Seven new Kobelcos to update an ageing fleet.

How Tony and Casey Rore worked with MFG and Brisvegas Machinery to replace unreliable machines and regain control of their fleet debt.

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Let’s grow together.

Replacing equipment or planning the next purchase? Tell us what you have in mind.

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 with Marco and a colleague beside a 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.

Ageing equipment and a difficult trade position?

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Tony Rore and James Allan arm in arm beside a Tumeke Civil Kobelco excavator

Let’s grow together.

Replacing equipment or planning the next purchase? Tell us what you have in mind.

More about MFG Finance.

Tumeke’s replacement program shows how we plan the finance around the existing fleet, the next purchase and the trade after that.

See how we work ↓

Senior credit analysts turned finance brokers.

James Allan and Daniel Salajan together on a client site

It’s business owner to business owner.

We don’t sell. We consult. Your enquiry goes directly to James and Dan, with no commission-driven sales team or junior broker pushing the quickest answer. As business owners ourselves, we know you need people you can depend on and trust.

We see opportunities others miss.

With decades of experience as analysts in banks and brokerages, we know firsthand how banks read your financials, assess risk and set approval conditions. That experience gives our clients the luxury of hindsight: we can see where the goalposts are, what needs strengthening and how to position your business for better outcomes and rates.

We look beyond one approval to the lender relationship and capacity you’ll need for the next purchase.

Don’t take our word for it. See it in action.

Good finance does more than approve the next purchase. Our credit backgrounds help us make a stronger case to lenders, plan where each facility belongs and preserve room for the next purchase. See how that thinking has helped these business owners grow.

The MFG difference.

Over $1 billion in business credit and equipment finance experience.Over $1 billion in equipment finance experience.

  • Owner-to-owner relationship
  • Enquiry to settlement
  • No internal handballing
  • No junior staff
  • No sales team
  • No KPIs or sales targets
  • Major banks and non-bank lenders
  • 15 years’ experience
2026 Australian Broking Awards Asset Finance Broker of the Year finalistAsset Finance Broker of the Year
Finalist 2026
CAFBA Emerging Broker of the Year finalist 2023CAFBA Emerging Broker
Finalist 2023
James Allan on The Adviser Elite Broker podcastFeatured on the
Elite Broker Podcast
Lending a hand feature about MFG in Earthmoving Equipment MagazineFeatured article
Lending a hand

A fully accredited, ethical and trustworthy finance firm.

MFG is directly accredited with all major banks, alongside an extensive panel of non-bank, specialist and private lenders.

CAFBACAFBA 101556
FBAAFBAA M-359967
Australian Financial Complaints AuthorityAFCA 89354
  • Never lost a lender accreditation
  • Not reliant on another firm’s accreditations
  • No shared commissions or kickbacks with referrers
  • No upfront establishment fees; we’re paid by lenders
  • Insured, accredited, independent and trustworthy
Our lender panelMajor banks · non-banks · specialist and private lenders
ANZ
Commonwealth Bank
NAB
Westpac
Macquarie
Bank of Queensland
Judo Bank
DLL Financial Solutions
ORIX
Pepper Money
Metro Finance
Capital Finance
FlexiCommercial
Grenke
Banjo
Shift
ScotPac
Moneytech
Finance One
Australian Finance Solutions
Angle Finance
Azora Finance
Commercial Equity Group
Yellowgate
COEX Capital
Iron Capital Group
Maple
Morris Finance
SELFCO
Westlawn Finance

Panel shown is indicative and subject to lender accreditation, credit policy and transaction requirements.

From one purchase to a growing fleet.

New and used equipment bought through a dealer, at auction or from a private seller. We consider the asset alongside existing commitments and what the business plans to buy next.

Excavators

Compact machines through to major production equipment.

Dozers & graders

Fleet replacement and major project requirements.

Loaders & haulage

Wheel loaders, dump trucks and site vehicles.

Crushing & screening

Mobile and fixed quarry equipment.

Manufacturing plant

Production lines, CNC and installed equipment.

Access & lifting

EWPs, cranes and specialist lifting assets.

Agricultural equipment

Tractors, harvesters and working farm assets.

Attachments & technology

GPS systems and equipment fitted to working assets.

James Allan with an MMS client on site
James and the LEH Equipment team beside a dozer
MFG with Tumeke Civil and a new Kobelco excavator
James with KBH Earthmoving
MFG with a transport client beside a truck
MMS excavator loading a mine haul truck
MFG with HRV Earthmoving beside a grader
James talking with Brock from LEH Equipment
MFG on site with a mining haul truck
Equipment operator surveying a quarry site
James with Anthony from KBH Earthmoving
Large dozer working on a mine site
MFG discussing equipment at a quarry
James walking through the KBH Earthmoving yard
James discussing equipment with a client in the field
HRV grader and client at work on site
MFG with the Crezzco team at the quarry
James speaking with a client beside heavy equipment

One approval is part of a bigger picture.

We look at the business, its existing commitments and the decisions coming next.

James Allan with Anthony from KBH Earthmoving
01

Understand the requirement.

The asset, seller, timing, contracts and why this purchase matters.

02

Map the current position.

Existing facilities, fleet debt, equity and likely future purchases.

03

Choose the structure.

Match lenders, terms and repayments to the business and its plans.

04

Stay involved.

Handle the purchase and keep the broader funding strategy moving.

Estimate your equipment repayments.

See how term, rate, balloon and payment timing change the monthly commitment.

Equipment loan

Adjust the figures to explore a scenario.

