By CASEY NEILL
Dandenong’s HM GEM Engines has been hailed as Victoria’s finest engine reconditioning business.
General manager Dean Taylor accepted the 2016 Best Engine Re-conditioner nod at the inaugural Victorian Automobile Chamber of Commerce (VACC) Industry Awards on Saturday 7 May.
The state’s automotive industry peak body presented 21 awards at a gala dinner in the Plaza Ballroom at the Regent Theatre in Melbourne, attended by more than 500 people.
HM GEM general manager Dean Taylor proudly accepted the honour.
“It’s a great achievement for the company and certainly a fitting reward for (managing director) Bruce (Parker) and all the hard work he’s put in,” he said.
Mr Taylor has been with the company for 20 years after starting as an apprentice automotive machinist and fitter and turner.
“Like most young guys I was interested in engines and cars,” he said.
Over the years he’s completed leadership and skills courses, plus a business management diploma – “all supported by the company”.
“Bruce has a very high commitment to training and promoting from within,” Mr Taylor said.
VACC executive director Geoff Gwilym said HM GEM Engines’ long-term commitment to supporting the disadvantaged was exceptional.
“VACC initiated the Industry Awards to recognise and promote those businesses that set the bar high and go above and beyond,” he said.
“HM GEM Engines certainly does that.”
A panel of expert judges assessed more than 200 award applications on customer service, training, occupational health and safety, environmental compliance, and more.
“In the face of strong competition, customers can be assured that any business winning a VACC Industry Award this year is a quality business,” Mr Gwilym said.
“Clearly HM GEM Engines is in that category.”
The award win followed Mr Parker being inducted into the Greater Dandenong Hall of Fame at the Premier Regional Business Awards at Sandown Greyhounds in Springvale on 13 April.
HM GEM Engines also made the top four in the guest-voted Premier Regional Business Award.
It started in a small garage in 1969 and now has 14 branches throughout Australia’s east coast.
Ten years ago, passenger car engine re-manufacturing generated 85 per cent of its business.
“We could see that engine re-manufacturing was going to be a sunset industry,” Mr Parker said.
The remaining 15 per cent was in specialist machining.
“We thought there was going to be growth in that,” he said.
The ratio today is 25 per cent exchange engines and cylinder heads and 75 per cent specialist engine component servicing/machining.
The company has 14 apprentices under training and has taken on about 460 over the years.
It has also employed more than 350 people with disabilities.
