Hi Team,
We are already into the second quarter of FY27, and Christmas is rapidly approaching. As we enter the final months of the year, I want to recognise the effort and commitment you have shown through a challenging period for Wesbeam.
Since I joined in February, we have faced increasing competition from imported products, global uncertainty and inventory disruption associated with major manufacturing upgrades. A colder winter and challenges with our log resource have added to those pressures. Alongside this, you have adapted to changes in leadership, priorities and expectations. Thank you for the resilience, professionalism and commitment you have demonstrated throughout.
I recognise that the challenges and changes of recent months have created uncertainty for some of our people. As we work through them, I have a responsibility to make our direction clearer and keep you informed about the progress we are making.
While there is still considerable work ahead, there are encouraging signs that our efforts are starting to deliver results.
Manufacturing performance has improved through September and October, with stronger output across the plant, from the lathe to the wrapper. This reflects the persistence, extra hours and effort of our manufacturing and maintenance teams and their leaders. Our priority now is to sustain that improvement, rebuild inventory and translate stronger production into reliable supply and improved financial performance.
Our sales and customer service teams have continued to support customers in an increasingly competitive market. Together with our distribution and logistics teams, they have worked hard to manage supply constraints and maintain the service and relationships that set Wesbeam apart.
I also want to recognise the contribution of our Design & Estimating, Engineering, IT, Finance, HR and other support teams. Your expertise and commitment help us deliver for customers, support our people and keep the business running effectively. Much of your work happens behind the scenes, but it is essential to Wesbeam’s success and is greatly appreciated.
With our major manufacturing upgrades now completed, our immediate priorities are clear: sustain reliable manufacturing performance, rebuild inventory to improve customer supply, and manage our costs to restore sustainable profitability. These priorities will guide our decisions and each team’s work over the coming months. We are seeing encouraging progress, but recovery will take time and requires consistent effort across the business.
Over recent months, the leadership team and Board have also been refreshing our long-term strategy. We are focused on two core priorities:
Delivering sustainable profitability.
Growing Wesbeam by maximising the value of our existing capabilities.
These priorities will guide where we focus our efforts and invest our resources. I will be visiting each branch before Christmas and look forward to sharing more detail about our strategy in person, discussing what it means for your team and hearing your questions and ideas.
I am also encouraged by the improvement in our safety performance. Total injuries have declined over recent months, and September saw improved leading-indicator compliance and a reduction in our total recordable injury frequency rate. Thank you for your contribution to making Wesbeam safer. These are positive signs, but we must maintain our focus on identifying hazards, applying effective controls and looking out for one another every day.
As we approach the end of 2026, I encourage everyone to focus on taking ownership, supporting one another, improving the way we work and never compromising on safety.
The leadership team and I will provide regular updates on our progress, the challenges that remain and what comes next. We will also work with your managers to make sure each team understands how its priorities contribute to the wider plan. Please continue to raise questions and ideas, particularly where you need more clarity or see opportunities to improve how we work.
The past eight months have reinforced my confidence in Wesbeam’s people, our customer relationships and the opportunities ahead. Thank you for your continued commitment and the support you give one another.
Giles