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In focus | volgren Perth 2,000th bus

VOLGREN PERTH DELIVERS 2,000TH BUS

Local manufacturing is alive and well in Western Australia’s capital city with Volgren’s 2,000th vehicle constructed at the company’s purpose-built manufacturing and service facility in Malaga, recently.

Volgren, Australia’s largest bus body builder, supplied the low-floor Optimus city bus, which typifies close to 1,800 of those buses delivered to the Public Transport Authority of Western Australia (PTA) over two decades, it says.

Regional sales and contract manager for Volgren Perth, Peter McCrory, says that they have become an important cog in the local economy.

“More than 60 people are currently employed at Malaga, of which nine employees worked on the very first bus delivered to PTA in 1999,” he explained.

“Our association with PTA is the longest bus supply agreement in the country and one that we’re incredibly proud of. It’s a partnership that’s seen roughly two vehicles built per week for 21 years.”

McCrory says Volgren is committed to investing in the state’s skilled workforce – and since its last contract was awarded in 2018 it has increased local fabrications.

“The Covid-19 pandemic has reminded Australians of the importance of being able to manufacture a full range of essential equipment and supplies in our own backyard – and the value of geographically close supply chains,” McCrory stated.

“Our buses for PTA are built with 85 per cent local (Australian) content, of which over half of materials and services comes from WA suppliers.

“We recently completed a project to bring a large amount of aluminium and steel fabrication from a supplier close to our head office in Victoria to Perth.

“In time we hope to create a strong and sustainable local supply chain around the Malaga precinct,” he added.

“Volgren Perth directly supports over 100 local businesses and indirectly supports another 29. We are currently spending approximately $7m a year with these suppliers and helping to support 150 jobs in the WA economy outside of Volgren.”

BETTER BUSES

McCrory says local production and products aren’t just good for jobs – they

Volgren Perth directly supports over 100 local businesses and indirectly supports another 29.

also lead to demonstrably better buses.

“Volgren buses are now completing 18 to 20 years of service and are being sold at auction to continue their life with other companies, operators and private citizens,” McCrory explained.

“The fact that some of the first vehicles supplied to the PTA are still in operation – or are only now being retired – spoke volumes about the quality of his company’s engineering and overall product.”

McCrory says quality means Western Australian taxpayers save in the long run.

“The value we provide to the PTA comes from an unrivalled whole-of-life bus cost. We are proud to offer a bus that, with its advanced engineering and unique Co-bolt design, ultimately delivers savings to the people of Western Australia.”

That longstanding reputation for quality hasn’t stopped Volgren from looking to the future – and to major changes to the way buses are built, the company says.

In July 2020, the Western Australian government announced it would trial Transperth’s first all-electric buses. Volgren will build the bodies on Volvo chassis.

“Zero-emission buses are the future and we have to be involved now to assure our competitiveness and meet our customer demands going forward,” he said.

The first trial buses will start travelling on the Joondalup CAT service in 2022, Volgren explains.

Opposite:

The low-floor Optimus city bus was delivered to WA’s PTA.

Top:

There are over 60 people currently employed at Malaga, nine of which worked on PTA’s first Volgren bus in 1999.

Above Left +

Right: Volgren has a strong focus on building locally and sustainably.

SHOW TIME

This is everything we have been waiting for – the year of the biennial Brisbane Truck Show, Australia’s largest business-to-business event.

How did you see in the New Year? Has there ever been one we’ve looked forward to more? Yet, it’s like none we have ever celebrated.

Did you make a New Year’s resolution?

How about ‘in 2021 I am not going to miss the Brisbane Truck Show’?

For all the good intentions about giving up junk food, exercising more, spending more time with your partner/ kids/mum/dog, this one is fully within your powers to pull together.

We could talk about how good it’s going to be to catch up with colleagues, customers and mates in the flesh, but let’s look at this purely from a professional perspective.

This is the biggest business-tobusiness event that will have taken place in Australia in 18 months. It is the rebirth of major indoor events.

So, there are a lot of people in a lot of companies who are busting a gut to make it special.

There are new model trucks and trailers that are crying out to be shown off. There’s technology, components, engines, parts and accessories that you are going to want see whether they are as impressive and robust as they appear in the pictures.

Let’s start planning your trip.

Accommodation is probably your biggest hurdle. If you don’t live in

Brisbane or know someone who does, you had better jump onto the show website and follow the links to

Ozaccomm+. Whether you are booking one room or one hundred, Ozaccom+ is the best source of great rooms at the best rates.

It is the rebirth of major indoor events.

Flights are getting much better now. Lots of flights are being scheduled and at much better prices. But get in early.

Then you’ll want to work out your itinerary. You are going to want at least two days at the show. There are 300 exhibits spread across all the main halls and through every nook and cranny across the three floors of the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre.

Some of them are so big you could spend half on day on them alone, particularly if you find yourself having a chat with the folks on the stand, having a coffee or looking at some merchandise. Or better still, signing a deal some new gear.

If you have time you will want to scout who is there with a walk-by reconnaissance before settling on your plan.

You’ll probably want to do it in a couple of shifts with a break for lunch; maybe see who else is up at the Plaza Terrace BBQ Bar. You are pretty much guaranteed to run into a mate or two dozen.

We don’t need to go through all the highlights just yet. Keep your eye on these pages over the next couple of months for a full preview of who is going to be there and what they will have on show.

Now that we have your day sorted out, you need to think about the evenings. Well, you don’t have to go far. Just stroll across the road to Stanley Street and get into the spirit of the South Bank Truck Festival.

The display of trucks and trailers looks pretty amazing set against the backdrop of South Bank’s spectacular gardens, the cafes and restaurants and the festoon lights wrapped around the palm trees.

All the venues are looking forward to your arrival and there will be plenty of entertainment, no matter what sort of mood you are in.

Don’t forget to put some time aside to head down the river to the Civil Construction Field Days. You can get a free shuttle to the heavy equipment and machinery from the Convention Centre and your Brisbane Truck Show ticket will get you in.

Do you remember Y2K, when everyone feared that everything would stop working over the New Year? The Millennium Bug they called it and there was no vaccine. Well, now there is.

This time around it is the opposite – like everything can start working again.

The events industry has been slowly starting to rebuild, and their full capacity sure will be put to task when the Brisbane Truck Show arrives in town from May 16–19, 2021.

For more information visit brisbanetruckshow.com.au.

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