Market Knowledge Crucial

Ararat industries have taken wing and the Wimmera needs to take note.

The stories of manufacturing and engineering firm AF Gason and electrical harness manufacturer AME Systems align with many other success stories from across the region and provide strong example and rich inspiration.

Federal Agriculture Minister Warren Truss will visit Ararat tomorrow to view and formally open a $700,000 assembly hall for the manufacture of agricultural machinery at AF Gason. His visit will acknowledge the company’s contemporary advances and also pay due homage to it’s stature in Australia’s agricultural landscape. The company, established in 1945, made a name manufacturing tractor cabs before other companies followed suit. It then tapped other markets with other products, all the while providing an economic presence in the city as a major employer.

But perhaps the past couple of years have ranked among the company’s most significant. Leaders have focused their objectives on excelling in two areas, manufacturing farm machinery and wood heaters and business has grown 70 per cent in three drought years.

While AF Gason has narrowed it’s focus, AME Systems has broadened its scope making electrical wiring systems for markets now including semi-trailer and light plane manufacturers. AME’s astonishing figures speak for themselves- $9 million turnover three years ago, $24 million turnover in sight for this year.

Wages being paid out by the two Ararat companies are sustaining hundreds of families and helping accelerate Ararat’s economic resurrection after a decade of hard knocks marked by the disappearance of major employers. The contemporary success stories should inspire a region looking for a lift and provide strong lessons in achieving growth by knowing markets intimately, navigating with conviction and demonstrating unflinching commitment to quality.

(The Mail Times November 12th 2003)