Australasian Bus & Coach 429 May 2023

MCCONNELL Production power SEGE SEATS Building chance partnerships UNITED SAFETY Keeping kids safe

STARRING SEATS

IN BETWEEN RELOCATING TO NEW PREMISES, STYLERIDE AUSTRALIA HAS ACHIEVED MOVIE STARDOM WITH ITS SEATING MODELS

Farewell: David Tape Capral: Perfect partners

Back Seat: New territory

Electric Vehicle Seating Solutions

FOCUS:

• Lowweighttooptimise batterylongevity (longerrange)

• Sustainablematerials (recyclabilityfocus)

• Costeffective solutionstomeetall requirements

DESIGN:

• Inhousedesign capabilities

• CADmodellingto optimiseweight savings,strength anddurability

FEATURES:

• Lightweight

• Vandalresistant

• Easeof maintenance

• Innovative seatdesigns

www.styleride.com.au

The secret about seats

As a child that would love to jump aboard public transport, be it buses, trains or trams, seats tend to fall by the wayside. The initial excitement of seeing the bus pull up and looking in wonder as you climbed the steps up captured my attention as a young kid. A friendly greeting from the driver and the jolt as we took off from the stop made the rides such a thrill. In all of that nostalgic fun of going on an adventure in a bus, it only comes through clearly now just how integral a comfortable and safe seat is, and was, to an enjoyable bus trip.

It’s what makes this seating feature so important. For this year’s look into the unique Australian bus and coach seating market, we’re lucky to present five different companies that all specialise in their own way of making or supplying high quality seats.

It starts with our cover, courtesy of StyleRide. It’s been a big year for the seating manufacturer after moving everyone into their new premises a year ago and eliminating the inefficiencies of two separate factories. From page 18, read about the benefits StyleRide is enjoying in its new headquarters in Brisbane’s Acacia Ridge (including a surprise movie appearance for its seats).

While StyleRide continues to go from strength to strength, McConnell remains a powerhouse in the market. A deep dive into its improving factory on page 23 highlights the manufacturing prowess the business is wielding.

Sege is providing a unique point in the market on page 26. While its competitors boast manufacturing capabilities, it’s pleasing its customers by offering a range of designs, colours and choices to make buying seats more fun than ever before.

To finish the seating feature, Camira is making the most of its moquette on new fabric designs while ISRI’s NTS2

model is allowing the company to evolve once again.

After finding out about the latest innovations in the seating game, there’s still plenty of heart-warming tales in the industry to share.

I was lucky to attend the QBIC Conference in April, where the industry gave a fitting farewell to outgoing executive director David Tape. Following the event, I sat down with ‘Tapey’ to talk about his interesting way of getting into the bus and coach industry and the resulting memories that he has created in the years since. Bravo ‘Tapey’ on a wonderful career serving the Queensland bus sector!

The rest of the magazine proves that there’s more wonders to be discovered outside of the seating

market. On page 35, United Safety’s Child Check-Mate product features some incredible ways of helping to keep young passengers safe on buses. Bus Stop’s Pete White recently took his King Long electric buses on the ultimate test on page 43, while Capral is continuing to forge a fruitful partnership with bodybuilder Volgren on page 48.

With more state associations in TasBus and BusSA hopping onboard with wonderful introductory columns ahead of BIC’s Expo next year and the announcement of National Parts & Product’s expansion into HVAC systems, the May edition of ABC magazine is as diverse as any I have been involved with in recent memory. I hope you enjoy this variety of stories too!

It may not be a feature you notice when a bus drives by, but the seating feature in this edition of ABC proves there is plenty going on in the Australian seating market.

“The May edition of ABC magazine is as diverse as any I have been involved with in recent memory. I hope you enjoy this

contents

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In the know

6. editorial | the secret about seats

It may not be a feature you notice when a bus drives by, but the seating feature in this edition of ABC proves there is plenty going on in the Australian seating market

10. news | all aboard

An overview of the latest Australasian and international bus and coach news that you need to know

16. bic

EYE OF THE STORM

When it was announced BIC would be hosting the 2024 National Bus and Coach Show, it had to move quickly to begin the planning and preparation of the national industry expo

features

18. cover story | styleride

SUPPLYING WITH STYLE

StyleRide Seating Systems has experienced plenty of growth in the past year, a lot of which can be attributed to the decision to relocate to a new, combined premises in Queensland’s Acacia Ridge

23. seating feature | mcconnell

LOCAL LEGENDS

Throughout a history that spans more than 70 years in Australia, McConnell Seats has forged a reputation as a leading bus and coach seat manufacturer. Its unique qualities as a local business is set to propel it forward once more in the coming years

26. seating feature | sege

CHANCE PARTNERS

It was only two years ago that Donric Group and Sege began a supply partnership, but now Donric Group is continuing to make a range of Sege seats standard in its fleet

27. seating feature | camira

MAKING MOQUETTE

More than 200 years in, Camira is using its unique moquette fabric to innovate in the transport seating game

28. seating feature | isri

INTRODUCING INNOVATION

ISRI’s latest Isringhausen seat model builds on a legacy of high quality safety and comfort in bus and coach seats

31. feature | david tape

EXCELLENT EXECUTIVE

When David Tape first joined QBIC in 2006, he had no idea about the bus industry. As he prepares to depart the Council this year, he reflects on a whirlwind journey as QBIC’s Executive Director

35. feature | united safety

KEEPING KIDS SAFE

United Safety has recently received more and more questions about its Child-Check Mate product after a spate of dangerous incidents involving children being left onboard buses

39. column | qbic A LASTING IMPACT

Following last month’s QBIC Conference in Cairns, incoming QBIC executive director Jason O’Dwyer pays tribute to David Tape

41. column | tasbus GET ON BOARD

The Tasmanian Bus Association (TasBus) has prepared an enticing schedule for its annual conference in Hobart in June

43. feature | bus stop GOING THE DISTANCE

Bus Stop Sales is already a leader in battery electric bus solutions in Australia, but it took its knowledge to the next level on a recent trip in its high-floor EVolution coach

46. feature | npp RARE AIR

After steadily building up business in the spare parts sector, National Parts and Products is taking on a new venture with the release of Eberspacher’s latest electric AC units in Australasia

48. feature | capral PERFECT PARTNERS

Since Volgren first became a major Australian bus body builder in the 1970s, it has sought innovative manufacturing methods. Its blossoming partnership with Capral has allowed it to provide a wide range of sustainable body options to the local market

51. competition | best bus MAGNIFICENT MARBLES

ABC Magazine’s Best Bus photo competition winner for May takes us to Central Australia and a Scania by a beautiful landmark

departments

54. bus marketplace | classifieds  FOR SALE!

Check out all these great listings from some of the leading bus and coach companies on the planet. Have a look and see what you might find

57. events

INDUSTRY EVENTS FOR 2023

Be sure not to miss out on an opportunity for these fantastic in person events

58. factory facts | bus deliveries  MONTHLY RESULTS

We have all the latest bus and coach supplier sales data collected and recorded for you review, check out how the market has performed in the past month

62. back seat | news  UNCHARTERED TERRITORY

Many operators lay low during the COVID lockdowns. In Port Macquarie, Adam Bryan decided to do the opposite, buying his own bus and starting a local business that has taken off immediately

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Australasian Bus & Coach (ABC) magazine is owned by Prime Creative Media. All material in ABC is copyright and no part may be reproduced or copied in any form or by any means (graphic, electronic or mechanical including information and retrieval systems) without written permission of the publisher. The Editor welcomes contributions but reserves the right to accept or reject any material. While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of information Prime Creative Media will not accept responsibility for errors or omissions or for any consequences arising from reliance on information published. Opinions expressed in ABC are not necessarily the opinions of, or endorsed by the publisher unless otherwise stated.

RAY ANDRICH DEPARTS VOLVO BUS AUSTRALIA AFTER 31 YEARS OF EXCEPTIONAL SERVICE

There aren’t many people in the Australian bus and coach industry who haven’t heard of Ray Andrich. While his reputation as the stellar salesman of Volvo may precede him, it’s his warmth and humility that has truly made him into the industry stalwart he is.

April 21, 2023, marked Ray’s Andrich’s last day with Volvo Bus Australia after an incredible 31 years of service.

Having started his career for Suttons Volvo in New South Wales back in July 1984, Ray quickly made a place for himself in the industry.

By February 1992, Volvo Bus officially brought him on board as the New South Wales Regional Zone Sales Manager. While his title may have changed over the years, most recently to Regional Sales Manager for New South Wales, Ray’s dedication and passion for his customers has not.

His first sale, with Suttons Volvo was in July 1984, a Volvo B6 for Lyall Lennox in Kyogle, NSW – a delivery Ray says he will never forget.

Since then Ray is estimated to have sold well over 2,500 busescontributing to the huge numbers of Volvo buses running on roads all over Australia today.

But even more important than the numbers are the relationships Ray has fostered in his time in the industry. He has developed long-lasting business partnerships with small and large operators alike and was still working closely with Buslines and Busways this year. Many of these customers consider Ray to be more than just a business supplier – he’s become a trusted friend and confidant as well.

Ray’s current manager, national sales manager for Volvo Bus Tony Lowrey, was reflective when asked to make comment about Ray’s departure. When Tony started working at Volvo 20-something years ago, Ray was already known as an industry leader.

“Undoubtedly, I have learnt a lot from Ray over the years – not just the intricacies of the industry, but how to best support customers in the way that Volvo has become known for,” Lowrey says. “We’re going to miss his charisma,

warmth and humour. We wish him all the best for this next chapter of his life”.

Similar sentiments are being echoed from customers, suppliers, and past colleagues alike, as the industry, as a whole acknowledges Ray’s contribution to Volvo, the industry and the public transport landscape in NSW. One thing is for sure –  Ray’s contribution to the Australian bus and coach industry won’t be forgotten any time soon.

The team at Volvo Bus Australia were in touch with ABC to let us know they would like to thank Ray for his outstanding contribution and wish him all the best for this next chapter of his life; for a happy and healthy retirement, enjoying time with his wife, kids and grandchildren.

NSW TRANSPORT MINISTER DIRECTS BLAME FOR SYDNEY BUS DELAYS

The new NSW transport minister says certain people are to blame for the mammoth bus delays seen in Sydney in the past year.

The NSW transport minister has directed her blame at former politicians for the current Sydney bus delays being felt by passengers.

NSW transport minister Jo Haylen, who was handed the portfolio following last month’s state election, says the former NSW government had contracts with private bus companies that caused severe delays.

Haylen says the contracts incentivised bus drivers to cancel trips by not penalising them for this, instead only punishing them for late trips.

Reports say nearly a million passengers were left waiting at Sydney bus stops in August last year, with 20,000 bus services being cancelled.

Haylen is one of many in the new Minns’ government blaming the previous government for privatising Sydney bus contracts.

“This system that’s been established means that private operators are incentivised to cancel buses rather than deliver the services passengers need,” Haylen says.

“Not only is our workforce demoralised, but we’re losing drivers in droves.”

Above: NSW transport minister Jo Haylen says previous contracts are to blame for Sydney bus delays

ERGONOMIC SEATS BUILT TO LAST UNITED SAFETY’S G2A SERIES SEAT

United Safety are experts in ergonomics and operator comfort. The G2A seat is ergonomically designed with the operator’s safety in mind.

The G2A seat is built for the harsh Australian environments, offering a lower cost of ownership and extended warranty terms above industry standards.

• Extended life-cycle costing with spare parts available

• Extended Warranty terms available

• Seat Belt Testing (SAEJ2292-202108)

• Seats are designed for operator body impact and shock reduction. (Top-ups & Bottom Downs)

• Strongest frame in its class

• Quick release cushions

• Dymetrol active back support

• Infinitely adjustable pneumatic cushion tilt

• Single sided controls

• 4-way adjustable headrest

• Wide back and cushion (558.8 mm)

• Continuous dual-sided recline to 105°

• Air suspension

• Air slide release

• Pneumatic dual pendulum scissor-style suspension

• Bilateral dampers

• 3-chamber air lumbar support

• Fore/aft slide adjustments, 240.03 mm travel

• Infinitely adjustable height, 152.4 mm travel

• Complies with International ISO and ANSI vibration standards

For inquiries, contact United Safety & Survivability Corporation:

P: 0407 829 335

E: mick.hall@ussc.com.au

ussc.com.au

Seat console is ergonomically located for quick access to ride comfort controls.

