Spreading wings to find new markets
TRUSTED: R&R Murphy have been a trusted manufacturing partner for the Mining industry for many years.
For Rod Murphy, managing director of Gateshead-based manufacturer R&R Murphy Pty Ltd, nomination as a finalist in the Excellence in Exporting category is reward for long-term planning.
R&R Murphy manufacture anything in stainless steel, aluminium and mild steel, and service mining, architecture, defence, water filtration, transport maintenance and exporting.
"We export mining parts to 20 countries - Asia, Congo, Hong Kong, NZ and the list goes on - and all over Australia," Rod said.
"We've been exporting since 2010 and it's just grown."
The move to export coincided with company's decision to diversify.
"Back in 2011 I could see we had all our eggs in one basket - mining," Rod explained.
"We needed to diversify to lower risk for the company.
"We got a consultant in to overview the business, then set the vision and goals for the future and implemented a five year business plan, which was the most important step in our success."
Rod and his team invested heavily in equipment, management systems, accreditation, lean manufacturing processes, upskilling the worforce, and targeting specific industries, like defence.
"Export is something we had to learn and in line with the business plan we worked with the right suppliers and people to give us the expertise," Rod said
"A good business plan allows you to structure your progress and has been so important to our development.
"We didn't jump steps without knowing what we had to do to get the best results."
R&R Murphy has worked with a particular multinational company to develop products for the Australian mining market over the last couple of years, and is now building the export side for the product separately.
"It's a model we hope to replicate with other companies and products," Rod said.
The journey to export success for R&R Murphy has been built on a dedicated workforce.
"I'm proud and humbled by the nomination and its a great reward for our team and the hard work they've put in over years," Rod said.
