Manufacturer hooks sweet deal with Alvey Reels revival

The last-ditch revival of one of Queensland's most well-known brands, Alvey fishing reels, has hooked some new business for a Kunda Park manufacturer.

REEL GOOD: General manager of Total Plastics Solutions Pascal Trojman with a Alvey fishing reel that his company has been helping to produce. Picture: John McCutcheon

THE last-ditch revival of one of Queensland's most well-known brands, the famous Alvey fishing reels, has hooked some new business for a Kunda Park manufacturer.

Alvey Reels was on its knees last year, when it announced after 98 years it would close its doors due to sinking sales.

The announcements on social media were met with a flood of support for the brand, as more than 12 months' worth of orders were placed.

Now, with a new investor on board, Alvey Reels is branching out into new designs and has tasked Total Plastics Solutions at Kunda Park with an important role in the company's future.

Total Plastics Solutions general manager Pascal Trojman said they would be making a variety of components and parts for the reels using their injection moulding machines.

REEL GOOD: General manager of Total Plastics Solutions Pascal Trojman with a Alvey fishing reel that his company has been helping to produce. Picture: John McCutcheon

The precise work had already started and Mr Trojman said their ability to operate 24 hours a day had attracted the Alvey team.

He said Alvey used to do the injection moulding themselves at their factory in Carole Park, Ipswich, but the costs of running in only eight-hour shifts became too much of a burden on the then-struggling business.

Mr Trojman said they were one of the largest operators in the state, with 25 injection moulding machines in their Kunda Park premises.

"The precisions have to be really good," he said.

Mr Trojman said they produced a range of plastic items from their Kunda Park base, including traffic control cones, chairs for schools and universities, tool fitting items, swimming pool and spa pipe fittings and even cable ties.

"A lot of people don't realise it's here until they turn up," Mr Trojman (pictured) said.

The business was set up about four years ago and had doubled in size in the last 12 months.

"It's been pretty full-on," he said.

REEL GOOD: General manager of Total Plastics Solutions Pascal Trojman. Picture: John McCutcheon

He said it was becoming increasingly difficult to source die-setters and qualified staff to run the injection moulding machinery.

But Mr Trojman said they'd hired plenty of moulders who'd worked in the Alvey factory in Carole Park.

Alvey Reels co-owner Glenn Alvey said the change in how they manufactured meant the specialist moulders who had worked for them previously were proving valuable from their new Kunda Park base.

"They're doing components for the spools and back plates," Mr Alvey said.

Mr Trojman said the work was quite technical as there were plenty of high-end plastics being used and they employed about 35 people at the factory.

He said the Alvey Reels had a "large range".

There were now plans to construct the reels out of lighter, but stronger materials than fibreglass.

Mr Alvey said most of the manufacturing would remain in Alvey's spiritual home of Carole Park.

"It's a product that's stood the test of time," he said.