By CASEY NEILL
IVECO Trucks Australia has been in Dandenong since the early 1950s when International Harvester, as it was then known, developed a truck manufacturing facility.
“I hope the facility will remain in Dandenong another 60 years at least,” spokesman Ron Grasso said.
IVECO became part of the Fiat group in 1992 and is now part of CNH Industrial following a Fiat-Case New Holland merger.
The deal will create new opportunities for the group in Australia, particularly in research and development.
The business expects to grow in the coming years through opportunities in bus and coach manufacturing – it manufactures bus chassis at the Dandenong facility – and its capabilities in defence force products and emergency services vehicles.
Awards chairman James Sturgess said Iveco Trucks Australia had about 600 employees Australia-wide.
“The Dandenong headquarters houses around 150 within the manufacturing facility, with around double that number in manufacturing support roles,” he said.
The business has embarked on a program of open communication with employees.
“This starts with three sessions per year where the company’s financials are presented to the whole workforce,” Mr Sturgess said.
“The business stops for a ’brunch’ and awards are given to employees with 15, 20 and 25 years’ service.”
He said another important aspect of Iveco’s impact on the community was the fact that it had more than 100 suppliers on its books, with its head of purchasing working closely with suppliers to create partnerships.
NOMINEE – Employment, Manufacturing, Service Excellence and Premier Regional Business.
