Sloanebuilt aligns itself with PPG for the supply of quality coatings and paint options.
Over four decades, Sloanebuilt has earned its reputation as a leader in the design and manufacture of custom trailers and truck bodies in Australia.
From its early days in a small shed in Camden to a 36,400-square-metre facility in Narellan in Sydney’s south-west, the business has grown alongside the family behind it.
Led by Fred and Helen Marano, Sloanebuilt remains firmly in family hands, with the next generation deeply embedded in the operation. Tim, Freddy, Daniel and Kate all play active roles in the business alongside their partners, creating a working environment where leadership is shared.
Relationships are long-term and are built on trust, friendship and consistency. Over the past 40 years, that approach has supported steady growth and a strong presence across key industries including civil, construction, grain and commodities. Every trailer that leaves the yard is custom-made to a specific purpose, and every component is built to perform, right through to the final finish.
For Sloanebuilt, coatings and paint play a critical role in the durability and protection of its products and how its customers present their business on the road. That’s where the trailer builder’s longstanding relationship with PPG comes into play. As a leading global coatings and paint company with local formulation in Melbourne, PPG can support the demands of the large-scale fully in-house operation where every build is different, but consistency remains critical.
While Sloanebuilt’s relationship with PPG has been extremely beneficial in terms of product supply, technical support, training, communication and responsiveness have all played a role as well.
“We’ve been with PPG for around 25 years now,” says Sloanebuilt Business Development Manager, Tim Marano. “When I came into the family business and did my apprenticeship back in 2000, we had just converted over to PPG because they had the market share of colours with OEM manufacturers. This connection gave us the ability to colour match with all the major brands like Kenworth, Mack, Volvo, Western Star.
“From a product point of view, we need paint systems that can match colours, handle different substrates and applications and stand up to the punishment of Australian transport. PPG paint systems do all of that, and their mixing system is probably the best in the country.”
Tim emphasises the importance of longevity and the need for products to last the test of time – often north of 20 years in transport. That is why Sloanebuilt chooses PPG.
“We manufacture high-quality trailers, and a lot of the structure is covered by coatings and paint,” he says. “Our final product’s appearance reflects the standard of our workmanship, so our coatings and paint must also be of high quality.
“Brand image is an increasingly important factor for our customers, particularly as social media gives fleets, owner-drivers and operators more reason to present their equipment with pride. With colour matching and custom colours, customers want to know that their truck has the same brand of paint as the trailer so that they look the same and there aren’t two different quality products being used.
“The industry is continually changing and evolving, and our relationship with PPG gives us access to timely information because they work with all the major OEMs. When truck manufacturers introduce new production methods, coatings or colour systems, our business needs to quickly understand what has changed so we can meet the requirements. PPG provides that support.”
The Sloanebuilt paint department reflects the scale of the operation. Around 10 staff members work across painting, blasting, panel beating and preparation, with two large paint booths, a blast booth and a substantial preparation area at the facility.
“I don’t think there’s anything we haven’t painted here,” says Sloanebuilt Paint Shop Foreman, Aaron Faint. “Our facility has everything you would see in a normal smash shop, but supersized for trucks and trailers.
“We have one drive-thru paint booth which is 25 metres long and a second booth which is 21 metres long. We have the capability to paint two chassis per day, although no two custom builds are ever the same, so our output varies.”
Scale like that does not just show up in floor space. To keep production moving, Sloanebuilt uses around 11,100 litres of coatings each year, spanning a mix of PPG paint systems including Delfleet, Deltron, Commercial Performance Coatings Polyurethane 625, Autothane and others selected to suit the specific demands of each build, application and protection requirement.
“The best thing about being a customer of PPG’s is that they can supply any type of product we need for different jobs, and their staff can provide training to ensure we get the best results,” Tim says. “They’ve got all bases covered.”
This flexibility is critical for a manufacturer with a production output the scale of Sloanebuilt’s. Existing customers also bring in trucks, trailers, bobcats, excavators, rollers, profilers and other equipment for repairs and repainting.
To support its paint department, Sloanebuilt also draws on a range of PPG allied products including SATA spray guns, SEM products and Mirka tools, all accessed through the same network.
“Just as important as the quality of the coatings and paint are the preparation and application tools we use,” Tim says. “We want consistency. We don’t want some trailers turning out with a great finish while others look second-rate. We use the same tools and the same process throughout production to achieve that.”
In 2023, Sloanebuilt was named Australian Business of the Year – a recognition Tim says reflects decades of commitment to local manufacturing and building products designed for unique Australian conditions.
“It was great to win the award because of the many years we’ve committed to manufacturing in Australia, supporting the local economy and providing jobs in our community,” he says. “Keeping production local means we’re not relying on global pressures or events that are out of our control. If shipping doesn’t arrive or something goes wrong, you can lose customers pretty quickly.”
That same thinking extends to Sloanebuilt’s approach to coatings and paints. Working with PPG not only provides access to a broad product range but also local formulation, support and technical expertise within Australia.
After 40 years in business, Sloanebuilt remains proudly Australian and family-owned, with a clear focus on quality workmanship and long-term performance. Those same expectations extend to the suppliers it works with.
“PPG has been very loyal to us over the years, and we share similar business values and vision,” Tim says. “Their people bring deep expertise, from product knowledge through to training, and that’s built a strong level of trust between us.”
