A mighty Mini!

Gingex – Tony Kelly’s new SK17SR

Tony Kelly’s passion for the industry ignited while working for a previous employer on civil construction projects. He was particularly intrigued by the streetscape works, such as landscaping, fencing, and retaining walls. “One day, I saw the work that was going on and decided to put my hand up and give it a go,” Tony explains.

This decision set him on a path that eventually led to the creation of his own business, Gingex, formerly known as Ginger Landscaping. Venturing boldly into the trade, Tony immersed himself in both civil construction and landscaping, steadily building his practical knowledge and experience. After years of navigating between the two fields, Tony relocated from Canberra to Brisbane, where Gingex was born.

When Tony started Gingex, he had no experience running a business. The first five years were challenging as he navigated the commercial landscape and sought out the right equipment for his growing company. Tony went through a variety of machinery in search of the perfect fit. He began with a Vermeer stand-on loader, then after a year he added a car-licence tipper, which worked well for his residential landscaping jobs and as a tow vehicle.

Eventually, this was upgraded to a larger capacity tipper as he shifted focus to excavation works, which he still uses today. His first machine, was a great asset for landscaping, helping him move material quickly across job sites. However, as Gingex shifted focus to earthworks, the loader became less efficient for his needs.

Today, Tony’s main piece of machinery is a Kobelco SK17SR-6 mini excavator, a machine he decided to purchase after a series of positive experiences with his BrisVegas Machinery. Initially, Tony had another brand excavator but his bad experiences with the local dealership led him to look at alternative brands. A special promotion on the Kobelco SK17 caught his eye, and his interactions with Marco Marabini, his local sales rep from BrisVegas, solidified his decision.

Marco, who has himself amassed an industry following on Instagram (@kobelco_marco), connected with Tony through social media, eventually meeting in person at the Toowoomba Field Days. After a thorough inspection of the machine and a prompt quote from Marco, Tony decided to make the purchase.

The SK17SR has been an excellent choice for my line of work. Despite being relatively new, it has already proven its worth. The comfort level of the 1.7 tonner is exceptional, especially for a mini excavator.

He is particularly impressed with the tilt hitch operated by joysticks—a feature not commonly found in other brands. “The build quality is another highlight, with tight pins and rams, unlike previous machines I’ve used that have been sloppy at zero hours. The excavator’s ability to retract its tracks to a narrower width has also been beneficial for our tight access works,” he adds. Moreover, the SK17’s stability has surprised Tony—unlike his previous machine, he doesn’t have to lower the blade every time he moves the arm.

While Gingex is currently a one-man operation, Tony is gradually building up his workflow and hopes to bring someone else on board soon. Looking ahead, he has his eye on the newly released Kobelco SK26SR-7, an excavator that offers slightly larger dimensions while still fitting into tight spaces. “It looks awesome compared to other machines in that class, still offering tight access but great for work where I have a bit more room to move about and need that extra power and lift, whereas the SK17 can be used on the smaller spots,” says Tony.

Tony is confident in the support he will receive for his new purchase from BrisVegas. “The SK17 is still fairly new, so I haven’t encountered any problems yet. However, I bought a mini dumper from them a year ago, and they’ve been excellent with servicing it. I have no complaints.”

Tony’s dedication to his work and his willingness to travel wherever the job takes him has led to some unique opportunities. Recently, he spent a week in Ballina working on a project for Foxtel’s Selling Houses Australia—just one of many exciting jobs in his growing portfolio.

Through persistence, smart equipment choices, and a commitment to quality, Tony Kelly has built Gingex into a thriving business, and he continues to look ahead, ready to take on new challenges.