Growth
Nortruss has grown rapidly from its humble beginnings as a truss plant to the modern builders’ suppliers company with an air conditioned hardware showroom of today.
Over the years, we have modernised our plant, streamlined our processes, installed new equipment and built an impressive range of partnerships with national suppliers.
In October, 2005 ANZ Capital financed a management buy out of Nortruss, with former General Manager Brock Simon becoming a major shareholder and Managing Director. An independent Board was established of Brock Simon, John Flynn (who also chairs the Board of TIO) and Barry Porter (of Porters Hardware in Mackay).
ANZ Capital invests in companies looking at growth, acquisitions, and buy-outs and particularly looks for profitable businesses with good management teams. Nortruss was ANZ Capital’s first investment in the Northern Territory.
In December 2007, Nortruss purchased Gorrkbuy Industrial Supplies (GIS) in Gove, again financed by ANZ Capital. The acquisition combines the capabilities of Kimberley Truss in Broome, Nortruss in Darwin and Gorrkbuy to cover the Darwin residential market, a boom in construction in the Northern Australia, and remote housing in the Territory.
The purchases have led to major investments in plant and equipment in Broome and increased manufacturing capability in Darwin. We now have the combined buying power of three companies with 60 years’ experience between them of supplying Northern Australia: from Broome to the Queensland border.
It also means the companies remain in the hands of locals, making them more competitive while retaining the family company values of their founders.
In 2007, Nortruss won the sixth Territory Construction Association’s Supplier of the Year Award in the past nine years.