By Kate Zanoni
SPECIAL TO CEG
Frank Marini worked for 11 years doing curbing and sidewalk work for his uncle’s construction company before founding M & L Construction, based in Trumball, Conn., in 1983. When he went out on his own, his uncle initially helped get him started.
In the company’s early years, its focus was curb and sidewalk work, primarily for municipalities. A few years later, the company expanded into doing excavating and concrete foundation work.
Building a Fleet
M & L Construction has accumulated a significant inventory from Mass-Conn Equipment Inc. through its Vice President of Sales Christopher Reseska. The inventory includes 10 Kobelco excavators; two New Holland loaders; two Kawasaki loaders; and one Metso box screener.
In addition to its growing fleet, the company also rents from Mass- Conn.
Marini purchased his first piece of equipment, a Kobelco SK-200 Mark III 47,000-lb. (21,319 kg) excavator, in 1993 through Reseska and Mass-Conn. He originally purchased the machine because he liked the feel of the controls, the spaciousness of the cab, and its smooth operation.
Marini still owns the machine, which now has 12,000 hours of operation, and has been virtually trouble-free. The only money he has invested in the Kobelco is routine maintenance. The excavator has now been outfitted with a 4,000-lb. Indeco hammer.
He also owns a New Holland LW-170 3.5-yd. (3.2 m) loader that has 6,000 hours on it and a Kawasaki 85Z4 5-yd. (4.6 m) loader. To purchase the Kawasaki, Mass-Conn offered Marini a rental purchase program.
“Our most recent purchase from Mass-Conn is a Kobelco 210 excavator, which Eastern also worked with us on a rental purchase program. Currently most of the machines that we purchased from Mass-Conn are done on a rental purchase basis,” he said.
“One of the most profitable machines I purchased from Mass-Conn is our Metso screening plant that we purchased approximately six years ago. Making and separating material on the job has proven to be very valuable to us. Using soil and aggregate material that we have produced on site gives us a tremendous savings and helps eliminate the hassle of moving material in and out of the job site,” he added.
Going the Extra Mile
Marini said the reason he does business with Mass-Conn is in part the people: “Jonathon Hallberg and Lawre Casler, who are principles of Mass-Conn, along with Christopher Reseska, have been an absolute pleasure to deal with.”
He also appreciate’s Mass-Conn’s commitment to service.
“If I have a problem with any of my machines, it is usually taken care of that same day. If it cannot be remedied and I need a machine they are great at getting one to me,” he said.
“Mass-Conn has gotten me out of a bind on several occasions,” Marini added. “There have been times when I have needed a machine and it was delivered on site an hour later.
“My sales rep, Christopher Reseska, is a great guy. He goes out of his way to properly identify the machines that I will need and get them delivered to me in a timely manner. Oftentimes he can assist me in sizing up a job and identifying the specific machines that I will need for that job. I can honestly say that Christopher is a ’get it done’ kind of guy and that is much of the reason why we have had a thirteen-year relationship with Mass- Conn.”
In the Works
Marini is currently working at the Wallingford Public Library, adding a 30,000-sq.-ft. (2,787 sq m) addition to its current facility. The project started in March 2006 and is scheduled for completion in 2007.
M & L Construction is doing all of the site work, utility work and paving. Marini’s portion of the work is an $800,000 job. The entire project is valued at $10 million.
Project Specs
The project involves moving 15,000 yds. (13,716 m) of material; bringing in 10,000 tons (9,072 t) of aggregate; and installing 3,000 ft. (9,144 m) of utilities, including gas, water and electric. The paving will involve 1,800 tons (1,633 t) of asphalt.
The job is complicated by a tightly confined working area, especially since the library is still open to the public, which creates some traffic issues.
About M & L
Construction
M & L Construction has approximately 15 employees. Most of its work is done in the Fairfield County area of Connecticut.
Marini has two sons in the business, Gatano and Alessandro, and his wife Marie is the company president.
The company handles approximately $2 million of work each year, 90 percent of which is commercial work. A substantial amount of work is done as a subcontractor to A & P Construction in Stanford, Conn., doing school construction.
For more information, call 203/268-1662. CEG
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