The Kobelco brand was never meant to be the hero of the BrisWide Excavation story. When founder Josh Scott first went looking for a machine of his own, he was leaning towards other makes — up until supply delays and a lack of interest from those manufacturers pushed him to “take a chance” on a Kobelco SK30SR mini excavator.
That one purchase worked so well that it reshaped the direction of the Brisbane-based business, paving the way for a growing fleet of Kobelco equipment at the heart of BrisWide’s expansion.
We caught up with Josh at one of the company’s project sites to discuss the secret to his success.
From driving to digging
Located in the south-east corner of Queensland’s capital city, BrisWide Excavation has grown rapidly over the past two-and-a-half years, driven by a focus on customer relationships and quality workmanship.
Before setting out on his own, Josh had been actively involved with earthmoving and mining jobs as well as driving trucks interstate, roles that kept him away from his family for long stretches.
Missing the birth of his first son became the catalyst for change, prompting him to step away from the highway and look for a way to work closer to home.
Josh started small, launching a landscaping business focused on softscaping, mowing and backyard work.
“A break came when I landed a project that required hiring in an excavator, and I quickly realised that digging was more lucrative — and physically easier — than pushing a lawnmower around,” he said.
“Although hiring an excavation combo was expensive, it allowed me to deliver jobs reliably, build trust with customers, and get my name circulating in local networks.”
Chasing a first machine
As the work grew, Josh began looking for his own excavator so he could stop relying on hired equipment and sharpen his margins. It was during the COVID period when machine supply was tight and lead times were blowing out across the industry.
Josh approached several manufacturers but was fended off or asked to “wait his turn”, with some dealers unable to give a realistic time frame on when a unit would be available.
One manufacturer insisted that Josh complete a site induction before a machine could be viewed, adding more barriers for a small but ambitious operator.
As a one-machine prospect, Josh felt he was not a priority. That experience shaped how seriously he would later value personal elationships, responsiveness, and straight answers from suppliers.
The turning point came when Josh picked up the phone and called BrisVegas Machinery, the Kobelco dealer in Brisbane, and spoke with sales representative Marco Marabini.
“What started as a loose phone call around 2021–2022 about whether I could buy a machine turned into the beginning of a long-term partnership,” Josh said.
“Marco promised a machine in a few weeks, and those words came backed with action rather than empty promises.”
Josh’s first machine from BrisVegas was an SK30SR, a three-tonne mini excavator.
It was more than just the power and versatility of the model that impressed Josh — it was the comfort within the compartment.
Coming from years of operating hired open-cab units, Josh found the enclosed cab with air conditioning a standout for jobs during both winter and the punishing Queensland summer, making long days on site far more manageable.
For a business evolving from backyard scraping to more substantial earthworks, that comfort was not a luxury; it directly influenced productivity and the willingness from his team to tackle longer, tougher shifts.
Josh had also wanted a smaller, nimble machine that could access tight urban sites without compromising on capability, and the SK30SR fit the bill.
“Once I had the opportunity to sit in the cab, see the layout and experience the comfort, the decision to move ahead with Kobelco became straightforward,” Josh said.
“Being invited into BrisVegas and treated irrespective of whether I had one machine or 50 reinforced this was a supplier I could grow with.”
Josh admitted that choosing Kobelco was “pot luck at first”, driven largely by the lack of interest from other manufacturers rather than a pre-existing brand preference. But the way Marco backed his brand, combined with the performance of that first SK30SR, meant the gamble paid off.
“The rest is history,” Josh said.
Building a business
Today, BrisWide Excavation delivers general excavation services for custom home builders, small-scale developments and multi-residential unit projects up to around 50 units.
The scope is deliberately broad: if a customer needs a shipping container moved or even “wants to rent a shovel”, Josh’s attitude is simple — “we’ll get it done for you”.
The core of the business is about resolving problems for customers rather than just supplying a machine and an operator,” he said.
Careful not to lose sight of his roots, Josh still takes on smaller jobs and refuses to turn away the core work that helped establish BrisWide’s early reputation.
“At the same time, larger builders are increasingly approaching the company with bigger, more complex projects, and the growth is noticeable,” he said.
“Watching those projects and our long-term customers scale up — for example, a retaining-wall builder who now engages BrisWide for a 2000-square-metre sub-grade — is one of the milestones I find most rewarding.
“We’re watching our customers grow, and we are growing with them.”
Kobelco is king
What began with that single SK30 has evolved into a fleet centred on Kobelco excavators, with machine number six already on the books and more to come.
BrisWide now runs units from the SK17SR mini excavator — “the little baby of the fleet” used for tight access and odd jobs — up to the SK55SRX in the 5.5t class.
When heavier iron is needed, the business will generally hire in Kobelco machines up to 23t to maintain consistency in feel, controls, and performance across jobs.
Attachments play a critical role across the fleet, reflecting the demanding nature of the work.
“BrisWide uses hydraulic grabs, augers for boring holes, rock breakers and equipment for handling concrete and other heavy materials. The machines are expected to handle heavy, hard work without complaint,” Josh said.
That harsh duty cycle has only reinforced Josh’s confidence in the machines and the brand.
Among the current fleet, Josh highlights the SK55SRX as one of his favourite machines, and the clear “workhorse” of the business.
