The EMS Story: From a Battle Truck to Industry Leaders

Living in Tom Price and working as the Branch Coordinator for Hitachi, Shane Elphinstone spent more time down the pit than in the office. When a new business plan highlighted a major gap in the market, he knew it was time to act. Already recognised as one of the best in his field, Shane took the leap to return to the tools and began contracting to clients in Perth.

To get started, Shane’s motorbike was sold and the proceeds were invested in the essentials: accounting software, field service timesheet books, and an old battle truck purchased at auction in Kalgoorlie. A move back to Mandurah marked the beginning of the EMS journey, operating from a home office. Shane managed the front end of the business and became the face of EMS, while Jody managed operations behind the scenes.

Not long after, Shane’s brothers, Adam and Curt, joined EMS, followed by several close friends. That early field team became a key driver of the company’s success. Though small, the group was built on trust, shared values, and a strong work ethic.

EMS soon moved into a small workshop in Byford to take on workshop-based machinery repairs and inspections. Growth followed quickly, leading to a relocation to Pinjarra in 2013, where EMS subleased with Pinjarra Crane Hire. A sincere thank you is extended to Chris Fairman for helping make that possible. As both businesses continued to expand, EMS purchased a property a few doors down to establish a fully functional workshop of its own.

The business continued to grow, branching out to support clients overseas, including operations in Africa. Around the time of the GFC, when the skills shortage hit hard, EMS remained strong, with much of its work centred in the Pilbara region. Despite the challenges, the team’s resilience and reputation for quality ensured demand remained high.

In 2017, a strategic decision was made to relocate operations to Perth. This positioned EMS for improved staffing capacity while reducing travel demands on its teams.

Across every stage of growth, there was confidence that the business would succeed. That success has come from making tough decisions, continuously planning ahead, and always looking for the next opportunity. Through it all, a steadfast commitment to building a positive culture and the continuous development of team capability has remained at the heart of the business.

Being in business is never easy. Highs and lows are unavoidable. What defines Elphinstone Mechanical Service is a commitment to excellence and a focus on quality over quantity. This approach has led to recognition across the industry as a trusted leader in its field, a standard the business remains committed to maintaining well into the future.