By Casey Neill
A laundry, a farm machinery manufacturer and an electronics recycler were the final three nominees for the new Greater Dandenong Chamber of Commerce Business Awards.
President Paul Broom applauded the Cabrini Linen Service, Hugh Murray and Sons and Quantum Recycling Solutions at the final chamber breakfast for the year at Greyhounds Entertainment in Springvale on Wednesday 12 October.
“From here we go onto our gala night to celebrate and acknowledge our winners,” he said.
That evening will take place on Wednesday 30 November.
Cabrini Linen Service (CLS) managing director Ralf Pelz said the not-for-profit provided specialist linen and laundry services to Victorian healthcare, aged care and hospitality industries.
“We originally started our business in Melbourne in the basement of Cabrini Hospital,” he said.
The business moved to East Hawthorn but outgrew the space.
It relocated to Dandenong South three years ago with a mission to help the area’s high unemployment, at-risk youths and new migrants.
“I’m happy for people to work with us for a short time and move on to bigger and better pastures,” Mr Pelz said.
It’s more than doubled its turnover since the move, now handles 200 tonnes of linen each week and employs more than 130 people.
“We’ve gone from strength to strength,” Mr Pelz said.
“There’s certainly room for more growth for us.”
Hugh Murray and Sons operations manager Adrian Norton-Jones said Hugh Murray started the company in Buln Buln in 1903.
“We moved from Buln Buln because demand for the harrows grew exponentially from word of mouth,” he said.
Dandenong was on the rail line, enabling transport into New South Wales, and the manufacturer has been in the suburb since 1915.
The company specialises in harrows.
“We make one thing and we make it well,” Mr Norton-Jones said.
“A lot of the Chinese imports, the farmers will think they’re getting a good deal.
“But they drag it round the paddock and there’s only half left.”
Managing director Lokesh Baskaran established Quantum Recycling Solutions in Dandenong in March last year.
The company has close associations with councils, education facilities and other large corporates.
On average Quantum works through 12 tonnes per week and as much as 26 tonnes during peak periods.
Fifty-three per cent of end products are exported to China, Japan, Korea and Hong Kong.
“We’re already looking for a move next year. We’re looking for a bigger place,” he said.
“We don’t want to get out of Dandenong.”
