Matilda Equipment

01-Oct-09

Matilda Equipment - Your earthmoving solution downunder

Although still a young company, Matilda Equipment – Your Earthmoving Solution Downunder – has forged a strong market presence in Australia’s mining and construction sectors as a supplier of late model, low hour heavy earthmoving equipment and owner Dan Jauncey is looking to the future with goals to be the best in the business.  

Matilda Equipment was established in 1999 as Matilda Earthmoving – a one man operation specialising in the construction of irrigation dams on cotton farms in south west Queensland.  Founder and Managing Director Dan Jauncey was himself raised on a farm 80 kilometres west of Toowoomba on the Darling Downs and has based his company in the Garden City.  

Matilda Earthmoving was created as an offshoot to his family’s successful farming business, and it was with his family’s support that Dan started his company with a used Cat^® D10N track type tractor, so beginning a strong and rewarding association with Caterpillar machinery.  As Matilda Earthmoving’s profile increased, so did demand for the company’s services and in 2000 Dan hired additional staff and diversified in agriculture and earthmoving, to cover territory as far west as Condamine.  

A slowdown in the earthmoving and agriculture industries prompted Dan to branch into the dry hire business and on hiring his Cat D10N dozer to MacMahon Contracting in 2004, Matilda Equipment was born.  Currently operating a fleet of over 40 Caterpillar machines including dozers, graders, excavators, loaders and compactors, Matilda Equipment has developed relationships with many of Australia’s leading miners and contractors operating in Queensland, Northern Territory, Western Australia and New South Wales.

“We choose to operate Caterpillar machinery because it’s what our clients want,” said Dan on his vast fleet.
“Parts are able to be sourced quickly through Hastings Deering and the backup and support we receive is second to none.”

The company specialises in providing high quality, late model equipment with low frame hours; each machine having a “use-by” of 8000 hours which is monitored closely by Dan and his team.
“Our clients are only supplied with new or near new equipment giving them high availability on site,” said Dan, “Most of our machines are in warranty giving clients peace of mind and reducing the risk of machines lost to workshops.”

Dan explains that Matilda Equipment provides in-field service and support for all supplied equipment assisting customers in delivering a safe and productive work environment whilst ensuring that Matilda has a continued site presence, an important consideration for the company’s customers.
“Our service does not end with just supplying a low houred late model machine. We would like to think we are offering a complete service, from infield service to the back up support in the office. In these tough times it is imperative to be listening to the client’s needs, and at this stage this seems to be working for us.”  

Ongoing support including the provision of detailed maintenance schedules and Caterpillar’s Product Link technology for each machine gives Matilda Equipment the competitive edge and has allowed the company’s management team to develop a highly successful formula for growing the business whilst maintaining a strong financial position.  

In addition to managing his successful dry hire company, Dan is kept busy with his newest venture, the Willows Health and Fitness Centre in Toowoomba which is expected to service one third of the city’s population.   After purchasing the property in January 2008, he began renovating almost immediately and has converted what was an aging squash centre into a one-stop health and fitness hub with onsite health professionals, squash courts, swimming pool, gym and group fitness facilities.  With Stage 1 of the centre to be unveiled at the end of the year, renovations continue on what is sure to be one of the most unique and comprehensive lifestyle centres in the Garden City.  

Speaking of his two equally successful yet contrasting businesses, Dan said it was exciting to be involved in the two industries really “kicking” at the moment; mining and health.  Although his schedule would seem to be filled, family man Dan has his feet planted firmly and is thankful for the support of his three children Wil, Lucy and Maggie and wife Renee, all of whom take more than just a passing interest in Dan’s business goings on.