Dandenong Journal Star - 01st June 2015

Page 1

E VOIC YOUR

0Y FOR 15 EARS

1 June 2015

A Star News Group Publication

2015 Victorian Manufacturing Hall of Fame Awards

ROAD TO SUCCESS By CASEY NEILL “TEN years ago we were a medium-sized manufacturing business that was just in Dandenong.” Today TriMas Corporation in Keysborough is Australia’s largest towing system manufacturer and has spread to nine countries. Managing director Carl Bizon has led the way and was last week honoured for his efforts with inclusion on the Victorian Manufacturing Hall of Fame Honour Roll. “I was very surprised, to be honest with you,” he said. “I don’t think any of us go to work every day thinking what we do is particularly special. “In the seven years that I’ve been here we’ve tripled the size of the company. It’s been a pretty good ride. “But I can only do it because we’ve got some really good staff. "My job is to provide environments where people are successful. That’s all I do.” Other Honour Roll inductees from the region include Tom Hartley from Hilton Manufacturing, bus giant Ken Grenda and Gerry Ryan from Jayco - who presented the award. “That meant a lot to me,” Mr Bizon said. “To be put in the same category as those icons of manufacturing was quite humbling.“ TriMas started in Dandenong 65 years ago when Eric Hayman couldn’t find the towbar he wanted, designed his own and started selling them as Hayman Reese. Mr Bizon said towing equipment remained the company’s biggest product line but it had added roof racks, side steps and caravan trailer components. It adopted the name of parent company TriMas about 15 years ago to reflect its diversification and three years ago brought sites in Dandenong and Lyndhurst together in Pacific Drive, Keysborough. “I’m only the third managing director in the entire company’s history, so it’s a pretty long legacy I’ve got to preserve,” Mr Bizon said. “I started in the steel industry in Newcastle in 1980.

Carl Bizon with a TriMas trailer component. 133022 Picture: STEWART CHAMBERS

Carl Bizon at the awards ceremony. 139745

“Through various manufacturing jobs in the steel industry and associated industrial products and industrial markets I’ve ended up here. “My background has always been in manufacturing in some way, shape or form, and I don’t seem to fall too far from steel.” Mr Bizon has his sights on further international growth but will continue to expand employment in Australia. He supports the region through business mentoring with South East Melbourne Manufacturers Alliance (SEMMA) and South East Business Networks (SEBN). “I think people underestimate just the level of entrepreneurialism and innovation that’s around the Dandenong area,“ he said. “There’s so much competency and

TO BE PUT IN THE SAME CATEGORY AS THOSE ICONS OF MANUFACTURING WAS QUITE HUMBLING... CARL BIZON

capability sitting in those buildings you drive past every day.” TriMas was a finalist for last year’s Victorian Manufacturing Hall of Fame Large Manufacturer of the Year award after it was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2008.

M+K Lawyers is proud to be a sponsor of the 2015 Victorian Manufacturing Hall of Fame. We congratulate the businesses + individuals recognised at the Gala Dinner. LARGE MANUFACTURER OF THE YEAR • Hickory Building Systems

YOUNG MANUFACTURER OF THE YEAR • Anna Reid (Asahi Beverages)

INTERNATIONAL EDUCATION • RMIT Advanced Manufacturing Precinct

MEDIUM MANUFACTURER OF THE YEAR • GP Graders

NEW ENERGY TECHNOLOGY • Millennium Electronics

PROFESSIONAL SERVICES • Dairy Innovation Australia Limited

SMALL MANUFACTURER OF THE YEAR • Australian Precision Technologies

FOOD AND FIBRE PROCESSING • LangTech International

TRANSPORT, DEFENCE AND CONSTRUCTION TECHNOLOGY • Alstom Transport Australia

MEDICAL TECHNOLOGY AND PHARMACEUTICALS • Fairmont Medical Products

MANUFACTURING HALL OF FAME HONOUR ROLL • Carl Bizon, President of Cequent Asia Pacific, Europe and Africa (APEA)

Commercial | Commercial Litigation | Property | Workplace Relations | Private Clients 1186478-KC23-15

HALL OF FAME - COMPANIES Archiblox | Carbon Revolution | Duratray International LAWYERS FOR MANUFACTURERS | Keech Australia | Mobil Refining Australia (Altona)


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Dandenong Journal Star - 01st June 2015 by Star News Group - Issuu