Working on power rooms and structures demands a combination of construction expertise, precision, and equipment capable of working safely in some of the most constrained environments on a civil construction site. It’s a common scenario for civil contractor FRR Cinel, whose primary current focus is on electrical infrastructure, particularly the construction and redevelopment of substations. Based in Laverton North, Victoria, the business has developed a civil construction capability spanning earthworks, road construction, drainage, electrical and communications infrastructure, commercial and industrial buildings, and domestic construction.

Director Ralph Cinel said the company has operated for more than 40 years, with the family business now heading into its third generation. “Although we’re a civil construction company, we’re also builders. We build the substations and terminal stations all over Victoria,” he said. That work can involve constructing new stations or rebuilding existing facilities, as well as distribution and zone substations that form an important link between high-voltage transmission infrastructure and the electricity network supplying surrounding suburbs. FRR Cinel’s own project portfolio includes transmission and distribution projects such as the Tullamarine, North Brighton, Keysborough and Broadmeadows zone substations.

Its work can encompass bulk earthworks and excavation, structural concrete, feeder conduit reticulation, control rooms, transformer enclosures, drainage and pavement construction. Projects can take place on greenfield sites or within existing operating stations, where crews may need to work around live overhead and underground services. It is an environment in which equipment selection matters.

Compactness counts

FRR Cinel operates Kobelco excavators from 1.2 tonne all the way up to 38 tonne, alongside graders, water carts, rollers, and dump trucks. Ralph said among the most valued machines were the telehandlers, with the business recently replacing its first two purchased around eight years earlier with two new ones from dealer Melbourne Tractors. Ralph has remained loyal to one brand: Merlo. He said the telehandlers, old and new, have become fundamental to the way his crews work. “The Merlos are an important part of this business, especially because of their low profile and compact design,” he said. That compact format becomes valuable inside substations, where overhead elliptical lines can hang lower than those encountered along roads. The two Merlo TF27.6s are used for a combination of lifting, loading and material handling duties. Equipped with forks, jibs and Two Merlo TF27.6s are used for a combination of lifting, loading and material handling duties. buckets, they can move materials around

the site, lift and position loads, and work as compact loading machines where a larger loader would struggle to gain access. “The ability to perform several roles from the same machine is particularly useful when working around the dense infrastructure of a substation,” Ralph said. “A telehandler can move into a restricted area, pick up a load with forks, position materials using the boom and attachments, or assist with loading excavated material. “The TF27.6 dimensions are central to its usefulness. We chose those machines because they’re small and nimble. We can get into areas where large ones can’t.”

Precision where it matters

The Merlo TF27.6 is a compact telehandler with a maximum lifting capacity of 2700kg, a lifting height of 5.9 metres and a maximum reach of 3.3m. It is powered by a 75hp engine, with a compact package designed to provide material-handling capability without demanding excessive space. For FRR Cinel, those characteristics influence how the machines can be used on site. “The Merlos are accurate and precise with lifting, and very smooth,” Ralph said. “You can make adjustments and they can lift quicker. It’s actually an amazing bit of equipment.” That precision is important when positioning materials around electrical structures, where operators need to understand exactly where the machine, boom and load are in relation to the surrounding infrastructure.

Visibility is another quality Ralph likes. “You can see right around the cab, which is important for safety,” he said. “Being able to see electrical infrastructure and what’s around you at all times is very important.” Merlo’s compact telehandler design places emphasis on the operator environment, with the TF27.6 featuring an ergonomic cab layout, air conditioning, a steering-wheel reverse shuttle that is also incorporated into the joystick, 180-degree cab entry, and features including EPD Eco Power Drive and implement recognition. Boom suspension is also available. Ralph remembers what the company used before buying its first telehandlers. “We used backhoes and front loaders with forks on the front,” he said. “I will never, ever go back to that. I am lost without my Merlo telehandlers.” Ralph said the TF27.6 gives the operator the reach, visibility, and manoeuvrability associated with a purpose-built telehandler, while retaining the compact footprint required by FRR Cinel’s sites.

More than a machine

While the TF27.6s have earned Ralph’s confidence, his loyalty to Merlo is not based on equipment alone. The relationship with Melbourne Tractors has been equally important. FRR Cinel has been dealing with Melbourne Tractors for more than a decade, and Ralph purchased his Merlo telehandlers and Kobelco excavators through the dealership. “They’re just brilliant,” he said. “The service department is fantastic. They play a big part in maintaining and servicing all my equipment.

They’re a multi-skilled service agent.” Melbourne Tractors has operated in Victoria since 1983 and supports construction and earthmoving customers from its Somerton and Dandenong branches. Its equipment portfolio includes telehandlers, excavators, positracks, skid steer loaders, site dumpers as well as all the attachments available for the construction industry.

For a contractor working on critical infrastructure, after-sales support is not a secondary consideration. Machine availability, servicing, and parts support can directly affect project schedules. Ralph said that was why he looked at the complete package rather than simply the purchase price. “I’m very loyal in the way I operate, and I stick with the brand if the backup and service are good and the equipment is reliable,” he said. “Number one, the machines are Merlo. The Merlo telehandlers have stood out for their ability to undertake a range of tasks on site. FRR Cinel Director Ralph Cinel and Melbourne Tractors Territory Sales Manager Shaun Pollard. Number two, the service and backup are impeccable. That’s everything.” He said while cheaper machines were available, buying equipment is about more than the initial saving. Reliability, parts availability, and dealer support also contribute to the real cost of ownership. “You need to see the whole picture, not just the price or the cost,” he said.

Built into the future

FRR Cinel has reached a point where its workload is providing a strong forward outlook, with Ralph saying the company is booked out for the next two and a half years on its substation projects. That makes dependable equipment even more important. The two Merlo TF27.6 telehandlers are already working every day, and Ralph expects their numbers to grow. “I’ll definitely get more Merlos as an addition or replacement,” he said. “At this point in time we’ve got two, but I reckon I need one more. “I’ll be going straight to Melbourne Tractors for that. I’ve always been with them and Merlo. If you deal with people who look after you and the equipment is good, why change?”