From trainees to teachers

01 - News

Tim Forbes and Jess Hamilton recently completed cabinet-making traineeships.

Tim Forbes and Jess Hamilton recently completed their cabinet-making apprenticeship.

The pair, who work at Drifta Kitchens, have trodden very different paths to complete their traineeships.

Jess was a former timber worker who decided to give cabinet-making a go after the mill she was working at closed, while Tim went to work for Drifta shortly after completing his HSC exams.

Tim said he was keen to get an apprenticeship after leaving school and was fortunate Drifta was recruiting at the time.

“I applied for a job I’d seen in the paper, met Luke for an interview and started work the following Monday,” he said.

Jess now builds cabinets and camping drawers for four-wheel drives while Tim builds fridge box kitchens for camping trailers.

Mr Sutton said it was a huge achievement for both Jess and Tim to complete their apprenticeships.

“It’s a four year apprenticeship so it’s a fairly major part of your life,”he said.

“Our goal here is to train them and keep them. We want qualified tradespeople working for us.

“Now is when they are most valuable to me as a business owner. They can build items to tradesman quality and they’re now responsible for teaching the next group of apprentices coming through.”

Media 01

USA – Toyota 4wd owners magazine

Media 02

Media 03

Media 04

Drifta Kitchens wins business of the year

(from the Gloucester Advocate 22nd September, 2010)

Drifta Kitchens claimed the top prize at the second annual Gloucester Business and Services Awards, held on Saturday evening at the Gloucester Soldiers Club.

The Innovation In Manufacturing Award sponsored by the Department of Industry and Investment goes to Drifta Camping and Trailer Kitchens, who for eight years now have made Gloucester their home and who have grown from humble beginnings to be one of our largest by employee number, independent businesses in Gloucester. The judges noted that the incredible system development within the business, the innovative product design and well defined and targeted marketing strategies where keys to the excellent business growth and sustainability that Drifta has demonstrated since coming to Gloucester. The business provides great opportunities for young people from Gloucester in relation to work opportunities and the high quality products add value to camping and adventure tour holiday opportunities in Gloucester.

The Gloucester Advocate Business of the Year which is drawn from all the successful category businesses is Drifta Camping and Trailer Kitchens, who as noted earlier moved to Gloucester to establish their business in 2002. In the ensuing nine years Drifta has grown both in the scale of the business, notoriety in the camping and off road market, and in recognition of their contribution to the local community through their input into the manufacturing sector . Drifta has now grown to employ 15 production staff, and is recognised for the simple yet durable and innovative drawer and kitchen systems.

“We have made over 9500 kitchens now, they are all my own design, and are wholly manufactured in our Gloucester factory. We are only a small company of now 15, but growing slowly and we’re very proud to be an Australian manufacturer, producing a unique, handmade product that you can’t buy anywhere else in the world.” A simple and concise quote from Luke and Kiyomi’s Drifta Website, that captures the essence of what the business is about.

Media 05

Sydney Sunday Telegraph – 20th May, 2001

Media 06

Australia Camper Trailer – January 2012

Media 07

Media 08

MySwag.org The Off-road Camper Trailer Forum

General => General Discussion => Topic started by: jetcrew on April 26, 2010, 06:15:06 PM

 

Title: Drifta kitchens stays aussie !!
Post by: jetcrew on April 26, 2010, 06:15:06 PM
Was reading the sydney paper this morning and read an artical on Luke Sutton from drifta kitchens .

In a nut shell he’s been offered big money to shift his plant to China and hit the U.S market but declined because he wants to keep his manufacturing here in Austraila.

I’d just like to openley thank Luke and many other Manufactures who resist the dollar to remain loyal to this great nation there are very few products designed and built here .And those who do deserve our custom and praise.

SO BLOODY GOOD ON YA LUKE !!!!!!! a true Aussie…. :D

 

 

Title: Re: Drifta kitchens stays aussie !!
Post by: D4D on April 26, 2010, 06:18:52 PM
Well done but how long for?

A friend of mine is in the 4wd/camping accessories business and is finding it harder and harder to get his products manufactured in AU due to companies going under. WonÂ’t be long before he has to offshore his products.

 

 

Title: Re: Drifta kitchens stays aussie !!
Post by: Duchess on April 26, 2010, 06:24:20 PM
A proud Drifta owner here…

I too hope that we don’t see this great young Aussie company get shifted away from our shores.

