MyDealer:
The Akron Group NT is the largest infrastructure asset maintenance company in the Northern Territory. Based in Darwin, they also have facilities in Katherine and Alice Springs. They value working with strong, local suppliers who will partner with them to achieve success – which is why they chose to work with Vanderfield Darwin.
Vanderfield Sales rep Peter Tyrie says that the relationship he’s had with Akron for the last 15 years has been hassle-free, and one built on trust and reliability.
“It’s easy to deal with Akron because we both do business in a straight and honest way. We’re here to back them in every way we can, including after a sale has been made with any information or support. We appreciate them partnering with locals like us.”
Award of additional grounds maintenance tenders in the last year led to Akron purchasing seven John Deere 6110M tractors (two with front end loaders and Howard Slashers), one 6155M tractor with 6M Bomford Reach mower, and nine commercial mowers (seven front deck and two zero-turn) from the Vanderfield Darwin branch to increase their turf fleet.
“We love to support and work with local businesses as much as we can. Having always been a fan of the John Deere range of products due to their high quality, it made sense to turn to Vanderfield. It’s been great doing business with Peter Tyrie and [branch manager] Andrew Simon over the years,” George says.
Established in 1961 by founder and director Emmanuel Vordohilas, Akron has expanded and diversified over the years and today serve a wide variety of industries across civil and building construction and demolition through hydro excavation, jetter drain cleaning and CCTV, waste management and recycling traffic control, asset maintenance, and more.
Emmanuel’s son George became Akron’s managing director in 2008, and says over the last 19 years they’ve grown in their ability to manage large scale projects, including government ones.
“We have become a one-stop shop that provides practical solutions from consultation services during the project scoping phase through to construction completion and handover.”
However, Akron’s exponential growth in recent years is not what makes George the proudest.
“Akron’s main asset, and the main factor in our success is, without a doubt, our people,” he says. “We have about 260 employees who live our values. They are driven to succeed and very passionate about doing a good job and offering a consistently high level of service.”
Akron constantly seeks to form partnerships with other leading local businesses. “We invite expressions of interest from other companies to assist in projects, and proactively look to partner with and employ First Australians. We see our workforce as family, an extension of our own families, and are very proud to be born and bred Territorians.”
