MEET THE BOSS: Adam Wallis Managing Director, Warrin Mining & Construction Equipment Pty Ltd

MEET THE BOSS : ADAM WALLIS Managing Director, Warrin Mining & Construction Equipment Pty Ltd

ADAM Wallis has reason to be pleased when talking about the company his late father David started in 1980.

As an agent for Volvo construction machinery, it last year landed one of its biggest orders in one hit – the sale of 10 units to Broadspectrum which contracts to BHP at Olympic Dam.

To handle the molten copper out of the smelter, the customer required two dump trucks, five front-end loaders and three excavators. “Orders like that don’t come along very often in South Australia unfortunately,” Adam said.

Then there’s the imminent release of the Volvo E series excavator. It has semiautonomous machine control called ‘dig assist’ and a platform that gives the operator depth control, height control and weighing system via a viewing system on a tablet. The 3D platform will suit either Trimble or Topcon systems – a versatility that means the same machine can be used on different job sites whether they have Trimble or Topcon.

The first machine will be added to the VRents fleet and available for rental. VRents is the rental arm of the business. It started four years ago with Chris Bradley as Managing Director and provides dry or wet hire of Volvo construction equipment.

Based at Pooraka is an office area, workshop, spare parts and storage yard on a footprint of 6,000 square metres. The staff of 18 looks after the workshop, spare parts,

administration and sales. Adam did his apprenticeship there as did his brother Jed, now the Service Manager.

Servicing South Australia, Broken Hill and Mildura, it sells and supports the Volvo range of excavators, articulated haulers, wheel loaders, compact equipment, graders, road machinery and bitumen pavers.

Adam said customer visits take him away from the office from time to time, adding: “We also sell used equipment, and machinery we trade back from existing customers. Generally, it is Volvo but it can be different brands.

“We have a strong relationship with the national distributors of Volvo equipment, which is CJD Equipment. We have been selling Volvo now for close to 20 years and as a brand, it has been one of the best things that has happened to us as a distributor.

“When Dad sat in this chair, he always said customer support is terribly important and that is what we like to think we do well. Our management team is myself and my brother. Our work book is a little flat at the moment. Some of the major road projects are starting to wind up. I think there is a bit in the pipeline, and hopefully we will see things get better halfway through the year.

“I think as a company, we have punched above our weight for a long time.”

“For customers that don’t know us and what we do and how we go about our business, please talk to us if they are looking to purchase or hire any sort of earthmoving equipment.

“I have been employed here all my working life, and I think as a company, we have punched above our weight for a long time. I have staff who have also been here a long time, which shows loyalty that goes both ways.”

Written by John Satterley