First bus rolls off Brisbane production line

By: Graham Gardiner

Date: 03.02.2010

Volgren Australia today handed over the first bus produced at its new state-of-the-art Queensland facility to the Brisbane City Council. The

Volgren Australia today handed over the first bus produced at its new state-of-the-art Queensland facility to the Brisbane City Council.

The bus is the first of 125 to be delivered to Council in calendar 2009, and up to 150 annually, as part of a landmark 10+10 year "partnership".

It also marked the 250th bus delivered under Brisbane Lord Mayor Campbell Newman’s commitment to deliver a record 500 new buses this term – and brings to 580 the number of buses delivered by his administration since 2004.

Located in the 2.65-hectare TradeCoast Central industrial estate at Eagle Farm, Volgren’s $19 million facility has the capacity to build up to 200 buses for Council and other customers. BCC’s contribution to the partnership is a $6.7 million block of land.

It replaces the former facility at Toowong in Brisbane’s inner west.

Staffed by 90 employees, the facility will initially build 12.5-metre buses based on the Volvo B7 chassis but will begin constructing the first of 39 14.5-metre vehicles scheduled for delivery to Council next financial year.

Volgren Managing Director Peter Dale says the investment in the new facility shows the company’s long-term commitment to Brisbane and Queensland.

He expects a local manufacturing presence – and a soon-to-be-announced Queensland sales and marketing team – will further expand the company’s customer base in the State.

The Brisbane facility is Volgren’s fourth in Australia, complementing bus body-building plants in Perth, Melbourne and Newcastle.

"Last year we delivered 537 buses across the country, making us the biggest bus body-building company in Australia," he says.

"But more important than simply being the market leader – and what makes us proud - is the fact we produce the most innovative and the safest buses in the country."

Volgren buses are built using a unique aluminium system, which makes the buses stronger, lighter and more energy efficient than traditional steel buses. Volgren is a family owned company.