 | |
| Industry | Foundry, Manufacturing, Mining, CNC Machining |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1960, Dalby Queensland |
| Founder | Robert White Wilf Hagen |
| Headquarters | , Australia |
Key people | Michael Shelford (CEO) Bruce White (MD) Craig White (MD) |
Number of employees | 100-200 |
| Website | https://whiteindustries.com.au/ |
White Industries is an Australian family-owned foundry group headquartered in Queensland, with significant operations in both Dalby and Ipswich. It is the largest privately owned foundry group in Australia[1]. Established in 1960 by Robert White, the company specialises in producing both ferrous and non-ferrous castings. Its products are used in various industries including mining, rail, water, road transport, agriculture, and automotive[2].
History
editWhite & Hagan
editRobert (Bob) White was born in 1938 in Sydney. After completing his schooling in Port Macquarie, he studied First Class Machining and worked at the Toowoomba Foundry in the 1950s[3]. During this period, he met local barber and water skier, Bernie Leahy, who requested White to produce aluminium ski boot fittings. The venture proved successful, leading to a partnership with fellow apprentice Wilf Hagan.
Initially operating in Bob White's backyard, the business faced challenges from the Toowoomba Council regarding its location[4]. Consequently, the operation moved to Hagan's backyard and eventually to Dalby, seeking affordable industrial rent. In the early 1960s, the company, then known as White & Hagan, collaborated with Albert Fuss of Gyral to produce parts for the Pneumatic Broadacre Air Seeder, a relationship that lasted 45 years[5].
In 1965, due to differing visions for the company's future, White and Hagan amicably ended their partnership, splitting their assets and establishing separate businesses[6].
White Industries
editPost-split, Bob White expanded White Industries, capitalising on the growth of the pig farming and cattle industries[6]. By the late 1960s, the company outgrew its original location and moved to a larger site in Dalby.
During the late 1980s and early 1990s, Bob White's sons Bruce, Neil, and Craig joined the family business. In 1998, Bob White retired, and Bruce White assumed the role of CEO[7]. Recognising the foundry industry's volatility, Bruce White established a property group to diversify the company's investments.
In 2001, White Industries acquired equipment and clients from the Rocklea Foundry. Subsequently, the company saw growth in the early 2000s, bolstered by the installation of the German-made BMD automated moulding line in the Dalby foundry[8].
In 2009, John Moncrieff was appointed as an independent chairperson. Bruce White transitioned to manage the White Property Group in 2016, and Craig White became the new CEO of White Industries[9].
Bradken Ipswich Acquisition
editOn June 10, 2021, White Industries announced the acquisition of the Bradken Ipswich site, a strategic move following Bradken's decision to offshore its manufacturing facilities. This acquisition enabled White Industries to expand its product range, with the Ipswich site featuring 2.5T and 5T furnaces capable of producing parts up to 15T[10].
References
edit- ^ "Dalby firm buys foundry site". Ipswich News Today. 8 November 2021.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ "Our History". White Industries. Retrieved 5 December 2023.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ Matthews, Kylie (2020). White Industries: The First 60 Years (1st ed.). Bounce Books. pp. 7–8. ISBN 978-0-6485927-9-2.
- ^ Matthews, Kylie (2020). White Industries: The First 60 Years (1st ed.). Bounce Books. p. 8. ISBN 978-0-6485927-9-2.
- ^ Matthews, Kylie (2020). White Industries: The First 60 Years (1st ed.). Bounce Books. pp. 11–12. ISBN 978-0-6485927-9-2.
- ^ a b Matthews, Kylie (2020). White Industries: The First 60 Years (1st ed.). Bounce Books. pp. 12–13. ISBN 978-0-6485927-9-2.
- ^ Matthews, Kylie (2020). White Industries: The First 60 Years (1st ed.). Bounce Books. pp. 31–53. ISBN 978-0-6485927-9-2.
- ^ Matthews, Kylie (2020). White Industries: The First 60 Years (1st ed.). Bounce Books. pp. 55–63. ISBN 978-0-6485927-9-2.
- ^ Matthews, Kylie (2020). White Industries: The First 60 Years (1st ed.). Bounce Books. pp. 69–73. ISBN 978-0-6485927-9-2.
- ^ "White Industries to acquire Bradken Ipswich site". News. 10 June 2021.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)