Truck repairer opens bus repair workshop because of gap in market
Darren Wales and Sam Travato pictured at the recently opened workshop Wales Bus Repair.
By Amie Hickland | August 27, 2013
When a New South Wales truck repairer saw a niche in the bus repair market he took it – and his new business is exceeding his own expectations.
Smithfield-based Wales Bus Repairs opened in April this year and business is booming.
Managing director Darren Wales says there was a gap in the bus repair and refurbishment market, which led him to open the business “just down the road” from Wales Truck Repairs.
“There are a lot of bus manufacturers but there’s not as many refurbishing and repairing them,” he says.
“We just saw a bit of a niche in the market for bus repair and refurbishment.”
Wales says the company’s more than 30 years’ experience in heavy vehicle repair separates them from other services as well as a fast turnaround and quality workmanship.
“We’ve just got an awful lot of experience on getting vehicles back on the road.”
He says customers have been pleased with their work so far.
“The bus operators, as we’ve realised, are very critical and very pedantic about their vehicles and they want them back in absolute pristine condition and minimal turnaround time.”
Wales says a valuable part of the team is former Custom Coachers employee Sam Travato who has over 40 years’ experience building and refurbishing buses.
“We’re very fortunate to have an excellent team… we’re very fortunate to have Sam as manager,” he says.
Wales is pleased with how business was going and they are “exceeding targets”.
“We’ve had a lot of support through the bus industry,” he says.