The success of civil contracting business Unyte has been driven in part by its equipment fleet, empowered by its exclusive use of AME tilting hitches on excavators.
Unyte has been forging a reputation as a force in national civil contracting, plant hire and logistics, accelerating its growth and capabilities as a diversified construction services group.
The company’s DNA is a mix of humble beginnings as a family-owned specialist earthmoving company and a commitment to community and relationships.
The name is intentional. Rebranded in 2024, Unyte represents a step towards national prominence by harnessing the collective strengths of formerly separate entities Grampians Excavations and Symal Solutions, in essence teaming up a reputable Victorian contractor with an innovative plant hire business.
National Asset Manager Kurt Lewis said the merger meant that Unyte could deliver tailored, high-quality project solutions backed by one of the country’s largest networks of plant, equipment and skilled operators.
“Founded to meet the growing infrastructure demands of the eastern seaboard, Unyte operates across Victoria, New South Wales, Queensland and South Australia, with offices in Newcastle, South Melbourne, Brisbane and Adelaide,” he said.
“The company acts as both principal contractor and trusted partner, offering end-to-end project delivery across a variety of civil works and infrastructure projects.”
History and core capabilities
Unyte was established with a vision to support the evolving needs of Australia’s infrastructure sector through flexible, ready-to-deploy solutions that emphasise quality and reliability.
“Our fleet exceeds 800 assets, ready for dispatch Australia-wide on flexible terms. Along with our comprehensive plant and machinery capabilities and fully qualified teams, Unyte is well positioned to mobilise resources anywhere on short notice,” Kurt said.
“This expansive operational capacity facilitates a broad specialisation, from bulk earthworks to detailed civil construction, executed with an emphasis on productivity and reliability in high-pressure environments.”
Some of the projects in Unyte’s portfolio include:
- Kennedy Community Centre (Dingley Village, Melbourne, completed February 2025): This $100 million training and administrative hub for the Hawthorn Football Club involved delivering two full-size AFL ovals featuring 40,000m² of lush turf and 12,000m³ of premium sports oval sand. It showcased how Unyte integrates precision civil works into high-profile, sports-focused infrastructure.
- Regional Sports Facility Mernda (City of Whittlesea, completed July 2025): This sports precinct delivered multipurpose courts for netball, basketball and other court sports. Unyte’s scope included 83,000m³ of bulk earthworks, gabion walls, rock pavements and native vegetation planting, highlighting its holistic approach to civil construction and environmental sustainability.
- Altona Memorial Park (Greater Metropolitan Cemeteries Trust, completed May 2025): This project transformed a community park with monumental and lawn grave plots, irrigation, solar-powered gates and multiple amenities, reflecting Unyte’s expertise in community-centric infrastructure.
Going full tilt
One critical component empowering Unyte’s equipment fleet is its exclusive use of AME tilting hitches for excavators in the 15–30 tonne range.
“AME’s tilting hitches offer exceptionally robust performance without failure, even with regular rock breaker applications, a significant challenge that has historically caused issues with competitors’ products,” Kurt said.
“This unmatched durability lowers downtime risks and maintenance costs, ensuring project continuity and operational efficiency.
“Unyte operates more than 50 AME tilting hitches, a decision based on extensive experience with various brands and AME’s proven superior reliability and strength, especially under the demanding conditions of frequent rock breaker use.”
Unyte’s initial engagement with AME arose from seeking a tough, reliable tilting hitch capable of withstanding those harsh operational conditions.
Kurt said that AME’s management, represented by its General Manager Kurt Millwood, provided not only quality products but also outstanding service support during the evaluation and procurement process, which convinced Unyte to trial AME’s products.
“We initially purchased a smaller package of equipment with the AME hitches installed, and they performed very well from the outset, standing the test of time since,” he said. “This relationship has evolved; now Unyte purchases AME tilting hitches exclusively for that specified 15–30t excavator range.”
Operational support is another key factor in their ongoing partnership.
“When repair or maintenance is needed, AME responds promptly with next-day parts delivery, typically by overnight airfreight from its head office in Tasmania,” Kurt said. “This logistics efficiency ensures minimal downtime and aligns with Unyte’s high-availability requirements on fast-paced construction sites.”
Kurt said Unyte’s commitment to AME products stems from a blend of product reliability, robust performance under challenging conditions, excellent client support and parts availability.
“These factors collectively empower Unyte to maintain high productivity levels and meet demanding project schedules confidently,” he said.
“The exceptional track record of AME tilting hitches in Unyte’s fleet demonstrates why the company will continue relying on AME for durable, trusted attachment solutions that support our broad civil construction and bulk earthworks operations.”
AME: The right angles for every job