INDUSTRY ICON
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A proud history in supply chain logistics AN ECONOMIST BY TRADE, WITH DEEP ROOTS IN TRANSPORT, PHILIP NORMAN HAS HAD A HAND IN SHAPING OUR INDUSTRY. HIS LATEST WORK IN PROGRESS IS A CONTAINER HANDLING CONCEPT WHICH COULD STREAMLINE INTERMODAL OPERATIONS IN VICTORIA.
Philip Norman speaking at the VTA annual conference.
Philip Norman was born in Hawthorn,
“There has been a move away from
from the Port of Melbourne to the freight hub
Victoria, in 1949. His family firm was
owning an internal fleet towards using
at Truganina.
Norman Bros Stationers which was
large specialist firms,” Philip says. “Rail lost
“We need a pipe of internal diameter 5m,”
established in 1898; it was the Officeworks
market share. Coastal shipping collapsed.
he says. “We attach steel wheels to rails
equivalent of the time. His father, Howard
Competition law began to be enforced.
about the mid height of the pipeline walls.
Norman, died in 1959 leaving his mother,
Trucking boomed.”
We use the structure of the container as a
Jean, to manage the business which had
Philip had a small role in the 1991
chassis, supporting it by two cradles at each
400 employees. Philip went on to study
establishment and economic framework of
end – 20 kph is our speed. Pipes each way
mathematics and economics. During the
the National Road Transport Commission
to take full and empty containers. Many
holidays he would work for the business. His
now National Transport Commission which
containers can be stored in our slow-moving
first vacation job came along in 1963 when
allows Performance-Based Standards (PBS)
inventory.”
Norman Bros had its own delivery fleet. In
regulations to change to accommodate
Of the people in the transport industry, Philip
1977, he joined BHP Minerals and learnt
technical progress.
admires Peter Anderson, the CEO of the VTA.
something about railways and ships carrying
At this year’s Victorian Transport Association
“Peter Anderson is a true leader at all levels
iron ore.
(VTA) State Conference, held in March, Philip
and thinks strategically,” he says. “ It was
Back at Norman Bros in 1979, Philip learnt
spoke about moving international shipping containers slowly using patented technology
wonderful privilege to be invited to speak to
more about shipping as they exported stationery to a Bookshop in Honiara, the Solomon Islands. The firm switched from rail to road in supplying the Shepparton branch and by 1988 Philip learnt how to transport sewage in pipes. From 1990 to 1996, Philip was secretary of the Transport Task Force of the Business Council of Australia at a time of great reform. At around 1999 he was Manager Ports and Grain Handling in what is now named the Essential Services Commission in the Victorian public service.
Industry Icon Made possible by Smedley’s Engineers. Industry Icon is a series dedicated to honouring the unsung heroes of the commercial road transport industry.
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Trailer Magazine MAY 22
the excellent VTA annual conference.”