“It’s hands down a great all-round machine, and our team loves the smooth, comfortable operation,” he said.
Cab design and ergonomics are central to why this model and its stablemates have become so popular inside BrisWide.
“The big screen display, the sleek, automotive-style interior, and the overall comfort make the machine feel more like sitting in a car than in an excavator cab,” Josh said.
“For a team that spends long days in the seat, that environment is not just a nice-to-have — it plays directly into operator morale, fatigue management and, ultimately, productivity on site.
“An operator told me that he had spent a lot of time with another brand before jumping into this machine, and immediately noticed how smooth the set-up was.”
Comfort across the range
Indeed, cab comfort is a high Kobelco priority.
Also speaking at the work site, Marco said that the latest Kobelco Dash-7 short-radius machines — including models such as SK26SR, SK28SR, SK30SR, SK35SR, SK45SR and SK55SR — shared a common cab philosophy.
“Rather than treating each size class as an isolated design, Kobelco has standardised the cab layout and configuration to provide a similar level of comfort and familiarity across the mini excavator range,” he said.
“That consistency means an operator can move between machines without having to re-learn the interior or hunt for controls.
“The cabs are packed with operator-focused features, such as Grammer suspension seats, phone holders, Bluetooth radio for calls and music streaming, sliding windows, auto idle, and cup holders.
“Hydraulic flow adjustment for tilt and main auxiliary circuits allows fine-tuning of attachment performance, while PIN code set-up adds security and control over who can operate the machine.
“The result is an ergonomic, user-friendly workspace designed to keep operators comfortable and in control over long shifts.”
Visibility and space are two other standout elements of the Kobelco cabs that align closely with the demands of BrisWide’s work.
Marco pointed out large sliding windows that open in both directions, providing excellent vision around the machine, and helping operators work safely and accurately in tight residential or multi-res sites.
The generous cab space also means that taller operators can sit comfortably for extended periods.
“When you’re doing big days and sitting in a machine for hours on end, you want to be in comfort,” Marco said.
“It’s not about luxury; it directly affects how long operators can work effectively before fatigue sets in, how precisely they can control the machine, and how likely they are to look forward to getting back in the cab the next day.
“For a business like BrisWide, where heavy workloads and tight deadlines are the norm, this level of operator-centric design is a key productivity lever.”
Dealer support
For Josh, the machines themselves are only part of the story; the support network behind them is equally critical.
He talks about the BrisVegas parts and service teams with the same enthusiasm he reserves for the excavators, highlighting their flexibility and responsiveness.
Servicing is arranged on site at BrisWide’s yard on weekends to minimise downtime, and the dealer is happy to accommodate that schedule.
“On the parts side, the process is straightforward: the team knows the machines, and if they do not, they will quickly look them up and get what is needed without unnecessary back-and-forth,” Josh said.
“Parts are usually on the shelf, and if not, they are in transit and arrive within a couple of days, which means our machines are never down for long.
“That reliability underpins our confidence to take on larger projects and run a busy schedule without fearing extended breakdowns.”
Single-minded
Marco attributed much of Kobelco’s strength in the civil space to the company’s specialist focus.
“Globally, Kobelco makes just two core products — excavators and crawler cranes — and the emphasis is on civil-spec excavators up to 85 tonnes,” he said.
“Unlike some competitors that spread their attention across a broad portfolio and place greater emphasis on the mining sector, Kobelco’s reputation in Australia rests squarely on being an excavator specialist.
“That single-product focus carries through the entire chain, from customer to dealer to Kobelco Australia and on to the engineers who design and build the machines.
“Feedback does not fall on deaf ears: improvements requested by the market are taken seriously and often appear in model updates.
“Spare parts are also streamlined around civil-spec excavators, which ensures availability and reinforces Kobelco’s reliability in that segment.”
Marco said the relationship with BrisWide continues to flourish.
“It’s fantastic to see how quick it all went: from one mini excavator purchase growing into a fleet approaching double digits,” he said.
“Josh originally rang chasing a price on a mini excavator just after COVID, at a time when stock was hard to come by, and was leaning towards another brand that could not deliver in time.
“BrisVegas followed up, secured the deal, and delivered the first machine in what was then considered a quick time frame.
“Since then, the connection has strengthened with every additional unit bought, and every job successfully completed using a Kobelco.
“For us, everyone matters, whether they are a one-machine operation or running a large fleet.
“Our team works hard to be reactive and adaptive to urgent customer needs.
“In return, we value customers like BrisWide who remain polite, courteous and understanding when issues arise, knowing that support will arrive as soon as possible.”
Bigger jobs, bigger machines
Josh is clear that the BrisWide story is still in its early chapters.
“I like building big things, and have my sights set on larger machines in the coming years as the business takes on more substantial projects,” he said.
“The focus remains on building better relationships and maintaining the ones that helped me get started, including those foundational customers whose own businesses have grown alongside us.”
When it comes to machinery, Kobelco is firmly embedded in BrisWide’s future.
“I can see Kobelcos in our business plans indefinitely,” Josh said.
“I no longer even look seriously at other products. Every now and then, I’ll glance over the fence at another manufacturer, and am reminded of why I continue to come back to Kobelco.”
Custom machines with amphibious undercarriage