Providing OEM and aftermarket parts and servicing across mining, agriculture and construction, Don Clark Tractors is going from strength to strength
Serving everyone from sole owner/operators to some of the world’s largest mining and construction companies, Don Clark Tractors has seen nothing but growth over the past five years, according to company director Brett Clark.
First established by Brett’s father, Don, in 1963 to provide service and maintenance support to the local earthmoving industry, DCT built a strong customer base on the back of his knowledge and experience in the industry.
In 1984 DCT expanded, with the beginning of the parts division which today consists of a multi-million dollar computer-controlled inventory that numbers 100,000 line items.
DCT also boasts warehousing facilities of over 4,000 square metres between strategically placed warehouses in Castlereagh, Dubbo and Orange in NSW as well as Kalgoorlie in WA.
DCT also took ownership of a new site in Canning Vale in Perth, WA in early July, with a parts centre now established there.
Today, DCT offers parts and services to companies across mining, agriculture and construction, and they can undertake repairs and component rebuilds.
Spanning three generations and still family owned and operated – four of Don’s grandchildren are now actively involved in managing the company – DCT sources, manufactures and supplies OEM quality aftermarket and replacement parts with a quality and life equal to the original part.
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Brett Clark speaks to Earthmovers & Excavators about DCT’s history, the quality of services the company offers and the growing demand for these services.
First, Brett shares the tale of how his father came to start his very own business more than 60 years ago.
“It’s an interesting story,” he says.
“He did an apprenticeship as a fitter machinist.
“He then went from working on railway train components [and] he ended up on the Snowy Mountains Scheme and Maralinga in South Australia.”
The Snowy Mountains Hydro-Electric Scheme was one of the most complex engineering projects in the world, involving 100,000 workers and the construction of seven power stations, 16 dams, 80 kilometres of aqueducts, 145 kilometres of tunnels and 1,600 kilometres of roads and train tracks.
“He then came back to Sydney and was the service manager for the International Tractor Company,” Brett adds.
“That’s when he started servicing equipment. He worked for a local contractor, J.K Williams, and then went out on his own.”
DCT began life as a service and maintenance company and, to this day, it provides support to many mining, farming and earthmoving companies.
The DCT service division operates out of purpose-built workshops in Castlereagh and Orange NSW, while its Dubbo and Kalgoorlie operations are parts-only.
Both workshops have the welding, boring, milling and machining capabilities, as well as the correct tooling and personnel to complete everything from a simple hydraulic cylinder repair to a complete machine rebuild – with all the technicians experienced in working on Caterpillar machines.
“We don’t do any field service work, it’s all in-house workshop repairs,” Brett explains.
“Bring a machine or the component, and we’ll repair it.
“99 per cent of our business focuses around Caterpillar,” he adds.
With its 1984 expansion into the parts market, DCT today sources parts from manufacturers all around the world.
“We do engine parts, power train, transmission and final drives, hydraulics, undercarriage and ground engaging tools,” Brett says.
“We’ve seen nothing but growth in the past five years, we can’t complain about that.”
DCT’s dedication to sourcing quality products is what makes it stand out from the crowd.
“We go out of our way looking for quality,” Brett says.
“We’re not priced buyers. We’re looking for an OEM equivalent product.”
With the company experiencing a growing demand for its services, Brett didn’t rule out further expansions in the future.
“Never say never,” he says.
For more information, visit Don Clark Tractors.