Burder Industries

For Jeevan Gadela, a young mechanical engineer, living and working in Wangaratta has been a great career move.  For engineering business Burder Industries, Jeevan's arrival means they have a committed and talented engineer to take on the challenge of designing and developing the company's range of agricultural implements, loaders and 'Titan' semi-trailers.

Originally from southern India, Jeevan became aware through a friend that Burder Industries was looking for an engineer to join their team of 80 staff. He applied on-line from India for the vacancy and, with assistance from the skilled migration program, took up position early in 2004. Jeevan is now completing an on-the-job orientation program to come up to speed on the company's broad range of equipment - front end loaders, forklifts, trenchers, 'Smart Hitch' equipment, hay handling machinery and semi-trailers - before he starts designing the company's next generation of equipment.

According to Frank Fendyk, General Manager and principal owner of the burgeoning family business, finding someone interested in the position was proving to be a frustrating exercise. "The business is growing rapidly and we are always looking for staff, but when it comes to engineers there's a puzzling reluctance to take on work in a provincial location. But once they get here they realise that Wangaratta has all the services and facilities that they want."

As for Jeevan, he's fallen head over heels for the place. In fact, he's now on the lookout for his mates, keen to find them work in Wangaratta as well. The message from Jeevan is clear: Wangaratta is an ideal provincial city in which to live and work. And, he says, Melbourne is less than three hours away by car or train, so catching up with family members is easy.

Burder Industries' current focus is on domestic sales, but with the Australian market just about nailed, attention is now turning to export opportunities. And who knows, with Jeevan's help, India might just be the first port of call.