APS Earthmoving, a Brisbane-based company offering a wide range of services including plumbing, excavation, and demolition, has established a solid reputation in the industry. Founded by Adrian Sciarretta and Paul Serra, APS Earthmoving started out as a plumbing company about a decade ago and has since grown into a significant player in the earthmoving industry.
“We got into the industry about eleven years ago,” explains Adrian, co-founder of APS Earthmoving. “Initially, we were a plumbing company, but we decided to invest in our own machinery. That’s how our journey into earthmoving began.”
From those humble beginnings, the company has expanded considerably. What began as a few machines doing general hire has grown into a company with 75 plumbers and 15 operators on the earthmoving side. APS Earthmoving now offers services that span from the Sunshine Coast to the Gold Coast, with a strong presence in Brisbane.
One of the pivotal moments in APS Earthmoving’s journey was meeting Tim, their first Kobelco sales representative at BrisVegas Machinery over ten years ago. “We bought our first Kobelco excavator from BrisVegas, and we’ve stuck with the brand ever since,” Adrian recalls. The relationship between APS Earthmoving and BrisVegas Machinery has only grown stronger over the years. “Marco, our sales rep, and the entire BrisVegas team are incredibly responsive. When we need something done with our machinery, they handle it immediately, treating every request as a top priority.”
The first Kobelco machine APS Earthmoving purchased was an SK35SR, a 3-tonne excavator. Since then, they have added a Kobelco 1.7-tonne mini digger to their fleet. “We’ve tried every brand of 1.7-tonne machine, and the Kobelco SK17 remains a favourite in that category,” says Adrian.
As APS Earthmoving transitioned into the demolition sector over the past five to six years, the need for larger, more powerful machines became apparent. Today, the heavier-end of their fleet exclusively features Kobelcos, including an SK135SR-7, several SK235SR-2s, and most recently, the new SK380SRLC-7.
"We love the zero-tail swing. We had a Kobelco SK300 with a conventional body, and while it was a solid machine, the compact swing models are far better suited to our work, especially with the tight access jobs we often handle."
Adrian, APS Earthmoving
Adrian also praises the technological advancements in the new dash 7 models. “The dash 7 series is a game-changer. It’s packed with features that set it apart from other machines. The large colour screen with the ability to customise hydraulic presets for each operator is great—it can all be tailored to each individual operator’s needs. The cabin is spacious, and despite being a zero-swing, the machine is incredibly stable with impressive power, making it ideal for our demolition projects.”
Fuel efficiency is another highlight of the Kobelco machines. Although APS Earthmoving has only had the SK380SRLC-7 for a short while, Adrian notes, “it’s been performing well in terms of fuel efficiency.”
In recent years, the business has experienced significant growth. “We’ve grown significantly over the last five years. We’re stable and pleased with where we are now, but we’re also expanding into bulk out basement digs with our larger machines. We’ve completed a few projects already, and next year, we plan to focus more on that area.”
With a strong foundation and a forward-looking approach, APS Earthmoving continues to push the boundaries of what’s possible in the earthmoving industry. Their journey serves as a testament to what can be achieved with vision, hard work, and the right equipment.
