Easyquip, a family-run business with a 35-year legacy in waste bin manufacturing, is establishing a dedicated equipment division. By partnering with the Italian hydraulic specialists at Bob Italev, Easyquip is bringing a new level of small business care to the world of hook loaders and truck-mounted equipment.
The move marks a shift from Easyquip’s recent focus on the production of high-quality waste bins. However, the company’s roots remain firmly in the mechanical and engineering side of the trade, with its founder initially starting the company in the 1990s around truck bodies and trailers. Over the past five years, the business has transitioned back into the equipment space, first with compactors and balers, and now with a full-scale launch into hook loaders. Easyquip’s Jack Hocking said the move is driven by customer demand.
“There’s a big hole in the industry. Not from a supply point of view, in some ways the market is saturated, but a lot of customers feel there isn’t enough focus on the small things that matter out in the field,” Hocking said. “The decision to get into trucks wasn’t really driven by wanting to grow or wanting to be bigger and better, it was more that we could see our customers needed help.
“For us, we’d shifted from being entirely focused on bins to bringing on the equipment division. We had developed a structure where we’re able to successfully deliver these products and projects to the market, but we’re still small enough to care, to go the extra mile to deliver the best solution for the customer”
Hocking said Easyquip’s background in bin manufacturing provides a suitable foundation for the new venture. With 35 years of building and selling hooklift bins behind it, the company understands the versatility needed in the Australian market. The Bob Italev unit is among the most advanced on the market when it comes to multi-rail width, multi-hook height, multi-lock position and the flexibility of a modular design.
“We’re not just bolting a unit onto a chassis; we understand the technical application and the stresses involved in the day-to-day operation of a waste fleet,” Hocking said.
The decision to partner with Bob Italev was equally deliberate. Like Easyquip, the company – a division of B.O.B. S.p.A. – is a family-owned business that has retained its roots despite a global reach extending to the Americas and beyond. Founded in 1974, Bob Italev has spent half a century specialising in hydraulic equipment, specifically hook loaders and skip loaders. It has maintained a presence in Australia for 30 years and has delivered more than 1000 units, but the new partnership with Easyquip as the sole Australian distributor represents a renewed commitment to the local market.
Hocking said the alignment of business culture between the two companies was a deciding factor.
“They’re very similar and aligned to our business model, their culture and values haven’t been diluted by becoming a big global brand. They’re a family business from Italy. Although they are a global business and lead the market in many ways, they’re still very much a family business that cares and supports the customer,” he said. “I deal directly with the owner, and I’m sure many in the Australian market would know him personally as well. He travels here to Australia, and he spends time on the ground with our customers, understanding their needs. There’s that level of care and attention to detail.”
Hocking also said Bob Italev units have been designed to handle the harsh conditions of the Australian waste landscape, but the hardware is only part of the equation. Easyquip has invested in infrastructure to support the new division, expanding its warehouse space in both Queensland and Victoria to hold an in-house stock of spare parts, addressing a common industry frustration of waiting weeks for components to arrive from Europe. In addition to parts, the company has brought all engineering, fitting and stability calculations in-house.
Hocking said in the waste industry, where “time is money,” having the necessary resources available without relying on outsourcing is critical. Access to technical data, product-specific training and the suite of supporting tools to deliver the right solution quickly is what the industry wants and needs.
Easyquip aims to fill a service hole and is positioning itself as a national equipment supply business that delivers everything from the initial opportunity, through to in-field training and long-term maintenance.
“Whether it’s a small family operator in Mildura or a growing regional business in Chinchilla, the feedback from the ground remains the same: operators want a partner who will answer the phone, deliver a solution and fix a mistake if it happens,” Hocking said. “The waste industry is too small for a bad reputation. The partnership between Easyquip and Bob Italev is built on the idea that reliability is the most valuable product a company can sell.
“If you want to be a respected brand in the waste industry, you must be trustworthy, loyal and deliver the best solution. It’s about being the country’s trusted equipment supply business.”