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CELEBRATING 40 YEARS OF CREATING STORAGE SOLUTIONS

Ph. 03 5432 2384 gesilos.com.au

CELEBRATING 40 YEARS

Brothers’ tinkering was solid foundation When two brothers, who enjoyed tinkering with steel and machinery on the family farm, first established a small engineering business, they never dreamed it would evolve into the thriving success that is GE Silos. Noel and Brian Comer started out in 1978, pouring concrete in the old shearing shed on their parents’ property, to convert it for carrying out engineering works for locals. That concrete proved a solid foundation for a business that 40 years on, continues to employ locals, service clients much further afield and contribute to the Goornong community. In 1980, when Comer Brothers was formed, the mainstay of the business was manufacturing land graders, wheat bins, stock crates and bale forks. GE Silos managing director Jason Comer

said the brothers received many unusual requests but never shied away from a challenge and would tackle any project. Soon, the brothers were approached to build a silo, and such was their skill those early prototypes are still in use on farms today. By the time the mid-1980s rolled around it was evident the silo manufacturing arm was going to be a substantial part of the business going forward and led to some modifications to the original old shearing shed. When the brothers went in their own directions in 1989, Noel and wife Lyn registered the Goornong Engineering name and five years later realised the completion of a new state-of-the-art facility and the birth of GE Silos. Jason said it was then the focus on innovation took off, introducing Zincalume walls and cones to the product range and lid openers and sight glasses for improved safety. The company was also the first silo manufacturer to introduce a new heavyduty blow pipe. When Noel lost his short battle with cancer in 2001, Lyn took the reins and with the support of clients, agents and staff continued to build the business, to the point where several large contracts were secured to underpin future growth. GE Silos is a second-generation family business with Lyn and Noel’s son Jason, and his wife Carine, now at the helm. Jason said taking on the business was one of the best decisions they had made. “In the last three years we have helped the business to grow in production and sales,” he said. “Last year was the largest year recorded, with 244 silos sold and delivered.”

The first silo built by the Comer brothers.

GE Silos has manufactured more than 4000 silos in its history. Team member Michael Flynn is working on the next one. Photo: Megan Fisher

That’s a lot of silos

• 6000 tonne of steel;

When GE Silos celebrated its 40th anniversary late last year, managing director Jason Comer revealed some interesting statistics. In its 40-year history, the business has manufactured and sold 4033 silos, using:

• 100km of continuous welding;

• 56000 tubes of silicone; • 225km of coils; • 380km of steel tube; and • 2.4 million rivets.

Keeping pace with change GE Silos has continued to build its market share by innovating, training staff and regularly modernising its equipment. Managing director Jason Comer said buying new silos was a significant long-term investment for clients so it was imperative the business remained abreast of industry advancements. “Perhaps the method of constructing silos hasn’t changed that much, but the materials we use and the equipment is very different,” Jason said. “The Zincalume material lasts much longer than the old galvanised product, and the next-generation zinc that came on the market about four years ago is better again. “The sealants and rubbers we use last longer and we produce a gas-tight silo so farmers can effectively treat weevil or insect-infested grain.” GE Silos continues to invest heavily in new equipment, such as welders, a plasma table to cut steel and a computerised folder,

which serve to automate some processes and supply more accurate and consistent components. “Silos are getting bigger and bigger all the time, and the industry is improving all the time,” Jason said. “The quality of our silos is only as good as the materials we use and the workmanship that goes into them. “There was a shortage of Australian BlueScope (steel) one year and we had to use imported material. There was a big difference in strength so now we make sure our supplier keeps more for us in stock.” OneSteel Bendigo has supplied material to GE Silos for more than 20 years, rivets are sourced from worldwide business Stanley Engineered Fastening and all welding equipment is from Waugh’s Industrial Supplies in Golden Square.

Joe McCormick at work at GE Silos. Photo: Megan Fisher

CELEBRATING 40 YEARS

The team from GE Silos. Photo: Megan Fisher

Family business forges ahead From humble beginnings inside an old shearing shed, GE Silos has grown to be one of the Goornong area’s largest employers. Silos marked with the prominent GE Silos’ signage dot the landscape through large parts of central Victoria and the familyowned business continues to grow its market share. Managing director Jason Comer said GE Silos predominantly serviced the agricultural industry, supplying on-farm storage for cereal growers, dairy, poultry or pig farmers. The silos also have a commercial application, for feedlots or stockfeed manufacturing plants.

