Walsh & Ford turns 60

Walsh & Ford, one of the Dalby’s oldest manufacturing businesses, this year celebrates 60 years of business success.
The company’s pioneers, Eric Walsh and Percy Ford, began operating the steel fabrication business out of the Dan Street premises in 1949 with the marketing catchphrase “We make anything”.
Today Eric’s son Peter Walsh operates the company and continues the traditions that began all those years ago.
Peter believes the company’s continued strength lies in its ability to take on new challenges while retaining its goal of producing a quality product.
“We’ve been successful in diversifying production and have managed to keep abreast of changes by remaining flexible and moving with the market.
“We’re still producing a range of specialised steel requirements on and off site and this now encompasses an even wider range of industries. We also offer a greater variety of services than ever before.”
The company specialises in made-to-measure steel fabrication works, taking on abstract concepts and engineering them to suit a specific purpose. 
“Someone comes up with a concept; we budget for it, develop a plan, integrate it into our production system and commission it.”
By adopting an innovative approach the company aims to keep costs down for customers where possible.
“When the feedlot industry approached us to produce manure spreaders we incorporated a chaser bin with a manure spreader using a common undercarriage. By merging two existing products into one we were able to value add, save on cost and create a new product line.”
Over time the work has gradually become more complex and Walsh & Ford has successfully adapted by maintaining a highly skilled and efficient workforce.
“We employ qualified tradesmen such as boiler makers, sheet metal fabricators, fitter and turners, and we regularly take on new apprentices.
“Our tradesmen are well trained and can create almost any product from start to finish.”
Walsh & Ford maintains a reputation for innovation, affordability and quality. Peter believes it is people, and their dedication to the business, that has produced enduring business partnerships.
The company has developed long-standing associations with a number of businesses with a corporate client list that includes industry leaders such as Leighton Contractors, Dunavants, Queensland Cotton, Allied Mills, Riverina Stockfeeds, Ridley Corporation, Arrow Energy, Delco and Maralong Milling.
As a locally owned and operated company Walsh & Ford remains committed to growth in the Dalby region.
“The engineering industry is still a major employer in the Dalby area and we want to facilitate that into the future.”
Peter supports employment organisations such as Mission Australia, Busy@Work and DISCO and regularly visits schools to talk to students.
“We want students to start thinking about what they want to do because when you are happy in your career choice you win and your family wins.”
 The company maintains a culture of commitment and pride in their product and offers the chance for employees to balance work with lifestyle.
“Staff are like gold to this business and I carry on my Dad’s belief that if you look after your men they’ll look after you.
“We’ll continue to be successful as long as we maintain our strong commitments to staff and training. I urge all businesses to commit to this for the benefit of the region.”
The company aims to maintain solid relationships with our core suppliers such as BOC, SKF, CMG, Forbo, Lightning Bolt, Briggs and Stratton and values its trusted associations with a number of Dalby businesses.
An established family enterprise for the past 60 years, Walsh & Ford shares a vision of working together to ensure a prosperous future.
A proud history
Eric Walsh and Percy Ford started operating the company as a jobbing shop producing custom fabrication for local business, industry and the community.
By the 1960s the company was booming as the onset of bulk grain handling demanded the production of equipment such as augers and bins.
In 1970 Percy Ford died and the drought hit but Walsh & Ford forged on continuing to diversify by manufacturing fuel tankers and on-farm conveyors while catering to the cotton, feedlot and mining sectors.
Today with the help of the internet the company has expanded its services to communities Australia-wide while continuing to service rural, construction and energy sectors within the Dalby region.