A family business in Eltham is making an entire industry safer thanks to its simple invention.
TrackGrip is a steel attachment for earthmovers — such as excavators and other tracked vehicles — that clips onto the vehicle, increasing stability.
“It’s like 10 times more safe,” inventor John Burling said.
“The seatbelt was a revolution for the car; that’s what the TrackGrip is to the excavator. It’s like having the seatbelt on,” he said.
“In the wet or the rain, or if you’re working around water, things become dangerous because if you slip into the water, you’ll drown,” he explained.
“The TrackGrip gives you real sideways protection. It’s huge.”
Burling was inspired to make the product after a dicey day on a digger.
“One day out on a job, the thing took off on me and slid down a hill. I thought, man, you must be able to make this a better machine. And that’s what I did.”
‘Tinkerer’
It’s far from the only thing the self-described tinkerer has created.
When Eltham wanted to make the world’s biggest scone, Burling made the oven to bake it.
“It worked the first time; I was pretty chuffed. We took it to the town square, and everyone had a bit; it was really cool,” Burling said.
But Burling’s speciality area was safety, not scones.
“I was the first person in the world to make that T-bar that goes on the four-wheelers, the anti-roll bars. I registered that design in 1983. It’s saved a lot of lives.”
In that same decade, Burling also designed a trailer-coupling robust enough for farm use.
“The ones that used to be made in NZ at the time, and the ones that were being imported, neither worked for the agricultural industry — they were too hard to use for people. So, I wrote down 10 things on how to make them better,” said Burling.
“Now, we’re the only ones making trailer couplings in New Zealand. And we export them all over the world.”
Chances are you’ve driven past one of Burling’s gadgets; power poles all over New Zealand feature a thimble anchor he made.
“Oh, thousands! We make thousands and thousands of them.”
However, TrackGrip has put his Eltham company on the map, sending units worldwide.
“The market for this is huge; it’s worldwide.”
Patents
Patents protect each of Burling’s designs.
“I’ve spent huge amounts of money on patents; I’m really strict about them. We’ve been pretty lucky over the years. We’ve had the odd person try to knock it off, but they can’t make it like we make them. It’s a lot more technical.
“We spend thousands of hours testing them, using different steels.”
CEO Sonia Kiser agreed.
“The amount of manufacturers who’ve been trying to make something like this device for years, they’ve spent millions trying and not achieved it.
“You look at a TrackGrip, and it looks simple, but it can have over 100 patents.”
Part of its success is its ability to be attached quickly to a vehicle’s tracks, which means minimal loss of productivity.
“It’s very easy to put on and off; it only takes 30 mins. It adds traction, stability, safety, productivity and efficiency to the machine and the operator,” said Kiser.
The company has customers worldwide, including America’s gold-hunting family, the Hoffmans.
“Ah, the Hoffmans,” smiled Burling.
“The people from the Gold Rush show. To cut a long story short, they got two sets and ran them on their TV show for the whole season. Now they’re ambassadors for North America.”
Burling does so much business with America that he’s opened a manufacturing plant there, reducing carbon emissions from international freight.
At his Eltham warehouse, 14 welding robots help with the enormous workload.
“I’m fascinated by them. I was the first in New Zealand to put robots in, back in the 80s.”
Working alongside them – Burling’s family.
“I know it’s pretty cool,” he smiled.
A family affair
Son Mark is an engineer, middle child Sonia is the company CEO, and youngest daughter Heather works with mum Yvonne taking care of the company finances.
“That is so special, every day coming to work knowing your family is around you and there is a degree of trust all the time,” said Yvonne.
Burling said he was always going to be an inventor.
“I was always fascinated with mechanics. My mother used to buy me the book Popular Mechanics. I wasn’t much of a reader, but I could look at the pictures and make all sorts of things,” he explained.
“People used to bring me things that needed fixing — chainsaws and lawnmowers and things — and they worked better when I finished with them than when they came out of the factory because I’d make sure they were perfect.
“I’d modify ports and make them run better, make them faster all the time. It’s just me, you know?”
Burling said that while others might roll their eyes at health and safety, it’s important to him.
“I’ve always been one for not getting hurt. I always put the seatbelt on in the car. And even at work here, I’m very strict about people wearing the right gear. It’s just my nature.”
Since launching TrackGrip 14 years ago, he’s developed attachments for working in snow and ice, rock and forestry.
And he’s not finished yet.
“I’m developing new things all the time. I’m always waking up and writing things down.”
His wife, Yvonne, agreed.
“We can be out or even at home, and he needs a serviette or paper to jot down the ideas,” she said.
Burling also had some advice for budding inventors.
“I always say to people, if you’re going to make something, make the best. Don’t send anything that’s not right. If you don’t think it’s right, don’t send it.”