Continuous dual-sided recline seat backrest easily adjusts from 45 to 105 degree positions with right or left side seat knob.

BUSNSW CALLS FOR GOVERNMENT ASSISTANCE TO INCREASE SYDNEY SERVICE LEVELS

NSW state bus industry association BusNSW has responded to previous comments on the reasons behind the decrease in NSW bus services, putting the onus on the new state government to help return services to previous levels.

BusNSW executive director Matt Threlkeld says BusNSW understands

the new NSW government is concerned about the cancellation of services in several Sydney metropolitan regions due to the severe bus driver shortage.

“While there is an anomaly in the Transport for NSW (TfNSW) contracts that may have diminished the effect of KPI breach penalties for cancelled trips,

CDC AUSTRALIA APPOINTS FAMILIAR FACE TO CHIEF PROJECT OFFICER

ComfortDelGro Corporation

Australia (CDC) has recently created a new leadership position to help accelerate the company’s ongoing transition to new vehicle technologies.

David Mead, who has extensive experience in leading transport, agriculture and capital goods brands through companies such as Volvo Bus Australia, has commenced with the company as Chief Project Officer, Zero Emissions and Emerging Projects.

According to CDC Australia CEO Nick Yap, the role was created to boost the company’s already strong internal knowledge of the array of developing vehicle technologies and to maintain and grow the partnerships which have helped with the company’s successes with them so far.

“CDC has been on an emissions reduction journey for some time, with the roll-out

of Australia’s largest fleet of hybrid buses which we completed the fleet of 50 last year,” Yap says.

“We have also started our first zero emissions bus trial in Melbourne and are on the way to beginning a trial of hydrogen powered buses in conjunction with the New Energies Service Station project in Geelong.

“However, we’ve reached a phase where the speed of change in these technologies, along with the numerous other opportunities for vehicle enhancements beyond emissions, meant that we’ve built our team to make the most of this situation while transitioning our business Australia-wide.

“David Mead is joining us directly from the supply side of the bus industry and this means he can deliver skills and knowledge of the supply chain and associated partnerships that can benefit CDC.”

Mead says that CDC’s combination of global knowledge and local opportunities made

further fines and the risk of contract termination continue to incentivise operators to meet targets,” Threlkeld told ABC.

“The TfNSW bus contracts didn’t foresee the record low unemployment and staff shortages that have impacted many industries post-COVID.”

Threlkeld says KPI measures relating to on-time running and cancelled trips have been in Sydney bus contracts for some time, well before the previous state transit regions were franchised by the former state government.

In the meantime, Threlkeld assures the government that bus operators and industry associations are working hard to recruit new drivers, opening up opportunities for the new government to provide assistance.

“We understand that contracted operators in the Sydney metropolitan area have plans to increase service levels as additional drivers are employed in the coming months,” Threlkeld says.

change and the obvious focus on people really grabbed my attention,” he says.

“Having worked with a leading global bus supplier for almost 20 years, I was able to work with ComfortDelGro companies around the globe, including Metroline in the United Kingdom, SBS Transit in Singapore and CDC here in Australia.

“I am very excited to be with CDC right now because the next few years will provide an amazing opportunity to be part of a once-ina-generation technology transition.”

Above: David Mead is CDC Australia’s new chief project officer in the zero emissions and emerging projects space

Sustainability beyond emissions

At Volvo Buses, sustainability is about more than just care for the environment – it also extends to social and ethical responsibility. Our Volvo BZL Electric product is a testament to our broader sustainability commitment, as we work towards the UN Sustainable Development Goals with our trusted global partners, ensuring our electric offering is sustainable in more ways than one. From committing to supply chain audits to uphold responsible material sourcing and ethical labour, to encouraging remanufactured parts and battery circularity, to maintaining stringent data and cyber security, we are striving to ensure our Volvo BZL Electric is sustainable in every sense of the word. So, not only do you get clean, silent and efficient cities when you Go Electric With Volvo, but you contribute to a brighter, more sustainable future for everyone.

With the Volvo BZL Electric

WORLD’S BEST DRIVER?

It’s normal to get passengers lining up for the bus, not the driver. In Norway, Robert Scott has teenage fans lining up to catch the bus just to see him. Why? The driver, who has been driving the streets of Norway for 13 years, has rocketed to TikTok fame for his videos showing him entertaining passengers with fun activities, such as pole dancing, fine dining during the trip and bringing wildlife on board. The fun-loving, dancing driver is certainly leading the way when it comes to service with a smile!

MISSED OPPORTUNITY

The Australian Manufacturing Workers’ Union NSW & ACT Branch (AMWU) has labelled the ACT government’s decision to procure electric buses a missed opportunity.

The AMWU says the government should ensure that Australian companies are prioritised in the procurement process that is underway currently for 90 electric buses.

The 12 electric buses already in service were built by manufacturer Yutong and supplied by Yutong’s Australian distributors VDI. The AMWU says there has been no word from the ACT government on prioritising Australian suppliers or manufacturers for the additional 90 buses.

The AMWU and the Rail, Tram and Bus Union’s ‘Build Them Here’ campaign calls on the NSW government to end the offshoring of public transport builds and commit to building trains, buses, ferries and trams locally.

Following the state election, the AMWU says NSW now has a government that is committed to local transport manufacturing.

It says it’s hopeful that the ACT can follow NSW’s lead and commit to local procurement where possible.

“Government contracts can provide certainty for industry, encouraging investment and job creation. The AMWU is calling on the ACT government to seize all opportunities to prioritise Australian content on its contracts. If buses can’t be made in the ACT, then NSW manufacturers should be looked at,” AMWU NSW & ACT state secretary Cory Wright says.

“The AMWU wants all states and territories to get smarter about the procurement of our public transport infrastructure. If we plan out purchases on a national level and coordinate effectively, we could have a thriving transport manufacturing sector.

“In NSW, we’ve seen countless issues with offshored public transport builds. Building our trains, buses, ferries and trams in Australia ensures commuters get a safe, quality product while creating local jobs.”

FUN WAYS TO ESCAPE

It may not be as big an issue in Australia, but for New York passengers, getting snowed in and stuck in a bus can happen. A recent video showed a school bus trying to get through the snow with difficulty. Inside, the school kid passengers are doing their best, rocking back and forward hard in their seats to get the bus moving. It may not be in sync, but it slowly helped make progress!

SEAT FIGHT

In India, the Mumbai Police recently put up a fun bus video on its social media. Shared on Twitter and Instagram, the video shows two men sitting next to each other in a bus and arguing about who is taking up more room on the seat. The caption, which says ‘there’s no space for a third person on a two wheeler’, captured the moment perfectly on the crowded bench.

STAGECOACH ORDERS ITS LARGEST EVER BATCH OF ELECTRIC BUSES

In the UK, operator Stagecoach has confirmed its largest ever order of electric vehicles, ordering 170 fully electric vehicles to be introduced into Stockport.

The 37.2 million pound investment has been made to further build on Stagecoach’s commitment to have a zero-emissions bus fleet by 2035.

The electric fleet of 150 double deck and 20 single deck buses will be produced by Volvo and MCV, representing a benefit to customers when they first begin delivery in 2024.

The buses are jointly funded by Stagecoach and local and national governments, with Stagecoach’s investment match-funded by 35.7 million pounds from Greater Manchester’s successful Zero Emissions Bus Regional Areas (ZEBRA) bid and an additional 12.5m pounds from TFGM/ GMCA.

Stagecoach says the new electric buses will be fully accessible with wheelchair bays, hearing induction loops, audio and visual announcement systems alongside anti-slip flooring.

Stagecoach is also introducing a further 122 new fully electric buses in key transport networks across the UK in the next 12 months, with the operator also recently introducing its first fully electric bus cities in four UK cities.

Alongside one of the biggest single investments in electric vehicles in Europe through its Manchester double-decker fleet, Stagecoach is also building on its commitments by delivering in Stockport.

“We’re excited to be announcing our

largest electric vehicle order to date, which will be a major step forward in improving air quality across the region,” Stagecoach engineering director Sam Greer says.

“This builds further on the investment

being made by Stagecoach across the country to support the transition to a zero-emissions bus fleet.”

In a world transitioning to more electric buses than ever before, this order is a great sign for the industry.

“We’re excited to be announcing our largest electric vehicle order to date, which will be a major step forward in improving air quality across the region.”

Upon attending last year’s BusNSW Bus and Coach Expo, the Bus Industry Confederation (BIC) learnt a lot about how to deliver a fantastic trade exhibition. It didn’t expect to be putting these lessons into action just two years later.

It’s exactly what BIC will be doing though as it looks to build upon the traditions of the Australasian bus and coach expos when it hosts the National Bus and Coach Show in 2024.

“The National Bus and Coach Show will have some new features that will be aimed at both operators and suppliers,” BIC Executive Director Roz Chivers told ABC.

“This includes some new events and a greater array of industry partners, such as energy and infrastructure providers, exhibiting.”

The conversations around BIC hosting the 2024 National Bus and Coach Show started in 2021 when state association BusVic stopped being a member of BIC. BusVic had been slated to run the next bus expo in 2024. However, after the conclusion of BusNSW’s Expo last year, the BIC Council deemed it wasn’t appropriate that an association that wasn’t a BIC

EYE OF THE STORM

member should host the national Expo. Following discussions with the BIC Supplier’s Group and a survey of group members, the Council made the announcement in March that BIC would instead host the national Expo. BusNSW and QBIC were unable to step in and host it under a memorandum of understanding between their organisations and BusVic. Instead, in 2024, BusVic will run its own Expo in Melbourne while BIC hosts the National Bus and Coach Show in Brisbane.

The changes have meant Chivers and her team have had to spring into action quickly. With only 18 months on the clock, every month will be vital as BIC

plans to host the Expo.

The process started by finding a suitable venue.

“Finding the right venue that was available in the school holidays was our first logistical challenge,” Chivers says. “Luckily we found a few in the major capital cities that would be able to host the event and ultimately decided that the Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre was the place to hold it.

“It’s the location of the Brisbane Truck Show, hosted by the Heavy Vehicle Industry Australia (HVIA), so we know that the venue works well for heavy vehicle trade shows.”

With September being a prime time

WORDS SEAN MORTELL IMAGES SEAN MORTELL/ BIC

When it was announced BIC would be hosting the 2024 National Bus and Coach Show, it had to move quickly to begin the planning and preparation of the national industry expo

to visit Brisbane, BIC quickly locked in the location and dates. The next step involved calling for expressions of interest from exhibitors, which is a process still ongoing through to the end of June.

Although it doesn’t follow the tradition of the previous Expo schedule, the 2024 National Bus and Coach Show promises plenty for members and attendees.

Building on the 2022 Expo at Sydney Showgrounds, Chivers says attendees can expect to see all of the newest zero-emissions buses and coaches alongside more exhibitors involved in the transition to zeroemissions, including energy and infrastructure suppliers.

“There’ll also be a number of great social events, including the gala dinner, where we’ll hold the national awards and give away new award categories for the first time,” she says.

“We’re planning toolbox and tech talks so attendees can learn from industry experts while jumping onboard new vehicles to chat to exhibitors. In the coming months we’ll plan more features so members and other attendees have a truly unforgettable experience.”

The show, to be held on Tuesday the 17th and Wednesday the 18th of September, with bump in on September 16 and bump out on September 19, is set to showcase suppliers’

innovations and expertise.

“It’s very exciting to be able to showcase the best in the business and new innovations and developments,” Chivers says.

“The main purpose of a trade exhibition like the National Bus and Coach Show is to provide our members with potentially game-changing marketing and lead generation opportunities that they won’t get anywhere else.

“For smaller companies or those new to the industry, it is a great opportunity to make a name for yourself in the industry and let everyone know your company is important enough to have a presence at leading events.

“All exhibitors, no matter how small or large, new or old, will get the same access to prospective customers, so it is the perfect place to establish your brand and strengthen your business’s position in your industry.”

