In the decade since brothers Frank and Albert ‘Alby’ Donohue founded EcoProjects Australia in 2012, they have built their business to be one of the leading water infrastructure contractors in Victoria, utilising Komatsu Retrofit Kits to give them an advantage on their major projects.
EcoProjects supports government water and environmental infrastructure projects throughout Victoria and has a fleet of eight Komatsu excavators and one wheel loader – including two PC228 excavators and one PC138 excavator with a Komatsu Retrofit Kit (RFK) installed.
Frank says the RFK has changed the way the business implements and works on large- scale projects.
“We purchased our first Komatsu excavator about a year into the business, after a recommendation from a friend, and still have that machine running in our fleet today,” he says.
“The Komatsu machines are fit for purpose for the type of work we do. They can manoeuvre in tight spaces and handle tough infrastructure work. We are constantly putting them to the test, and their productivity, power, and fuel consumption is a standout compared to others in our fleet.”
Frank says EcoProjects’ RFK models have been especially valuable for major project work with Melbourne Water.
A retrofit kit delivers Information Communication Technology (ICT) functionality to an existing hydraulic excavator, providing 3D machine guidance, payload measurements, and acquiring 3D construction data from site straight into the machine’s dashboard, giving operators specific data to help them dig, cut, and move material.
“The RFK with GPS has been a game- changer,” Frank says. “It has eliminated the need for us to bring a surveyor onsite, and the technology has helped keep everything accurate and precise. We just load the machine with the specs and let it do the rest.,” Frank says.
“Our latest project has been transforming Blind Creek and Lewis Park in Wantirna South from an underground concrete drain into a natural waterway and wetland system, as part of Melbourne Water’s Reimagining Your Creek program. It has been a big feat, but the RFK has made it easier for us to deliver on time and on budget. The accuracy is amazing.
“We are looking at adding a Komatsu dozer to the fleet next year and will be ordering additional excavators fitted with RFKs as we continue to update our fleet. We have always received outstanding backup from the Komatsu sales and service teams, which has been a cornerstone of our relationship from the start.”
For more information on Komatsu’s RFK and other Smart Construction solutions, visit: www.komatsu.com.au/innovation/ smart-construction
