CCBR Business Review

4 CO V E R S T O R Y Clynton Husband, Sapphire Aluminium THINK OF SOME of the most monumen- tal architectural buildings and structures in Australia and the world and chances are Central Coast manufacturer, Sapphire Aluminium, was responsible for the produc- tion of the internal and/or external alu- minium cladding. Examples include Perth Optus Stadium, BHP Billiton’s global headquarters, Eureka Skydeck, some of Sydney’s newest ‘des- tination’ railway stations and even the Sydney Opera House inspired finish on the Olympic torch for the 2000 Olympic Games. Founded in 1973 by Robert (Bob) Husband and led for the past twenty-one years by his son, Clynton, the business has evolved from humble beginnings to become the market leader. Today, Sapphire is trusted by award-winning architects for their quality, attention to detail, stringent processes, and outcomes that are as durable as they are beautiful, ensuring they leave a legacy for generations to come. Bob Husband ran a shower screen manufacturing business in Sydney and, as a perfectionist, refused to be satisfied with the substandard anodised parts be began receiving from his regular supplier. After telling the supplier to improve the quality or he would manufacture the parts himself, the supplier laughed, knowing the com- plexity of the anodising process. True to his word, Bob purchased an existing anodising plant the following day. Clynton said, “In those days, you could start a business, make mistakes and have long credit terms offered to you by suppliers. If months out of action, Bob, who initially struggled to let go and pass the reins to his son, moved into a new business venture, while his wife, Judie, continued to work at Sapphire, fulfilling a marketing support role to this day. “I’m lucky I have a very good relation- ship with my parents. We were able to strike a balance between working together and sharing criticism or thoughts without it becoming personal which is what you see in many family businesses. Not having that balance can cause things to go awry,” said Clynton. Reflecting on the significant challenges most Australian manufacturers faced at the hands of cheaper overseas copies, Clynton said, “If you think back to the 1990s, nobody thought China would take over so much of the supply line. Today, especially through the pandemic, people are realising they need to source product closer to home because, in the construction business, time is money. So, supply lines are swinging back to local production. Our model of providing a quality product and being nimble enough to adapt that to changing markets has always stood us in good stead. People will always want quality no matter where they are. So, we’ve always maintained our quality, even throughout the onslaught of cheaper products from Asia and elsewhere.” One of the first things Clynton changed when he took over running the business was to clearly document all processes. “There was no road map for what was essentially a very complex business,” he said, adding that not only does document- ing everything allow his team, which now stands at thirty, to control every step of the process – and hence the outcome – but it also ensures there is a detailed instruction you were prepared to work hard, you could be successful. It’s not that simple in manu- facturing today.” By partnering with the right people and being willing to learn, Bob and his team produced the quality he sought and the company, which he called Sapphire Anodisers, grew on the back of its grow- ing reputation as being the best in the business. The eldest of three sons, Clynton came on board in 1985 and his father insist- ed he learn the ropes from the ground up. The company transitioned into supplying extrusions for the office fitout market after the unions forced the subcontractor labour market to shut down, causing an influx of ex-subcontractors to start their own busi- nesses without their own aluminium sys- tems in place. Sapphire took advantage of the demand and lack of expertise in the marketplace, becoming a one stop shop. “Customers knew they could come to us, get the prod- uct and we would finish it and deliver it to site in a very quick turnaround. That’s when we exploded and started supplying into Asia,” said Clynton. In 1995, the company moved to their cur- rent premises at Somersby, a state-of-the-art manufacturing facility spanning an acre under roof, which enabled them to take on external façade work. The business had come full circle, changing its name to Sapphire Aluminium to reflect their evolution. “We’re probably more into finishing again these days than the supply of aluminium because a lot of the product we were manufacturing was being copied and made cheaper in Asia,” said Clynton, who took over as Managing Director in 2000 after his father suffered a serious motorcycle acci- dent at the age of fifty-eight. After twelve By Phaedra Pym f Automated transactions inMYOB and XERO Personal service backed up with 30 years experience Committed to making your business grow FOR YOUR BUSINESS PROBLEM SOLVING Our solicitor, Sam Haln, can advise and assist you to get your sponsorship approved for temporary and permanent skilled visas. Some areas of the Central Coast are also eligible for the Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme. If you have skills and qualifications in demand in Australia, or wish to join an Australian family member, Sam can assist you in finding and applying for the right visa. Sam also advises and represent clients at the Administrative Appeals Tribunal for reviews against visa cancellations and refusals. Taperell Rutledge providing legal services to the Central Coast since 1958. T A P E R E L L R U T L E D G E L A W Y E R S Considering employing a skilled overseas worker? p. 4323 3333 e. info@taperells.com.au Get in touch CENTRAL COAST BUSINESS REVIEW AUGUST 2021