History
GT Industrial Sales was formed in December 1987 through the merger of two businesses, Alan Pasfield Sales and the Plant Equipment Co. Mt. Gambier branch. The "G.T." was derived from "Green Triangle" our region's promotional name at the time.
Plant Equipment Co, originally Chapman & Saunders, operated on Crouch St. South, Mt. Gambier, where Krueger Engineering are now located. Founded as an engineering business by Col Saunders in 1950, this business expanded into industrial merchandising in 1960, when Col was joined by Sid Chapman, his business partner of many years. The sales division commenced selling pulleys, belts, chains and sprockets. These products were a logical choice as they were not available locally at the time and demand was increasing due to the growth in the timber industry.
Three of the present owners of GT Industrial Sales worked for the Chapman & Saunders group in their early years. Alan started as a storeman in 1972, Roger worked as a forklift mechanic for Hylift Sales in 1973 and Philip also commenced his career as a storeman in 1979.
Col Saunders retired in 1981 and later the following year, after nearly 10 years with Chapman & Saunders (then Plant Equipment Co.), Alan was retrenched.
In April 1983 Alan Pasfield Sales opened for business. This small business, like its predecessor, specialised in selling pulleys, belts, and other mechanical power transmission products to local industry. The business expanded with Julie Hudson joining in late 1983 and Philip Tilley in 1985, and both still work at GT Industrial Sales today. Later, in 1986, the business developed further by starting the ENZED hydraulic hose & fitting franchise in this area, with Roger Crowe as the first Hose Doctor.
In December 1987, Alan Pasfield Sales was sold to Plant Equipment Co. (an Adelaide business) to form GT Industrial Sales, with Alan as the local manager, and a similar operation in Portland trading under the same name. This business operated successfully until mid-1990 when the parent company got into financial difficulties and the Mt. Gambier operation was acquired by the present owners, Alan Pasfield, Philip Tilley and Roger Crowe in April 1991. Marty Allen joined GT Industrial Sales in 1992, and became a partner in September 2006.
In November 1997, G. T. Industrial became a founding member of Australian Industrial Supplies (AIS). This group of independently owned industrial supply businesses was formed with an original 7 members to negotiate better buying power on behalf of the individual store owners. The group has now expanded to over 80 members located in all states, and is now the largest industrial supply group in Australia.
Through the benefits of AIS membership such as increased product range and buying at the right price, G.T. Industrial expanded from our old shop to a new premises almost twice the size in September 2002. In April 2011, GT Industrial Sales celebrated 20 years of operation.