Australia’s biggest truck company headquarters look like a giant mothership has landed in the middle of the Melbourne freight hub of Truganina, as Diesel News arrives for the Isuzu HQ official opening. The site is now home to the Isuzu Head Office, the parts distribution centre, the truck develop department, its industrial engines division and, a first for Isuzu, a national training centre for technicians.
The company has been number one in the Australian truck market for 29 years, but its footprint as a company has been modest with the activities now housed in the brand new Truganina spread out around a series of smaller sites around Melbourne. The new head office changes all of that with the company making a statement in an area which has become the centre of the Melbourne trucking industry.
The new 21,000 m² purpose-built truck distribution facility includes the 1,700 square metre training centre with a ten-bay workshop, the integrated Parts warehouse, Product Development Centre, and Isuzu’s Engines department. The official opening ceremony took place in another part of the facility, called a truck-specific showroom, which actually is a massive interior space with plenty of room for trucks, but is also suited to and equipped for a wide variety of events and future product reveals.
Guest of honour at the event was the Isuzu global boss, Masanori Katayama, whose official title is as President and Representative Director of Isuzu Motors (Japan). He was joined by Kazuyoshi Matsunaga, Consul-General of Japan, David Hodgett, Deputy Leader of the Opposition in Victoria, Telmo Languiller, State Member for Tarneit and Walter Villagonzalo, Deputy Mayor for Wyndham City.
“Isuzu Australia Limited has an outstanding reputation throughout Isuzu’s international network for its commitment to constant improvement and innovative transport solutions,” said Katayama. “In fact, we view Isuzu Australia as a model truck distributor and a great ‘test bed’ for Isuzu product. The research and product development work conducted here is often implemented on a global scale.”
Speaking on behalf of the Isuzu operation here in Australia were Hiroko Yaguchi, Isuzu Australia Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer and Phil Taylor, the company’s Director and Chief Operating Officer.
“We are aiming for 30 years’ market leadership in 2018 and I believe the completion of this facility with help achieve that unprecedented milestone,” said Yaguchi. “It provides a launch-pad for local product innovation, better transport solutions and more advanced after sales offerings.”
Phil Taylor has been in a senior management role at Isuzu for 18 or his 28 years at the company and was clearly proud of the achievement in building a state of the art statement like the new headquarters building.
“For the first time in the history of this subsidiary in Australia, these pillars of our business model have been brought together as a cohesive unit,” said Taylor. “It provides an environment for enhanced and more immediate collaboration and communication between the various operations of Isuzu in Australia.”