“All of our silos are transportable, they are built here in the factory and then transported to the site and installed and anchored,” Jason said. With a team of 14 — including administration, logistics, sales, manufacturing and transport staff — GE Silos has trained more than 10 apprentices in the heavy metal fabrication trade, as well as offering opportunities for welders and labourers. Jason said the bulk of the silos were located within 200 km of Goornong and the

business enjoyed considerable market share in key dairying areas in Gippsland and the Western District. GE Silos can also be found in NSW, South Australia and Tasmania. Jason said the growth of the business was due, in part, to the quality and consistency of the product, as well as the changing nature of agriculture and farm management. “Having a quality product that’s capable of withstanding harsh conditions and works well for the customer is what sets you

apart,” he said. “Farmers never used to store large quantities of grain on-farm, 40 tonne silos used to be common for grain storage. Now there are rows of 110 tonne silos as farmers try and manage their own storage.” As a family-owned business in a small community, GE Silos supports the Mt Pleasant Football Netball Club and Goornong Cricket Club, and for many years hosted a Biggest Morning Tea to raise funds for the Cancer Council, in honour of business co-founder Noel Comer.

CELEBRATING 40 YEARS

Taking on the family trade As the son of small business owners, Jason Comer thought he might come into the business “one day” but circumstances made that happen a lot sooner than anticipated. Jason was in his last year of school when his father and business co-founder, Noel, died after a short battle with cancer, leaving his mother Lyn to take the reins. After two years travelling and studying, Jason — then aged 20 — returned to the place he grew up, Goornong and the GE Silos factory. “When Dad died, Mum took over and had to learn a lot very quickly,” Jason said. “I came back when Mum wanted a hand so I thought I better get qualified and did my apprenticeship,” Jason said. “We had orders for different shaped or sized silos and it was my job to learn how to do it; there was a lot of trial and error but I learnt pretty quickly.” Working his way through the ranks, from

apprentice to assistant manager and then manager, Jason and wife Carine bought the family business in 2015. Carine, a qualified cabinet and fine-furniture maker, shares the decision-making process with Jason, formulates and documents policy and procedure for the business, and cares for the couple’s three children, Remmi, 5, Senna, 3 and Dash, 1. As managing director, Jason is hands-on and is committed to furthering the family business started by his father and uncle. “I enjoy the problem solving aspect of the business, helping people find solutions to some of the challenges they have,” Jason said. “We’ve also got a great team at the moment, it’s great watching them work together, and improve their skills. They’re all genuinely interested in improving the business.” Loyal customers make the job worthwhile, and Jason looks forward to catching up with them at various field days and trade events. “We get a lot of good feedback from customers at those events; it’s a good opportunity to talk to them, find out what’s working and what isn’t,” Jason said. “Once we get that feedback we work on how to develop those ideas and put them into practice.”

GE Silos owners Jason and Carine Comer with their children Remmi, Senna and Dash. Photo: Megan Fisher

An essential part of the team Shea Griﬃn grew up in Goornong and has been part of the GE Silos team, alongside his childhood mate Jason Comer, for about 10 years.

Production supervisor Shea Griffin has been in the role for six years. Photo: Megan Fisher

As production supervisor, a role he has held for the past six years, Shea oversees the smooth operation of the manufacturing facility. “I started driving the pilot car a couple of days a week when I was at uni, then labouring in the factory,” Shea said. After completing his business degree and working in a bank for a year, Shea found himself back at GE Silos undertaking an apprenticeship before eventually being appointed to his present role.

Shea holds a “toolbox meeting” each morning, outlining the work priorities for the day and dealing with any issues from the previous day. He loves the idea of working for a familyowned business that offers a supportive environment for its staff, as well as the ﬂexibility to work around team members that have young families. “Being a family business, they realise our families are the priority,” Shea said.

Congratulations to GE Silos on 40 years! For over 20 years Angus Welder Repair have been looking after the welding and repair industry

And they’re a warranty agent for Esab, Cigweld, Lincoln, Unimig, Bossweld, BOC, WIA, Miller and Kemppi.

Bickleys Transport are proud to be associated with GE Silos, and the reaching of their 40 year milestone in business.

Contact Brett McIntosh

Congratulations to Jason & the team on this achievement, and we wish you all the very best for the future.

They service and repair all types of welders, Plasma cutting machines and ancillary equipment for welding machines.

They offer onsite repairs, and supply parts and consumables for new and old models along with custom made Tig leads and earth cables!

