Operating team member Prabhu, and co-ordinator Craig. 31111 Picture: Meagan Rogers
By Melissa Meehan
BANGHOLME’S Frontline Australasia planned for the global recession, and because of that it is going from strength to strength while their competitors struggle.
They have just won contracts to supply Toyota with aluminium products valued at approximately $10 million dollars.
Managing director Kevin Hooper said that aspects of production had already started but that major productions would begin in August.
“The contracts are for nudge bars, bull bars and sports bars,” Mr Hooper said.
“It is really good news.”
Frontline Australasia has also recently won contracts to supply products for the warfare destroyers for the Australian Navy in South Australia.
“We won the contracts for three ships, worth $2.1 million a ship,” he said.
“These kind of contracts allow us to be profitable and cash positive.”
So positive that they are planning to employ another 10 employees in the coming month.
Mr Hooper said the key to their success was to use local companies to supply robotic production equipment such as CSF.
“We also did a lot of strategic planning,” he said.
“It was anticipated that there would be a downturn in 2007, but we didn’t expect the roof to fall in.
“But when the downfall came we were able to implement parts of our plan … there was no need for panic measures.”
He said Toyota had also been working with the company to improve aspects of their capabilities.
What’s next for Frontline?
Mr Hooper said the company would continue to work with Toyota but at the same time work on other projects in the pipeline.
“At the moment we are working with the CSIRO to commercialise a new process developed here that means we can manufacture titanium pipe,” he said.
“We are just waiting on funding.”
It seems that things will continue to get better for Frontline in the future.
