By CASEY NEILL
HALLAM’s Wastech Engineering is in the running for a coveted regional award.
New CEO Brett Jones accepted the Greater Dandenong Chamber of Commerce Premier Regional Business Awards nomination at a breakfast at Sandown Greyhound Racing Club in Springvale last Wednesday, 15 October.
He has been in the job for three months.
“In the interview (technical support manager) Paul (Bone) told me he was a Hawthorn supporter so I signed up,” he said.
Mr Jones said the company’s culture also impressed him.
“It’s hard to implement a strategy when the culture’s not right,” he said.
Recent award wins have buoyed the culture, including the Casey Business of the Year and Casey Manufacturer of the Year for 2013 and, in May, the Melbourne South East (MSE) Business Awards Business of the Year Overall Business Excellence award and the Medium Enterprise category.
“I take it as a great challenge and opportunity,” Mr Jones said.
Wastech provides standard and custom-designed engineered products and solutions for the recycling and waste industries.
The business was started 20 years ago as a three-man operation in a small factory in Dandenong.
It has grown to be a leader in the waste industry and employs more than 80 staff, predominantly from the south-eastern suburbs.
Wastech’s customers span the entire waste industry, from large national retail stores and shopping centre developments to small supermarkets and suburban retailers.
The company collects waste from small industrial settings through to large mining environments and private and government-supported transfer stations.
Wastech also gets a lot of business through long-standing relationships with builders of private and public residential and commercial developments.
Mr Jones told the breakfast that the company had won its first job in Saudi Arabia the previous week, following a recommendation from client Veolia.
“They obviously hold us in high regard,” he said.
“The appetite for growth is pretty high.”
Wastech has continued to succeed despite challenges facing the manufacturing industry through organic growth and product diversification.
The business’s forward thinking and innovation has ensured it has remained an industry leader through testing times.
Managing director Neil Bone said Wastech’s broad product range and the level of innovation it applied to its products made it a leader in its field within Australia.
“Innovation and outstanding customer service keeps us ahead of our competitors and high quality product ensures we stay there,” he said.
Wastech was the only Casey business to win an MSE award this year.
“Manufacturing is a high-pressure industry and it is terrific to have our growth and success in this industry recognised,” Mr Bone said.
“We like to think the judges have recognised the effort we have put into our team approach within the business and the support and opportunity for growth that we offer all our employees.
“We have a solid business vision and values system that has been communicated to all our team and is on display in our foyer for all our partners to see and be involved in.”
The Premier Regional Business Awards are now in their 24th year and aim to profile and highlight successful businesses in the region.
Winners will be announced and presented at a gala dinner in March next year.
