In the competitive world of earthmoving and excavation, efficiency, precision and adaptability are what sets Contractors apart and provides them with a competitive edge. For Hawke’s Bay-based contractor Can You Dig It, these aren’t just buzzwords; they are the guiding principles that have propelled them to stand out in their region.

Founder Paris Richards left school at 17 to work as a fencer, he got into his fair share of trouble as a teenager, but soon found his passion in Civil Construction. He set his sights on creating a business that not only provides for his family, but also gives back to the community.

Specialising in small to medium-scale earthmoving, rural and general civil works, Can You Dig It is the type of Owner/Operator company that you’ll find across regional New Zealand, but there are a few elements of their story that makes them stand out from the crowd.

The early adoption of Leica technology

The decision to integrate technology into the operation was made back in 2018 with the purchase of their first Leica Survey Rover. At that time, it was uncommon for contractors to have access to survey technology, and even more so for a smaller company. Investment in a Leica machine control excavator system quickly followed providing real-time, highly accurate positioning and guidance and ensuring every cut, fill and grade meets exact specifications.

Fast forward to today and at the heart of Can You Dig It’s operational skillset lays their sophisticated fleet that includes state-of-the-art Leica iCON MC1 machine control systems, tilt rovers and their own base station.

Paris’ advice to any Contractor looking to get into technology? “My advice never changes. Start with the rover. Once you master it, you’re unstoppable in terms of precision, speed and efficiency. Even today I see many companies just buy machine control to tick a box, not to truly embrace it. An owner-operator with a rover and a machine control system is the ultimate tool for production—because when you’re the one paying the bills, you squeeze every bit of value out of it.”

By embracing smart technology, the team has seriously upped their game — turning tough challenges into smooth wins and getting way more done in a day. It’s all about working smarter, not harder.

Game-changing versatility with engcon tiltrotators

One of the most prominent technological advantages employed by Can You Dig It is their engcon tiltrotators. Often referred to as “an excavator’s swiss army knife” an engcon tiltrotator is a hydraulic attachment that enables an excavator bucket to rotate 360 degrees and tilt up to 45 degrees, all while remaining attached to the machine.

Can you Dig It now have three engcon tiltrotators across their fleet of excavators of various sizes; 1.8 T, 5.5 T and 14 T. They’ve also acquired a wide range of attachments such as buckets, stone grabs, pallet forks and a road sweeping brush. The range of machinery and attachments plays a key role in ensuring they have the equipment to tackle any job with efficiency.

Whether it’s shaping up detailed landscaping, digging trenches at just the right angles or moving materials in tight spots, the tiltrotator gives Operators the flexibility and control to get it done fast and accurately — without all the extra machine repositioning or slow manual work.

Paris told us “We’re in a time where efficiency matters more than ever. Once clients see the value of bringing in an experienced Operator with the right equipment, they realise it translates into lower site costs and delivers better results. At Can You Dig It, we’re embracing a future where smarter, more cost-effective methods lead the way. Tiltrotators save time, reduce rework, and burn less diesel, helping not only your bottom line but also the planet.”

There is true efficiency with using a well-equipped single machine to do the entire job. The tiltrotator enables the Operator to have full control and to place material with precision — no need for extra hands in tight or hazardous spaces. From a safety perspective, this is a big step forward. The ability to work safely in challenging conditions like wet winter ground means no seasonal downtime and every time people are removed from around moving machinery, risk is reduced onsite.

Contractor’s resilience shines through after Cyclone Gabrielle

13 & 14 February 2023 are dates etched in Hawkes Bay resident’s collective memory as the area was hard hit by category 3 tropical Cyclone Gabrielle. This severe weather event caused widespread damage and flooding and resulted in over 70,000 residents left isolated and without basic services such as water and power.

As the country’s authorities mounted a disaster response, a small band of local Civil Contractors, including Paris, got straight to work going out in their boats to rescue people who were stranded by the floods. In the coming days, as the area was waking up to wide-spread devastation and shock at the large clean up job in front of them, they were the first responders on the ground in rural areas putting their excavators to work to clear the enormous about of debris from waterways and roads so that emergency services could access the area.

“As a proud Hawke’s Bay local, I will never forget the week and months after Cyclone Gabrielle. We all just did what we could, it was a time that revealed the strength of our community and the resilience of those who stepped up to help.”

Two years later, Paris and a small group of other local Contractors were officially recognised for their “bravery and courage” with a Certificate of Appreciation from the NZ Police.

Standing behind the technology

Trusted technical support has played an important part in the Can You Dig It journey, they rely on the expert team at Global Survey who can be called on for both remote support, including accessing the equipment via the internet, and also visits from Field Technicians when needed. Nobody likes downtime, you need to know that there’s a hive mind team of experts that can solve any issues quickly and get you up and running again.

“I’m very impressed with Paris, he’s actively adopted new technology and upskilled himself in the process. He’s a great example of how advanced tools in the right hands can transform the landscape and maximise efficiency on projects. It’s great to see how his business has grown over the years and how they’ve secured their competitive edge in the Hawkes Bay. Construction technology has become a solid part of the industry now, it’s all about helping teams deliver top-quality work as efficiently as possible!” – Danie Mostert, Regional Manager – Global Survey