A fleet of orange Doosans and Develons stands out among the red and brown terrain at the Lambron MidWest operations, where the machines have played a vital part in helping the company earn a reputation as a preferred civil construction and earthmoving contractor for mining, commercial construction, government, regional and private projects.
When Bill and Libby Biggs formed Lambron Contracting in the MidWest WA town of Dongara in 2003, little did they realise how big of an oak tree the acorn would grow into.
The first job involved excavating service trenches for subdivisions, with a fleet of just one 20t Daewoo excavator.
The work only lasted about six months before Bill landed a project on a minesite. Lambron was mobilised to Tallering Peak mine for Mount Gibson Iron, to complete rock breaking of oversize ore.
This was the beginnings of a snowball, with Lambron next buying a six-wheel tipper and a Bobcat to complete small civil scopes on-site, as well as taking on a second employee.
Lambron continued contracting to Mount Gibson for the next 14 years, with the fleet growing to six pieces of plant and five employees.
It was during this time that Lambron purchased its first Doosan excavator from Clark Equipment, the DX140LCR: a compact 14t excavator ideal for tight areas while still having exceptional breakout capacity.
The love affair with the machines grew quickly, with Lambron buying more Doosans: the DX225LC and DX255LC, with both machines mobilised to remote WA where they still work day in day out.
In 2017 Lambron moved its operations again, this time about 800km inland to Leonora, after it was awarded the bulk earthworks contract for the construction of a minesite accommodation village. The relocation resulted in further growth, with crew numbers rise from six up to 15.
The expansion continues today. Bill still oversees Lambron, with son Nathan managing the company, which currently boasts 85 employees and a vehicle and equipment fleet of almost 100 assets.
“Specialising in medium sized civil projects, Lambron has built a reputation as one of the preferred civil construction contractors in the Goldfields region of WA,” Nathan said.
“Recent projects have included construction projects for tailings storage facilities, minesite haul roads and minesite accommodation, plus various other mine and local government earthmoving scopes.”
One thing has remained constant: Lambron’s loyalty to equipment made by Doosan, now rebranded Develon.
“Lambron bought its first Doosan by chance and it turned out to be a good decision,” Nathan said.
“With our large range of Doosans and Develons, we have experienced great operational results.
“The South Korean product gives a well weighted machine with great breakout power.
“Our excavators spend a lot of time rock breaking and in remote areas of WA, and the reliability of major components and track gear is the main reason we have stuck by the product.”
The current stable of Develon equipment comprises:
- 1x DX140LCR: This excavator meets the increasing demand for reduced radius machines as an alternative to conventional models for work on urban, utility, bridge and other confined space construction sites. Improved ergonomics increases comfort and excellent all round visibility, ensuring a safe and pleasant working environment.
- 2x DX225LC : All of the key components directly contributing to producing power and speed have been improved. The engine boasts explosive 129.6KW power which is far more improved than previous model. Maximised digging force is backed up with versatility for it to be used on all rough terrains.
- 1x DX255LC: The DX255LC crawler excavator puts more power in the hands to complete the most challenging projects — offering powerful arm and bucket forces, and improved lifting capacity and stability. Users can dig, load trucks and move materials with confidence.
- 2x DX300LC : The DX300LC excavator
offers an unmatched combination of high performance, operating features, fuel efficiency, reliability and durability in the 30 tonne excavator class. It builds on the very successful design of the predecessor by introducing major enhancements in operator comfort, machine controllability, productivity, uptime and return on investment, with a strong focus on low fuel consumption, increased power, robustness and versatility. - 1x DX340LC: The machine puts the operator at the centre of the development goals. The result is significant ergonomic value that improves the efficiency and safety of the operator. Its “Common Rail” engine and new e-EPOS controlled hydraulic system have combined to create an unbeatable hydraulic excavator.
- 2x DX360LC: This excavator represents a new generation of innovation with its application- based functionality and all-round capability.
A top performer on all jobsites, the DX360LC delivers an extensive line of performance with optimally prepared features, to be efficient support where it counts. - 1x DX380LC: This model features a new generation engine to meet the latest Stage V engine emission regulations. It is a new solution without exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) to increase the quantity of air during combustion – the temperature during combustion is therefore higher and the amount of emission particles are reduced as much as possible.
- 1x DX400LC: Being supremely capable in demanding situations, the DX400LC-7M is ideally prepared for any tough tasks. With its spaciousness, user-friendliness and flexibility, it is designed to provide the best possible working conditions. Featuring an enhanced hydraulic system and exuberant engine power, it provides incomparable superior productivity, with smart and innovative solutions to increase long term profit.
- 1x DX490LC: The exceptionally long and wide undercarriage allows the operator to perform tough and heavy workloads in the most stable and composed manner. Durable materials and extensive testing ensures long-term reliability. The d-profile frame and x-chassis adds strength, while the arm assembly is reinforced for longer life.
Clark Equipment national Develon manager Peter Gledhill said the company was a world leader in the engineering, manufacturing, and marketing of heavy construction equipment right across the globe, with the vision of becoming a top-three leader.
“The range of large excavators, wheel loaders, and articulated dump trucks offer an outstanding level of quality, reliability and performance but without premium pricing,” he said.
“The machines are built for easy maintenance, durability, fuel efficiency, and operator comfort, backed by quality support through Clark Equipment’s national branch and dealer network.”
Develon is a combination of the words ‘Develop’ and ‘Onwards,’ which represents Doosan’s new beginning and challenging spirit.
“The new brand name encompasses our willingness to move onwards to the future through innovation, and to relentlessly change the world with top-level products and solutions,” Peter said.
Doosan had a long history of developing products and solutions needed for building infrastructure to improve the world.
Through the years, it focused on providing products and solutions that exceed
the expectations of the industry and its customers.
“Moving forward, we’ll introduce more innovative products and solutions that will go beyond the world’s expectations,” Peter said.
“With the brand name Develon, Doosan will bring growing momentum with the next leap forward as a global leader in construction equipment products and solutions for building infrastructure.”
About Clark Equipment
Clark Equipment brings the big names in equipment to the construction, infrastructure, agricultural, mining, materials handling and logistics sectors of the economy.
As both a manufacturer and distributor, it has on-the-ground distribution supplying the best of equipment; parts support with a Central Parts Distribution availability rate of almost 90 per cent; service support from modern workshops, factory-trained technicians, a fleet of mobile service vehicles, and authorised service agents; and comprehensive equipment financing and rental options.
The Australian-owned company has been supplying and supporting equipment for over 60 years. Today Clark Equipment is a BRW Top 500 Australian Private Company, with sales in excess of $300 million, 500 employees, and over 20 branches across Australia and New Zealand.
The brands distributed by Clark Equipment, such as Develon, are chosen because Clark Equipment believes in their value to customers: that they perform to the highest levels, to get the job done right. And that the brand fits into Clark’s brand family.