Established in 1972 as Pipeline Welding Contractors under Mike and Barry Koster, the company originally focused on pipeline welding for various gas pipeline projects on the eastern coast of Australia. With a start-up capital of just $800, PWC grew to a team of 30 staff members within five years. The business steadily became more involved in general engineering focussing mainly on repair work for the earthmoving industry.
In the 1980s, PWC began moving into the bucket and attachment market servicing both Construction and Mining under its sub-brand, JAWS. After gaining great notoriety and popularity in the marketplace, buckets soon became a mainstay of PWC— so much so that the company rebranded itself as JAWS Buckets & Attachments.
Jaws added a number of complementary products to its portfolio, including tyre handlers, high production coal dozer blades, water tank modules, service modules, truck bodies, mining buckets, face shovels and a vast array of Construction and Mining class equipment.
In 1999, Jaws transitioned from a DOS based manufacturing/parts system to Vantage, an ERP system, fusing all business operations into one system. Having that system in place helped the company take full advantage of the mining boom that hit Australia and the Asia Pacific region during the early to mid 2000’s.
In 1998 JAWS Buckets achieved ISO 9001 certification for design and manufacturing
In 2011 JAWS purchased a 50% share in BARD ENGINEERING
In 2016 JAWS completed a 100% take-over of BARD ENGINEERING
In 2016 Jaws expanded its reach to Perth, Mackay and Hunter Valley to support their growing customer base.
Jaws now employs over 120 people and exports products worldwide. Continuous improvement, from innovation in manufacturing techniques and ergonomics to general product improvement, has been a core focus of Jaws since day one and will continue with superior technology.
Over the next five years, the company will invest $10+ million in new technology, facilities, R&D and the acquisition of companies that broaden and complement its product range.
Despite the challenges of competing with products made cheaply from abroad, Jaws will continue to represent a brand that does not sacrifice quality, Australian jobs or a customer’s productivity.
