The powerful performance of Kobelco excavators has been enhanced by the addition of offset booms which provide enhanced versatility and precision, allowing operators to work efficiently in tight spaces and along obstacles.
Sometimes all a company needs to succeed is a spark of inspiration and a will and determination to carry on through the challenges.
When PGS Contracting (Qld) Pty Ltd was formed in 1996, it’s fair to say that founder Peter Sergiacomi couldn’t foresee what lay in store.
While he was keen to establish his own earthmoving business, he didn’t have a history in construction. But he did have the encouragement of his father as well as his brother Rob, a civil engineer, both of whom were on hand to offer useful advice.
Starting off with just a ute and a phone, Peter dipped his toes into the industry slowly, initially handling small civil projects like driveways, concrete paths.
The quality of the work gradually helped PGS develop a solid reputation for offering customised service delivered to a high standard, and today, the company has well and truly made a name for itself in the Bundaberg region of Queensland.
As PGS Construction Manager and Peter’s son Eli Sergiacomi explains, “we began by really doing anything that would pay the bills, with the ultimate goal to develop the skills and experience to construct/develop our family-owned land”.
As a young lad, Eli had already developed an interest in the business after spending many hours sitting with PGS’ excavator operator during its early years.
Eli duly joined the group when he was in high school after enrolling in a school-based apprenticeship in Plant Operations – Civil Construction.
“After graduation, I continued working for PGS with dad and the boys, learning from the experienced team and developing my own skill set,” Eli said.
Now, almost 30 years down the track, Eli proudly supervises the construction activities of the team of dedicated professionals that drive the company.
“We value each client and work hard to develop positive, long term relationships with them, often resulting in more work in the future,” he said.
“The same level of respect and relationship building is afforded to our local authorities. Our team are happy to go the extra mile to ensure the best outcomes for our clients.”
The core work of PGS is the construction and development of residential and rural subdivisions in the Bundaberg region.
“We have built subdivisions from a small one-into-two splitter block, right up to multi-staged 150-lot residential developments, complete with parks, paths, fencing and entryways,” Eli said.
“We pretty much do everything required! PGS Contracting has a wide and varied job profile. Some of the more interesting jobs have included construction of a rock wall on Kelly’s Beach at Bargara near Bundaberg, boat ramps, tennis courts at a local high school, and flood recovery and rectification works.
“We will really do anything that involves moving dirt around with big machines.”
For maximum success, PGS uses a wide variety of plant and equipment consisting of different-sized excavators, Positracks, rollers, graders, loaders, backhoes and dump trucks. It also utilises a fleet of trucks including truck and dogs, floats, water carts, side tippers, tippers and service trucks.
Kobelco is king
In a testament to the quality of the brand, all of PGS’ excavators are Kobelcos.
“We have five machines ranging from five tonnes to 26t: a 55SRX, SK135-7, two 235SR-2 and a SK260LC-8,” Eli said.
“We have always stuck by Kobelco as their performance and comfort cannot be faulted.”
We caught up with Eli and his team at Woodgate Beach near Bundaberg, where PGS were building an infill residential subdivision, with the SK135 taking centre stage as it dug around the sand.
The Kobelco SK135SR-7 is a 15t short radius excavator that delivers enhanced performance and productivity through harmonisation of mechanical power, operating speed, and overall machine design.
“We purchased the SK135 to replace an 8t machine we had,” Eli said.
A big advantage was the model’s offset boom, which significantly enhances its capability to perform precise and efficient work in restricted areas.
This design allows the boom to pivot sideways without moving the machine’s base, enabling efficient excavation adjacent to walls or in tight urban environments.
The offset boom’s significant lateral movement facilitates digging operations directly beside structures, reducing the need for machine repositioning.
In addition, the boom has a minimal rear overhang of just 245 mm during swing operations, making it a valuable asset for urban construction and other space-constrained projects.
The boom’s hydraulic lines are also housed within the cylinders, protecting them from potential damage and ensuring durability.
“We wanted something a bit bigger while being able to maintain good manoeuvrability, and also be able to offset the boom for tight access jobs or digging services along existing boundaries,” Eli said.
“The offset boom allows us to get the machine into places not possible with a standard boom and dig neatly and efficiently along fences, walls or boundary lines while keeping the size and power of a bigger machine.
“The SK135 was perfect. Having the rubber pads on the tracks also allows us to get into smaller private jobs such as pool digs or small site cuts.”
Eli was also delighted with new technology available throughout the model, which provides extra visibility and comfort for the operator.
The SK135 features a spacious, climate-controlled cabin equipped with an air-suspended Grammer seat and a 10-inch monitor with an eagle-eye camera. Proportional thumb rolls on the joysticks provide precise control for both tilt and auxiliary functions.
“The boys have loved it. It’s very responsive and quick to operate, and the controls are easy to pick up,” Eli said.
“There’s good vision with the new cameras all around the machine, making it really easy for the operators to just jump in and know that they’re going be right to get the job done.”
As if that’s not enough, the machine also uses a Tier 3 engine without the need for AdBlue (diesel exhaust fluid), which offers several benefits.
Many modern diesel engines require Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) systems that use AdBlue to reduce emissions. However, these systems add complexity and require regular refilling.
“By eliminating AdBlue, the SK135 simplifies maintenance and reduces the risk of downtime due to system failures,” Eli said.
There are also no Diesel Particulate Filters (DPF), used in Tier 3 engines, which need periodic regeneration to burn off accumulated soot. The SK135 avoids this, preventing interruptions in work and reducing wear on engine components.
Viva BrisVegas
Eli said that PGS currently acquired its Kobelcos from Brisbane-based dealer BrisVegas.
“Our first Kobelcos were from Chesterfield, which was later acquired by BrisVegas,” he said.
“The service from the BrisVegas team is awesome always fast and reliable. If we have any questions or need any parts, they make it happen.
“BrisVegas sales representative Joel Bevan will always ring or contact me and I’ll touch base and see how we’re going and see if we need anything.”
Joel said he had a long history with Eli’s family.
“The connection with Chesterfield began with Eli’s father, whose first purchase was the SK210LC-8,” he said.
“Since then, PGS have loved the Kobelcos and stuck with the product, and to this day only own Kobelco excavators.
“I personally have been dealing with both Peter and Eli for about eight years. Over the past three years, I’ve mainly dealt with Eli as he’s transitioned into managing the construction side of things for the family business.”
Joel said Eli and Peter put quite a lot of thought into their decision before purchasing the SK135, deciding that the offset boom would give them the ability to be able to dig along boundary lines, easements, buildings, and other features.
“The size of residential lots are shrinking over time, and it was essential for businesses like PGS to use smaller machines with such features in their fleet for the tight access work.”
Joel said Kobelco was leading the industry with the technology in its machines, with performance, reliability, functionality, and operator comfort being some of their priorities.
“Kobelco also back their product by offering some of the best warranties in today’s market, giving customers peace of mind, and confidence in their investment,” he said.
“We have a team of technicians and technical support that that back the machines up. We can come out on site and see if clients are having any issues, and then obviously get them sorted.
“The support we offer is second to none, and price-wise, we’re very competitive … in fact the most competitive consistently in the market.”
Joel said that BrisVegas Machinery has now taken over the territory from Gladstone to Bowen in the north of Queensland, effectively extending coverage that stretches down to northern NSW.
“Together with our team of appointed service agents up and down Queensland, we look forward to establishing new relationships, as well as providing a high level of service and support to all Kobelco customers,” he said.