SRE: The first step
This post was originally published on this site
A handover event has cemented a first in what’s expected to be a long stretch of milestones for both ANA Asphalt and sprayer manufacturer Specialised Roading Equipment. We sit down with both companies to hear how the event went, and what’s planned for the future.
New partnership. New impact.
That’s the words of ANA Asphalts, which recently acquired a brand new (and first ever) telescopic spraying unit from Specialised Roading Equipment (SRE) – an emerging manufacturer whose representation in the Australian market continues to grow daily.
“We like to think that we’re a pretty innovative business, that’s always looking outside of the box to steer away from traditional methods,” says Brad Greaves, Operations Manager – ANA Asphalts.
“The idea of potentially adopting new and innovative technology is something that very much aligns with our business strategy.”
ANA Asphalts – part of the wider ANA Group – recently welcomed a brand-new spraying arm to the business, aiming to grow on the evident success of the asphalt division over the past few years.
Greaves says it’s a division that’s now run for more than a year and a half with a clear focus on innovation, client service and technological advancement in the spray seal sector. The new SRE unit, he says, is yet another step forward for the business.
“One of the biggest challenges that we have in the Australian market, when it comes to obtaining bitumen sprayers, is the extended lead times,” Greaves says. “SRE was not only extremely responsive, but they were also able to have a new unit built and turned around, ready for spraying in eight months.
“This instantly helped us as a business, particularly from an efficiency point of view.”
Meeting demands
ANA Asphalts began its journey to acquire a new sprayer in 2024, having already owned a fixed wing sprayer, along with other units in its fleet.
After hearing and reading about SRE in Roads & Infrastructure magazine, Greaves and the wider ANA team began early discussions. A step in the process that he says played a big part in the decision to buy the 4.5 metre telescopic unit.
“They took the initiative to come over from their base in New Zealand to sit down with us, talk us through the process and show what it would look like, all without any formal commitment from our end,” Greaves says.
After the build commenced, SRE invited Greaves and the team to fly out and inspect the unit, during which it held a detailed session on the functionality and wider capability of the sprayer.
During this time, ANA Asphalts was given the opportunity to provide feedback and insight into its requirements, helping to influence the ultimate build, which was handled in-house by SRE.
“The support that SRE has given us has been second to none,” Greaves says.
After delivering on the promised eight-month turnaround, SRE conducted a formal handover, spending a week with ANA Asphalts’ operators and wider team, leading hands-on and on-site training.
“The handover has been extremely streamlined,” Greaves says. “The information and time that SRE has provided has been extremely valuable to our business. It’s something that’s going to play a key role in the future growth of our company.”
Related stories:
Industry benefits
On top of the formal handover, ANA Asphalts recognised an opportunity to showcase the new sprayer, not only to its team, but also the wider industry and community.
As Greaves explains, this ‘handover event’ aimed to bring the industry together.
“We’re very passionate about driving continuous improvements, not only within our own business, but also trying to encourage and act as a leading innovator to improve the industry overall,” he says.
“It’s not very often that you get an opportunity to see a brand-new sprayer from overseas on our doorstop and see it in person. There’s only a handful of these sprayers in the country, and we’re extremely proud to be one of the few.”
Mark Wansbrough, Managing Director – SRE says it’s this focus and ambition that sets ANA Asphalts apart from the rest.
“Their point of difference is that they put a big emphasis on having leading machinery,” he says. “They’re seen as innovators, so the new sprayer fits the bill perfectly.”
Wansbrough adds that the event involved a cross section of local government, sub-contractors, as well as tiered infrastructure providers, showing the unity that exists between organisations aiming for higher quality outcomes for the sector overall.
“The event really summed up how closely linked and interconnected the industry is in Australia,” he says. “That’s the power of word of mouth. Everyone wants to get better and be better at what they do. With a unit like this, they can.
“We had people from Sydney, right up to Townsville. There was another guy from Tasmania, and they all came just to see the sprayer.”
Greaves says the ultimate goal is to set a new standard for service, safety and project delivery. Seeking equipment with unique capabilities and being willing to adopt new machinery is just a slice of this objective.
“Introducing SRE to more people in the market is going to provide big benefits for the industry,” he says. “We’re really looking forward to continuing to push the barriers in the sector.
“Together we can do some really great things in the market and further contribute to innovation in industry, to allow the sector to keep up with the demand we’re currently seeing across the country.”
With the 4.5 metre telescopic unit now in its arsenal, ANA Asphalts is set on servicing its clients at full capability and capacity, Greaves adds.
“As we grow, the bottom line for us is providing maximum benefit and value for money to our clients,” he says. “Investing in businesses and partnering with companies like SRE is essentially going to act as a tool and a driver to provide the highest level of service that we can.”
This article was originally published in the July edition of our magazine. To read the magazine, click here.
The post SRE: The first step appeared first on Roads & Infrastructure Magazine.
Responses