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CAT® CUSTOMER GROWS BUSINESS WITH MINI EXCAVATOR
From the red dirt of the southern U.S. to the rich black soil of America’s heartland, Jorge Ayala of STX Signals & Construction, LLC based in San Juan, Texas has taken his jobs to new heights – running loaders, backhoes, excavators and more. By hand, by machine – he’s put in the work and acquired the confidence to tackle all types of equipment.
He’s worked on small scale jobs alongside his dad – and has taken on bigger work with the railroad. He hasn’t backed down from anything that has come his way, no matter the distance.
“In construction you get to travel a lot. You're never in the same spot, you're moving around. It gives you time to really think about your life and what you want to do with it.”
Over the past few years, his outlook on work and life began to shift as he started to see more opportunity in the field. He felt the urge to follow the trusted advice of his late father and set fire to his entrepreneurial spirit. Now Ayala is doing business on his own – running a small operation in south Texas.
Until recently, he was borrowing equipment to complete various jobs, however, not owning his own machine came with a few challenges. Ayala realized he needed to consider buying his own piece of equipment to further advance his business. But to buy new or used was the question, he couldn’t decide. He was a fan of Cat machines and knew the strength of the brand, but he’d never been a Caterpillar customer. He wanted – a machine that had enough power and digging depth to complete his jobs while remaining easy to transport from jobsite to jobsite – a mini excavator that was compact and light but still packed with performance.
“I first started looking at the Cat 302.7 CR Mini Excavator. . . looking at used machines, and they were all expensive. After looking at prices, I sat down with my wife, she said to call our local Cat dealer and see how much a new one would be,” said Ayala.
“I knew I wanted Caterpillar. When I got to the Cat dealer and talked to Jerry, we started looking at options,” said Ayala. “I just wanted a small mini excavator, something that could get into tight spaces and move the dirt. I saw the 302.7 CR, and I had to have it. It was a nice machine. I knew it was lightweight and going to be exactly what I needed to improve my business.”
THE RIGHT TOOL FOR THE JOB
The 302.7 CR Mini Excavator would offer Ayala flexibility in the jobs he takes on. It delivers power and performance in a compact size to help him in a wide range of applications he does such as site prep, trenching, grading and more. The flexibility and versatility are really what initially drew him to the 302.7 CR.
While Ayala was set on a mini excavator, he wasn’t too certain one would be within reach. That’s when he took a chance and walked into his local Cat dealer – Holt and met the friendly face of Jerry Mize.
“I knew I wanted Caterpillar. When I got to the Cat dealer and talked to Jerry, we started looking at options,” said Ayala. “I just wanted a small Mini Excavator, something that could get into tight spaces and move the dirt. I saw the 302.7 CR, and I had to have it. It was a nice machine. I knew it was lightweight and going to be exactly what I needed to improve my business.”
That one friendly encounter at Holt changed things for Ayala and his business. From that day forward, he was a Caterpillar customer and a part of the family.
“I treat everyone the same – if they have a small operation or a big fleet, I look out for the customer as if I were doing the job,” said Mize. “A lot of my customers are people that have never owned a piece of machinery before. What I do is consult with them through my knowledge and experience. I help them to take the next step for their business.”
And through that encounter with Mize, not only did Ayala discover he could get exactly what he wanted and could afford it, but Mize let him know that rental options for attachments to use with his new mini excavator are unlimited.
“After using bigger machines, using a mini is so much easier to handle. You can easily get in and get out of tight spots, and the machine is versatile performing endless numbers of applications. I can add any attachment I need to help me do the work. And the performance is great,” said Ayala.
And his investment in a new Cat machine is paying off already. He can now take on different types of jobs—because he’s able to diversify the attachments and tools he uses with the 302.7 CR Mini Excavator. Holt’s sister company, Texas First Rentals, has already rented him both a hammer and an Auger to allow Ayala to familiarize himself with the attachments before potentially purchasing one of his own.
“It feels good to complete a job and know that you did good work. Sometimes customers can’t believe how much my Cat machine can do,” said Ayala. “I've been getting a lot of work. It's an amazing machine, and it comes with the lasting quality I need, so I can pass the business on to my sons.” Jorge Ayala is truly growing both a business and a legacy.
Go Further with Cat Mini Excavators
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2023-03-01 Attachments
March 01, 2023
Attachments tailor Cat machines to the specific requirements of a customer's working needs.
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Caterpillar Attachments enhance the productivity and utility of Caterpillar machines, equipping them for a wide range of tasks and operating requirements, and providing total system solutions for any job application. -
2022-03-30 Cat® Mini Excavator
March 30, 2022
Word on the job site? Next generation Cat® mini excavators are the total package. These revamped, highly versatile machines are ready for any job, from digging and trenching to backfilling and grading. Go big with Cat mini excavators.
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2020-11-10 Mini Excavators
November 10, 2020
Take advantage of our current offers on Cat® Mini Excavators — the most versatile machine for trenching, digging and site prep in tight spaces.
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