Bonfiglioli celebrates 20 years in Australia by investing more in drives technology for 2008
The global Bonfiglioli group — which has itself grown 75 per cent over the past five years to sales exceeding $1 billion – is investing extensively in increased stock, and assembly and testing technology in Australasia to further enhance product innovation and service and delivery times.
The latest $10 million investment in stock and technology – to position the company for further expansion in 2008 – comes after both Australia and New Zealand contributed record performances in 2007, says the Managing Director of Bonfiglioli Transmission (Australia) Pty Ltd, Mr Malcolm Lewis.
This $10 million follows investment the year before of another $8 million in the company’s new headquarters in Sydney coupled with expanded stocking and local assembly and testing facilities in Australia and New Zealand to cope with expanded demand.
“The ongoing investment and strong performances across Australia and New Zealand have transformed Bonfiglioli from being a supplier of predominately smaller drives – including worm types — to having the region’s largest range of quality worm, helical, planetary and variable frequency drives,” says Mr Lewis. “The investment will help prepare the company for even better performances to come with the impact of new ranges of heavy duty drives and new technology suited to mechatronics applications and production automation.
“Australasia is one of the success stories of the Bonfiglioli group. We have expanded more than sixfold since we set up a full Bonfiglioli branch here 10 years ago following a decade of successful national distribution by the our original Brisbane based operation. We have since expanded radically through innovation, range and service, gaining a reputation as a problem solver by adapting our versatile product ranges to customers’ particular needs” he said.
“We will do even better over 2008 as we expand our staff to satisfy expanding customer demand. New skilled positions will be created in Australasia as we continue to record outstanding performances in the area of heavier drives in the mining and materials handling sectors, as well as mechatronic packages into the manufacturing and processing sectors.
Bonfiglioli’s presence has also been expanded in New Zealand, where Precision Bearings and Transmissions — with 10 branches in the North Island and Christchurch in the South Island.
Mr Lewis says both Australia and New Zealand will develop their state-of-the-art assembly and testing facilities to accommodate more new technologies coming this year.