In addition to the business side of the event, the Expo will also allow for networking at social events.

Chivers says show goers should stay tuned for more unique features to be added to the show program over the coming months, whether it be an exhibition, event or workshop.

It may have been a frenzied start, but BIC is now going full steam ahead in the planning for the National Bus and Coach Show.

Once the expressions of interests to exhibit are closed, BIC will be confirming the floor plan allocation with exhibitors and announcing the exhibitor list.

“We will be making progressive announcements in the coming months about different aspects of the Bus and Coach Show so people should stay tuned,” Chivers says.

“We don’t want people to miss out on any of the great opportunities that the National Bus and Coach Show has to offer.

“We are hosting the event at the request of the national suppliers’ group and supplier councillors on the BIC Council. They were strong in their representation that the show should be delivered by a body that supported the suppliers, so we’ll do our best to do so.”

Top: ABC will once again be at a national Expo next year

Above: BIC’s Roz Chivers will help deliver the show Opposite, Bottom: BusNSW president John King at the last Expo

In the coming months we’ll plan more features so members and other attendees have a truly unforgettable experience.

Since relocating to an improved facility nearly a year ago, seating manufacturer StyleRide has blossomed. Throughout the many positives amid a year of growth, StyleRide managing director Garrin Angel has barely been able to celebrate his company’s seats featuring in a blockbuster rom-com film.

“We were lucky enough last year to supply the seating for the set of the movie Ticket to Paradise, featuring George Clooney and Julia Roberts,” Angel told ABC.

“For all of the growth we’ve had in the past year, it’s pretty cool to think that our seats were on the airplanes used on the set of the film.”

To be doing so much that supplying seats on a set of a large-scale film is an afterthought shows the hard work that StyleRide is putting in for the Australian bus and coach industry. Angel says a lot of this work stems from the successful move to a new location in Queensland’s Acacia Ridge in early 2022.

The idea to relocate can be traced all the way back to March 2019, when Italian seating company Lazzerini acquired StyleRide Seating Systems. At the time, StyleRide was working out of two different facilities in Queensland, with the previous owners of the business also owning the properties. Angel admits the day-to-day operations of StyleRide back then was so inefficient that two full-time employees dedicated their days to moving products from the warehousing and fabrication site up to the cutting, sewing and final assembly factory.

“It all changed when Lazzerini acquired us,” Angel says.

“As part of a three-year tenancy lease agreement, they acquired the two premises and looked for an opportunity to consolidate StyleRide into the one facility.”

Upon drawing up the business plan for the change, StyleRide quickly determined that its growth as a business meant there was no point consolidating into one of its existing factories as there wasn’t enough space. In September 2019, Angel

to relocate StyleRide.

“Engaging with the market helped us identify properties that met the criteria we’d decided on,” he says.

“Our key needs were that it had to be around 2,000 square metres of productive space, have offices suitable to put in a permanent seating display, be close to our existing location in Queensland and have the space to install facilities that enhanced comfort for our manufacturing teams.”

The last point was particularly important for Angel – in the diluted strategy StyleRide was currently operating under, there were no lunchrooms in any

buildings for staff to use. He made it his mission to find land that could house lunch rooms that were air-conditioned to make the comfort of his staff a high priority.

Initial presentations from real estate agents landed on roughly 25 to 30 premises for Angel and his team to investigate in the hope of finding the ideal headquarters. Throughout this process, Angel found himself visiting one of these sites at Lysaght Street, Acacia Ridge, up to 10 times to inspect the existing premises.

“The Lysaght Street building was an existing facility that was part of a larger industrial complex,” Angel

“The facility was located just off Bradman Street in Acacia Ridge, so it covered the key criteria of being within our existing area so our staff didn’t have to travel extra.

“It had carparking, was single storey and had a great open floor plan in the offices, so it was definitely an early favourite that caught my eye.”

Although there were other buildings vying for Angel’s attention, the initial attraction to the Lysaght Street space proved telling. A collective decision from StyleRide’s management landed on that spot. StyleRide had its new home mapped out, it just had to complete the relocation.

Angel didn’t waste time upon securing the space. After the lease was signed, Angel was granted access to the vacant property to complete floor layouts. He remembers stopping by often to put masking tape down on the floor to plan how the factory would be laid out.

“This process helped me confirm that the facility would meet every need we had,” Angel says.

“We negotiated with the

After first finding the spot, it took StyleRide only six months to sign the contract that sealed the deal. With the lease set to start on March 1, 2022, Angel was lucky to be granted access early from January 1 to complete any initial work. He leapt at the chance to install some of StyleRide’s most important and environmentally friendly equipment.

“Getting in early allowed me to construct our electric powder coat oven and install our welding facilities and fume and particle extraction,” Angel says.

“It gave me the chance to install it correctly and put the finishing touches on the additional electrical infrastructure required to open the new facility on time.”

Just 12 months ago, this process was completed when StyleRide officially launched the new premises in Lysaght Street. Angel says the past year has been a whirlwind, with the new facility proving to be pivotal in growing the StyleRide brand.

Angel says the efficiency of

moving components within the facility without having to travel to a whole new factory has been noticeable for everyone on the floor. Extra space in the factory has also allowed his workforce to move material quicker and ahead of time to fulfil orders faster.

“One of the biggest gains in efficiency we’ve had is in the communication between factory sections,” Angel says.

“Before there was a clear disjoint between final assembly and fabrication. Now, having only the one building, daily toolbox meetings take place and there’s direct coordination between everyone, meaning we can operate efficiently without a specific, full-time production manager.”

Above: One key criteria for the new space was that its office had to have room to house seating displays

Below: After securing the premises, StyleRide worked to fill out the new factory

Opposite, Top: StyleRide Australia has flourished since relocating into one united site

It had carparking, was single storey and had a great open floor plan in the offices, so it was definitely an early favourite that caught my eye.

Although this helps streamline StyleRide’s processes, Angel has also loved the way this change has allowed his workers to develop their skillsets. In an industry fighting to attract and retain workers, the ability to upskill factory employees to the point that they don’t need a director of traffic has meant they are all able to coordinate departments by themselves, such is their degree of expertise.

It’s a pleasing bonus for Angel,

cent of the staff at the time were casual workers.

“Part of my HR strategy when starting with StyleRide was to bring people into permanent roles so we could offer the most to our workers,” he says.

“This has allowed us to focus our efforts on their training and skillset development. Now, having permanent placement in a new facility, the layout will help us build skills further.

“Since this move, we’ve had very low staff turnover and all of our permanent workers are learning so much.”

The new facility has also done wonders for StyleRide’s environmental approach to manufacturing transport seats. The relocation gave StyleRide the chance to transition from gas

new electric ovens himself, says this has dramatically reduced the amount of fossil fuels burnt in the manufacturing process while also improving the quality of their powder coating.

StyleRide also took the chance to change how it glued its seats upon moving locations. Previously, Angel says the manufacturer used solvent-based contact adhesives in the seat assembly process, requiring extensive fume extraction systems as well as more masks and PPE gear.

Since moving to Lysaght Street, StyleRide has benefited from using water-based contact adhesive that are much better for the environment and don’t need expensive fume extraction equipment.

“With our old solvent-based glues, it took a lot of time for a new bus to lose the chemical smell,” Angel says.

“Now, our process is more or less using a salt water substrate that cures the contact adhesive and only needs basic masks while speeding up the gluing process.”

With all of these changes made, StyleRide is pushing forward with more motivation than ever before. Angel is set to be joined by a new national business development manager that will further expand StyleRide’s presence in both the bus and coach and marine industries.

At the same time, StyleRide will also target supplying seating into non-transport related industries to widen its scope as a manufacturer. Around supplying seats to rom-com movie sets, a major landmark looms on the horizon for the seating manufacturer.

“Now we’re under one roof, we have been able to redeploy our workers into direct production and we’ve seen the benefits already,” Angel says.

“The business has developed rapidly and combining the factories has provided great synergy. With the Brisbane Olympics coming up, we’re ready to seize any opportunities to expand and diversify our product range.”

“Now we’re under one roof, we have been able to redeploy our workers into direct production and we’ve seen the benefits already.”

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LOCAL LEGENDS

For a transport seating company that was founded all the way back in 1952 to still be operational means they must be doing something right. If they have managed to do so while remaining at the top of the Australian bus and coach market, they’re a unique powerhouse.

For 71 years, McConnell Seats has been a powerhouse in the local transport seating game, providing a wide range of high-quality seats for buses and coaches. It may have come from traditional roots, but its ability to evolve and master new seating technologies has been a key reason to its dominant status over the best part of the past century.

“McConnell is a longstanding manufacturer of seating for the Australian bus and coach industry,” McConnell Seats Australia general manager James Lowe told ABC.

“When Jim McConnell started the business in 1952, it was basically a motor trimming business in Coburg, Victoria. We’ve been around for a long time and

continue to support the industry 70 years in.”

McConnell’s longevity as a seating provider for buses makes it a mainstay of the local bus and coach industry. Its continued quality of seats has impressed the likes of Moreland Bus Lines, its very first customer, who still purchases McConnell seats to this day.

Lowe says a unique part of McConnell’s operations has to do with its local manufacturing process that includes building machines to design and complete

a market filled with overseas imports, this ability to manufacture in its own premises makes McConnell unique.

This has developed through the decades, with McConnell also having its own in-house powder coating system that means the manufacturer makes the seating frame, the legs, wall mounts, foam and just about anything else associated with the seat.

“We’ve always been an in-house manufacturer that engineers and designs our own parts and make them for all of our seats,” Lowe says.

“Being a manufacturer allows us to maintain a four-week lead time from order placement to the completion of the seat to keep customers satisfied. We now

Top: Seat manufacturing, including on its polyurethane (PU) line, is completed in-house for a wide range of transport seats

WORDS & IMAGES SEAN MORTELL

Throughout a history that spans more than 70 years in Australia, McConnell Seats has forged a reputation as a leading bus and coach seat manufacturer. Its unique qualities as a local business is set to propel it forward once more in the coming years.

also have a robotic welding cell and pattern cutters for our fabric to make us heavily automated.

“We think there’s more automation to come to give us improved quality and productivity in our manufacturing processes.”

These capabilities mean expansion has been natural to McConnell. After solidifying itself as a member of the transport seating market, the second generation, led by Denis McConnell, took over leadership of the business in the 1970s. Over this period of great growth, the family business found its niche in the bus and coach industry before selling the business to the APM Automotive Group in 2014.

Lowe says the sale allowed McConnell to build heavily upon its foundation of honesty and integrity while also enhancing its strategy to maintain its Australian design and manufacturing processes.

Following this change of ownership, McConnell Seats purchased the Locomotive Seats Australia business in Queensland in 2016 to further expand into the national rail market before also moving to its current location of Broadmeadows, Victoria, in 2017.

With sales offices also set up in New South Wales through commercial manager Les Holden, McConnell continued its expansion in 2021 when it opened a facility in Bayswater, Western Australia, to supply and service the upcoming generation of C-series trains for Perth’s Metronet project.

This conscious decision to expand is already paying off for the seating giant.

“We’re now proud to have three sites up and running where we manufacture our own seats,” Lowe says.

“We’ve now got most states and territories in Australia covered from a manufacturing or a sales and support point of view.”

Since selling to APM Group, McConnell has placed emphasis on growing its aftersales and support network around the country. Lowe says the motive behind this expansion was to reward the many loyal customers of the McConnell brand throughout the decades.

“We know that our quality of

seats has always been high, so we wanted to continue to support our products in the local market,” he says.

“There’s operators who have been very loyal to the brand, so we like to think by growing our network that we are being loyal back to them.”

This network now means McConnell has another feature that its competition doesn’t in a national sales team. Darcy Grant covers Queensland and New South Wales while the Victorian team, led by Matt Arthur, tend to sales queries from Tasmania, South Australia and Western Australia.

All of this will come in handy when McConnell prepares to launch its next generation range of seat models into the Australian market. The manufacturer’s intent to design and release a completely new range of seatbelted bus seats was put on hold when COVID-19 first hit Australia.

Now, McConnell is ready to resume the process and push the seat into production as early as next year.

