WMC has appointed a former Custom Coaches engineer to lead Higer’s low floor bus entry into Australia
January 25, 2012
Higer’s Australian distributor WMC has appointed John Boon as chief engineer after 35 years with bus body builder Custom Coaches.
Boon will spend February working at Higer headquarters in Suzhou, China, spearheading the design and specification changes for Higer’s Citibus range for both the Australian and other western markets.
WMC CEO Jason Pecotic says Boon’s experience in the bus industry makes him a vital asset for the Higer team as it continues expansion in Australia.
“Higer is in the process of building its presence in Australia and part of that is expanding into city buses,” Pecotic says.
“His expertise, particularly in dealing with regulators and government transport authorities, will be a really important asset for Higer.”
Pecotic says Boon has been involved in the development, engineering and design of city buses for the last 35 years and has an intimate knowledge and understanding of the regulations and requirements for city buses in Australia.
At Custom Coaches, Boon served on several committees relating to the bus industry and is the current bus body building representative to the BusNSW committee – a position he has maintained for the past 25 years.
Boon has also been instrumental in shaping bus-manufacturing regulations pertaining to both state and federal laws.
Boon is a qualified mechanical engineering as well as having completed an apprenticeship in fitting and machining having spent the early part of his career working on production floor as well as in drawing, drafting and production scheduling.
“John understands what is involved in the production process and will be able to liaise with government bodies and the production line in China to ensure Higer products meet the standards and needs of Australian authorities and end users,” Pecotic says.
As chief engineer at Higer Bus Australia, Boon will work towards the implementation of the Higer city bus program in Australia by working directly with the Higer factory in Suzhou to ensure maximum efficiency and compliance.
Boon says the move to Higer provides a challenge and exciting opportunity to help develop an all-new range of not just city buses but also coaches and mini-buses.
“Higer has had rapid growth over the past couple of years and there are some exciting opportunities ahead that will provide a great challenge and enable Higer to become a major player in the Australian bus and coach market,” he says.