Still going strong October 2009

Over the past 14 years, SG Gilchrist Haulage Ltd. has forged an unrivalled reputation as one of the island’s premier groundworks specialists. Today, the Banbridge, County Down headquartered company is still going strong, with the best plant, personnel and expertise in place to provide a premium service at all times.

Business models can be as simple or as complicated as you want them to be. Here at Irish Trucker, we’re great believers in keeping things simple. Bottom line is: to succeed in the world of heavy machinery, you don’t require a pocketful of degrees, nor do you need to be a pseudo intellectual rocket scientist. Hard work, honesty and common sense go a long, long way in the haulage sector (or, indeed, in any walk of life).

These are the kind of wholesome qualities that permeate every fabric of thriving groundworks / excavation company SG Gilchrist Ltd. MD Gordon Gilchrist doesn’t have any secrets too impart regarding his success – his winning formula is clear for all to see.

A low loader ready for business

He and his company offer customers a service they can depend on; he works hard; he invests time and capital into his enterprise; he’s available around the clock to answer queries and deal with problems that might arise; he makes his service as affordable as possible; he utilises and entrusts only the very best plant, tools, equipment and personnel. In a nutshell: a professional service that operates punctually and at a reasonable rate.

Over the years, Gordon has earned SG Gilchrist Haulage a reputation that’s second to none - that’s why the company is thriving today, even in the face of a sharp economic downturn.
With a proven track record, SG Gilchrist offers an excellent groundworks service. Though predominantly operating in the greater Belfast, Lisburn, Donore and Hillsborough areas at present, the service is available nationwide, throughout Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. No job is ever considered to large or too small. “We have the fleet, the machinery, the personnel and the expertise all in place and ready to roll,” the MD promises.

Employing a staff of 13 at present and operating an extensive fleet that incorporates eight tippers, four diggers and an assortment of bulldozers and low loaders as well as other trucks and trailers, SG Gilchrist is rolling up its sleeves in these harsh economic times, determined to weather the storm and continue providing a top-quality service:

A track machine ready to roll

“Everybody has experienced a slowdown since the recession kicked in, and we’re no different,” Gordon concedes. “Nobody can come out and say they’re confident about the future, because things are unpredictable and it wouldn’t be wise to make a sweeping statement like that, but we’re going to give it our best shot. Things are hard for everyone at the moment, but we provide a quality service and have done so from the very start. We’ll continue to do so.

“We have an excellent reputation and that should serve us well. We’re available for all kinds of groundworks, excavating, earthworks and muck-shifting projects – roads, construction, housing developments, sports grounds, clubhouses, factories, hotels etc. - basically any development work.
“We’re versatile and flexible and we have vast experience in a wide range of areas, so we’ll consider any job.”

SG Gilchrist Haulage has worked all over Ulster and beyond, operating out of its main yard in Banbridge since 1995. Using highly-trained and competent operatives and the latest state-of-the-art equipment, the company also undertakes some quarry work from time to time.

Based at 1 Blackscull Road, Banbridge, County Down, SG Gilchrist is ideally located to carry out work on both sides of the border. A fully qualified mechanic, Gordon grew up surrounded by trucks and machinery. His father William and his uncles Sam and Sandy owned a block-making company in Banbridge called S Gilchrist Block Manufacture. As he was surrounded by trucks as a youngster, it was almost inevitable that Gordon would end up working in the haulage sector himself. Since taking over at the helm of the family business, he has never looked back.

Gordon takes great pride in his fleet, which reflects the image of the company. In so far as is humanly possible, he tries to keep the fleet of machinery as fresh and modern as possible, with most items replaced by newer models every two to three years. All equipment is maintained at all times in perfect working order and the highest Health & Safety standards are adhered to across the board in all aspects of the operation.
The drivers and operatives are all trained and qualified in accordance with the best-practice industry standards and customers include the likes of: John McQuillan Contracts (Belfast); William Cross Contractor; Graham’s of Donore; McAvoy Construction; TJ Shields (Ballinahinch); Leslie Wright, Newtownards; Tullyraine Quarries in Banbridge; Budore Quarries in Belfast; Thompson Recycle Oils; and Tom Earney, Lisburn.

The company also worked on the A1 Sprucefield to Beech Hill Bypass for Brian Herron Contracts, which is the first phase of the main Belfast to Dublin route starting at the M1 motorway. SG Gilchrist holds both a waste carrier licence and a waste permit licence.
The company has provided a quality service in a specialist area for the pat 15 years. With the attention to detail and the focus on customer satisfaction as strong as its ever been, there’s no reason why SG Gilchrist won’t continue to be a major player in its field for many more years to come.

SG Gilchrist Haulage Limited,
1 Blackscull Road
Banbridge
County Down
Tel: 0(044)28 40622990 or 0(044)78 50201816.