CELEBRATING 40 YEARS OF PROTECTING AUSTRALIANS

CELEBRATING 40 YEARS OF PROTECTING AUSTRALIANS

They say life begins at 40, and for Austral Lock by Gainsborough, a manufacturer of locking solutions for windows, security screen doors and patio sliders, marking 40 years in operation this year was just as much about looking to the future, as it was about celebrating the past.

Established in 1982 in Melbourne’s inner west, Austral Lock prides itself on being one of very few players in the industry still designing and producing premium security products in Australia. What began as a small, family-owned business has grown significantly over the years to become a brand known for both innovation and quality, supplying hardware and locking solutions to all corners of Australia.

With a rich history, an ever-evolving product offering and a loyal employee base, there was much to celebrate when the 40 years ticked over. The Austral Lock staff came together to celebrate the milestone with a team lunch where a special celebratory video was aired for the first time. Their longest serving team member, along with the newest team members, were asked to cut the ceremonial ribbon to open Allegion’s Manufacturing Centre of Excellence, which houses both the Austral and Brio brands. The significance of the day was also marked with plenty of engagement and reflection among the entire team who make these brands successful.

Cam Brittan, Allegion’s National Operations Manager, has been with the Austral brand for 15 years and was one of several senior leaders to speak at the celebration lunch.

‘As the business has expanded, we have been fortunate enough to retain, develop and promote key talent from within the business. From front line leaders to the plant manager, there has been a great sense of achievement from the team as they’ve personally evolved as the business has and that level of knowledge, engagement and commitment is instrumental to achieve successful outcomes.’

He also took the opportunity to speak about the company’s future focus with excitement and optimism.

‘We are 40 years young. We have the best platform to leap off from because I look at the team here, our plans to invest and our new product development pipeline – the future has never looked brighter’, Mr Brittan said.

One of the ribbon cutters to open the Centre of Excellence was Eddie Ostrowski, Austral Lock’s longest serving employee. He started his career as a casting operator and, 27 years later, is now the company’s Quality and OH&S Systems Supervisor.

‘The most significant change I have seen in 27 years has been our ability to change from batch production to lean manufacturing, which has enabled us to open our minds and bring in new ideas from our team members. This has helped us manufacture in a more efficient way’, he said.

One of the turning points in the company’s growth trajectory came in 2009, when Austral Lock was incorporated into Gainsborough Hardware Industries. This partnership launched the innovation of One Key Solution where one key can control every door in the home from front door to patio slider.

The growing business then joined a much larger family, as part of the global leader in security, Allegion in 2018.

Allegion is well regarded as a worldwide pioneer in seamless access solutions for homes, businesses, schools and institutions, and its network of brands includes other Australian market leaders like Brio, Legge, Schlage, API and FSH. This move opened a world of opportunity for Austral Lock, with enviable access to global technologies and resources.

Austral Lock’s Founder, Russell Watts, joined the 40-year celebrations and reflected on how far the business had come, while staying true to its commitment to Australian products and local jobs.

‘I'm pleased to see my "baby" has found a good home within Allegion. I can now take pride knowing that I founded a company that still manufactures in Australia and provides both meaningful and skillful jobs.’

A market leader in its field, Austral Lock combines industry innovation with 40 years of expertise to design its hardworking products that keep Australian homes secure. With complete control over the design and manufacturing process, one of the company’s key points of difference is its proximity to market, allowing for fast-turnaround custom colour orders. The 24 stocked colours are designed for products wanting to reflect their Australian environment, but with access to 200 powder coat finishes all colour inspirations can be met.

With its focus firmly on crafting quality security solutions and leveraging an ever-expanding global network, Austral Lock’s mission remains a simple one: to keep finding new ways to make life easier for Australians and empower people to leave their homes with confidence. As the company celebrates its long history of manufacturing and patented innovation excellence, Managing Director Serge Zappone thanked the people who have made it the company it is today, while acknowledging the people who will take it forward.

‘We are standing on the shoulders of history, and we have great leadership that will allow us to move forward. The fun times and the tough times we share, are what makes a company great, and we did it together, for that I can’t thank our team enough’, Mr Zappone said.

Manufactured using state-of-the-art die-cast machinery as well as highquality powder coatings in a dedicated, purpose-built facility, Austral Lock’s design excellence and rigorous approach to quality means its products are often imitated but never copied.

With a commitment to extensive research, testing and quality checks, Austral Lock is continuously evolving to meet the needs of the Australian market. Boasting a 3000 m 2 facility with 20 assembly lines, Austral Lock manufactures more than one million products each year, with up to 40 product lines produced in a multitude of colours every day. There is full in-house tooling from design to manufacture, serviced by a dedicated team of tooling engineers.

Like all good things, the 40th birthday party will come to an end, but all eyes are firmly focused on the future of home security as they look towards the next 40 years.