Hill Engineering Supplies Auto-Loc Excavator Quick Hitch To Woods Equipment Company

Hill Engineering Ltd has signed an agreement to supply its 'Safety First' Auto-Loc excavator quick hitch to Woods Equipment Company, one of the USA's largest independent manufacturers and suppliers of construction and agricultural equipment attachments.

Woods Equipment Company provides customers in the USA and Canada with a large selection of attachments for excavators, wheel loaders, tractor loader backhoes and skid steer loaders. Auto-Locs are now being manufactured by Hill and delivered to Woods for sale in the United States. All hitches are produced at Hill Engineering's factory in Newry, Co. Down, Ireland. Invest Northern Ireland has helped Hill Engineering to ramp up its overseas marketing capability, as well as significantly improve productivity and efficiency at its Newry factory.

The supply deal was signed by Hill Engineering's founder and Managing Director, Ian Hill, and representatives of Woods Equipment Company at the CONEXPO 2008 event in Las Vegas.

Ian Hill said, "There is no American-made quick hitch with the unique safety features to be found in the Auto-Loc, which is why Woods Equipment Company has decided to take it on board. The sales agreement represents a major breakthrough for us as it gives us inroads into Woods' vast distribution network of more than 2,000 construction equipment dealers across North America and Canada."

Woods Equipment Company’s Chairman, President & CEO, Fred Korndorf, said: "The Auto-Loc is fully automatic, with a visible safety mechanism, so there is no need for the operator to leave the excavator cab to remove or insert a safety pin when changing from one attachment to another. This rules out the risk of a safety pin being inserted incorrectly or not being inserted at all, which is why we consider it to be the safest and best engineered quick hitch on the market today."

Graham Davis, Invest NI's Director of Regional Economic Development, said: "The high quality and innovative nature of Hill Engineering's product has differentiated the company from its competitors and is indicative of the high level of technical expertise shown by Northern Ireland engineering manufacturers. Having identified a commercial opportunity, the company has successfully brought its products to market and is performing strongly, adding significant value to the local economy."

"This deal with Woods Equipment Company is an indicator of the high esteem in which Hill Engineering's products are held in the market. I wish both companies every success with their working relationship going forward."