We don’t cut corners when it comes to products — partnering with the likes of B.L. Shipway to make sure you get nothing but the best.
With over 70 years of history, B.L. Shipway is a family-owned business run by David and Todd Shipway. It all began in 1953 in a small city office, when David’s uncle, Bernard Shipway, started the company.
“Back in the day, Bern would stop at country pubs and sell a range of products, including compressors and water pumps, to local farmers. Eventually, he was offered an agency from a hydraulic brand, and the business naturally evolved from there based on his strong reputation in the country,” David says.
In 1969, David joined and has been with the company for over 55 years, while his son Todd came on board 10 years ago.
“We do a lot of work beyond the rural industry, including in defence, mining, and manufacturing — the hydraulic industry is very diverse. There’s not many bits of machinery around that don’t have some form of hydraulics on it — whether it’s a forklift, tractor, mower, bobcat, backhoe. So, we’re constantly supplying people who either have a breakdown or need to replace some gear on their machines. We’ve also been involved in grain handling equipment, which is crucial at grain terminals come harvest time; and recently completed a major project at Adelaide Oval to assist with their drop-in pitch equipment,” David says.
“While most machinery now comes with hydraulics pre-installed, Ramsey Bros depends on us for repairs and replacements, and we help train their staff — they’re excellent at providing reliable service and components.
“A key part of our service is that we consistently sell the same brands. We’ve worked with the same suppliers for 30, 40, even 50 years, ensuring product continuity. If someone buys from us, they can often come back with it 10, 15, or 20 years later, and our workshop can still repair any product we’ve sold,” David says.
B.L. Shipway Managing Director David Shipway AM.
New location
The team at B.L. Shipway has recently celebrated 12 months in their new location on Morphett Road, Camden Park, as David explains: “We wanted to remain centrally located, and this place has fantastic truck access for deliveries, with room for B doubles to unload without blocking side streets.
Customers can park close to the warehouse or counter area, no matter what vehicle they drive. Best of all, it’s three times the size of what we had and able to carry more stock. We’re able to handle it more efficiently, and that makes us a better supplier.”
