Komatsu: Set In Stone

Gunlake Quarries has turned to a fleet of Komatsu dump trucks to support the next phase of its growth in New South Wales.

In 2007, five generations of the O’Neil family’s quarrying and concrete expertise was poured into the establishment of the Gunlake Group and its two subsidiaries, Gunlake Concrete and Gunlake Quarries.

At the time, the New South Wales-based company consisted of a single concrete plant, but behind it was the ambition to build something more. As years passed, this ambition turned to action – Gunlake Quarries’ Marulan quarry opened in 2010, and the business became one of Australia’s largest independent quarry and concrete producers.

In 2026, with the help of around 80 full-time staff, the Marulan operation now supplies aggregates, road base, drainage materials and civil construction products to both its own concrete batching plants and external customers across Greater Sydney and regional New South Wales.

The quarry has played a vital role in several major infrastructure projects, and continues to expand its capabilities to meet growing demand.

Sam Ramsay, Manager at Gunlake Quarries, says the key to maintaining productivity at a quarry of Marulan’s scale lies in using reliable equipment.

“With capacity to produce up to 4.2 million tonnes of materials per year, we need machines that can perform safely and reliably every day, while giving operators confidence when they’re behind the controls,” he says.

Gunlake Quarries has long ensured this consistent performance and growth through a partnership with Komatsu and its machinery, recently investing in seven Komatsu HD605 rigid dump trucks.

“We already had a PC450LC-8 and a PC200LC-8M0 excavator, which kicked off our relationship with the brand,” Ramsay says. “Then we were looking to refresh our ageing haul fleet, and the HD605s were very competitive in the market.”

The rigid dump trucks represent a significant technological upgrade for the quarry. Boasting increased power, payload capacity and advanced transmissions compared to other series, the trucks ensure optimum traction and safe operation in all conditions.

Unique features include the ‘Auto Retard Speed Control’ system, which allows the trucks to set a constant downhill travel speed with ease, letting the operator concentrate more on steering. The system’s intuitive control lever also allows the vehicle’s speed to be appropriately adjusted to the slope grade, at an increment of one kilometre per hour.

Meanwhile, the trucks’ MacPherson strut-type front suspension allows for a tight turning radius, allowing them to navigate sharp corners, tight turns, and restrictive loading areas without getting stuck, and while carting heavy material.

For Gunlake Quarries, moving from older equipment to new-generation machines has delivered improvements in operator comfort, machine monitoring, and fleet management – a result of the Komtrax remote monitoring and location system.

“The comfort levels are much better for operators,” Ramsay says, “and systems such as Komtrax have given us greater visibility across the fleet, particularly around fuel monitoring and machine utilisation – which is particularly important in the current environment.”

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The practical design of the vehicles has also been well-received by Gunlake Quarries’ maintenance team.

“We get good feedback from our fitters around accessibility to filters, hoses, and service points,” Ramsay says. “It’s clear the machines have been designed with serviceability in mind, which makes a real difference when it comes to maintenance.”

Ramsay explains that the combination of these factors has made Komatsu the clear choice to support Gunlake Quarries amid its rapid expansion.

“The quality of the build, the serviceability of the machines and the feedback from both operators and fitters all played a role in the decision to add more Komatsu units to our fleet,” he says.

While equipment performance remains important, Ramsay adds that the support behind the machines is equally valuable.

“The Komatsu team has been open, honest and easy to work with,” Ramsay says. “Our fleet is still relatively young, so we haven’t had to lean heavily on support yet, but any minor issues we’ve had have been dealt with quickly and professionally.”

With the Marulan quarry continuing to expand, Ramsay expects additional fleet investment will be required in the years ahead.

“The business is consistently growing, and machinery always has a lifecycle,” he says. “At some point, equipment needs to be upgraded or replaced, and based on our experience so far, Komatsu will definitely be in the mix for future acquisitions.

“Overall, these machines are helping us position for the future. We’re focused on running a safe, efficient and reliable quarry operation, and Komatsu has been a good partner in helping us achieve that.” 

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