From humble beginnings in a Dunedin family’s private garage in the 1960s to a branch network of 19 stores currently, Gough TWL says it is one of New Zealand’s most accessible transport equipment and consumable suppliers.
To support the nationwide network of 19 branches, Gough TWL also has two major distribution centres located in Auckland and Christchurch.
In 2016 Gough TWL will celebrate 50 years of partnership with the road transport industry in New Zealand.
Gough TWL aftermarket national manager Mike Brears says the company has a family first culture, and develops good strong relationships with staff and customers, by being a local business that supports local business.
“I see my team as my family and we work closely together,” says Brears. “We like to have a proactive partnership with our customers, ultimately our business is about providing solutions.”
Brears, himself, has a long history with the company having joined the TWL Christchurch team fresh out of school in 1990, two years before the family-owned TWL company became part of another family-owned company, the Gough Group. It’s sister company Transpecs also joined the Gough Group at this time.
Since 1990 there has been hardly any aspect to the Gough TWL operation in which Brears has not been involved in. He has worked his way up from parts junior to managing the Northern Region of the business, and recently has also spent time on the ‘other side of the counter’ as a customer.
He sees a focus on doing the basics well, and says this is a key philosophy for TWL.
“I’d like to reinforce our absolute commitment to the industry and our aftermarket truck and trailer parts offer,” he says. “For nearly fifty years this has been the foundation of TWL’s role in the local transport industry.
A major focus for TWL is the ongoing aftermarket support of the company’s major transport agency lines.
While sister company Transpecs focuses on supporting trailer OEMS with the technical integration of major transport agency lines into new trailer equipment, Brears says that Gough TWL is a key part of the aftermarket value chain, alongside other independent parts and service partners.
He says such key agency lines for the company include SAF, Wabco, Alcoa, Edbro, Ringfeder and Holland.
“All of these brands have developed a huge brand loyalty from New Zealand customers in the past five decades, and they all continue to drive industry innovation and development.
“We are absolutely committed to these brands,” says Brears. Our relationships with partners such as SAF-Holland and Wabco are part of the lifeblood of Gough TWL, and mirror the status accorded to the Caterpillar, Hyster, and Palfinger dealerships in the wider family group business.”
As well as its core range of specialist products, Gough TWL offers and extended range of accessory and workshop items, its intention being to provide a one-stop-shop solution to commercial transport workshops and service centres.
Brears says a major area of industry value offered by Gough TWL and Gough Transpecs is the national Brake Consultancy Service team which operates from Cape Reinga to Bluff.
“While the teams fundamental role is brake certification and compliance, it is also a resource of qualified industry advice that is second-to-none when enhancing both vehicle and operating performance,” he says.
“The trailer technology available to transport operators today combined with the knowledge of our brake team is a big catalyst for industry cost savings and improved profit, as is increased safety and meeting legislative requirements,” says Brears.
“Many of our fleet customers can point to a time when a brake specialist has helped get a unit back on the road after successfully trouble-shooting a problem with the client’s vehicle.
“The brake team are highly regarded for going the extra mile no matter how remote or distant an operator’s business might be. This culture of support is something our entire team aspires to,” he says.
Brears continues to say that as TWL moves beyond its 50th birthday next year, the focus will remain on local customers.
