KLE Pty Ltd

HISTORY

KLE was formed in March, 1997 to manufacture and finish brushware handles and curtain rod for companies in the cleaning, hardware and retail business.

KLE's competitive edge was, and still is that it can rollform, weld tube, finish and cut tube to length for these industries. A machine was built by KLE personnel to satisfy these requirements for customers.

Manufacturing commenced in Thomastown, Victoria, Australia, producing brushware handles and curtain rod tube.

A brushware handle assembly machine was added in 1998 to enable KLE to increase volumes and replace imports.

With demand continuing to increase, the Thomastown site became too small, requiring a shift to larger premises at Epping, Victoria, Australia, in January, 2000. This allowed a second metal tube forming and finishing machine to be commissioned by March, 2001 to meet demand.

The second metal tube forming and finishing machine improved KLE's capabilities to make metal tube to a maximum of 30mm diameter with a metal thickness of up to 1mm.

With the additional capacity available, the product base was extended by adding a Thermal Spray Unit, in October, 2001, enabling galvanised tube to be manufactured for steel fencing and tent poles for the leisure industry.

In November, 2001, KLE commenced exporting brushware handles in container loads to New Zealand and this relationship now extends to further products.

By January, 2002, the demand exceeded capacity leading to reducing sales of tent poles until further capacity was available by November, 2002.

This additional metal tube and finishing machine will allow KLE to introduce a product line called POLES APART in August / September, 2002, manufacturing tent poles, tent pegs and related leisure accessories.

The extent of KLE's capabilities now incorporates metal tube diameters to 50mm and material thickness to 2mm, plus pressing, forming and bending metal tubing to customer requirements.