant loads, often requiring operators to work at full reach while handling substantial weights.

“We push our machines hard,” Brad said.

“We’re often working at full reach and close to maximum lifting capacity.”

It’s demanding work, but the Kobelco handles it well. It’s a strong, robust machine that does exactly what it’s built to do.

The SK235SR-7’s combination of lifting performance and compact dimensions has proven particularly valuable for projects where space is limited but machine capability cannot be compromised.

According to Brad, the machine’s stability continues to impress.

“Stability is one of the biggest benefits, especially with zero tail swing,” he said.

“We recently had around five tonnes hanging off the end of the machine, and with the added lift function, it gave us that extra bit of power when we needed it.”

The machine’s performance is matched by a focus on operator comfort, an area Brad believes has become increasingly important as operators spend long hours in the cab.

“From an operator’s perspective, the feedback has been really positive,” Brad said.

“The cab is spacious and comfortable, with features like Bluetooth, air conditioning, heating and adjustable seating.”

“It makes a big difference when operators are spending long hours in the machine.”

Fuel efficiency has also been a welcome surprise, particularly given the high-demand nature of WPR’s work and the constant use of hydraulic attachments.

“Fuel efficiency has also been impressive,” Brad said.

“We’re running at full revs most of the time to power our attachments, but we haven’t seen a noticeable increase in fuel costs.”

Supporting WPR’s latest purchase was Kobelco New Zealand Sales Representative Dave Neilson, who worked closely with the company to identify the right machine for the application.

Having spent years in the equipment industry before joining Kobelco, Dave understood the challenges facing operators working in specialised foundation applications.

“I’ve been working with Brad since I joined Kobelco,” Dave said.

“Initially, we discussed smaller machines, but as their needs evolved, it became clear they required something larger that could still operate in tighter spaces.”

“The SK235SR-7 was the perfect fit.”

For Brad, the relationship with the Kobelco team has been just as important as the machine itself.

“The relationship with Dave and the team has been excellent,” he said.

“We presented them with what we needed to achieve, and together we landed on a machine that suits us perfectly.”

With four Kobelco excavators now operating within the business and a strong workload ahead, Waikato Post Ramming remains confident in its equipment strategy.

“We’re really happy with the machines,” Brad said.

“And as the business grows, we’ll continue to add more to the fleet.”

Featured in Deals on Wheels.