“When COVID hit, we had the

Capex approval to develop this new range, but it was pulled,” Lowe says.

“We’re now back on our feet as a business so we can reignite this new range.

“The benchmarking and styling is done, so we’re just moving onto the detailed design phase now before we begin testing and moving into production for the Australasian market.”

Alongside this new range is an investment of $1.5 million into new production lines that continue to manufacture its own foam in-house, with a new carousel also being manufactured currently.

As a long-standing supporter of the Bus Industry Confederation (BIC) and state associations and an employer of more than 90 people around Australia, McConnell has shown it is a local business that is dedicated to improving the country’s bus and coach industry.

When its new carousel is commissioned at the end of this year, expect McConnell to be yet again at the forefront of Australian bus and coach seat technology as a local manufacturer of the newest range of seatbelted seats.

“We’re trying to vertically integrate as much as we can within the business,” Lowe says.

“This will allow us to design our comfort profile for the seats in-house as we can design the tools and do the comfort analysis based on seat designs.

“It’s a really exciting time for the seating market and we’re keen to release this new generation of seats for Australian operators.”

Above: The McConnell fabric team

Below: McConnell continues to expand its seat manufacturing capabilities in Australia

Some of the greatest bonds have come via chance.

The developing partnership between Sege Seats and the Donric Group would never have happened if it wasn’t for heavy vehicle brand Irizar.

In early 2020, Donric Group, which owns bus and coach companies in Victoria and Queensland including Sunbury Bus Service, was looking to buy new Irizar vehicles. Up to this point, Donric Group had always bought seats from another manufacturer. It all changed when the first Irizar buses were delivered.

“When we started buying Irizar school buses we got them with Sege seats as a default option,” Donric Group managing director Matt Baird told ABC.

“From there, the relationship has grown and grown over the past two years.”

Baird says Sege seats have now become a regular feature on Donric Group’s school buses and coaches. On the school buses, Sege Passenger 4030X grey seats are supplied as standard from Irizar, while the coaches feature Sege Passenger 4036 models.

The coach seats were the catalyst behind Donric Group’s fast-growing relationship with Sege. Although Donric Group still uses other

It was only two years ago that Donric Group and Sege began a supply partnership, but now Donric Group is continuing to make a range of Sege seats standard in its fleet IMAGES SEGE SEATS

CHANCE PARTNERS

manufacturer’s seats on other vehicles, Baird quickly found Sege’s coach products to be ideal for particular fleets.

“Our coach fleet uses full leather seats that have a black leather and red insert that we love,” Baird says.

“Sege customised the design for us and gave us different styles to consider. They were very adaptable with those options and allowed us to choose what we wanted.”

After first meeting through Irizar, Sege and Donric Group now deal directly with each other. A combination of Sege’s responsiveness and ability to customise designs and colours on the seats has convinced Baird to keep using Sege seats.

Between the base grey school bus seats and the luxury leather coach models, Baird has been receiving positive comments on the seats from passengers since introducing Sege onboard.

“The responses from passengers has been good, they’ve given us great remarks,” he says.

“The impressive part of Sege’s seats is that the leather is clearly of high quality and the seats are luxurious even to the average punter. We’ve noticed that especially our coach seats have been getting positive reviews from passengers.”

Donric Group’s ethos is to

standardise vehicles and parts where possible to build a consistent fleet. The combination of Irizar buses and coaches and Sege seats is proving to be a winner, meaning Baird wants to continue buying Sege seats for its school bus and coach models as it continues to grow.

While Donric Group still buys other seats for its low-floor route bus fleet, it is intent on sticking with Sege seats on its other vehicles.

“Although Sege isn’t the only seating company we have a good working relationship with, we are planning to standardise our coach and school bus fleet with Sege,” Baird says.

Top: Donric Group has quickly fallen in love with Sege’s coach seat models

Above: Sege’s 4030X standard seats are being used on Donric Group school buses

“We’ll continue doing so and expanding our fleet while it’s the best seats for those certain models on the market.”

From Sege’s side, this success story with Donric Group reinforces Sege’s capabilities in providing school charter and coach seats in a limited market. Sege managing director Lance Taskin says his brand’s flexibility in design and colour was key to growing the partnership with Donric Group.

“We can customise anything to our customer’s needs,” Taskin told ABC.

“Whether it be the choice of colour or design, our main target is to focus on customer service and choice.

“People can also hop onto our website and tailor seats. By simply clicking on the three seat models available online, they can then coordinate colours and mix and match them with materials to design their own seats that we then supply to them.”

At Sege, it’s all about the small details. Taskin is committed to providing any seating options that the Australian market wants to fill buses and coaches with Sege seats that are safe, comfortable and durable, as well as aesthetically pleasing.

Sege’s latest developments include upgrades to its lighter electric vehicle option in the Intercity 390 Passenger models.

“These models are slimline, lighter seats that are perfect for electric buses and coaches,” Taskin says.

“The weight on our electric seats are 19.5kg per double, or 21.5kg with a seatbelt. This means there’s a weight

care from Taskin and the team at Sege, it’s no surprise that the brand has struck partnerships with the likes of Donric Group.

Alongside Donric Group, Sege has also recently forged partnerships with Kangaroo Bus Lines and Alston Coaches by supplying seats as a default option on Irizar vehicles. With Sege seats also available in Irizar’s showrooms, Taskin encourages the local market to see and touch Sege’s

saving of six to eight kilograms per double, which is massive for an electric vehicle.”

Alongside the new electric bus options is the new Sege Passenger 430 seat designed for the general usage in coaches or school buses. These seats were shown at last year’s Expo and have the same comfort that passengers have come to expect from Sege seats.

Combined with personal aftersales

expanding range of seats in person to continue growing the Sege brand.

“Customers can go into the Irizar showroom and sit on our different seats to see the benefits of our models,” Taskin says.

“They’ll find out that the detail in our seats is what sets Sege apart. Whether it be different colours, materials or designs, Sege has heaps of options to satisfy the Australian market.”

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Customers can go into the Irizar showroom and sit on our different seats to see the benefits of our models.

MAKING MOQUETTE

More than 200 years in, Camira is using its unique moquette fabric to innovate in the transport seating game

As Camira’s core product for the bus and coach market, the word ‘moquette’ is used quite regularly. But what is it?

“Moquette, or plush velour, is derived from the French word for carpet,” Camira area business manager of APAC (transport) Rodney Peterson told ABC.

“It’s a woven pile fabric in which threads form a short dense cut or loop pile.”

Camira has made moquette its own, with its 85/15 per cent wool/ nylon composition being the trusted seat fabric option in all public transport modes.

Camira has expanded from its head office and core manufacturing facilities in Yorkshire, England, to its network of warehouse and distribution facilities in the USA, Australia, Lithuania, New Zealand, the Middle East, Europe and Asia Pacific.

Locally, Rodney Peterson and Joe Qi service all Australia bus and coach customers from its Melbourne facilities.

Peterson says moquette’s safe and durable nature has made it the perfect material to grow Camira over 200 years.

“The fabric has proven durability, is comfortable and has boundless design capabilities,” he says.

“Wool is natural, renewable and sustainable while having low flame, smoke and toxicity properties.”

Peterson insists Camira is more than just moquette, with its range of bus and coach fabrics including fabrics for curtains, walls, bulkheads, luggage racks and ancillary trimming, all tested to meet the latest technical and flammability standards.

Moquette is constantly being used in new projects and Camira is celebrating its 200-year anniversary with a revitalised Aura range and a technological breakthrough for its Camira Print moquette product. Its introduction of anti-COVID Staysafe fabric and anti-stain, anti-bacteria Defender is also playing an important role in the safety and comfort of passengers.

“At Camira we pride ourselves on having 200 years of manufacturing history,” Peterson says.

“We’ll continue enjoying the strong relationships we have with Australia’s bus and coach industry.”

INTRODUCING INNOVATION

ISRI’s latest Isringhausen seat model builds on a legacy of high quality safety and comfort in bus and coach seats

ISRI’s latest Isringhausen seat model builds on a legacy of high quality safety and comfort in bus and coach seats.

With an extensive history of supplying German company Isringhausen seats to the Australian market, ISRI is progressing forward in its seating technology.

When Isringhausen released its new NTS2 seat in Europe around five years ago, ISRI worked quickly to introduce the model to Australia. Roughly three years ago, ISRI got its wish.

“When we saw the NTS2 product released in Europe and other plants, we moved forward to bring this to Australia,” ISRI Australia general manager Ashley Thomas told ABC.

“Although the NTS1 has served us very well, the next step was to introduce this new design and platform to local operators.”

The NTS2 comes with new key features that have been added as standard equipment to the incumbent design. Thomas says the NTS2 has optional safety systems such as Lane Guard warning and seat detection monitors to keep safety at the forefront of ISRI’s product range.

These additions join ISRI’s already built in three-point integrated seatbelt system and optional contact switches to create plenty of options to offer local bus operators in Australia.

“This warning system connects with the chassis’ system within the bus and you have the ability to select optional swivel, heating, cooling and even ventilation for the seats,” Thomas says.

“All of these safety features, including occupancy warnings with seatbelts, are key to our NTS2 platform.”

The NTS2 range is diverse, including unique seated cushion foam and breathable seat fabric that are an improvement on recent seat comfort developments.

While it is available in different forms across the truck and transport industry, Thomas says the NTS2 seat is perfect for buses.

“This goes to show that we’re not sitting still in terms of development and that we continually look at developing new product ranges,” Thomas says.

“We like listening to the industry and developing seats that suit platforms. We’ve just reached 29 years in Australia and will continue pushing forward with seats like the NTS2 model.”

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During his 16-year tenure as Executive Director of the Queensland Bus Industry Council (QBIC), David Tape, or ‘Tapey’, as he’s affectionately known by the industry, has become a popular figure.

Yet when he first entered the Association in November 2006, he came in wide-eyed and unsure of what he was getting himself into.

“Before I came onboard at QBIC my wife was actually the Operations Manager there,” Tape told ABC.

“At the time I was semi-retired and had no idea about the bus and coach industry.”

Fast-forward nearly 17 years and ‘Tapey’ is leaving the Queensland bus industry with a fine legacy as a successful Executive Director of QBIC. To consolidate his status,

EXCELLENT EXECUTIVE

awarded honorary life membership to the Association.

This wonderful story of Tape’s bus and coach career started back in 2006 when he and his wife first moved up to Queensland.

“It was a funny set up,” Tape says. “When we moved up here, I was in the audio-visual industry and my wife was Operations Manager at QBIC.

“She was quickly headhunted by an agency in the aged care sector that was her primary background, so she moved on from QBIC and left it vacant. I was then offered her job.”

Tape wasn’t quick to jump at the offer. His lack of experience or knowledge about the bus and coach industry meant he initially felt that he wasn’t the right person for the job. Fortunately, QBIC persisted.

With no background in transport and logistics, Tape eventually relented to QBIC and agreed to

take up the role as Operations Manager at the end of 2006. As he walked into the office on his first day in a suit, he soon found out what the bus industry was like.

He was greeted by industry titans asking him why he was wearing a suit. It didn’t take long for ‘Tapey’ to change his ways to the relaxed dress code and humble nature that characterises the local bus and coach collective.

“When I first entered the industry under the QBIC banner, I quickly found out I had a steep learning curve ahead of me,” Tape says.

“I realised that this industry was different – in a lot of occasions the suit isn’t appropriate attire, particularly when visiting members out at their depots and jumping under buses.

“The industry is humbler and more hardworking than any other I know, so I found out it was a more relaxed industry and environment. As the Executive Director, you must

Top: David Tape presenting at one of QBIC’s annual conferences Bottom - L to R: Tape with members of the Queensland bus industry

WORDS SEAN MORTELL IMAGES QBIC

When David Tape first joined QBIC in 2006, he had no idea about the bus industry. As he prepares to depart the Council this year, he reflects on a whirlwind journey as QBIC’s Executive Director.

always remember that come the end of the day, you are an employee, so never put yourself above any members.”

Although he wasn’t initially keen on joining the bus industry, Tape fit right in like a hand in glove. The renowned inclusiveness of the industry lured ‘Tapey’ further in, as he soon felt part of the Queensland sector. From there, he excelled as Operations Manager of QBIC.

