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SUPPLIER INSIDER: Truflo Pumps

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Tell us about the business?

Truflo Pumps’ core product focus is the design and building of bespoke dewatering pumps, water transfer and ancillary equipment for the mining, construction, tunnelling and municipal industries. The company’s driving force is to produce equipment that is simply outstanding, the go-to-gear for industry professionals hence our catchphrase “When it matters …”

How long have you been doing business?

This family business has been in operation since 1990 but in the Year 2000 underwent a major change in direction from the original company. The company name was changed from Bathurst Irrigation to Truflo Pumping Systems Pty. Ltd. to better represent its rapidly evolving dynamics.

How many people work for the business?

Truflo Pumps employs approximately 70–80 full-time and permanent casual staff across its business with branches/warehouse in Qld and WA as well as a dedicated International Sales Consultant based at our Head Office.

Describe a typical day at ‘The office’.

There is never a dull moment at Truflo Pumps, it is a hive of activity right throughout the year. There are daily and weekly meetings with our management, sales team, engineers, and spare-parts in a highly organised team effort. The directors are an integral part of these planning / strategy meetings and, while it is extremely busy, there is a huge amount of camaraderie between all levels of staff that helps make the effort lighter.

What’s the best thing about the business?

The company’s over-riding commitment to excellence develops an incredible amount of pride and ownership by all the staff in the products that are built. These are not hollow words: the pride of craftsmanship simply shines out from each product, truly earning the title of “Legendary Dewatering Pumps”. The benefit of this pride of ownership being that clients receive a product guaranteed to surpass their highest expectations. It is the Truflo Pumps team that makes this happen.

Many of our clients have a fleet of Truflo pumps with some having more than 25 units on one site which is an incredible testament to the quality and performance of the product.

The worst thing?

The temperature in Winter! Bathurst can regularly drop below 0°C during May through to August. Big equipment means big doors and when they slide open it tends to let in a bit of a breeze, however the Spring and Summer months make up for the cold months.

What are the biggest challenges facing your business?

Aside from COVID-19 challenges (because staff tend to travel interstate and internationally a lot), expanding a highly qualified team can also be challenging in regional Australia – even when generous above-award wages and heaps of overtime are on offer. Truflo Pumps build pumps to perform and outlast competing products at a fair price, however imported inferior products competing on price alone can be a challenge as is the case in any industry.

What is the biggest opportunity for your business right now?

Truflo Pumps is proudly Australian-owned and Australian-made. Let’s say that again, Truflo Pumps design and make over 90% of its pumps and equipment in Australia – this generates opportunity when a product is a linchpin in something like a mining production sequence. The opportunity is found in creating not only what the customer wants but also in elevating the possibilities a client can confidently visualise when using awe-inspiring equipment which exceeds their expectations.

What is the business most proud of?

The company is very proud of its minimalist roots, commencing from a small agricultural irrigation family concern and growing to a truly innovative business with product servicing operations all over the world (equipment highly regarded by peers), yet without losing the essence of family and a sense of belonging that is so unique to regional Australia. This has only been achieved because of the vision, belief and tenacity of the founding family over the past 32+ years.

Community or other causes close to its heart and values?

Consistently and as a company, Truflo Pumps have over the past supported various charities including Careflight, the Rapid Relief Team, and Jeans for Genes Day (childrens’ cancer research) including holding morning teas to show social and community support for some charities.

Any funny or heartwarming stories to share?

Sometimes when a person is on the phone, the good-natured banter carries through to the other end of the line which, to be sure, may create some quizzical looks. There is an emphasis on an easy-going, laid-back style in the workplace, even to where a monthly work-supplied barbecue and catch-up is held. The cakes and cooking that come from the Directors’ wives are unbelievably good. If you call Truflo Pumps, rest assured that the sound you hear on the phone is not a riot in progress!

Any employees that deserve a shout out?

The Truflo Pumps’ Team deserves a shout-out as a whole – every person of the team is a valued member. The thing that makes Truflo Pumps’ products inspirational is generated by the individuality of a team building something of outstanding worth.

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