A noble achievement for local firm
AS it celebrates its 100th birthday, A. Noble & Son is one of the state's business success stories.
AS it celebrates its 100th birthday, A. Noble & Son is one of the state's business success stories.
It ranks among the 30 oldest companies still operating in South Australia.
In an upgrade to its facilities and to celebrate its centenary, it is building a new multimillion dollar warehouse, factory and administration centre on Grand Junction Rd, Kilburn.
Under the chairmanship of fourth generation family member Jeff Rogers, A Noble & Son is entering its second century as one of the largest specialised makers and marketers of lifting equipment in Australia.
The mainly family-owned, unlisted public company had a $73 million turnover in 2009-10.
A key to its success is its large workforce of 280 employees at its head office in Kilburn and in 15 branches around Australia.
Mr Rogers said it was a good effort to reach 100 years and the Noble family was very proud of the company' achievement.
"The support of the family has been very important in getting to this stage," he said.
Managing director Angelo Primavera said A Noble & Son was a great example of the proud history of manufacturing and industry in Adelaide.
"It has been an excellent base for the company to serve its customers and provide employment for local employees as apprentices, factory hands, engineers, sales and office staff for more than 100 years," Mr Primavera said.
"This anniversary is something we are very proud of as South Australians and as an Adelaide business."
Since its humble birth by founder George Adie Noble as a coal dust marketer to the foundry industry in 1911, Nobles has become a leading manufacturer, designer and distributor of wire rope, rigging and lifting equipment.
Noble & Son offers a full service from supply and design of custom lifting equipment, to testing and inspection of equipment anywhere in Australia.
It supplies more than 9500 products involving wire ropes, engineering products and synthetic slings, and offers a range of services.
"We've excelled in being technical experts in our field," Mr Primavera said.
"We have years of accumulated expertise and we spend a lot of time and money training people.
"We also try to support our Australian manufacturers as we purchase Australian where we can and manufacture a lot of our own products locally."
Mr Primavera said the company always was looking to expand and constantly was looking for new opportunities.
Fifth generation family member and SA and Northern Territory manager Mike Golley said the business had enjoyed very consistent, strong growth for the past decade.
Apart from celebrating this milestone with the extensive site development, it is producing a hardcover history book by chairman Jeff Rogers and holding a celebration with its large team of people.