“When I met with members in regions, whether it be up in Mareeba or a suburban depot, I felt part of the industry and it only increased from there,” he says.

In the opening months, Tape worked hard to learn about the legislation that regulated and impacted the industry while also getting out and about to meet and connect with ministers and members of the Department of Transport and Main Roads (TMR). The first part of his job was all about meeting people and setting up networks filled with productive relationships.

He clearly made a splash, as months later he was elevated to Executive Director

of QBIC, solidifying his standing in the Association.

“From there it just progressed,” he says.

“Before you know it, 16 years have gone by, yet my primary aim throughout it all has been to ensure our members have a voice so that they can work under fair contract regimes to deliver the best services for the travelling public.

“While they do this, I have always wanted to fight to ensure that operators and other members are fairly renumerated for what they do for the state and the industry.”

In his fight to do so, Tape quickly realised he had to go above and beyond to listen to

all of his members and act on their behalf.

While still in his infancy at QBIC, Tape remembers taking a call from Roma, a rural town five hours west of Brisbane and the Sunshine Coast, about an issue the QBIC member had. Phone calls weren’t as productive as Tape would’ve liked to resolve the problem, so he jumped in his car and drove out to Roma.

After leaving Brisbane at 11AM and arriving at Roma just after 4PM, Tape met the operator in person, much to their surprise.

“They thought I was nuts for driving all that way,” Tape says.

“But we sat down and discussed the problem. It made it so much easier once I saw their environment to understand the issue, so after 10 minutes of meeting we had it sorted.

“I still had to drive back to Brisbane, but

luckily they booked a motel for me so I could stay overnight and drive back the next day.

“I hope it showed my commitment regarding what I wanted to do with member issues – I’m not the kind to sit behind desks all day, if I have to go drive to the issue then that’s what I do.”

As the years passed by, Tape celebrated plenty of small wins for the Queensland local bus industry. One of his favourite moments in his 16 years at QBIC is fighting hard on behalf of his membership to secure reform in the school environment.

He says when he first came onboard at

I realised that this industry was different – in a lot of occasions the suit isn’t appropriate attire, particularly when visiting members out at their depots and jumping under buses.

QBIC, school bus operators did it tough under standard contracts and the Bus Cost Index. When the contracts and payment model were finally changed to better suit operating environments, ‘Tapey’ was relieved to have made working easier for a large portion of his membership.

“Having that changed would be one of the biggest highlights in my career with QBIC as we made significant financial changes for our members,” he says.

“Before that, I remember sitting down with a previous QBIC President in Cairns and writing out a list of issues in the school environment from members in regional forums and we made a pact to tick them all off.

“When the new model came through last year, the ex-President called me and told me that we’ve ticked off the final box, which was so satisfying.”

of the job. But it hasn’t always been positive for Tape – he admits that some challenges have been difficult to tackle.

One such challenge he faced was continuing to establish collaborative working relationships with both federal and state ministers from varying governments. Although the majority of ministers he’s served under have been good to work with, he says that he has still had his challenges being a conduit between the state’s industry and its transport ministers.

“Without putting others down, our current Queensland Transport Minister, Mark Bailey, has been incredibly respectful to our industry,” Tape says.

“As an Executive Director, changing ministers or departments is something I’ve had to be quick on. You need to pick up on the background of the person and adjust how you approach them to get the best outcome for the

“Whether it be biting your tongue or pulling your head in, it’s all about putting personalities aside and being professional to benefit

As he prepares to leave QBIC in July, Tape wants the industry to continue being generous. During various negotiations over the years between industry and TMR, Tape remembers larger operators refusing changes due to the impact it would have on smaller operators.

He says it’s moments like these that make him incredibly proud of the industry. He urges operators

to continue thinking of the entire industry when making decisions in the future.

Throughout his 16 years at QBIC, Tape has forged a legacy that will enable him to leave feeling fulfilled. He says assisting with industrial relations reforms. labour agreements and continuing to punch above its weight as an Association will be memories he’ll never forget.

Like many great bus industry members, he may not be gone from the sector for long. ‘Tapey’ plans to go on a road trip and holiday with his wife after retiring from QBIC. Once he’s back, he’s not ruling out a potential return to the bus and coach sector to continue his good work.

“I would say that the bus industry probably hasn’t seen the last of me in some way, shape or form,” he says.

“In the meantime, I advise all QBIC members to continue raising issues with the Association. Don’t ever think no one will listen – if you’re a member then you have a say and a voice, so please use it and make the industry a better place.”

Top: From networking to advocating, Tape has done plenty for QBIC Above: Tapey’s presence at QBIC events was rewarded with QBIC honorary life membership this year

Opposite, Top: Tape’s role involved mixing with Queensland politicians Opposite, Bottom: Tapey leaves behind a legacy of strong leadership

KEEPING KIDS SAFE

United Safety has recently received more and more questions about its Child-Check Mate product after a spate of dangerous incidents involving children being left onboard buses.

IMAGES UNITED SAFETY

There are many dangers that can be present onboard public transport vehicles, including buses and coaches. The team at United Safety & Survivability Corporation (United Safety) has spent its history providing systems that curb these dangers and enhance the safety of buses.

For all of its impressive and complex systems that mitigate against fire and tyre pressure risks, none are more important than United Safety’s Child Check-Mate system.

“We’ve always been a supplier of the Child Check-Mate product in Australia, but we now officially own and distribute it worldwide,” United Safety National Transport Business Development Manager Mick Hall told ABC.

“There have been several incidents around Australia recently of children being left on buses in extreme weather and sadly passing away as a result. This system saves lives by preventing this from happening.”

Originating from North America, Child Check-Mate is a mandatory process that prevents drivers from getting off buses without checking that no passengers have been left onboard. The system was first introduced into Australia several years ago when the Public Transport Authority of Western Australia (PTA) mandated child checking systems on the state’s school buses.

This wave of Child Check-Mate systems being installed in WA has increased the product’s popularity,

Above: It may not be United Safety’s most popular item, but Child Check-Mate is vital

Below: The product comes after recent serious incidents in Australia involving children being left on buses

with Hall saying now other states are hopping on the trend and adopting the protective equipment.

As incidents continue to occur where children are being left onboard buses, Hall and his team at United Safety are fielding plenty of inquiries about the Child Check-Mate product.

“Some childcare centres have recently introduced Child Check-Mate into their new bus fleets with positive results and peace of mind,” Hall says.

“We’re also receiving inquiries from some large bus operators, so it’s definitely gaining traction around Australia.”

Although it plays a vital role in keeping passengers, particularly children, safe on buses, it works in a simple fashion.

The analogue process forces the

bus driver to get out of their seat upon finishing their shift and walking up to the back of the bus while checking all the seats to press a button and deactivate the Child Check-Mate system. If they do not complete this task within approximately 30 seconds, the system will activate a siren, horn and lights to notify the driver and or operator to complete the correct deactivation process.

This simple process creates another level of safety for the operator where all drivers are mandated to perform the post shift process. The operator can then introduce this into a recorded safety system and verify that the Child Check-Mate system was activated and deactivated in accordance with company operational orders.

With incidents still occurring, most recently in Victoria and South Australia and only a few years after a tragic death in Queensland, Hall says the United Safety system couldn’t be more appropriate for Australian operators.

“For a huge return on an inexpensive investment, Child Check-Mate is the leader in the industry,” Hall says.

“It’s not a complicated process, the driver has an extra 60 seconds of work at the end of a shift, so if there’s a bus operator that can’t afford this peace of mind, I’d be fairly surprised.

“The system provides a reminder that United Safety products save lives and assets. The Child Check-Mate system allows the drivers to save lives and protect our most valuable asset in our children.”

Since WA first mandated Child Check-Mate in its school bus fleet, Hall says there have been no serious incidents of children being left behind on buses in WA.

It’s this success rate that has grown the product’s popularity, first in WA and then further around Australia.

“The sales have always been steady in WA, but they’re now growing after the most recent incidents in Victoria and South Australia,” Hall says.

“It’s popular because it’s a very inexpensive insurance policy – you need it to ensure no child is left behind to give operators and parents peace of mind that the bus company has the best interests of the customers in mind.

“It allows operators to show the surrounding community that they are doing the right thing to protect all passengers.”

Hall says although Child Check-Mate isn’t a unique product idea in Australia, it has

clear advantages over its competitors.

He says other products are able to be circumvented by inappropriate measures or shortcuts, while Child Check-Mate is failsafe as it forces the driver to physically get up and walk to the back of the bus to press a button that deactivates the system. This process cannot be manipulated.

Along with the alarm, lights and siren that activate if the system is not disengaged, there is also an audible notification to the driver that the system has been activated upon turning the ignition off.

The driver is prompted to undertake the task and if they fail to complete this vital step, Child Check-Mate will communicate this failure and force someone to return to the bus to investigate and complete the process.

“It’s not an inconvenience or a complicated process, in fact it’s very basic in its operation but very effective in its simplicity,” Hall says.

“For the sake of saving one child’s life, $650 is a great return on investment.”

United Safety hope that Transport for NSW school bus operators will take up

this option sooner rather than later when a replacement comes around.

If this does happen, Hall says NSW operators could join the likes of Australian child care operator Busy Bees and Queensland school bus operator John Townsend who have been proactive in championing the product and keeping their valuable passengers safe.

In the meantime, United Safety also has other school bus operators in regional NSW and Victoria who have adopted the system and are currently getting them installed. Hall wants to see the vitally important system become a compulsory part of all school buses in Australia to stop kids from facing the dangers of being left onboard a bus.

“It’s not a massive ticket item, but I hope we sell thousands so that every school and childcare operator in Australia has it on their buses,” Hall says.

“The last thing as a parent that would cross your mind is sending your child off on a bus and not having them return – no parent should expect that. Child Check-Mate can prevent these tragedies from occurring.”

Child CheckMake can prevent children from being left on buses

It’s popular because it’s a very inexpensive insurance policy – you need it to ensure no child is left behind to give operators and parents peace of mind that the bus company has the best interests of the customers in mind.

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A Lasting Impact

Following last month’s QBIC Conference in Cairns, incoming QBIC executive director Jason O’Dwyer pays tribute to David Tape

Executive director of QBIC David Tape is retiring after 16 years spent serving the bus industry in both Queensland and Australia. David has had an enormous impact on the industry, enabling it to come together to ensure a safe, reliable and costeffective service for all.

David’s career has not been solely in the passenger and logistics industry. David’s leadership, communication and advocacy skills have been years in the making. His skills were first honed as a Warrant Officer in the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF). Warrant officers are renowned for leading, coaching, training and counselling their team to ensure the job gets done. From what I’ve seen in my short time at QBIC, he achieves this with a great level of humility, knowledge and understanding. He has enjoyed a varied career including industries as diverse as health, security, rehabilitation and account management, all in leadership positions.

David has witnessed the industry evolve and has guided it over the past 16 years

through some tumultuous times. Significant events and changes include the COVID-19 response, improvements in contract terms and conditions for operators, safety for drivers such as barriers and safety for passengers and children, including a major contribution in the passenger code of conduct.

Simultaneously David has been instrumental to the growth of QBIC, with an engaged membership, a committed management and committee structure, a supportive supplier network, two staff and a product offering that reflects members’ needs.

Over the past month that I have worked with David, his passion is obvious, not only for the industry and members but through his commitment to QBIC. He has made QBIC the conduit for all sectors of the industry to ensure their messages and challenges are addressed by government. It’s obvious he has worked tirelessly during his tenure.

I have had the privilege to witness two events at the QBIC Conference that encapsulate David’s commitment and standing. The first was the heart-felt thanks and acknowledgement of David by the Minster for Transport and Main Roads, Mark Bailey. Minister Bailey’s words were a testament to David’s standing within government and the department. The second event was the bestowing of the association’s highest award, honorary life membership, to David. I have had the privilege of working for a number of industry associations over my career and can attest that these awards are rare. Honorary life membership is a reflection of the esteem QBIC has for David. It was truly marvellous to see the emotion on David’s face as he received this unexpected and well-deserved award.

