J.B. Esker & Sons Inc. believes in sticking
with a product that works well. The Teutopolis-based company
has been using Case loader backhoes since 1971 and has no intentions
of changing.
The company started in 1947 as a concrete contractor, and branched
out into excavation related to its concrete work in 1971, said
Bill Esker, president. It purchased its first backhoe from the
Case dealer in Mattoon that's now Birkey's. “Back then,
Case was the only decent backhoe around, and today, Case continues
to be a leader in backhoes,” Esker observed.
He's had plenty of time to get to know the machinery, as the
company has continued to purchase Case loader backhoes, as well
as other Case equipment, over the last 35 years. Currently,
J. B. Esker & Sons owns five 580 loader backhoes, a CX210
trackhoe and an 1845 skid steer. A
good working relationship with the dealership, as well as employees
who like the maneuverability and ease of operation of Case machinery,
has added to Esker's brand loyalty.
“The Case machines have been dependable, and we seem
to be able to get more hours out of them as they keep being
improved,” he noted. Generally, Esker trades in a loader
backhoe at 6,000 hours and a trackhoe at around 10,000 hours.
J. B. Esker & Sons' technicians handle most of the work
on the equipment themselves. “Case equipment is pretty
easy to maintain and the technicians don't have to wrestle to
get access to any parts,” Esker said. “Servicing
them goes pretty smoothly.”
For warranty work, the company depends on Birkey's. “We
have a really good relationship with the shop,” Esker
said. For example, “our new trackhoe was losing power,
and it only had about 100 hours on it. We took it in so Birkey's
could have a look at it. They gave me a loaner so we didn't
have any downtime while the machine was being repaired.”
Dependable machinery and loaned equipment are important to
J. B. Esker & Sons, which digs about 250 basements annually
and employs up to 100 people during the busy season.
“We're having to pay people more and travel more, so
breakdowns can get really expensive,” Esker said. “It's
not just the operator, but six or eight guys on the job that
we're paying when equipment is down. It can get to be quite
a mess” unless there's a replacement machine available
so work can go on as scheduled.
J. B. Esker & Sons also has a good relationship with Birkey's
parts department. The contractor even stocks some parts at its
own shop and makes them available to other contractors in the
area. “Birkey's keeps up with what we have and makes sure
we have what we need. They'll even take back parts that no one
needs,” Esker said.
In addition to Bill Esker, five other children of founder J.B.
Esker continue to work at the family business, which does both
residential and commercial concrete work around Effingham. Larry
handles inventory and ordering materials for jobs; Joe handles
personnel and layout of commercial work; Steve does drafting
and residential work; Kathy handles payroll and administrative
work; and Greg does residential estimating and decorative concrete.
The Esker family's relationship with the people at Birkey's
dates back as far as the contractor's relationship with Case.
Esker noted he's known Don Spence, manager of the Mattoon store,
“since the 1970s, when Don started as a mechanic there.”
Spence has been Esker's sales rep for years. “Don understands
our needs,” Esker said. “He keeps track of the ages
of our machinery and he keeps me informed of current incentives,
suggesting when it might be a good time to take advantage of
the right program.”
Together, dependable equipment from Case and excellent service
from Birkey's are the unbeatable combination that has kept J.
B. Esker & Sons a satisfied customer for 35 years and counting.
|