 

 

Title: Re: Drifta kitchens stays aussie !!
Post by: jetcrew on April 26, 2010, 06:33:33 PM
D4D you may well be right ,but for now his actions deserve my credit in your mates situation it may well be the case that without going offshore he can’t stay aflot and I certainly will the last person to pass judgment on anyone who has to make these kinds of decisions.

I just noted that Lukes situation was how much $$$ he wanted to make and he chose Aus over China even though the $$$ were less thats commendable.

Anyone who has to decide between food on the table or not will always get my support no matter the decision !!!!!!

I was certainly not passing judgement on others….. :D

 

 

Title: Re: Drifta kitchens stays aussie !!
Post by: Fivid on April 26, 2010, 06:40:17 PM
It takes support from people for companies like Drifta to stay in Oz. So many people look at $ before quality, you only need to look at all the junk off ebay. I admit I do buy some things off ebay but not where I can find an Oz made quality alternative. I much prefer to pay double for a quality product which will last five times longer than an el cheapo product which may work for the first little while, usually a day longer than its warranty period…

 

 

Title: Re: Drifta kitchens stays aussie !!
Post by: NewcastleKnight on April 26, 2010, 06:44:03 PM
Luke is a down to earth Ozzi bloke. At this stage not many people are doing what he does. He lives in the country, employing country people and obviously is happy to make a living and enjoy his lifestyle. Good luck Luke…you are keeping the dream alive!

 

 

Title: Re: Drifta kitchens stays aussie !!
Post by: D4D on April 26, 2010, 06:44:50 PM
Quote from: Fivid on April 26, 2010, 06:40:17 PM
I much prefer to pay double for a quality product which will last five times longer than an el cheapo product which may work for the first little while, usually a day longer than its warranty period…

I agree however judging by how many Chinese import camper trailers I saw on my drive home today we’re in the minority.

 

 

Title: Re: Drifta kitchens stays aussie !!
Post by: davo69 and the Nurse on April 26, 2010, 06:48:32 PM
Quote from: Duchess on April 26, 2010, 06:24:20 PM
A proud Drifta owner here…

I am proud Drifta DSO kitchen owner too!
Well done to Luke and his team, for staying Australian owned and made!

the Nurse

 

 

Title: Re: Drifta kitchens stays aussie !!
Post by: Camping Grant on April 26, 2010, 08:12:27 PM
Good onya Luke. All praises from me mate.

Cheers

Grant

 

 

Title: Re: Drifta kitchens stays aussie !!
Post by: speewa158 on April 26, 2010, 08:24:01 PM
Come on Aussie Come on Come on !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

 

Title: Re: Drifta kitchens stays aussie !!
Post by: Pauly on April 27, 2010, 07:58:26 AM
Just need to hope everybody keeps supporting the Aussie pride when the Chinese just knock off the designs and starts pumping out “Drifter kitchens”.

 

 

Title: Re: Drifta kitchens stays aussie !!
Post by: Bill on April 27, 2010, 10:55:08 AM
That is good news indeed.
Morag and I have the DPO package in our Cape York.
https://www.drifta.com.au/4WDFitout.php
We are so impressed with it that we are looking to order the DCBV for the Navara for the camping trips we dont take “Yorkie” on.
https://www.drifta.com.au/4WDFitout.php
Bill

 

 

Title: Re: Drifta kitchens stays aussie !!
Post by: Joff on April 27, 2010, 11:43:12 AM
Good on him :cup: Must be hard to stare down big $$$$ signs. I guess they will just knock the designs off and sell into the US and here anyway.

 

 

Title: Re: Drifta kitchens stays aussie !!
Post by: Johnny Trackabout on April 28, 2010, 05:17:42 AM
Luke Sutton needs to be praised. Its hard when you work in an industry where big $$$ can be saved by going off shore. We struggle at times trying to sell Campers over the import units as people only see the $$$ value and not the quality, but somewhere in there we survive and help keep this country alive. And the funny thing is the import units are NOT that much cheaper than what we do comparing apples for apples.
We are flat out making 10% profit on a Canvas Conversion that sells for around the $4500 mark, with the import tents and as long as we buy around 30 at time the savings are massive as are the profits…..$590 buy price versus $2000 to $3000+ sell price which equates to many $100 000 over a year in profits and savings!!
Every time I look into my children’s eyes ,I see a tough future ahead for them come the day they look for employment in this country, but while I own Trackabout and employ good hard working Australians “the buck will always stop here” and we will keep the $$$ in this country.
GOOD ON YOU LUKE SUTTON….you are a true Aussie hero and there should be more of you out there. :cup:

Cheers
JT