On behalf of QBIC, I personally would like to wish David all the best and thank him for his hard work and sound counsel in passing on the mantle of executive director to me – it’s wonderful to receive a handover from him. I have some very big shoes to fill but I am looking forward to continuing David’s legacy and ensuring that QBIC continues to grow and support members well into the future.

So I am sure you will join me in saying to David: your hard work and dedication have made a significant impact on QBIC and the industry. We are grateful for all that you have done and we wish you continued success and happiness in everything you do.

Below: David Tape (middle) receives his honorary QBIC life membership

“Over the past month that I have worked with David, his passion is obvious, not only for the industry and members but through his commitment to QBIC.”

Get On Board

The Tasmanian Bus Association (TasBus) has prepared an enticing schedule for its annual conference in Hobart in June.

The Tasmanian Bus Association (TasBus) is delighted to announce that it will be holding its 2023 Annual Conference, titled ‘Get On Board’, in Hobart on June 2 and 3.

The conference will be a must-attend for anyone involved in the bus industry, as it promises to provide attendees with practical advice and insights on the latest government initiatives, addressing the issues facing the industry and providing information about the ever-transforming sector.

TasBus says the conference will provide an excellent opportunity for attendees to hear from government officials, industry leaders and experts who will share their insights and knowledge on the latest developments within the Tasmanian public and visitor economy transport industry. As the bus industry is constantly evolving, it is essential to stay upto-date with the latest trends and policies affecting the sector. The conference will provide a platform for attendees to learn about the latest government initiatives and policies affecting the bus industry, both in Tasmania and all around Australia.

attendees with the opportunity to network with delegates and sponsors. The wine tour to Frogmore Creek and Conference Dinner will provide an excellent opportunity to connect with delegates and sponsors and extract the full benefit of the conference.

The bus industry is an essential component of the Tasmanian transportation system and it faces unique challenges that require practical solutions. The TasBus 2023 Annual Conference will address these challenges head-on by providing attendees with practical advice on how to navigate the ever-evolving industry. The conference will also provide a platform for attendees to discuss the issues facing the industry and find solutions that will benefit everyone involved.

TasBus is committed to promoting the bus industry’s interests and this conference is just one example of its efforts to achieve this goal. The conference will provide attendees with a unique opportunity to connect with industry leaders and experts, gain valuable insights into the latest government initiatives and policies affecting the bus industry and learn practical solutions for the issues facing the sector.

Starting on Friday June 2 with informal drinks and early registration, the networking will then transition to the main conference day on Saturday June 3.

Starting with registrations from 7.30AM, Tasmanian deputy premier and minister for transport Michael Ferguson will present, to be followed by Tourism Tasmania CEO Sarah Clark, shadow Tasmanian transport minister Josh Willie and BIC executive director Roz Chivers.

In the second session, Josh Clutterbuck from Steadfast Statewide Insurance Brokers will present on keeping the bus industry covered, while Searson Buck CEO Nick Prokopiec will discuss ways to recruit and retain skilled workers.

Following presentations from the Tasmanian Department of State Growth – Transport Division and Worksafe Tasmania, APTIA national IR manager Ian MacDonald will give the lowdown on the industrial relations world before Metro Tasmania CEO Katie Cooper, outgoing QBIC executive director David Tape and Kimbra Wells of Wells Waggons participate in a panel on antisocial behaviour. After RACT’s Gary Bailey wraps up formal proceedings, the networking session and annual dinner will conclude an exciting two-day event for the Tasmanian bus and coach industry.

“TasBus is committed to promoting the bus industry’s interests and this conference is just one example of its efforts to achieve this goal.”

GOING THE DISTANCE

The past year has been filled with many discussions about the potential of zero-emissions buses to travel long distances.

In order to collect real data to review and share with others, Bus Stop Sales embarked on its own journey to trial its high-floor EVolution coach between capital cities.

“We’re very excited to offer the broadest range of fully electric buses in Australia and are always looking for ways to test and trial our products and technology,” Bus Stop CEO and director Pete White told ABC.

“As we have made the commercial decision to invest in electric buses instead of hydrogen, we wanted to experience the challenges our operator partners would face with our current zero-emissions bus options.”

The project helped Bus Stop tackle the leading challenge facing Australia’s electric bus fleet for manufacturers in designing

buses that can travel long distances where charging infrastructure might not be readily accessible.

The adventure started treacherously when a recent charger failure forced Bus Stop to engage a tow truck between Brisbane and Mackay and plot a new trial route from Brisbane to Melbourne.

On its journey, Bus Stop’s team stopped eight times to charge the new high-floor EVolution electric coach.

As the first fully electric school bus sold in Australia based on the famous King Long 57-seat product, the Bus Stop EVolution high-floor coach is higher than the five-metre standard trailer and load height placed on truck trailers.

With this in mind, White’s team realised it needed to offer more than just a leading electric coach option.

“We learnt that we need to become true partners with operators to provide opportunities and a network of items

including depot design, charging options, range suitability and full aftersales support,” White says.

“The bus specification and supply can be relatively straightforward in some states, but we will continue to invest energy and effort into supporting the product end-to-end.”

Before undertaking the journey, White understood that this trial would be the first of its distance to be attempted by a heavy electric vehicle. Fortunately, Bus Stop is no stranger to pushing the boundaries – White says the supplier was the first to design and sell an electric high-floor school bus and coach.

Only publicly available charging infrastructure was deemed to be used across Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria.

With a well-planned itinerary and a companion support diesel bus, the King Long EVolution high-floor coach took off

IMAGES BUS STOP SALES

Bus Stop Sales is already a leader in battery electric bus solutions in Australia, but it took its knowledge to the next level on a recent trip in its high-floor EVolution coach.

more suitable for such a voyage.

The total trip involved White’s team travelling 1879 kilometres in the coach, with the model consuming just under 1kw of power per kilometre.

“We found that unlike diesel models, which are topped up in fuel when required, it wasn’t possible to charge electric buses in the same way,” White says.

“Traditionally, you fill up a diesel bus when it’s running low on petrol. However, as there are limited charging stations and even less convenient bus access, it’s safer to charge electric buses wherever you can.”

Bus Stop also found that the quality of the charger is essential to an efficient journey over such a long distance. White says some chargers on the route were only 50kw, whereas others along the way could charge at a higher capacity, shortening the wait time to set.

Bus Stop chose the online

bus,” White says.

“Electric buses typically require higher voltage and current levels than light vehicles, so the infrastructure must be designed to accommodate these requirements.”

Although the journey was successful for the EVolution high-floor model, White says the lack of accessibility was a glaring challenge. He says more than 80 per cent of the charging stations would not allow a bus of 12.5 meters to manoeuvre adequately in tight spaces designed for motor cars.

On the trip, most charging stations were found to be placed in existing car parks, making them unsuitable for buses or heavy vehicles to use.

“It quickly became evident that parking spaces need to be wider to accommodate the bus as the drivers had difficulties connecting the charging cable on nearly every occasion and experienced frustrating small light vehicle

many areas still need reliable charging infrastructure to prevent buses from running out of charge and being stranded at public charging stations that don’t work for heavy vehicles.

White says operators may need contingency plans to ensure they can continue their journey if a charging station is not working or is unavailable.

With public chargers varying in fees, Bus Stop has made its Tritium super charging station available to all bus operators free of charge should they need to charge at the Rocklea Head Office site for the remainder of 2023.

“What is certain is that battery electric products like the EVolution models are ideal for many consistent short-to-medium bus routes such as school bus and urban routes,” White says.

“We’re looking forward to applying our learnings from the trip on our growing electric bus product range.”

Above: The King Long EVolution highfloor model was put through its paces from Brisbane to Melbourne

RARE AIR

After steadily building up business in the spare parts sector, National Parts and Products is taking on a new venture with the release of Eberspacher’s latest electric AC units in Australasia.

Since establishing itself in May 2015, National Parts and Products (NPP) has become a valuable part of the Victorian and broader Australian bus and coach spare parts market. Operating out of Geelong, Victoria, NPP has spent the past eight years representing German vehicle manufacturer Eberspacher as a replacement parts supplier and approved service agent in Australia.

Solid growth is set to pay off for NPP, who is now expanding its partnership with Eberspacher to grow its product offerings in Australasia.

This means NPP will now sell Eberspacher air-conditioning units, including a special electric model, to the Australian bus and coach market.

“We’ve represented Eberspacher since day one of starting our business,” NPP director and general manager Bob Chapman told ABC.

“We first focused on spare parts sales, which is our principal background and the main part of our business.

“We’ve now decided to expand with Eberspacher and delve further into the movement of finished goods.”

It’s a major move for NPP as Chapman looks to solidify its reputation as the leading Eberspacher supplier in the Australasian region.

It’s doing so by signing a new deal with the German manufacturer to bring a broader range of Eberspacher products into the Australasian bus and coach industry. The agreement means NPP will now sell Eberspacher air-conditioning units and HVAC systems in both conventional and electric models to the local market.

While NPP will still be at its heart a spare parts specialist, it’ll now branch out.

Chapman says the prime product coming from NPP will be the Eberspacher AC136 G4 all-electric AC unit for larger buses, which provides 25 to 35kW of zero-emissions power.

“This move is us dipping our toe in the water and trying to expand with what Eberspacher wants to release in Australia,” Chapman says.

“The bus and coach industry in Australasia is very pro-electric currently, so the AC136 electric model is what we’ll try and use to maximise our business.”

Two other models will be included in the expansion, with

the AC136 to be joined by the AC125-135 conventional unit for smaller buses, providing up to 25 to 30kW of power, and the AC353 G5 conventional unit for larger buses that can provide between 30 and 50kW of both heating and cooling.

Although it’s a big step for Eberspacher and NPP in Australia, these products aren’t a sudden surprise to the region. In recent years, NPP has helped supply Eberspacher diesel heaters to the

Above: NPP is moving into supplying Eberspacher electric air-conditioning units

Below: Chapman is expanding NPP to providing more than just spare parts

We’re looking forward to getting these new products onto Australian buses. I hope people who currently have Eberspacher models on their fleets stand by it and try this new electric AC.

local market, while hundreds of existing Eberspacher units, such as the 320/353 G4 and AC515 units, are already fitted on BCI and Optaire buses in Australia.

If Chapman wants reassurance that this move is the right one, he only needs to look as far as diesel heaters. In recent years, the introduction of Eberspacher diesel heaters has provided solid business for NPP alongside its spare parts expertise.

This move is a logical progression for NPP to give local bodybuilders access to Eberspacher’s reliable and reputable products.

“We’ve spoken about this move off and on since 2015, but we just weren’t ready in those early days to begin selling the finished product,” Chapman says.

“The announcement of Peter Lim as Eberspacher’s new south-east Asian regional director means we’ve been more proactive in getting these products moving in the area.

“We’re now trying to get these Eberspacher products registered and approved in New South Wales before we do this in other states and territories.”

Chapman says he’s excited to have new products to sell and the potential it has to boost the business in Australia.

Chapman says NPP will now become another member of the Australian AC market and he’s confident that Eberspacher’s reputation globally will help boost the number of NPP systems onboard Australian buses.

“There’s a lot of buses coming into Australia already fitted with both Chinese and European models, so we’ll try our best to persuade people to opt for Eberspacher systems instead,” he says.

“The AC136 electric model is our major offering that we’ll promote for government route buses. This model can help reduce operators’ carbon footprints so we’ll ensure people get the chance to try Eberspacher’s trusted German technology.”

A major part of NPP’s recent growth is the reputable nature of Eberspacher in Australia. With the German technology well accepted and working smoothly down under, its new electric foray in Australasia has the potential to get off to a fast start.

Chapman’s year is now laid out at the helm of NPP. This year will be dedicated to the project of boosting the AC136 electric AC model in Australasia and preparing for a potential expansion of other products in 2024 and beyond.

If this happens, Chapman is already prepared to grow his team, looking at hiring someone to manage the existing spare parts business if the AC side begins to excel.

Whatever happens in the coming years, Chapman knows this decision to take a leap of faith is something he won’t regret.

“It’s such an exciting move for NPP and it’s wonderful to step out of our comfort zone in the spare parts side of the business and go into something new,” Chapman says.

