Tell us about the business.
Austchrome specialises in hydraulic cylinder manufacturing, repair and reclamation services for heavy industries like mining and agriculture. Our services include hard chrome plating, thermal spray coatings, engineering and manufacturing to enhance component durability and performance. We also offer comprehensive repair services, including machining and a paint and pack service.
How long have you been doing business?
We commenced operations in 1994 and officially opened in 1995. A lot has changed in 30 odd years, but we pride ourselves on our capacity to adapt to changing market conditions and adopt new technology and practices to enhance our products and services.
How many people work for the business?
We have approximately 100 workshop and office staff across our Mackay facilities.
Describe a typical day at ‘The office’.
Everything we do is about repairing, servicing and manufacturing hydraulic cylinders and power train components to the very highest standards. Depending on where you are across our three large-scale workshops, you can be dismantling one of the biggest excavator cylinders on the market, manufacturing a brand new cylinder in one of our state-of-the-art CNC machines, or using a high velocity flame gun attached to a robotic arm to apply a metallic coating to a cylinder rod.
Our focus is on getting quality work done and getting it back to our customers as soon as possible.
What are the biggest challenges facing your business?
We understand that, in our industry, time is money – and machinery downtime has significant impacts on our customers’ operations. That’s why our biggest challenges lie in enhancing the efficiency of our processes and improving the quality of our products and services. In a fast-paced industry like ours, we can’t afford to stand still.
We have to balance continuous innovation with consistent service, and that’s the tough part!
What are the biggest opportunities for your business right now?
Whilst some corners of our industry are bemoaning the ongoing electrification of mining machinery, it hasn’t changed much for us. Hydraulic cylinders are the muscle of heavy machinery and won’t be replaced any time soon.
What is the business most proud of?
Some of our employees have been with us for over 20 or 30 years. Our Administration Officer Stephanie has been here since Austchrome opened. Having these wonderful people who commit such a large portion of their careers to driving our company forward makes us incredibly proud of what we do and how we do it.
Community or other causes close to its heart and values?
As a company, we have a strong focus on mental health. Every year our team takes part in Run For MI Life – a local charity run event which raises awareness for those struggling with mental health issues. We offer free, confidential psychology services to all employees and their families and strive to build a culture that encourages open conversations where people feel empowered to speak up if they’re struggling.
Any employees that deserve a shout out?
To all our long serving employees, we sincerely thank these people for their tireless dedication to Austchrome. It is a testament to the culture of Austchrome that the vast majority of our employees are long serving. It’s a place that people just don’t want to leave.
