XL SERVICE BODIES

Founded by the Korganow family in Brisbane, Queensland, in January 1991 to manufacture service bodies primarily for one tonne cab-chassis, XL has produced over 10,000 service bodies since and is still proudly owned and managed by a second generation of the Korganow family.

XL are the pioneers of service body manufacturing in Australia, having come into being after founder and Managing Director Nick Korganow carefully studied the successful evolution of the service body in the United States and brought the concept to Australia.

The XL Body, as their hugely successful service body has become known, is a cleverly designed, one-piece steel unit with externally accessible weatherproof side cabinets and a central load area with tie-down points.

Firmly established as a highly practical alternative to conventional vans and pickups, the XL Body offers greater driver safety, tidy and ef cient storage, weather protection and security for tools and accessories and is used by tradespeople, government bodies, defence forces and large corporations in Australia, New Zealand, the Pacific Islands, Asia, the Middle East and the United Kingdom.

An Impressive Body Of WorkFor 25 years, XL Service Bodies has been producing innovative and high quality service bodies– first for Australia and now for the world – using steel products from BlueScope. Having successfully brought a new industry to Australian shores, they’re determined to keep it here and help other Australian businesses succeed in the process.CATEGORY:

Manufacturing

LOCATION:Brisbane, Queensland

PRODUCT:ZINCANNEAL® steelGALVABOND® steel

XL now designs and manufactures a wide range of user-centric service bodies and accessories, very much in collaboration with their customers, to create purpose-specific and vehicle-specific bodies and canopies for businesses small and large.

These include the XL A-Body ute body, the larger capacity XL Z-Body service body and the light-weight steel and aluminium XL Canopy service body.

Ever the innovators, XL has also made the move into large truck bodies - creating a new product sector and demand which is certain to further drive the company’s growth - as the parent company of Service Bodies Australia, who are the exclusive agents for XL large service bodies made for Isuzu trucks.

By working closely with customers to understand in advance what needs to be carried in their vehicles, XL’s engineers use state-of-the-art software and machinery to design and build service bodies and canopies that maximise operational efficiency and safety.

And by using steel products from BlueScope, XL ensure that quality is truly built into every service body, canopy and accessory they create, as their BlueScope Sheet Metal Supplies Account Manager, Mario Bunic, explained.

“XL Service Bodies are leaders in service body innovation and are always looking for ways to be one step ahead of the competition,” Mario said.

“They are also firm believers in buying Australian-made and supplied materials and for 25 years have trusted BlueScope to supply the quality steel products which are so crucial in their delivery of strong, durable and reliable service bodies to clients here and across the world.”

BlueScope Sheet Metal Supplies provides approximately 80% of XL’s steel requirements in the form of 30 to 40 tonnes of ZINCANNEAL® steel and GALVABOND® steel sheetseach month.

“We deliver to XL on a JIT basis and theyrely on us to ensure the right products and quantities are on the floor based on their forecast expectations,” Mario Bunic explained.

“We also cut to their requirements and pack the products into 1 tonne or 2 tonne packs to suit the load capacities of their turret machine and laser cutting machine; running pack lots saves time in sorting quantities.

“Our relationship with XL Service Bodies is very good; the partnership has lasted many years because we understand their business requirements and meet their high standards in terms of quality products and ef cient service.”

Speaking to JP Shelburn, now managing director at XL, it’s clear that BlueScope Sheet Metal Supplies definitely meets their needs. And, equally importantly, that being able to access such products and service from a fellow Australian manufacturer ts perfectly with XL’s firm focus on supporting Australian-made.

“We’ve been working with BlueScope for over 20 years and they are a very strong partner in our business,” JP stated.

“Their quality, price and service are always spot on; when you rely on someone to supply 80 per cent of your material they have to be, because any bumps in the road in the supply chain would be disastrous.”

While acknowledging that manufacturingin Australia is a tough call these days, JP Shelburn said XL’s longstanding and ongoing commitment to investing in modern machinery, modern processes and lean manufacturing had ensured their success and also put them in a position to support other Australian businesses.

“We’re proud to be a growing Australian business, exporting overseas, competitive – and keeping local manufacturing networks around us going,” he said.

“Our products are made entirely in Australia, using quality steel from an Australian manufacturer, and we’re awfully happy to be working hand-in-hand with BlueScope Sheet Metal Supplies to keep making productsin Australia and keep people working in our country. You can go overseas, but what is there for our children in the future if we all do that?”

For more information visit www.xl.com.au

“Our products are made entirely in Australia, using quality steel from an Australian manufacturer, and we’re awfully happy to be working hand-in-hand with BlueScope Sheet Metal Supplies to keep making products in Australia...”

www.impactsteel.com.au

Phone: 1800 010 247www.sheetmetalsupplies.com.auThis case study has been prepared for information purposes only. BlueScope makes no representation or warranty as to the completeness or accuracy of the information contained in this document. You must make your own assessment of the information contained in this document and rely on it wholly at your own risk. Published by BlueScope Steel Limited. ® are registered trade marks of BlueScope Steel Limited. TM are trade marks of BlueScope Steel Limited. © 2015 BlueScope Steel Limited ABN 16 000 011 058