“We’re looking forward to getting these new products onto Australian buses. I hope people who currently have Eberspacher models on their fleets stand by it and try this new electric AC.

“It’s all hinged on us handling this growth and its processes well. I’m excited to start off with this expansion and continue moving forward.”

PERFECT PARTNERS

In the intensely competitive world of manufacturing, innovation is essential. As the provider of lower carbon extruded aluminium, Capral is partnering with the likes of Australian bus body manufacturer Volgren to enhance sustainability in the bus industry.

Since first starting in the 1940s in Dandenong, Victoria, Volgren has been intent on sustainability. When local milk carrier George Grenda moved into bus body building, Volgren thrived and grew before it officially began trading in the 1970s. Its success has been built around innovative options, flexibility and its willingness to satisfy complex customer needs.

By making the choice to use aluminium on its bus designs, Volgren forged a novel path in manufacturing. Despite its success over the years, Volgren is still one of only two Australian companies manufacturing bus bodies from

aluminium, rather than steel, despite aluminium products such as Capral’s offering clear advantages.

“Most buses are still built from fully welded steel,” Volgren national purchasing manager Andrew Costello told ABC. “Aluminium is much lighter, resistant to corrosion and recyclable.

“Moreover, the lighter a bus is, the more people you can fit in the bus.”

Capral has been Volgren’s principal aluminium supplier for at least 15 years. Costello says Capral continues to meet Volgren’s ethos of quality, local input and innovation.

He says Volgren’s commitment to using the Co-Bolt process with Capral’s aluminium has been critical to the local company’s production.

By using bolted gusseted joints, Volgren uses Capral’s aluminium products to avoid the risk of continuous bus vibrations fracturing welds.

“Our system requires no welding

and results in a much longer joint life,” Costello says.

“Our joints are lock-tightened with very little chance of anything loosening over time. For operators it means far superior reliability than a traditional steel bus and is one of the main reasons why we can offer a 15-year warranty on our buses’ aluminium structures.”

This partnership has been a long time in the making. Back in 1979, Volgren built its first bus with the promise of creating a more reliable, comfortable and longer-lasting vehicle with lower operating costs than others available.

In 1977, Swedish vehicle manufacturer Volvo partnered with Grenda to create Volgren and introduced extruded aluminium, rather than steel, for bus body construction and the Swiss Co-Bolt

IMAGES CAPRAL

Since Volgren first became a major Australian bus body builder in the 1970s, it has sought innovative manufacturing methods. Its blossoming partnership with Capral has allowed it to provide a wide range of sustainable body options to the local market.

and assembles public transport buses of all types across multiple technologies, including zero-emission vehicles. Thanks to its 300-strong manufacturing, operations and aftersales support teams across NSW, Victoria, Queensland and Western Australia, its bus bodies are 90 per cent locally produced and offer the lowest lifetime cost of any bus in Australia.

After being fully acquired by global bus body manufacturer Marco Polo SA in 2017, Volgren has delivered dozens of hybrid and electric buses to Australian operators and is now fast-tracking delivery of Australia’s first European hydrogen fuel-cell

Costello says quality is paramount in Volgren’s business. The bodybuilder operates rigorous quality systems and builds quality into its products through its suppliers, logistics and production, including Capral’s suite of extruded aluminium products.

“We build buses and want our supplies priced at construction-type costs, but we also want an architectural look and finish to our products,” Costello says.

“Capral has always achieved both for us.”

The supply partnership

advance means Volgren’s teams can focus on faster assembly and minimising customer costs.

Costello says Capral’s size and capability are also crucial to Volgren in growing both businesses.

“Our whole roof structure is a sheet with aluminium extrusion bows across the roof and main cant rails extending the entire bus length,” he says.

“Capral is one of the few players in Australia with presses large enough to extrude our parts.”

Costello says bus body manufacturers must tailor bodies to the requirements of individual bus chassis and operators. This

“When Australia used to build cars, Ford would build a Falcon and a Territory here and that would be it,” he says.

“Instead, we build the equivalent of a Territory, a Commodore, a Ferrari, an electric BYD and a Tesla all on the same production line.”

The Volgren team are currently exploring Capral’s LocAl™ Lower carbon aluminium offer to further reduce the environmental impact of their builds by lowering the embodied carbon in the Aluminium products they use.

Capral says it is proud to have helped grow alongside Volgren and forge a supply partnership that has improved the quality of sustainable buses in Australia.

“It’s great to be part of the biggest bus manufacturer in Australia in Volgren,” Capral’s Brad Ryan told ABC.

“We’ll continue working alongside them to help lead the way in zero-emissions transport in Australia.”

Above: Capral is able to extrude aluminium for Volgren’s parts Right: Volgren’s bus bodies are built from Capral’s extruded aluminium Opposite, Top: Volgren and Capral’s partnership is continuing to grow

MAGNIFICENT MARBLES

It was a case of another month and another set of wonderful photos as entries once again flooded in for the May ABC Best Bus competition.

It was yet again difficult to choose a winner, with two honourable mentions listed as part of our finalists. ABC has loved receiving all of these photos and look forward to receiving more photos from all of you each and every month!

The winner of the monthly competition will have their photo shown off on the ABC Facebook cover photo slot for the entire month, while the entrant with the most beautiful bus photo will also receive a free 12-month subscription to ABC magazine.

When it comes to honourable mentions, Daniel Clarke was yet again

worthy with a beautiful reflective photo of his Clarke’s bus right up against the water. It came very close to winning and we deem it worthy to mention Daniel for his great photography work – we’re sure a win isn’t far away!

Our other honourable mention goes to Mary Irwin for her wonderful shot of a Mount Gambier Bus Lines vehicle travelling through the region –we loved the perspective!

Our finalists all impressed us. Anthony Tam’s crowded street shot was eye-catching, while Dysons continues to impress with another great photo of a Dysons line-up. Lastly, Rick Irwin’s ANZAC Day bus was timely and involved a striking exterior. Well done to all!

Yet our winner certainly deserved

it with an array of wonderful photos. Alongside some striking shots of buses under Sydney Harbour Bridge and near the Devils Marbles, Marcus Oaten has taken out the third instalment of Best Bus with this shot of his Scania K490EB Coach Design vehicle alongside the Devils Marbles in Central Australia.

The photo was excellent quality and made the bus look fantastic, while other shots of the vehicle alongside the Marbles showed just how great the environment was for a bus photo!

Flip over the page to see many of our finalists and entrants’ photos from what was an amazing month, and don’t forget to send through your Best Bus photos for the months ahead via email and keep an eye on our Facebook page for more details!

Top, Left to Right: A charter bus from Anthony Tam and y Irwin’s Mount Gambier Bus Lines beauty

Middle row, Left to Right: More Devils Marbles shots from Marcus en, his Sydney Harbour Bridge bus photo and Daniel Clarke’s superb river reflection

services and organised tours. e tour business is a proven well recognised brand and highly successful and the school charters with a large client base. Situated on 25 acres with approval for subdivision into three lots, and with a fully set up bus depot and executive style home. A complete package!

RIVERINA NSW SCHOOL BUS & COACH - Diverse income with TfNSW school bus contract with 4 x bus runs/services, 3 x private school bus runs, general charter work and organised tours running a eet of 10 buses & coaches. A pro table model that can sustain a family or suitable for an investor. 20+ years trading history with strong brand recognition and regular clientele. Sold with a depot situated on 3,880sqm industrial land.

SCENIC HORIZON TOURS, CENTRAL COAST N.S.W - Est in 1999, Coach tour operator providing a range of day tours and extended tours for the senior market in the Central Coast region (Woy Woy, Gosford). Travel club membership, approx. 1,500 members. Strong relationships in place with many Probus Clubs and Senior Groups. 1 x Immaculate Luxury 5 star, Mercedes Benz Touring Coach included in the sale. Current owners retiring.

ALPINE SPIRIT COACHES & SNOWBALL EXPRESS - Est in 1970 - Myrtleford based Coach Company providing private charters, 4WD transfers, senior tours, educational tours (Canberra and Central Australia) and snow bookings, SNOWBALL EXPRESS is contracted and o ers a direct route bus service to Mt Hotham and Dinner Plain. It is seasonal from June to September. Sale including 7 x coaches & buses. Business would suit a larger Melbourne or Victorian based operator as an acquisition.

SYDNEY REGION, NSW - BUS/COACH, TOURISM OPERATOR - Est over 30 years, providing day tours and extended tours for the senior market, both domestic and internationally. High brand awareness and well respected in the industry. Strong Relationships with some 120 + Probus Clubs, additional 100 senior groups and a staggering 6000 loyal repeat customers. 9 x buses & coaches included in the sale, Projections for FY2023 T/O over $6m & HIGH PROFIT. Quality commercial property/depot also for sale or the option of a long lease to secure your investment. OFFERS INVITED.

Cummins ISB300hp, Automatic inc a retarder, 57 fixed coach seats inc lap sash seat belts, A/C, underfloor bins travelled approx. travelled approx. 85,000klms

$87,500+GST

ZF AsTronic trans,13.5m Irizar

I6 body,52 leather reclining seats,DVD,toilet,A/C,large undefloor bins,travelled approx. 320,000klms

$205,000+GST

BENZ 1836RF

6sp manual, Coach Design 11m body, 34 lap sash seat belted recliners, toilet, underfloor bins, rear bulkhead, DVD, tachograph, clean coach

$70,000+GST

2016 ISUZU FSS600 4X4

6sp manual, Quality Bus & Coach body, 28 lap sash seat belted seats, Thermo King A/C, UHF, Bull bar, travelled approx. 129,000klms $160,000+GST

bins, DVD, travelled approx. 235,000klms

REDUCED TO $160,000+GST

Opticruise transmission including a retarder, Irizar 13.5m “Century” bodies, 54 lap sash seat belted seats, 48 when 2 wheelchairs fitted, rear toilet, A/C, plus more, travelled approx.1,5001,650,000klms, engines and transmissions have been rebuilt approx. 4-500,000klms

REDUCED TO $110,000 +GST each

Automatic, 15 passenger + driver, wheelchair lift, Electric step, Carrier A/C, Radio CD, travelled only 29, 000klms

AS NEW $79, 000+GST

CUMMINS ISM410HP

Allison auto inc retarder, 58 lap sash seat belted leather recliners, rear toilet, Tracs A/C, large underfloor bins, very clean, complete service history Wheelchair lift equipped Reduced to $95,000 +GST

Automatic, 35 lap sash seat belted seats, A/C, underfloor bins, bull bar, travelled approx. 335, 000klms $85,000+GST

2013 HYUNDAI

2018

Automatic, Cummins ISB300hp, 10,.0m, 41 lap sash seat belted seats, DVD, A/C, large underfloor bins, many extras, travelled approx. 116,000klms

$165,000+GST

Automatic, 39 lap sash seat

belted seats, A/C, underfloor bins, bull bar, DVD, travelled approx.120,000klms

$85,000+GST

2011 BCI “EXPLORER”

2 X 2012 HIGER “T SERIES”

4 X 2012 SCANIA K440EB

2016 BCI “PROMA DELUXE”

2016 MERCEDES BENZ SPRINTER “MOBILITY”

2005 MERCEDES

BLK “PRESIDENT 10”

2014 IVECO EURORIDER

Be sure not to miss out on an opportunity to attend these fantastic in-person events

JUNE

QBIC

June 16

Regional Member Forum Gympie/ Maryborough

TasBus

June 2-3

Annual Conference and Dinner

UITP Global Public Transport Summit

June 15-17 (Barcelona)

JULY

BusWA

July 13-14 Conference in Perth

April deliveries soar again

AfterarecordMarcheffort,thebusandcoachindustryhascontinued todeliverwithanotherthree-figuremonthinApril

It was always going to be difficult to back up after March’s record deliveries, but April has done a great job at replicating the historic feat.

After 156 deliveries were recorded in March, April has maintained the pace with 100 units delivered for the shorter month.

In the chassis market, the usual suspect remained on top, just. Following an incredible 67 deliveries in March, Volvo dropped back down to 24 to still lead the way narrowly ahead of Yutong with 22. Scania dropped slightly to still impress with 13 deliveries, while Denning and BCI couldn’t be split on 10 apiece. Just behind was BYD with the nine deliveries, while Mercedes-Benz fell back from a superb March to five deliveries in April. MAN (three) and King Long (three) both continued to register, with BLK ticking along with the single unit delivered.

