Above: Engineering manager David Fitzpatrick makes sure the manufacturing process at Hilton Manufacturing runs smoothly.
By Shaun Inguanzo
Sheet metal fabricator Hilton Manufacturing is a family-owned Dandenong business that has become a global player in its industry.
The 32-year-old business is now in the hands of Todd Hartley, who joined his family on the shop floor in 1989 after finishing his secondary school studies.
Mr Hartley no longer works the shop floor – he is managing director of Hilton Manufacturing, and last month accepted the company’s induction into the Victorian Manufacturing Hall of Fame.
“We are a sheet metal fabricator and the preferred supplier to the truck, leisure and health care industries,” Mr Hartley said.
“We work over three different shifts and employ approximately 200 people.
“Our major clients are Kenworth, Volvo, Mack, Iveco, the locally based Jayco caravans and A’van caravans.”
During Mr Hartley’s 18 years with the company he has ridden the ups and downs of the business world, but, along with the company, has taken it in his stride towards success.
“We’ve been through enormous growth,” he said.
“When I started we went through a recession in 1989 and 1990, and we were on our knees at that time.
“We got down to 12 staff members, but since then we have gone through enormous growth and have become more sophisticated.
“We now export to Japan and Korea, and also now add Canada, South Africa and Sweden to that in recent years.
“In terms of the equipment we use it is more CNC (computer) operated equipment.”
Mr Hartley said there were plenty of job opportunities in manufacturing for bright young people.
“We offer IT, engineering, logistics, obviously quality assurance, so there’s a fairly diverse range of opportunities and positions available at a company our size,” he said.
“Manufacturing is certainly a lot cleaner – no longer is it about a small engineering shop where you walk through dirt and grime.
“With all of the sophisticated pieces of equipment, a lot of the work is computer-driven.”
