Local Ballarat business Eureka Concrete is enjoying the work of a new Isuzu agitator, which has quickly become a key part of the fleet.

There is nothing better than putting the keys into the ignition of a brand-new truck.

Eureka Concrete in Ballarat is doubling down on that golden feeling, having recently collected a bright yellow FYJ 300-350 Auto concrete agitator to add to their growing Isuzu fleet.

The business has been providing concreting services in Ballarat, Ballan, Beaufort and Maryborough in Victoria for over 50 years. Alongside their four concrete plants, the family-owned and operated business also runs a quarry in Amphitheatre.

“Back when our dad, Graeme Beaston first started the business 52 years ago, he had two concrete trucks and a front-end loader,” explains Eureka Concrete Manager, Troy Beaston.

“I’ve been here for over 30 years with my three brothers also working for the business. We now run around 45 concrete trucks plus a few tippers.”

Concrete workhorse

While Eureka Concrete can be found delivering concrete for government and commercial projects, they also provide product for domestic builds, industrial sites, windfarms and local mining operations.

Their range of eye-catching washed pebble finishes and coloured concretes that utilise pigments when blending offers a striking rainbow of options to satisfy any customers’ designer dreams.

Eureka Concrete General Manager Troy Beaston.

Trucks in Eureka’s fleet, such as their new FYJ Auto Agitator, will take on five to six loads per day on average, with some days jumping up to as many as 10 loads. This is prevalent on “the sunny days which are always busy,” according to Troy.

Eureka’s new FYJ Agitator would probably travel up to 200 or 300 kilometres a day and be in operation for up to 10 hours.

As one of the largest trucks in Isuzu’s model range, sitting at a GVM of 30,000 kg, the FYJ Agitator is underpinned by a 6UZ1-TCC turbocharged engine, producing 257 kW of power @ 2,000 rpm and 1,422 Nm of torque @ 1,400 rpm.

With this kind of power under the hood, the truck can haul a whole lot of concrete, with no worries about lasting the distance for Eureka’s job roster.

Power assisted recirculating ball steering combined with heavy-duty Allison 4430 automatic transmission makes handling loads that much easier. Despite its hefty size, the FYJ has a reasonably tight 17.9-metre kerb-to-kerb turning circle.

“We decided to go with the Isuzu FYJ because of its high horsepower and its manoeuvrability,” Troy says.

“We appreciate that they are such a well-presented vehicle as we put a high value on presentation of product along with quality.”