VICTORIAN TIMBER MANUFACTURER GOES INTERSTATE FOR GROWTH
Marcus Bastiaan, Director of Specialty Doors.
Melbourne-based timber door manufacturer Specialty Doors has launched an ambitious expansion into the Queensland construction industry.
Having recently opened a dispatch centre in the Gold Coast, Speciality Doors has plans to further cement its presence in the market with a manufacturing plant by 2025.
Director Marcus Bastiaan believes Queensland is a growing market, with an almost inexhaustible pipeline of construction – driven by cashed-up interstate buyers looking for better lifestyles.
“Southerners are heading north with plenty of money and architectural tastes. For any manufacturer it’s a market that cannot be ignored,” he said.
Speciality Doors manufactures up to 1,000 doors weekly across their flush panel and joinery teams. The doors are sold through building material retailers for residential and commercial projects.
Marcus Bastiaan sees diversification of market geography as essential for Victorian timber-based manufacturers, in part due to the impact of decisions made by the Government.
“The local timber industry was shut down by the state Labor government, and within a few months we went from using local timber to being forced to use imported timber,” Marcus expanded.
“We aren’t the only manufacturers who have backed interstate expansion before local.”
Additionally, Marcus credits part of Specialty Doors’ ability to expand on their apprenticeship program. The company employs first, second and third-year apprentices across their production teams.
“We offer apprenticeships to people who are already working with us and have demonstrated commitment. We reward that commitment with a rate well above the award and a good job after,” he said.
Specialty Doors has built a reputation for producing doors requiring specific certifications and custom manufacturing processes.
The company has certifications to manufacture fire-rated, acoustic and radiation doors.
The business has sustained success and is often specified by architects to supply doors for commercial projects like hospitals and high-rise residential developments.
