RDO Equipment’s legacy of expertise, experience and customer support translates to John Deere’s Construction equipment line, enabling success for customers such as MEB.
Since 2022, Yarra Ranges contractor Marchese Excavations & Bin Hire (MEB) has been a regular customer of RDO Equipment’s Melbourne branch.
MEB has earned a reputation for excellence in civil construction, the national company rapidly evolving into a highly reputable civil construction company with successfully completed projects throughout Australia.
And that’s because the services MEB offers is as wide as the brown land the company operates in.
They include earthmoving, civil construction, forestry management, haulage and construction works.
Impressively, more than a third of equipment in the MEB arsenal comes from the John Deere factory.
Operations Manager Paul Marchese says that the business’ partnership with RDO Equipment is the key to their loyalty.
Diverse offering and strong local legacy
Continuing a 60-year Australian legacy of innovation and partnership with Australian industry, RDO Equipment sells and supports John Deere construction, forestry, agriculture and turf products, as well as Vermeer Corporation’s range of specialist infrastructure installation and natural resource management equipment.
RDO recently expanded this already impressive offering with the acquisition of Inland Truck Centres, a Kenworth and DAF truck dealer with four locations across central western New South Wales.
This diverse offering means that RDO serves customers across industries that include agriculture, roads and civil infrastructure, earthmoving, environmental resource management, mining, forestry and transport, and their long tenure in Australia means that they know a thing or two about what these markets need from an equipment dealer.
Local legacy, global support
The RDO Equipment brand came to Australia in 2012 when North Dakota-based RDO Equipment Co. partnered with Vanderfield, a well-established Australian dealer of John Deere agricultural equipment.
Over time the business incorporated additional locations across Queensland and New South Wales, with the partnership allowing RDO to build on Vanderfield’s strong local presence and deep understanding of Australian customers.
In the years since, RDO Equipment incorporated Vermeer Australia, and significantly, became sole dealer of John Deere construction and forestry equipment in eastern Australia.
This move has cemented RDO as a comprehensive supplier of machinery and technology solutions for Australia’s diverse industries.
The growth of the Australian business is not unlike that of RDO Equipment Co. in the US, founded by Ron Offutt as one John Deere agriculture equipment dealership that would grow into a network of more than 80 stores in 10 states.
Over this period of expansion, RDO built a reputation for being customer-centric and innovative, allowing it to diversify into other industries beyond just agriculture and firmly establishing these attributes as the RDO way.
RDO Eastern Victoria Sales Representative Garth Stivey tells us more about the Australian operations, which is headquartered in Queensland, with branches across Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia, Tasmania and the Northern Territory .
“As a family-owned business, RDO Equipment emphasises core values such as integrity, partnership, and innovation. These principles have helped the company maintain strong relationships with customers, employees, and suppliers, fostering a culture of trust and excellence,” Garth said.
“RDO Equipment Australia combines the best of both worlds; local expertise, industry knowledge and relationships cultivated by Vanderfield, Vermeer Australia and other founding businesses, coupled with the global resources of RDO Equipment Co.
“This unique combination enables the company to deliver superior solutions tailored to meet the challenges and harness the opportunities of Australian industries.
“It continues to prioritise customer success and build lasting partnerships while contributing to the growth and sustainability of the industries it serves.”
Garth said while John Deere construction equipment may be well-known, it was still seen as a “relatively young and up-and-coming brand” in the Australian market.
“But in the US, it’s typically in the top two in market share, depending on the state,” he said.
“Deere is not a young manufacturer: we have products that have been the result of innovations over decades, such as our fuel efficiencies and improvements in comfort and safety.”
Making the most at Marchese
MEB Operations manager Paul Marchese said his family had been involved in earthmoving, agriculture, trucking and transportation for nearly four decades, with over 30 machines running primarily on the east coast of Australia.
“With decades of experience, MEB has retained highly skilled and qualified employees,” he said.
“Our service incorporates a modern fleet of Trimble GPS-equipped plant machinery into its existing asset portfolio, with a flexible approach to operational and client requirements.
“We are committed to a safe, efficient, and high-quality service in all aspects of our operations.”
MEB has an impressive list of clients, from various industries including bulk and detailed earthmoving, road upgrades, commercial and industrial subdivisions, general construction work, land clearing, demolition, grading, pipe installation and bulk water deliveries, to name just a few.
Nothing runs like a Deere
Paul said MEB uses a combination of both dry hire and wet hire to meet customers’ needs.
“My father Sam started the company, which has been in business for 45 years,” he said.
“In 2013, I started to build up the company to a larger fleet, and today we have 35 units.”
“Our family has been in the farming and construction industry since 1950, and has always run John Deere equipment,” Paul said.
The 13 models currently in use comprise an 850K and 950K crawler dozers, an E260LC excavator, two 333G compact track loaders, seven tractors and a hay baler.
“They’re so powerful, comfortable and versatile. We use them for a range of projects, including construction, agricultural, forestry and landscaping,” Paul said.
“Apart from their features, they’re widely spread across Australia so service and backup is always easy. We’re never far away from a John Deere dealership.”
Paul said MEB always had great communication with Garth, “right from the point of sale through to backup and service”.
“He’s been great and quick to deal with any problems if they occurred.
“We’ve become good mates. He keeps me up to date with everything, helps with any problems when needed, and keeps in touch regularly.
“RDO goes beyond treating customers as if it’s just another sale by offering continued backup and support.”
Indeed, when it comes to parts, John Deere customers are spoilt for choice. The company runs the biggest parts distribution warehouse in Australia and New Zealand.
The Australian and New Zealand Distribution Centre, located at Derrimut in Victoria, is an integral part of John Deere’s world-wide parts distribution network and supports Australian and New Zealand dealers 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
“Our branches in turn support customers who are as diverse as operators of a ride on mower through to a combine harvester, a contractor on a worksite or a commercial fisherman using our power systems products,” Garth said.
“The ANZDC replenishes regional distribution centres as well as regional support locations during the season. Incorporating the latest technology and processes to ensure we can deliver parts efficiently and effectively.”
It supports more than 340 current models with over 730 base configurations, including products from earlier John Deere generations. There are in excess of 133,000 stocked lines, determined by part criticality and sales histories.
Garth said business like MEB formed an integral part of Australia, with people like Paul forming the lifeblood.
“They’re quiet achievers and help us enjoy the prosperity and quality of life we are lucky to have here in Australia,” he said.
“They’re a hard working crew; he probably worked through Christmas this year although he has two young kids at home, because certain projects needed to be done and couldn’t wait.
“Or he’ll pack up his family and go to Queensland like almost within an hour’s notice, just to make sure that things keep moving up there.”
RDO Equipment’s journey to being to a global player is a testament to its commitment to quality, innovation, and satisfaction from customers, including of course MEB, with Paul proclaiming: “I’ll certainly be back with MEB for more John Deere equipment”.
