At the core of Justin Mangion’s journey with Juscot Construction is family. Although born in Australia, Justin immigrated with his family 24 years ago from Malta where he was then residing, and initially delved into real estate and residential development. But everything changed when his father, Charlie, founded Juscot in 2000. The company has since branched out into various fields, from commercial/industrial turnkey construction, large scale civil, property developments to plant and equipment hire. In 2005, tragedy struck when Charlie passed away at just 48 years old, leaving Justin, then 21, and his brother Scott, 17, at a crossroads.
Facing immense pressure of what to do with the family business, Justin and his brother made the decision to continue their father’s legacy. With a block of land ready for development, he took a bold step, applying for a $2.5 million loan to fund a commercial project. Despite numerous rejections, his persistence finally paid off.
As Justin became more involved onsite, he developed more of an interest in the heavier machinery and commercial side of things. Looking to invest in his first excavator, Justin relied on a close friend to point him in the right direction. “I have a friend who is an experienced operator, and when I mentioned to him what kind of work I was doing he said to look for a Kobelco with a split boom. He has operated Kobelcos all his life and swears by them,” Justin recalls. This guidance led him to buy a used Kobelco SK135SR 13-tonner, coming with 26 custom attachments, which he flew to Townsville to acquire from a retiring operator who had exclusively run Kobelcos.
Justin’s first project with his new purchase was a small subdivision, which quickly paved the way for larger opportunities. As the business grew, so did his fleet of machines, now including a range of Kobelco excavators, from 3.5 tonne up to 35 tonnes.
A pivotal moment in the expansion of the business came when Juscot was called by Ausdecom, a demolition company, to assist with a major civil job for Toyota. “One of the clients we did a subdivision for, their son has a large demolition company. When Ausdecom won a Toyota project to do all their demolition works, they gave us a call to see if we were interested in a civil component of the job. When I heard it was a project for Toyota, I said I was interested. Later, we won another project with Toyota based on our own merit, which included digging a mammoth 3.8 million litre retention tank, earning us the Master builders Victoria Excellence in Construction award $10-$25M civil industry award ,” says Justin. To complete the works, Justin utilised 2 x 50 tonne Kobelcos from Big Chief Hire, further solidifying his trust with the brand.
The family aspect of Juscot Construction remains central to its operations. Justin’s brother Scott, who took a break from the company, returned three years ago and now oversees occupational health and safety (OHS). The business also involves Justin’s children, who are already learning the value of hard work and investment. His son, also named Charlie after his dad, now 9, bought a share of a 5-tonne roller when he was about 18 months old, while Justin’s eldest daughter, Ariana, is determined to become the future boss of Juscot. Ariana and her younger sister Mikaela are so invested that they even saved up their pocket money to buy their own excavator (with some help from dad).
"I think it’s important to really show them the value of business in the real world. Charlie may have been too young to fully understand when we first bought the roller, but now he is older, he is very invested in seeing his return on investment. When the girls saw what was going on, they wanted to get in on it to. They went and got their purses, and we drew up an agreement."
Justin Mangion, Juscot Constructions.
This purchase was to be Juscot’s first new excavator to their fleet, the Kobelco SK55SRX-7, which has been lovingly decaled Armi, combining the daughter’s names.
Justin values operator comfort, and the SK55SRX-7 cabin has become a favourite due to its spacious cabin, Bluetooth capabilities, and short radius design, making it perfect for tight job sites. Justin’s hands-on approach extends to involving his operators in machinery decisions, “I take them around to see what machines they like as all have their own preset likes and dislikes. The cabin in this SK55SRX-7 is bigger than any other in the same class, and the boys love the overall operator comfort. Now everyone’s arguing over who gets to use it”.
The new Kobelco purchase was a long time coming, with Justin having been recommended to Melbourne Tractor’s sales rep, Shaun Pollard, through Ausdecom. “We have known Shaun for a while now and he has been fantastic. He has always tried to make something happen for us. Recently Shaun had mentioned to me that he kept seeing our machines on every job he was going past, and when was he selling me a new one,” Justin recalls. The timing was right, and he found himself visiting the local Kobelco dealership to pick up a service kit, seeing the machine in person, combined with the end of financial year sale, it sealed the deal for Justin.
The dealership’s support, whether through regular servicing or technical assistance, has ensured Juscot’s machines remain in peak condition. “The support from Melbourne Tractors has been exceptional. Justin and Kylie have kept us updated every step of the way as our older SK135 undergoes a full overhaul. We had an issue with the boom splitting on a recent job, which required extensive repairs – plus we are getting new bushings, a full hydraulic makeover, and more. They’ve ensured I’m informed throughout the entire process,” praises Justin. This reliable service allowed Justin to focus on the company’s ongoing growth, including an upcoming full turnkey job where he plans to swap out his current non-Kobelco 20-tonne machine for a new 23-tonne Kobelco.
Today, Juscot Construction employs 15 full-time staff, with additional teams focused on property development and equipment management. Justin’s story is a testament to family strength, perseverance, and a commitment to quality – both in the people he works with and the machines he trusts.
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