BREAKING: AUSTRALIAN BUS BODY builder Volgren is the industry’s 2018 national Supplier of the Year, it was announced today at the inaugural Australasia Bus Conference in Cairns, Queensland, held October 7-10.
The Conference is jointly hosted by the Bus Industry Confederation of Australia (BIC) and the Bus and Coach Association New Zealand (BCANZ).
Joined by a host of leading companies and individuals to win their respective categories against tough competition in each, the Awards ceremony itself was a highlight of a conference that has already proven itself a major success tenfold.
The five 2018 award winners are:
- Safety Award (inaugural) – Buslink VIVO, NT;
- Supplier of the Year – Volgren, VIC/NSW/WA/QLD
- Achiever of the Year – Michael Kerr, Rover Coaches, NSW;
- Environment and Innovation Award – Punchbowl Bus Company, NSW;
- Outstanding Contribution to the Industry – Frank D’Apuzzo, Buslines Group, NSW.
The National Awards are an opportunity to recognise and reward excellence within every facet of the Australian bus and coach industry, organisers state.
“There are many corporations in our industry that day after day, year after year, strive for excellence without compromise to deliver outstanding products and services,” says BIC.
“For the most part, corporations and individuals who do not concede to mediocre standards (near enough is good enough), do it because of their own business philosophies and personal ethics that drive high expectations and even higher deliverables and performance.”
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VOLGREN GRACIOUS
Volgren CEO Peter Dale said on behalf of the entire company he was honoured to win Supplier of the Year at the 2018 Australasia Bus Conference in Cairns.
“To be nominated and acknowledged by operators and the wider bus industry on a national scale is a major endorsement of the work we do, our buses and the partnerships we continue to build with our customers.
“Thanks to BusNSW for the nomination and BIC for the award and their hard work to increase government investment in public transport, specifically in bus services,” Dale said.
Volgren continues to prove its ability to reliably deliver large-volume orders to the bus industry, working with all the major chassis suppliers and leading component manufacturers, it states.
“In 2018, we’re on track to deliver more than 600 buses, including 30 to Japan and, most recently, 62 buses in 140 days for Transport for New South Wales’ Station Link,” Dale said.
“This, of course, wouldn’t be possible without the dedication of our staff in Eagle Farm, Malaga, Ingleburn and Dandenong. Without the people who work at Volgren, our company wouldn’t be what it is today.”
ALTERNATE AWARDS
This year a new award was introduced – the National Safety Award – which is sponsored by the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator (NHVR).
On alternate years (2019, 2021 etc.), BIC says it will only have the NHVR National Safety Award and the SURA Achiever Award presented.
The BIC and the Bus Australia Network say they wish to, “genuinely acknowledge organisations and individuals for their dedication to setting high goals and ensuring a standard of excellence within the industry.”
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Photography: Fabian Cotter