The need to compete against National and Chain Store Industrial Supply houses led to a meeting of a number of principals and managers of independent Industrial Supply companies for in and around Melbourne in December 1996. The object of this meeting was to ascertain the potential support base for a buying group composed of like-minded businesses.

The group was created in February 1997, with an initial membership of Nine companies, the advantages of combined expenditure and the resultant purchasing power, quickly attracted the interest of national wholesale and manufacturing businesses.

The interest resulted in the group becoming an active entity in April 1997, having produced a member subsidised product brochure / catalogue for distribution to end users. Initial sales successes and the growth potential, saw a considerable number of product suppliers enter into trading contracts with the group. These additions further enhanced the competitiveness against the larger National Supply houses.

A Propriety Limited company was formed in November 1997, with the appointment of Board of Directors as the controlling body, and an Office Administrator employed to maintain communication channels between the Board, Members and Suppliers.

Committed to quality management, strength of independent membership and expansion of both its membership and supplier base, the company has grown to a total of 85 Members and 135 Suppliers over 14 Years.

The decision to secure premises suitable for a National Head Office and to engage a full time professional manager and office administrator was taken in August 2000 with the office establishment completed and staff in place by January 2001.

With a constitutional limit of 50 Members, the achievement of 94% of this target with the 5 Year Business Plan, and a spread of Member companies around the Eastern seaboard, as well from Darwin (NT) to Perth, then onto Kadina (SA), the group has realised its primary objectives and anticipates growth in both the Member and Supplier base to further the interests and benefits to its members with brought us to the following.

On July 1st 2003, the company changed to an unlisted public company so the growth of the company could continue.

A new constitution and shareholders agreement was adopted and approved by the Members.