P 0419 889 824 E anguswelderrepair@gmail.com

Local & interstate transport (03) 5432 2324 | ops@bickleystransport.com LOCAL & INTERSTATE TRANSPORT

PHONE: (03) 5432 2324 EMAIL: ops@bickleystransport.com

CELEBRATING 40 YEARS

A silo for every need Regardless of the on-farm or commercial application, GE Silos has a unit to suit. Managing director Jason Comer said he had fielded numerous inquiries from clients with interesting requests and had endeavoured to manufacture something that would do the job. From the largest 110 tonne grain silo to a two tonne silo, which was installed inside a brewery, the team had come up with innovative ways to find a solution. “We had one request for a 35 tonne silo on a 6m-high frame with an extra-large chute. That was for a free-range pig farmer who wanted to get a fast ﬂow so he could fill his trailers in 15 minutes,” Jason said. “We also had a fish-feed company in Tasmania that wanted a two tonne silo, capable of being moved around with a

forklift.” Another client, which stored clay powder in a 30 tonne silo, required an industrial staircase to ensure the safety of staff members who regularly had to check filters on top of the unit. Feed and seed grain silos, up to 21 tonne capacity and fitted with a simple chute opening, are one product line; another is the grain silo range that can store up to 110 tonne with a hopper and auger attachments. Pellet silos have a steeper cone so pellets ﬂow easily, and silos suitable for fertiliser storage have a maximum capacity of 60 tonne and are internally painted with two-pack paint to improve longevity.

GE Silos produces an array of silos for different applications. “We also manufacture silos on frames, which are basically raised silos that allow customers to fill carts by driving underneath and without starting an auger,” Jason said. “Most silos are customised in some way to suit the purpose required by the client.” Some of the requests have led the team to implement new features on the silos;

they are currently working on a new ladder design and are trialling a grain outlet that will increase the ﬂow of grain through the auger and minimise spillage. GE Silos has also patented a peaked cover on the man-hole opening inside the silo, which improves safety for the operator and increases the longevity of the silo by reducing rust damage.

An enduring partnership The business relationship between GE Silos as a supplier and ND Services as its agent has been a positive one that has stood the test of time.

ND Services managing director Golly Keane is GE Silos’ longest serving agent. Picture: Holly Daniel

Liberty Metalcentre Bendigo congratulates GE Silos on their outstanding 40 Year Success We are proud to be closely associated with Jason and the Team for their steel needs and look forward to strengthening our future relationship.

WELL DONE!

P 5442 2288 F 5441 4062 E metalcentre.bendigo@libertygfg.com www.libertygfg.com

ND Services managing director Golly Keane said the Numurkah-based business had been an agent for GE Silos since opening its doors in 1993. But the partnership began before then, and came about in typical country fashion. While a part-owner of FL & AT Forster and Sons in Tatura, Golly and his team called into the Goornong Hotel for a celebratory drink after installing a new feed system in a large piggery operation in the area. “We called into the pub about 6.30pm and were talking amongst ourselves about the job and how good the silos were,” Golly said.

“Noel (Comer) happened to be at the bar and heard us talking and came over and introduced himself. That was in 1989 and I’ve been dealing with GE Silos ever since.” Golly said his business serviced mainly the dairy and pig industries and found GE Silos always delivered quality silos to suit the client’s requirements. “They’re easy to work with, always cooperative and don’t make promises they can’t keep,” Golly said. “I started dealing with Noel, and then when Lyn stepped up, the changeover was seamless. It’s been the same again since Jason and Carine took over.”

“Gejay Automotive would like to congratulate GE Silos on achieving 40 years in business” GEJAY AUTOMOTIVE 4 Milroy Street Bendigo, Victoria Phone: (03) 5443 7188 | www.gejayautomotive.com.au

CELEBRATING 40 YEARS

Growing together for 20 years T

he development of one of Australia’s largest chicken suppliers, Hazeldene’s, has been supported by GE Silos for more than 20 years.

Farming maintenance manager Wayne Whitehead said the company had about 60 silos from the Goornong facility, across multiple farm sites. A collection of pellet silos, ranging in size from 12 tonne to 35 tonne, store feed for the chickens and assist with the smooth running of the facilities. “I have found GE Silos to be very easy to deal with, and very accommodating. We’re always on a tight timeline and they always manage to achieve our deadlines,” Wayne said. He said Hazeldene’s was continuing to expand and develop more farms and, even during GE Silos’ busy peak manufacturing time, the business managed to deliver. “GE Silos has a good reputation in the industry, their prices are good, the quality is good and they always take on board any suggestions to improve and are open to change,” Wayne said. “When we order new silos or replace existing silos I just give them the height

Air Intake Vent which is fitted to GE Silos as a factory fitted item for fumigation of sealed silos from ground level.

The truck loaded with a silo for delivery to a client. Photo: Megan Fisher

Tyson Tresize in the workshop at the Goornong facility. required to the bottom of the silo and they construct it to that. “Sometimes we ask for something different, and they engineer it accordingly, that’s never been a problem.”