When it came to bodies, Volgren stayed ahead with another leading month. Its 30 deliveries was followed by the ever-impressive Yutong with 22, while Custom Denning jumped up to third with 11 deliveries. Just behind was BCI (10) while Irizar was next best with the six units. In an even finish, Scania Higer led a deep pack with four deliveries, while Express Coaches, King Long and BusTech Group (three each) stayed ahead of the final eight deliveries, which were shared between six companies.

McConnell once again inserted itself as the leading seat suppler in Australia for buses and coaches with another stellar month of 47 deliveries. It stayed well ahead of the pack, more than double in front of StyleRide with 19

deliveries. Sege continued to follow behind closely with 16, while Yutong remained consistent with 12 units. King Long registered three units, with the final three deliveries going to Marcopolo (two) and Fainsa (one) in a concentrated market.

The air-conditioning market also allowed its dominant hand to prevail, with Thermo King staying on top with 29 deliveries in April. Cling-Yutong (22) wasn’t far away in second place, doubling the third placed Valeo who had 11 units for the month. With MCC (10) close behind and Denso (nine) also trailing narrowly, Hispacold (six) kept consistent, ahead of Coachair (four), Konvekta (four), King Long (three) and Spheros (two).

When it came to the state breakdown, Victoria reclaimed its throne in April with 29 buses delivered. It beat out Queensland, who fell not far behind with 27 units, and NSW with the 21 deliveries. Western Australia continued to increase against its eastern state counterparts with 19 deliveries, while the ACT (three) and Tasmania (one) also registered deliveries to remain consistent.

Turn overleaf for comprehensive bus and coach delivery information for April. Please note all data is as supplied from manufacturers, at their discretion.

The air-conditioning market also allowed its dominant hand to prevail, with Thermo King staying on top

Volgren continued to lead the body building market in April’s deliveries

Seat delivery units

SALES BY BODY

McConnellonceagaininserteditselfasthe leadingseatsupplerinAustraliaforbuses andcoacheswithanotherstellarmonth of47deliveries.Itstayedwellaheadofthe pack,morethandoubleinfrontofStyleRide with19deliveries.Segecontinuedto followbehindcloselywith16,whileYutong remainedconsistentwith12units.King Longregisteredthreeunits,withthefinal threedeliveriesgoingtoMarcopolo(two) andFainsa(one)inaconcentratedmarket.

When it came to bodies, Volgren stayed ahead with another leading month. Its 30 deliveries was followed by the ever-impressive Yutong with 22, while Custom Denning jumped up to third with 11 deliveries. Just behind was BCI (10) while Irizar was next best with the six units. In an even finish, Scania Higer led a deep pack with four deliveries, while Express Coaches, King Long and BusTech Group (three each) stayed ahead of the final eight deliveries, which were shared between six companies.

SALES BY AIR-CONDITIONER

The air-conditioning market also allowed its dominant hand to prevail, with Thermo King staying on top with 29 deliveries in April. Cling-Yutong (22) wasn’t far away in second place, doubling the third placed Valeo who had 11 units for the month. With MCC (10) close behind and Denso (nine) also trailing narrowly, Hispacold (six) kept consistent, ahead of Coachair (four), Konvekta (four), King Long (three) and Spheros (two).

Sales by chassis

In the chassis market, the usual suspect remained on top, just. Following an incredible 67 deliveries in March, Volvo dropped back down to 24 to still lead the way narrowly ahead of Yutong with 22. Scania dropped slightly to still impress with 13 deliveries, while Denning and BCI couldn’t be split on 10 apiece. Just behind was BYD with the nine deliveries, while Mercedes-Benz fell back from a superb March to five deliveries in April. MAN (three) and King Long (three) both continued to register, with BLK ticking along with the single unit delivered.

LonestarCoachesQLD1K310IB4X2ExpressCoaches310REuro5OpticruiseScania2

McHarrysBusLinesVIC1K310IB4X2Volgren310REuro5

MorelandBusLinesVIC1K360IB4X2Higer360REuro6

MorelandBusLinesVIC1K360IB4X2Higer360REuro6

RockleighToursVIC1K320CB4x2NBCoachConcepts320REuro6OpticruiseScania212.5Thermo

TransportCanberraOperationsACT1K320UB4X2Bustech320REuro6

TransportCanberraOperationsACT1K320UB4X2Bustech320REuro6

TransportCanberraOperationsACT1K320UB4X2Bustech320REuro6 WarragulBusLinesVIC1K320UB4X2ExpressCoaches320REuro6OpticruiseScania212.5Coachair––44––X––StyleRideN

VOLVO BilpinCoachesNSW1VolvoB11RIrizar460REuro6ASVolvo313.5Hispacold–

SidFoggNSW1VolvoB11RIrizar460REuro6ASVolvo313.5Hispacold–

PublicTransportAuthorityWAWA6VolvoB8RLEVolgren320REuro6

PublicTransportAuthorityWAWA1VolvoB8RLEAVolgren320REuro6

ForestCoachLinesNSW1VolvoB8RVolgren320REuro6

HornibrookBusLinesQLD3VolvoBZLVolgrenN/AN/AZero

TransdevQLDQLD4VolvoBZLVolgrenN/AN/AZero

MountjoyPublicTransportVIC1VolvoB8RSupportrans330REuro5

MooneeValleyBusLinesVIC1VolvoB8RLEVolgren330REuro5

VenturaBuslinesVIC2VolvoB8RMarcopolo330REuro5

BlueBusToursQLD1VolvoB11RIrizar460REuro6ASVolvo310-12.9Hispacold–

DTMRQLD2VolvoBZLVolgrenN/AN/AZero

YUTONG

N/ANSW1D12Yutong360REuro5

N/ANSW1D7Yutong190FEuro6

N/ANSW4E12Yutong422kwhN/AZero

N/AQLD2D12Yutong360REuro5

N/AQLD3D7Yutong190FEuro6

N/AQLD1D9Yutong250REuro5

N/AQLD6E12Yutong422kwhN/AZero

N/AVIC2D7Yutong190FEuro6

N/AWA1D12Yutong360REuro5

N/AWA1D7Yutong190FEuro6

AZFEcolife212.3Hispacold57–––––X–SegeYN AZF212.5ThermoKing57–––––X–McConnellYN AZF212.5ThermoKing57––––X––McConnellYN AZF212.3Hispacold57–––––X–SegeYN AZF212.3Konvekta58–––––X–McConnellYN AZF212.3Konvekta58–––––X–McConnellYN 5OpticruiseScania212.3ThermoKing57–––––X–McConnellYN 5OpticruiseScania212.3ThermoKing57–––––X–McConnellYN AZF212.3ThermoKing57–––––X–McConnellYN AZF212.3Konvekta57–––––X–McConnellYN AZF212.3Konvekta57–––––X–McConnellYN 6OpticruiseScania212.5ThermoKing57–––––X–McConnellYY AZF212.5ThermoKing––43––X––StyleRideNN AZF212.5ThermoKing––43––X––StyleRideNN AZF212.5ThermoKing––43––X––StyleRideNN 6OpticruiseScania212.5Coachair––44––X––StyleRideNN 6ASVolvo313.5Hispacold–57–X––––SegeYY 6ASVolvo313.5Hispacold–57–X––––SegeYY

AutoZF210-12.9ThermoKing––41––X––McConnellNY

AutoZF210-12.9ThermoKing––57––X––McConnellNY

AutoVolvo210-12.9Coachair55–––––X–McConnellYN

ASVolvo210-12.9Denso44––––X––McConnellNY

ASVolvo210-12.9Denso44––––X––StyleRideNY

AutoZF210-12.9Coachair57–––X–––McConnellYN

AutoZF210-12.9ThermoKing38––––X––McConnellYN

AutoZF210-12.9Spheros57–––X–––MarcopoloYN

6ASVolvo310-12.9Hispacold–32–X––––SegeYY

AutoVolvo210-12.9Denso––42––X––McConnellNY

AAllison212.4Cling-Yutong57–––X–––YutongYN

AAllison28Cling-Yutong27–––––X–YutongYN

N/AN/A212.5Cling-Yutong––44––X––StyleRideNY

AAllison212.4Cling-Yutong57–––X–––YutongYN

AAllison28Cling-Yutong27–––––X–YutongYN

AAllison210Cling-Yutong–39––X–––YutongYN

N/AN/A212.5Cling-Yutong––44––X––StyleRideNY

AAllison28Cling-Yutong27–––––X–YutongYN

AAllison212.4Cling-Yutong57–––X–––YutongYN

AAllison28Cling-Yutong27–––––X–YutongYN

Unchartered territory

It takes a brave person to start a business during the middle of the COVID pandemic. While many companies struggled and tragically had to shut their doors, Adam Bryan was doing the opposite in Port Macquarie, New South Wales.

After having someone pay for him to get his medium rigid licence in 2017, Bryan decided to buy his very own minibus in December 2020 and officially start his own operator service.

“I used to rent minibuses through a local operator and drive around the local community rugby union team from 2019 onwards,” Bryan told ABC.

“One rugby club turned into two that I would transport to and from Port Macquarie and Coffs Harbour. Throw in a soccer club and the odd birthday run or buck's weekend and it became a steady source of business for me.

While news began to break of operators not surviving lockdowns, Bryan defied the odds, starting his brand new Custom Charter and Party Bus business in Port Macquarie.

“During COVID I decided to buy a 2002 Toyota Coaster for $6500 with upgraded StyleRide seats so I could make the business my own," he says.

It got off to a rocky start when Bryan arrived in Tamworth following a 300km journey over the Walcha Mountains to pick up the Coaster in January 2021.

Upon reaching the minibus, he found out that the sellers had put a forklift under the front to move it and unknowingly damaged the steering arms and the bottom of the radiator. Bryan took his refund and made the three-hour trip back home.

Within a week, he had found

another likely candidat in the form of a bigger Volvo.

“I went from paying $6500 for a 21-seat Coaster to instead paying $6000 for a 57-seat Volvo that I got one week later," Bryan says.

When the trio went to take the Volvo back to Port Macquarie from Rutherford, Bryan’s mum affectionately coined the bus ‘Vinnie the Volvo’ and the love affair only grew when ‘Vinnie’ drove beautifully on the three-hour venture home.

The name has stuck since, with Bryan taking to the name ‘Vinnie’ and its Latin origins of ‘to conquer’.

“As a result, the name ‘Vinnie the Volvo’ has been applied to the

Above: Bryan started North Coast Charters during the COVID pandemic

Below: It didn't take long for Bryan to find customers in Port Macquarie

front and centre of the bus, under the windscreen,” he says.

Bryan then fitted it out to enter service and finalised his accreditation courses, paying extra to push through the exams during COVID lockdowns. By September last year, Bryan was welcoming his first paying passengers for a hens party.

In the six months since, Bryan has been kept busy doing wedding guest transfers, more hens' parties, general transfers, Christmas parties and even a three-day multiday charter.

It’s been a whirlwind for Bryan since he first decided to stop renting minibuses and instead purchase his own. Although he was initially hesitant about having the bus parked at a mate’s property throughout COVID lockdowns, he’s glad that he stuck with it and made the brave move.

He’s already looking at growing further. Bryan is dreaming of running a maximum of five buses around the Port Macquarie area, including a fleet of two minibuses, a low floor wheelchair-accessible bus and a coach to go alongside his current bus.

“I started advertising it as a party and customer charter bus and would take it out every now and then with the lights on, but now I don’t have to do any advertising,” Bryan says.

“I'm absolutely loving it. I’m going to keep a mix between the modern low floor wheelchair accessible buses and the vintage retro buses so that I have a nice mix of buses for all occasions.”

Many operators lay low during the COVID lockdowns. In Port Macquarie, Adam Bryan decided to do the opposite, buying his own bus and starting a local business that has taken off immediately.

“I’m going to keep a mix between the modern low floor wheelchair accessible buses and the vintage retro buses so that I have a nice mix of buses for all occasions.”

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