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Seven Brand New Kobelcos To Replace An Ageing Fleet.

Seven excavators, their finance balances and the cost of trading them had to be understood before the owners chose how to fund the replacements.

Seven new excavators · 10 - 38 tonnes · Introduced in 2025
Tumeke Civil

First, understand what the fleet owes.

Tony and Casey Rore run Tumeke Civil from Brisbane, with excavators working across Queensland and on projects in Melbourne. By 2024, older machines were becoming harder to maintain through a full working week. They wanted reliable new excavators, but the debt on the existing fleet made a straight trade difficult.

Tony Rore discussing the fleet with James Allan at the dealership
2024

The trade problem beneath the repayments

Some excavators carried balloon balances. That structure had kept monthly payments lower, but these high-hour machines were losing value faster than their loans were reducing. On some, the payout and early exit costs could exceed the likely trade or sale price.

We built a commitment schedule and obtained payout letters for every excavator. Tony and Casey could see the debt against each machine, what a sale might leave behind and how those figures would change with each monthly repayment.

Tumeke Civil Kobelco excavator at Brisvegas Machinery
February 2025

The first replacement goes to work

With Marco Marabini at Brisvegas Machinery, we planned a move from ageing John Deere and JCB excavators to new Kobelcos. The first MFG-funded purchase was an SK100MSR-7 fitted with GPS. Machine and GPS were invoiced together and financed in one transaction. Its delivery coincided with the first JCB trade, removing one unreliable excavator from the working fleet.

Marco helped source the machines and arrange specifications, GPS and attachments as needed. Brisvegas Machinery's connection with Melbourne Tractors also meant dealer support across the two states where Tumeke works.

Tony Rore and James Allan beside a new Tumeke Civil Kobelco
2025 - 26

A staged rollout, not a rushed trade

We followed the payout position month by month, then timed each sale or trade around the arrival of its replacement. An SK135, an SK380 and further excavators followed across the replacement program, with some machines fitted with GPS. Rather than forcing Tony and Casey to absorb every shortfall at once, the plan gave each older machine time to reach a workable exit point.

By March 2026, the main fleet replacement had been completed. MFG has now funded seven new excavators for Tumeke. Operators have newer machines under warranty and the business has moved away from the maintenance pressure that started the conversation.

Tony Rore speaking beside a vehicle
Beyond the excavators

Vehicles, insurance and the wider business

We have also financed a couple of vehicles for operators and key staff, helping Tumeke replace older vehicles used to travel between jobs. That support sits alongside the excavator plan, with the business's full commitments in view when another purchase comes up.

As the new fleet took shape, we saw value in a specialist review of its insurance. We introduced Tony and Casey to an earthmoving insurance broker we know and trust. The review led to broader cover for their work at a more competitive price. MFG also financed the premium, spreading the annual bill into instalments. We can consider terms of 10, 11 or 12 months when planning that cost alongside equipment repayments.

Know the payout before the trade.

Lower repayments can be useful, but a balloon on a hard-working excavator needs to be tested against hours, depreciation and the likely replacement date. A machine can be worth less than its payout when the business needs to move it on.

Time the replacement around the debt.

Monthly payout tracking let us plan when each excavator could leave the fleet and when its replacement should arrive. Tony and Casey had a view of the entire rollout rather than a series of isolated approvals.

Work closely with the dealer.

Marco Marabini at Brisvegas Machinery helped procure and schedule the Kobelcos, including GPS and attachments where required. Knowing the full specification and trade plan early helped us arrange the finance around each delivery.

Tumeke Civil team beside new Kobelco equipment

Is your fleet ready for the work ahead?

If ageing plant is holding you back, let’s map the trade, the debt and the replacement machines together.

Let’s Grow Together

See more on the thinking behind our approach.

More client decisions and practical questions worth exploring.

Ben and James Allan in the Mineral Mining Services mine pitPrevious case studyMore than 200 assets over 10 years. →Next case studyFrom business acquisition to quarry mobilisation. →ArticleShould you take a balloon? Our thoughts. →ArticleAre interest rates higher for older aged equipment? →

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