Silos make some eventful journeys

From the back of a utility or the front of a forklift, towed behind a tractor or on a customised trailer, Servicing & Repair of Cranes & Hoists • silos have been delivered to customers’ farms and Manufacture of Cranes & Jibs • Supply &businesses in a variety of ways.

Manufacture of Lifting Equipment • Supply Two Nissan UD trucks now lead the GE & Installation of Height Safety Lines & Silos ﬂeet, but managing director Jason Comer remembers several eventful trips Equipment

from the past 40 years. “In the early days getting the silos to the farmers was a challenge,” Jason said. “The first ones were loaded onto the After putting in the top text if you can fit back of tip-truck trays; this wouldn’t in this “YOUR TOTAL SOLUTIONS FOR meet VicRoads regulations today but it got the job done,” he said. CRANES, JIBS, HOISTS, LIFTING & “Smaller silos were delivered on the back of a ute and they may have HEIGHT SAFETY EQUIPMENT” then that overhung slightly. would be good but if not don’t put it in “At one stage a customer was desperate for their two silos but the was in pieces in the shed. They Please change 24/7 emergency services to truck couldn’t wait for the truck to be fixed so 24/7 Emergency Breakdown Services Mouse (Brian Comer) jumped in the old tractor and towed the silos, one after

the other. “Another delivery story was to Harcourt. In those days they didn’t have the over-dimension routes they do now. “So the truck left, heading through Bendigo, but due to a lack of power it overheated at the fountain causing all sorts of fun for the other drivers. “It also managed to become stuck under the tramlines and required Powercor to lift the lines with PVC pipes to allow the silo to pass through.” Transport protocols are very different in 2019, with pilot vehicles and VicRoads permits required and travel time limits to be adhered to. Jason said all logistics were coordinated by administration team member Karen Thompson.

Congratulations to Also, should it be WWW.westcranes.com.au GE Silos for 40 years West Crane Services congratulates GE Silos on their 40th Anniversary service to the It’s a great testament to a great company farming sector from Silo Ventilation Systems

West Crane Services is a great supporter of the Echuca region and services many overhead Gantry Cranes, Hoists & supplies Lifting & Height safety equipment for companies in the region. • Servicing & Repair of Cranes & Hoists • Manufacture of Cranes & Jibs • Supply & Manufacture of Lifting Equipment • Supply & Installation of Height Safety Lines & Equipment

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Call us on 9369 1154 | www.westcranes.com.au

CELEBRATING 40 YEARS

Always moving forward Continued innovation has been integral to the success of GE Silos and building its market share. Managing director Jason Comer said new materials, manufacturing processes and occupational health and safety requirements had led to many changes but the one constant remained — building a quality product. “In the early days silos were built quite differently; walls were made from spandecktype material and walls were put onto the base first, then the roof was put on the top to finish it off,” Jason said. The roof was lifted by a Burma Dodge crane truck, and a staff member was hoisted up on the forks of a forklift to secure the roof as a colleague drove the forklift around the silo. “Rivets were popped by hand using a concertina rivet gun; these are hard work to use and were quickly replaced by an airoperated rivet gun,” Jason said. “It wasn’t long before they needed to construct a tower section on the shed as trying to attach a silo roof, while it was swinging in the breeze, was not ideal.” In the mid-1980s, when it was clear silos

would be a significant part of the business, Noel Comer designed and built a rollformer, which is still in use today. “The rollformer allowed silos to be built using coil steel, and moving away from spandeck. I don’t think Dad would have estimated this machine would last over 30 years and roll through over 100 km of material,” Jason said. Fast forward 10 years and Zincalume walls and cones were added to the product range, lid openers and sight glasses were improved safety features and GE Silos was the first manufacturer to introduce a new heavy-duty blower pipe. Another decade passed and with continued success, and orders for even larger silos, the factory was expanded in 2006. A new 16 m tower and larger parts manufacturing area allowed for the construction of silos with greater tonnage — a 66 tonne pellet silo from the previous 35 tonne capacity and 110 tonne grain silos from the previous 65 tonne.

Congratulations to Jason and Carine on 40 years of business.

ND Services have been a proud agent for 30 years and have watched the business grow to what it is today. We look forward to many more years of our partnership. – Golly Keane and the team.

03 5862 1144

Cnr Nelson/Orchard Sts, Numurkah, VIC, 3636. E: sales@ndservices.com.au | www.ndservices.com.au

Thank you to all our customers and suppliers for your continued support over the last 40 years. We look forward to many more years to come!

P 03 5432 2384 | F 03 5432 2206 A 213 Englishs Road, Goornong VIC 3557 E sales@gesilos.com.au | W gesilos.com.au