Top grades for RDO

The WTC Group has carved out a name as a trusted operator in civil, agricultural, and earthworks services. Behind many successful jobs that it has completed, there’s been a quiet but powerful contributor — John Deere equipment.

Civil construction companies recognise the importance of using machinery that can be relied upon for performance and reliability.

They need equipment that can not only keep up with a growing workload, but also deliver consistent performance across vastly different environments — from clearing farmland and building local government roads to constructing tailing dams in mining operations.

For NSW-based company the WTC Group, it’s a priority that can’t be overlooked. Earthmoving Equipment Magazine caught up with Managing Director William Childs for a chat about the company and a brand that mirrors its own values of reliability, innovation, and a drive to deliver long-term value.

State of origin

With almost 20 years’ experience, Will is a first-generation entrepreneur who founded WTC Earthmoving in 2013. In 2019, it was rebranded as WTC Group, reflecting the business’s diversification. Having grown up on a property in the rural town of Narrabri, Will always had an interest in the agriculture industry. His first job after leaving high school was as a plant operator, eventually working his way through a range of operational and supervisory roles across the country.

As modernisation and technological advancements gained momentum in the agriculture industry, Will realised there was a significant gap within Northern NSW for a locally operated company with customisable service. From there, WTC Earthmoving was born.  “Together with my wife Lisa, we built the company from the ground up, starting as a one-man operation with a single elevated Cat 623 scraper,” Will said.

“The WTC Group now employs a highly skilled and diverse team of more than 80 employees and hosts a fleet of over 70 machines, including scrapers, graders, dozers, excavators, prime movers, water carts and dump trucks. We’re one of the largest privately owned employers in our region.

“As the WTC Group has grown, so have our core capabilities. Over the years, we have diversified into mining, civil construction, logistics and plant hire.

“We now have the skills, equipment and experience to take on projects of all scales. We have a well-established and diverse client base including Local Councils, State and Federal government projects, mining operators such as Yancoal and Glencore and agricultural clients.”

The company is also proud to have a presence in Will’s home town: “We’re locals ourselves, so our region’s success is just as important to us as our own,” he said.

“We support local sporting teams, clubs and charity events. We encourage our people to live and shop locally, we reinvest in our community through local sponsorships, and we use local subcontractors and suppliers wherever possible.”

Running with Deere

Within the WTC Group’s fleet, the number of John Deere equipment is growing steadily and strongly. The spark was lit by contact from RDO Equipment NSW sales professional Jono Pittin, who Will said made a strong case for the efficiency of John Deere machines.

“We were able to get the equipment to demo to see how they worked, and we could also view and use them at RDO’s Demo Dig Dayz events,” he said.

“Jono was present all the time to show what the products can offer and that’s been a pretty important part of us buying the machines.

“John Deere has always been recognised as a good agriculture brand, but it’s only recently started to make a name in the construction equipment sector.

“The company is committed to bringing the products out to regional areas, and getting to utilise them on their demo days has made a big contribution to the decision to buy.”

As a clincher, RDO also sent Will along with a number of other clients on a guided tour of one of the John Deere factories in the USA.

The RDO Equipment brand itself has roots in the US. It came to Australia in 2012 when North Dakota-based RDO Equipment Co partnered with Vanderfield, a well-established Australian dealer of John Deere agricultural equipment. Since then, RDO Equipment has grown significantly, incorporating Vermeer Australia and building a strong presence in the construction and forestry sectors through its John Deere equipment offering. Will said the US tour enabled visitors to watch each stage of the manufacturing process, from the first steel cut to the finished product.

“We could see machines built in all shapes and sizes: skid steer loaders, excavators, graders, dozers and more,” he said.

A particular John Deere machine that has impressed Will is one of WTC’s latest purchases, a 672GP motor grader. Engineered for high-precision grading, superior durability, and operator-friendly control, the model is designed to handle everything from fine grading on construction sites to heavy roadwork and infrastructure development in rugged terrain. One of its most innovative and performance-enhancing components is the Premium Circle, a feature that sets it apart from other graders in its class, built to improve durability, reduce maintenance, and enhance grading performance.

It’s an upgraded version of the traditional circle, which is the large, circular gear mechanism under a grader’s frame that rotates the mouldboard. This allows the operator to adjust the angle of the blade for different grading tasks, like cutting, leveling, or spreading.

There are no wear inserts between moving parts, with the circle using sealed, precision roller bearings in place of traditional friction surfaces.

The entire system is sealed and greased-for-life, and the circle teeth are heavier-duty, offering better strength and resistance to wear — especially under tough working conditions like hard-packed soils or rocky terrain.

“Because the system has less play and no wear parts to loosen over time, the operator maintains tighter, more precise control of the blade, even after years of use,” Will said.

“It’s quite a robust machine. It’s fancy in some ways, but it’s still a solid grader, and definitely not over the top.

“We’ve got it working in the agriculture sector, building irrigation channels and irrigation water reservoirs. The grader is constantly working in a very tough environment.”

Another valued machine is the John Deere 770GP grader, which also has an option for a Premium Circle. “It’s utilised for most of our pavement work, such as working for the local councils,” Will said. “We’re excited to be able to put these two graders to use.”

On the dozing side, Will has opted for a John Deere 850L model, which boasts leading horsepower, weight, and the largest blades in their size class.

He singled out the improved cab space (15 per cent more than previous series) as one of its best features.

Operators can work in comfort all day, with simple climate control, reduced noise and vibration, and improved visibility.

Productivity is lifted with intuitive control of the transmission, hydraulics, and rear implement, all from the comfort of a deluxe seat with heavy-duty air suspension.

As well, additional improvements to visibility gives improved sightlines to the blade corners and the worksite all around. More glass and large door openings, optional factory-installed rearview camera, and LED lighting package upgrade options combine to reduce operator strain and increase site safety and productivity.

“They’re very easy to maintain and they’re well built,” Will said.

“The cab and the appearance are suitable for the operator and the technology is superior, compelling reasons for us to pick the 850.”

Will said the relationship with Jono continues to grow in strength. (Delete the sentence since Jono is not working for RDO anymore)

He Will welcomed the unmatched dealer support. Local technicians could be called upon within hours, and parts were sourced quickly, keeping operations moving and crews on site.

“He and The sales team have been really good in the way of accommodating us for all different specifications on the machines that we need for different sites,” he said.

“RDO has technicians across the state that specialise in the construction and other sides of their business.

“And the backup service has been good so far, whether it’s servicing, maintenance, fixing breakdowns or finding parts.”

With the green-and-yellow machines by its side, the road ahead for WTC looks as strong as the roads it builds.

“Each machine brings something new to the table,” Will said.

“We don’t see the John Deere fleet just as machinery, but as part of our identity.

“Whether it’s laying the foundation for a new road, reshaping farmland for better productivity, or helping communities rebuild after natural disasters, WTC knows it has the right tools for the job.

“John Deere has helped shape the kind of company WTC strives to be: dependable, forward-thinking, and proud to serve regional Australia.”