Since launching in 2017, local tray manufacturer Trojan Trays Australia has built a name for quality products and shown that there is a bright future for regional manufacturing. Recently celebrating three years in business, Trojan launched their latest venture; Trojan Powder Coating.In-house powder coating is something that was always on their radar, said Trojan’s Managing Director Steven Turnbull, as it means theycan reduce manufacturing costs and, importantly, control the quality of their product from beginning to end.

“It also gives us another revenue stream outside of where our core market is,” said Steven. “This is a completely separate market to our core business —it assists the core business, but it is a separate market in thatpeople still get things powder coated,even if the new car market isn't buying trays.”

As if the extended drought of the past few years wasn’t enough of a challenge for a young business, the global pandemic really highlighted the need to diversify and strive for greater efficiency.“ In April, we lost 90 percent of our turnover,” said Steven. “We picked up some work in between thenand the end of the financial year,which kept us going,but it made us focus on pulling the belt in a little bit tighter and seeing what we could squeeze out of the place, which we might not have necessarily done at that time.“

”So COVID gave us a lot of time to work on the business,not just running around inthe business,and we’ve done a lot in the last six months.” Heading Trojan Powder Coating is Stephen Nebauer, a technician of more than 25 years’ experience. “That is the other advantage we have here, to have someone who really knows what they are doing. We also have two Toyota factory-trained techniciansand accessory fitters, which means a lot!” said Trojan Trays Executive Director Greg Robinson.

“Our customers can rest assured that their car is in safe hands here. Our technicians and accessory fitters are the best in the business!”Trojan Powder Coating not only means greater efficiency during the manufacturing process, but it also expands the services Trojan can now offer their customers.“If someone comes in and wants atray,we can walk out to their car and can say, why don't we powder coat your bulbarfor you while you are here?” said Greg.

“We couldn't offer that before, because we would have had to take the bullbar off and send it elsewhere, but now it's an add-on we can do for our customers.”“Yes,” said Steve. “We can pull your bullbar off,pull your steps off,pull wheels off, all while the car is here and then you get that car back as a complete service.“So it’snot just that we powdercoat,and not just that we do trays,but we can fit bullbarsandwe can strip cars,we can do all of that work in between as well—no oneelse does that.Since launching Trojan Powder Coating last month, they have had good support from local businesses, said Greg, who is predicting big things for Trojan in 2021.

“It has been a massive investment and the next step forward for Trojan, but it's all about thatnext step of growth and getting ready for next year,” he said. “The drought is over,well almost,they've had ripper crops, the beef industry is on fire andpeople are spending money, the car market is on fire. It is allheading in the right direction,but you can't be complacent,which is why weare always looking forward to the next thing. ”Trojan Trays Australia and Trojan Powder Coating are located at 14 Edward Street, Orange.

Drop in or give them a call on (02)6361 0039 or www.trojantrays.com.au