HVG announces the acquisition of the business of long-term supplier Wilsonart Australia from AICA Kogyo Co Ltd. The deal is expected to be completed before the Christmas break.
Located on the Hume Highway at Craigieburn in Melbourne’s northern suburbs, Wilsonart Australia manufactures low-pressure melamine (LPM) panels and cabinet doors.
HVG CEO Bruce Rayment said, “We are excited by the growth potential of the business and the opportunities that this vertical integration opens up for us. Wilsonart/AICA have been a partner since 2012, and we look forward to working together, maximising sales of their brands in the Australian and New Zealand markets into the future.”
“All of the existing staff are being retained and there are opportunities for them to grow in the wider HVG business. For our existing customers, and those that have been dealing directly with Wilsonart Australia, we look forward to continuing to serve them with an expanding product range in the years ahead.”
Current Wilsonart Australia CEO Andrew Janka said, “We could not have found a better business to take over Wilsonart Australia than our long-term Australian partner HVG. They have demonstrated a long-term commitment to the brand in Australia, and they are the right people to drive the business forward into the future.”
Post completion of the deal, existing direct customers of Wilsonart Australia will be serviced by an expanded HVG Building Pty Ltd sales team. The existing Wilsonart specification team in New South Wales and Victoria will also become part of the HVG Building sales team. The manufacturing operation at Craigieburn will be rebranded as HVG Manufacturing Pty Ltd under the leadership of existing HVG State Manager – Victoria, Peter Gaw. New Zealand distributor of Wilsonart Laminate, Acero Ltd, will continue as per current arrangements.
“The acquisition of Wilsonart Australia is a clear and positive next step in the growth of the Wilsonart Brands and the wider HVG business. This move will ensure stability in supply, improved quality and lead times and a better focused range offer in the products that are manufactured in Australia. It will also ensure that the LPM manufactured by HVG Manufacturing in the future will be from a fully Australian Owned company,” Rayment added.
HVG plans for the Wilsonart Australia business to remain on its current site for the long-term future, despite the recent 4,200m² extension of HVG’s distribution centre at Derrimut in Melbourne’s western suburbs.
Customers will continue to be able to order the Wilsonart Australia range from HVG offices and distribution centres in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth. The future of decorative building surfaces looks even brighter with the acquisition.
Image: (L-R) From HVG Peter Gaw, Mark Thomson & Bruce Rayment, & from Wilsonart Australia Andrew Janka
