TRS Tyre And Wheel Launch In Australia
Hellaby Holdings subsidiary TRS Tyre & Wheel has launched into Australia by opening a branch in Melbourne, the company announced today.
TRS Tyre & Wheel (TRS) is the market leader in New Zealand for importing and wholesaling of agricultural, industrial, and
earthmoving tyres and wheels.
TRS general manager Dave Newland said TRS already had a number of New Zealand clients that operated in Australia and
therefore establishing a base in Melbourne was a logical step for the business. “Australia became a target when we
realised there was nobody offering a structured wheel solution in the Australian market. We were supported in that
decision by our New Zealand customers.”
The Melbourne location was chosen because of its close proximity to a number of major tractor importers and
distributors. “Melbourne is the import destination for most farm machinery exported from New Zealand, and is rapidly
becoming the interstate transport hub for Australia. It also provides the perfect platform for distribution along the
Eastern corridor where the greatest concentration of farming and rural sector activity is generated.” TRS will provide
wheel solutions to the agricultural industry including to the new and used tractor market, implement market and
specialist truck applications.
To provide the full benefit of the TRS offering to the market, it is envisaged over time that distribution centres would
be required state-wide. “Our goal is to establish the business platform in Melbourne, identify interstate opportunities
as the business grows and replicate the Melbourne model to match the market requirements nationally.”
Mr Newland said in New Zealand the TRS business was trading well, particularly in the industrial and earthmoving
equipment market which TRS had entered 18 months ago. Prior to entering this market TRS had supplied tyres and wheels
for the agricultural market, but a significant opportunity in industrial forklifts tyres and wheels was soon identified.
TRS established its first Industrial branch in the South Island. “Our first branch was an overwhelming success so we
decided to open another branch in Auckland, as well as expand the South Island branch to include the entire range of TRS
products.”
Since then TRS has become a leader in the industrial and earthmoving equipment market, having also identified synergies
that existed within the wider Hellaby Holdings industrial group.
Mr Newland said while the agricultural tyre and wheel market was relatively mature the industrial market had significant
growth potential. Part of TRS success was hinged on its ability to supply on demand. “Because we are so far away from
our European and Asian suppliers, we have to anticipate market demand via the supply chain. The demand for this type of
product is such that if a client needs to replace a wheel then it needs to be immediately. If you don’t have the correct
supply levels, then the customer will go elsewhere.”
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