PACCAR inducted into Vic Manufacturing Hall of Fame

PACCAR's Bayswater facility started design, engineering and manufacture of Kenworth trucks in 1971. Local manufacture has enabled Kenworth trucks to be custom built to suit specific needs and local requirements. In the 41 years of operation, tens of thousands of units across 54 different Kenworth models have been produced, with nine variants in the current range, all of which can be tailored to suit individual requirements.

PACCAR directly employ 800 staff in Victoria, and further support local (Victorian) employment by sourcing 50-60 percent of parts and materials from Australian suppliers. The Kenworth manufacturing operation is founded on the Six Sigma continuous improvement and quality practises. In addition to servicing the local market, Victorian-built Kenworth trucks are also being exported to New Zealand and Papua New Guinea.

PACCAR Australia's Managing Director Joe Rizzo was delighted at the Hall of fame acknowledgement
"It is a great honour to be acknowledged for our continuing dedication to manufacturing and the Australian road transport industry," Rizzo said. "Since establishing our manufacturing operation in 1971, more than 45,000 locally-made Kenworths have rolled off the production line. This is a significant achievement, especially considering we are involved in a highly competitive and crowded market with the world's best brands from Europe, North America and Asia.

At the May 3rd awards evening, PACCAR Australia's Manufacturing Engineering Manager, Kylie Kurczewski, was shortlisted for the Young Manufacturer of the Year award. Since joining PACCAR as a graduate engineer in 2002, Kurczewski has risen through the ranks, serving in the Manufacturing Engineering Manager role for the past two and a half years. In charge of a 27-strong team, Kurczewski is responsible for management and maintenance of the company's plant, equipment and tooling, as well as the buildings, facilities and capital works on site.

Today's Bayswater facility has grown to three times its original size to service a growing Australian truck market. PACCAR Australia have added new facilities, including the PACCAR Parts warehouse, which is the largest truck parts and accessory distribution centre in the southern hemisphere. PACCAR have also led local innovations, like being the first local OEM to offer Liquified Natural Gas (LNG) powered trucks in 2008. The recent introduction of EBSS (Electronic Brake Safety Systems) is another recent achievement, with EBSS available to all Kenworths in the current PACCAR Australia lineup.