For civil contracting business Hart Civil, Kobelco is well and truly king. And it’s all thanks to the team at STM Trucks & Machinery.
The NSW-based company went to machinery dealer STM Trucks & Machinery looking for a Kobelco, and eventually came away with three.
Now that’s a testament not only to the sales team at STM, but also to the quality of the actual equipment.
But we’ll get to that later.
Hart Civil has been slowly and surely making a name for itself in the civil construction and earthmoving sectors since it was started up by director and owner Trent Ford almost exactly four years ago, in July 2020.
“We specialise in stormwater drainage but have extensive experience in the subdivisional aspect of civil construction,” Trent said.
“We have worked on many large scale projects and subdivisions across greater Sydney and Southern Highlands, as well as stormwater upgrades at Port Kembla Race Track, with the biggest to date being the Twin Service Station rebuild carried out at Pheasants Nest.”
As the business started to expand, Trent said he was in the market for a 14 tonne knuckle boom excavator.
Knuckle booms have extra joints providing more flexibility of movement as they can then swing right or left when digging, and can reach places that may not be possible with a standard excavator.
So where do go when you start shopping?
For Trent, he had to start with tried and trusted local businesses … and the name that stood out was STM.
“The Kobelco was a trusted machine and I knew STM was the place for the brand,” he said.
“I chose STM as it was a reputable, local and trustworthy dealer, plus I also had a previous
colleague that worked there at the time in the sales department.”
Trent said that finding a Kobelco was essential to the works the company was doing at the time.
“I wanted to make an investment in machinery that would be beneficial to our business and all future works to ensure we could increase our capabilities and services we offer,” he said.
Since becoming an authorised dealer for Kobelco in 2008, STM has grown as a business across all departments – sales, service, parts, and more – for the brand, selling both new and used models.
It is guided by a mission to give every customer the best experience possible – from great deals and finance advice to friendly after- sales service and quality parts.
So when Trent visited the STM yards and inspected the huge range of Kobelcos on show, he was like a kid in a candy store.
“STM sales manager Mark Morris gave us the rundown on the Kobelcos, and we walked out the door with one new model and one second- hand one,” Trent said.
“Then we followed that up with another new one this year.”
Trent’s need for a 14t knuckle boom excavator was filled by the acquisition of a Kobelco SK135-7, a 15t short radius excavator that delivers enhanced performance and productivity through harmonisation of mechanical power, operating speed and overall machine design.
Short radius machines are ideal for operators working on urban and residential jobsites and are increasingly popular due to ongoing requirements for roadworks and utility maintenance.
Kobelco first introduced the Short Radius (SR) concept in 1996 and now has the largest SR range on the market.
SR machines benefit from a smaller working footprint, which means that they can access tighter working areas.
“It’s a great digging machine with loads of power, and the layout of controls was all positioned well,” he said.
To boost the fleet, Trent also opted for a secondhand SK230-5, a short rear swing excavator for mid-sized machines, and fitted with a new and larger engine assembly for improved environmental protection.
“Even better, we got the warranty transferred for this item,” Trent said.
Earlier this year, Hart Civil was also quick off the mark to nab one of Kobelco’s new SK380SRLC-7 models, which offers powerful performance and productivity, precise controllability and excellent stability and lifting.
The new model is Kobelco’s heaviest and most capable short radius excavator to date, providing large conventional capability in a compact design.
The SK380SRLC-7 confidently takes on heavy-duty tasks up-close with only 305 mm of tail overhang.
Operating safely in a single road lane, it’s perfect for highway projects and applications requiring a larger machine in a restricted work area.
All three machines are now working regularly on Hart Civil projects.
Trent said the dealings with STM were a pleasure, from initial contact through to after- sales service and maintenance.
“They went out of their way to make you feel like family with their personalised service,” he said.
“All points of contact within STM are outstanding. All staff are friendly and helpful in any matter or items we require assistance with.
“We’ll be back for more. Definitely, STM will be the go-to every time.”