Term 60 months
Balloon 0%
Payment timing
Estimated monthly repayment—Payments in arrears
Total repaid, including balloon—
Estimated interest—
Balloon at end of term—
Amount financedInterest

Illustration only. Assumes a fixed nominal annual rate divided into monthly periods, level monthly payments and a balloon due at the end. Excludes fees, taxes and insurance. In advance means the first repayment is made at the start. This is not a lender quote.

Talk through the purchase →

Buying now, or planning the next 12 months?

Talk to James or Dan →

The next purchase starts with this one.

Fleet decisions are connected. The lender and structure you choose today affect the options you have when the next opportunity arrives.

Kenworth truck in the KBH Earthmoving fleet

Room with lenders.

Where today’s loan sits can affect what is possible when the next asset becomes available.

A working fleet plan.

We look at payouts, replacement cycles, equity and the equipment you expect to need next.

A relationship that continues.

We stay across the facilities and business as contracts, assets and requirements change.

Frequently asked questions.

Why work with MFG for equipment finance?

You deal directly with James or Dan. We have worked inside credit, so we look at how a lender will assess the business as well as the equipment. The aim is to fund this purchase without losing sight of the next one.

Do you charge an upfront fee?

We do not charge an upfront brokerage establishment fee. We are paid by lenders when a transaction settles. If a lender has its own fees, we will show you those in the proposed terms before you commit.

What kinds of equipment can you finance?

We work with commercial equipment and business vehicles across earthmoving, mining, transport, agriculture, manufacturing, aviation and other heavy industries. New, used, single assets and whole fleets are all worth a conversation. We do not arrange personal car loans.

Can you finance used or older equipment?

Often, yes. Age alone does not decide it. The lender will also look at the equipment type, condition, hours or kilometres, value and how the business will use it. Tell us what you are considering before you lock in a short settlement date.

What if I am buying privately, at auction or interstate?

Those purchases can be financed, but the paperwork and timing matter. We may need to check ownership, identification, condition, value and how payment will be made. Auction deadlines in particular can be tight, so involve us early.

How quickly can finance be approved?

It depends on the business, the equipment, the lender and whether the information is ready. A straightforward repeat purchase may move quickly; a larger or more involved transaction needs more work. Give us the deadline and we will tell you what is realistic.

What interest rate will I get?

There is no one rate that fits every purchase. The lender, business profile, equipment, deposit, term and repayment structure all affect the offer. We compare the whole deal, including fees, balloon and future borrowing capacity, rather than quoting a headline rate in isolation.

Can I apply without full financial statements?

Possibly. Some lenders offer reduced-documentation options for eligible businesses. We will look at whether that route actually makes sense, because a full assessment can sometimes lead to a better structure or more room for the next purchase.

Can you help a newer business or one with a credit issue?

We can look at the position and tell you honestly where it stands. Trading history, contracts, cash flow, deposit and the reason for any credit issue all matter. There is no blanket yes or no, and we will not promise an approval we cannot support.

Do I need a deposit?

Not always. It depends on the business, equipment and lender. We will weigh up the benefit of keeping cash in the business against the cost and terms of borrowing more.

How much can I borrow and over what term?

That depends on the purchase, the business’s ability to repay, existing commitments and the lender’s policy. The useful question is what level of debt and repayment suits the work the equipment will do, not just the maximum someone will approve.

What is a balloon payment?

It is an agreed amount left to pay at the end of the term. It can reduce regular repayments, but the final amount still needs a plan. We look at likely resale value, replacement timing and the payout before recommending one.

Can we finance several purchases as part of one plan?

Yes. If you are building or replacing a fleet, we can map the purchases, allocate them across lenders and consider an equipment finance limit where the business qualifies. That can help preserve capacity for what comes next.

Can we arrange finance before we choose the exact equipment?

Sometimes. Depending on the lender and the business, we may be able to assess a funding limit or obtain an indication before the final asset is known. The lender will still need to approve the actual equipment and seller before settlement.

Can you refinance equipment we already own or have financed?

We can review it. The existing payout, current value, remaining term and reason for refinancing will determine whether there is a worthwhile option. We will also consider how it affects your broader lender capacity.

How does a trade-in affect the new finance?

We need the trade value and any payout on the existing loan. The equity or shortfall becomes part of the new purchase calculation, so it is best to work through both sides before you agree to the deal.

Can you finance imported equipment?

Potentially. Imported purchases need more planning around supplier terms, currency, shipping, identification and when the lender can take security. Bring us in before a deposit or payment milestone is due.

Can I make extra repayments or pay out early?

That depends on the lender and product. Some facilities allow flexibility; others may have early payout costs or a different interest calculation. If early repayment is likely, tell us at the start so we can factor it into the structure.

What finance options do you consider?

A chattel mortgage is common for business equipment, but it is not the only structure. Depending on the purchase, we may also consider a lease or another facility. We will explain who owns the equipment, the repayment and any final amount before you choose.

Can two related businesses be involved in the purchase?

Sometimes. We need to be clear about which entity is buying the equipment, which one will use it and where the income sits. We can map the group and approach lenders that are comfortable with that structure.

I already have a quote. Can you look at it?

Of course. Send the full terms, not just the rate. We will look at fees, balloon, security, flexibility and what the deal might mean for the next purchase. If your existing offer is the right one, we will tell you.

How do we get started?

Tell us what you are buying, the price, seller and timing, plus a little about the business and its existing finance. James or Dan will talk through the purchase with you and outline the information needed for the right lenders.

What’s the next move for your business?

One machine or a whole fleet, tell us what you’re considering. James and Dan will look at the purchase in the context of the business around it.

Let’s grow together.

Replacing equipment or planning the next purchase? Tell us what you have in mind.