The benefits of using wheeled excavators can often be underestimated, but not so for a burgeoning civil plant hire company making its mark in the construction sector.
You have to admire the tenacity of anyone travelling half a world away to start up an earthmoving business.
That’s what two brothers – Niall and Edmund Swan – did in 2012, when they moved from Ireland’s 40 shades of green to the redder and much drier terrain of Western Australia.
The challenges were many, due to differences in climate, terrain, regulations, and equipment requirements.
The brothers had to adjust to extreme heat, arid landscapes, and vast remote areas, with soil conditions that vary from sandy and loose to hard-packed clay.
It was certainly a far cry from the emerald isle’s wetter climate with softer, often peat-rich soil that required different excavation techniques.
“Everything is different here in comparison to the ground conditions for earthworks but you just have to adapt to the environment and overcome any obstacles you face,” Niall said.
“And I think that’s what makes us stand out as an up and coming business in this sector.”
The business Niall refers to is SEP Civil, a company specialising in machine hire services for the construction and mining industries.
“Edmund and I were actually in Australia prior to 2012. We worked at home in the family business from 2004 right up to 2012. We were a turnkey company for the telecommunications industry in Ireland and the UK,” he said.
“We built everything form greenfield sites with towers up to 50m high to rooftop jobs in and around cities.
“We struggled to keep it open and eventually in 2012 we had to call it quits and make the move back to Australia.
“Edmund is a carpenter by trade and I’ve always been facilitated by machines, so after leaving Ireland, Edmund went to Sydney and worked as a formwork carpenter and I came to Perth and went back driving machines.”
In 2018, Edmund started up South-East Forms (SEF), a civil construction company specialising in civil construction, earthworks, and plant hire services. Three years later, Niall did the same, with SEP Civil.
In 2020 Edmund moved to Perth where he joined forces with Niall at SEP , with one of the first jobs being the Newest Alliancecontract for METRONET.
“With a rich background spanning over 25 years in civil construction and telecommunication infrastructure across Australia, Ireland, and the UK, we bring unparalleled expertise to every project,” Niall said.
“Our mission is to set a benchmark in mining and civil construction.
“We specialise in civil construction, providing superior quality and safety across earthworks, formwork, concrete services, carpentry, and plant hire.
“SEP provides wet and dry hire plant and equipment to the civil and mining sector here in WA, and we also provide skilled labour and operators to meet the needs of clients.”
Niall said current projects include work on the Perth METRONET lines, including the Thornlie to Cockburn link and the Yanchep rail extension. Other past assignments have included FMG’s Eliwana iron ore mine and the Indian Ocean Road upgrade.
“SEP and SEF are actually in the process of officially joining both companies under one banner, taking the next step to being a market leader in this industry and offering a complete package,” Niall said.
Develon delight
The SEP/SEF fleet consists of about 40 machines at the moment, including excavators, Posi-tracks, tipper trucks, water carts and telehandlers available for hire.
Among those, one class of machines has stood out for Niall: the wheeled excavators from Develon.
“I see a massive demand for wheeled excavators not only in the civil/metropolitan area but also in the mining sector,” he said.
“They are extremely versatile and have very beneficial applications for all areas of construction.”
Wheeled excavators of course offer many advantages when compared to their tracked counterparts.
They can travel faster, enabling operators to move quickly between job sites without requiring a trailer for transportation, saving time and logistics costs.
Their ability to operate on paved surfaces without damaging them makes them a preferred choice for city projects where minimal surface disruption is crucial.
Unlike tracked excavators, wheeled models also exert less pressure on the ground, reducing the risk of damaging asphalt, concrete, or sensitive terrain, making them ideal for projects in developed areas or where ground preservation is important.
And generally, wheeled excavators have lower maintenance costs for undercarriage components since they do not rely on tracks that wear down.
“We have three Develon wheeled excavators in our fleet at the moment – two DX140Ws and one DX190W and are hoping to secure our third DX140W soon, depending on availability.
“SEP was in business only a year or so before we got our first one, a DX190W. We chose the model as I had had several years operating wheeled excavators from Doosan Develon’s previous brand name and compared with other makes, I found them the most comfortable and operator friendly machines to drive.”
The Develons are powered by the high-performance DL06 diesel engine, known for its efficiency, durability, and reliability in construction and industrial applications.
The DX140W is ideal for urban and mid-sized projects, while the DX190W is built for more demanding, large-scale jobs.
Niall said he also found that they were well-priced.
“Obviously when working for someone else, the price of the machine wasn’t as much of a concern, but when we decided to buy our own for SEP, we found that the price was also competitive,” he said.
“Since buying our first one, we haven’t had a single bit of trouble with them or any warranty issues.”
Niall said SEP sourced the Develons from Clark Equipment based at the Perth suburb of Kenwick .. “and we always will”.
“The service at Clark is second to none. WA account manager Cameron Beath stays with you through the life of the machine, and any issues are dealt with personally and immediately,” he said.
“We couldn’t be happier with their pre-sale or after-sale service and have recommended them to everyone we deal with.
“Develon and Clark Equipment have worked seamlessly with us over the past four years to provide what we need when we need it, and that in itself has been hugely beneficial for us in providing what our clients require.
“As far as SEP and SEF go, we can see great things in the future as we build our brand and our reputation in the industry.
“The Develons and service from Clark are a big factor in helping us grow and learn along the way, in order to provide a service to our clients that they trust and appreciate because we appreciate them.”
Cameron said it was a delight working with Niall, who came to Clark four years ago showing great familiarity with the Develon/Doosan product.
“Niall’s first DX190W was put straight to long-term hire on a Perth METRONET project,” he said.
“He’s mentioned several times to me that the Develon excavators were the smoothest to operate out of the models he has worked with.
“Niall is also impressed with the Develon DL06 diesel engine, which he has found very reliable and easy to maintain.
Cameron said SEP was a beneficiary of Clark Equipment’s multi-faceted approach to servicing its customers.
“Utilising My Develon tracking technology, an expanding network of service agents and a growing skilled team of service technicians, Clark has continued to grow to meet the demands of the ever increasing amount of Doosan/Develons machines being used in the market,” he said.
“Our service department maintains and services Doosans throughout metropolitan and regional areas, and using its network of service agents for those customers with machines in remote WA who Clark can’t drive or fly to.
“Clark technicians are all highly trained to asses and repair machines as quickly as possible and are supported by a team of technical support officers. With My Develon, diagnosis and assistance can be done remotely.
“In supporting companies like SEP Civil, minimum downtime is the number one priority, so Clark maintains stores of critical parts and service kits ready to go at all times.
“The My Develon support team monitors all customers’ machines on a daily basis and contacts our customers pre-emptively if needed.”
