The equipment fleet
In an industry where downtime is the enemy, Benevento Companies has found a strategic partner in Equipment East – owned by Giovanni Albanese and Andrea Ciano – and Develon equipment.
While some operations chase the most complex features, Allard and Johnny Benevento have doubled down on a fleet that prioritizes power, visibility and operator comfort.
The Wilmington facility and the expanding New Hampshire pits rely heavily on the articulated dump trucks and wheel loaders. These machines are the ideal size for the volume of material Benevento moves daily. Additionally, the company added a Develon excavator for its quarries and sandpits in New Hampshire.
The articulated haulers are tasked with everything from developing new quarry benches to hauling raw feed to the plants. And, Allard says, they’re easy to transport to other sites outside of Wilmington, such as the company’s new concrete plant in New Hampshire.
Allard says the Develon equipment has been notably more reliable than other brands they’ve run, reducing the headache of unplanned downtime.
“The service and the dealership relationship with Equipment East have been key for us,” Allard says. “A lot of people prefer a certain brand of equipment, and when you put something different in front of them, you get resistance right away. But we’ve had positive feedback about the ease of operations, the simplicity of the machine and the visibility.”
While the company might seem averse to unnecessary gadgets, the Transparent Bucket feature in the Develon wheel loaders is a welcomed exception.
“The Transparent Bucket has been a huge benefit from a safety standpoint,” Allard says. “This is a busy place, and the ‘see-through’ wheel loader bucket enhances the visibility and safety in the quarry as the machines are loading trucks and working near each other.”
Challenges and growth: The road ahead
Navigating a century in the aggregate industry requires more than just heavy machinery; it requires the ability to pivot as the regulatory and social landscape shifts.
As Benevento Companies looks toward its next decade, the road ahead is paved with both the challenges of modern compliance and the opportunities of regional expansion.
One of the most significant challenges facing the operation is the changing perception of the local community. Allard points to the “not in my backyard” sentiment as a constant hurdle.
While the quarry is a fixture of the Wilmington landscape, the realities of mining – noise, dust and truck traffic – require constant management and strict environmental compliance.
For the Benevento team, the challenge is communicating this value to a public that relies on these materials but often prefers that the production stay out of sight.
Despite these pressures, Benevento Companies is not standing still. The company has aggressively expanded its footprint, particularly into the New Hampshire market. This growth includes the opening of two additional sandpits and a new concrete plant. Moving into new areas has introduced the company to a whole new clientele over the past six years, providing a buffer against local market fluctuations.
For the Benevento family, nearly 100 years in the aggregate business isn’t just a milestone; it’s momentum. As the fourth generation takes the wheel, they are doing so with a firm grip on the traditions that built the company and a keen eye for the equipment that will sustain it.
“Don’t be lazy,” Johnny says, echoing the family mantra. “We’re not running a bank here.”
Ryan Johnson is public relations and content strategy manager at Two Rivers Marketing. Information for this article was provided by Develon North America.
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