How Bendigo family engineering business has world in spin

Paul Chapman (pictured above) launched Australian Turntable Company back in 1990. Best business decision ever, in his view.

Since opening, the family operation has morphed into a Victorian juggernaut, employing 37, exporting to 23 countries and launching branches this year in both Mumbai and the United States.

Who would've thought a circular rotating system would be in such hot demand? Even a global pandemic hasn't stopped the orders flowing in. Although their core business is the design, manufacture and installation of car and truck turntables for driveways and loading docks, other assignments have kept Paul and his crew hard at it as well.

"In July, we installed a truck turntable loading dock in New York over Zoom with local sub-contractors. Sales slowed early in the pandemic but then turned around quickly, particularly in the last six months. The dilemma for most in the construction supply chain is delays and, on our return to being allowed back on sites, the delays will impact installations. But I'm very confident Australia will bounce back quickly and soon. Innovators and entrepreneurs are optimistic by nature and as we say: 'It'll all work out in the end, and if it hasn't worked out, then it's not the end." Paul Chapman

We're talking projects such as an Adelaide Convention Centre theatre auditorium with two rotating tiered revolving stages each seating 350 people, a 70-tonne capacity tilt table for an Australian Defence Force testing facility at Monegeetta in Victoria, and a 20-metre diameter turntable for 60-tonne semi-trailers on a mining site in Colombia which "has completely changed the game for the client and improved his truck movements by a multiple of five times."

By far the company's biggest achievement in the past two years, according to Paul, has been developing a 'first to market' product for the world's construction and infrastructure sector. "Relocatable truck turntables for tunnel builds and construction sites have eliminated accidents on-site and sped up truck movements," he says. "We also have a train turntable to deliver to San Francisco's Bay Area Rail Transit Authority in December."

The business is international in outlook when it comes to staff, too.

Engineers from England, Iran, Lebanon and South Africa have been on the payroll, as have refugees, Paul explains. "Refugees employed of late have been mostly Afghani whilst interns from India, Pakistan and Bangladesh have been able to grow and take senior roles in our company. Many young men and women from around the world have been through the doors over our 34 years."

Back where it all began

Paul's globally-recognised rotating floor idea stems from a visit to his dad's place in the late 1980's when he noticed his 85-year-old father having a hard time reversing out of his driveway.

After his dad suggested a turntable would solve the problem, Paul realised it could have serious commercial appeal.

So, Paul – who owned and operated the Colbinabbin Hotel north-east of Bendigo with his wife Netty – began collaborating with his engineer brother Mike to design and build the first turntables to take to market.

Mike subsequently retired and in 1990, Paul and Netty opened Australian Turntable Company in Bendigo.

His advice to other Victorian exporters navigating their way through the pandemic is firstly, back yourselves with optimism and confidence. "You can do it!" he urges. "There's one thing for certain currently: the Australian made brand is stronger than ever and very highly respected, so get on the front foot."

Opening new pathways to market

Global Victoria has partnered with the Australian Turntable Company on their export journey, most recently with support through the Global Gateway grant program.

Grant recipients received a one-off grant of up to $50,000 to engage professional service providers for project activities including market intelligence, market access and marketing and promotion, and help them continue to break new ground in international markets.

The funding has allowed Australian Turntable Company to develop and implement a marketing strategy to generate greater awareness of their relocatable construction site turntables within the construction industries in the US and South America.

Article courtesy of author, Georgina Jerums and our friends from the Victorian Connection