Townley Drop Forge has been producing forged steel products in Australia for more than a century. From its factory floor in Melbourne, the business continues to supply lifting points, turnbuckles, rigging screws, and hooks that are widely used across the lifting and rigging sector.
A major part of how these products reach worksites across the country is through the Global Lifting Group (GLG) – a partnership that General Manager Rocky Galati said is important to Townley’s operations today.
Townley was founded in the early 1900s by English immigrant Fred Townley. In its earliest years, the forge produced firing pins and brass fittings to support Australia’s war effort. The company later diversified into automotive manufacturing, with Holden and Ford becoming key customers through the 1970s and ’80s.
By the 1990s, however, the automotive sector was under pressure, and Townley began to shift focus once more. “The business moved away from automotive because it was no longer sustainable,” Rocky said. “Thankfully, the focus turned to lifting and rigging – products like eye bolts, turnbuckles, and rigging screws. That’s what kept Townley relevant and gave us a clear identity in the market.”
Today, that shift underpins Townley’s reputation. Its products are used in construction, mining, infrastructure, and by crane operators across the country.
Townley’s forged products are designed and manufactured to Australian standards, which Rocky described as among the strictest in the world.
“For example, our eye bolts require a six-to-one safety factor, compared to four or five-to-one in other regions,” he said. “Those higher standards mean our products meet tougher conditions and stricter compliance. Customers can rely on that.”
Sourcing also plays a role. Whenever possible, Townley uses Australian steel. “We trust the certificates that come with it, and that means we can stand behind what we sell. It’s getting harder as local steel production shrinks, but our policy has always been Australia first,” Rocky said.
The role of Global Lifting Group
Townley Drop Forge had long supplied many of the companies that make up the Global Lifting Group. In 2015, the relationship was formalised into a preferred supplier arrangement, giving both sides more structure.
“For us, the Global Lifting Group is an important part of our distributor base,” Rocky said. “They’re in every state and territory, with branch locations that give us reach we wouldn’t have on our own. Strategically, that’s very important for Townley.”
Rocky describes the partnership as close and cooperative. “We’ve developed strong ties with the principals of those businesses. Over time, it’s gone beyond supply – we’ve built friendships and a real sense of trust.”
That sentiment is shared by members within the group. Ricardo Anaya, General Manager at Ace Load Testing, said the company’s experience with Townley Drop Forge has been exceptional. “They’ve proven to be a reliable and technically competent partner, consistently supplying high-quality lifting components for our customers,” Ricardo said.
“From an engineering standpoint, we value the consistency of their manufacturing processes and the traceability of their materials – both essential in maintaining compliance with Australian Standards. From a service perspective, their responsiveness and willingness to collaborate on specialised lifting solutions have been outstanding. What we appreciate most is that Townley shares our focus on safety, quality, and reliability.”
Supporting distributors with custom work
A major strength of the partnership lies in Townley’s ability to provide customised solutions. Standard products cover most needs, but when customers require something outside the catalogue, Townley steps in.
“Often a distributor comes to us with a job that needs a non-standard lifting point or a particular thread length. We’ll take the specifications, do the drawings, and if needed, provide CAD designs,” Rocky said. “We handle the engineering, the testing, and the certification. That way, the Global Lifting Group member can concentrate on their customers while we take care of the technical side.”
This approach is especially valuable when time is short. “A lot of these issues come up on live projects where work is already under way. Our job is to provide the missing piece quickly so the job doesn’t stop,” he said.
Ricardo agreed that the technical and service aspects of the partnership make a clear difference on site. “Townley understands the realities of field work – short lead times, site-specific requirements, and the importance of dependable product performance – and they’ve always delivered,” he said. “Their problem-solving attitude makes them a trusted name within the group.”
Local support through a national network
The strength of the GLG network is its reach and collaboration between members. For businesses like Ace Load Testing, this setup provides reliability across regions and projects.
“Being part of the GLG network has strengthened our ability to source certified lifting equipment efficiently while supporting Australian manufacturing,” Ricardo said. “The collective purchasing framework and shared supplier relationships ensure we can access the right products when needed, with the added assurance of full compliance and quality control.”
He added that the partnership has helped Ace reduce downtime and expand its capabilities. “For us, it means consistent product availability and the confidence that every component we supply, test, or install meets national standards. Working through GLG with suppliers like Townley Drop Forge allows us to maintain strong local partnerships while delivering a faster, more coordinated service to our clients across the country.”
“The support of the group members and connected supply chain through manufacturers like Townley has enabled us to expand our suite of products and services. It’s a model that keeps everyone accountable and moving forward together,” he said.
Products beyond the forge
Alongside its forged Australian-made range, Townley also distributes select products from quality manufacturers to complement the local range.
These products are also channelled through the Global Lifting Group, making the group a one-stop solution for lifting and rigging equipment across the country.
Townley Drop Forge has survived multiple industry shifts in its long history, adapting from defence to automotive and now firmly into lifting and rigging. Its ability to evolve has kept it relevant while maintaining its identity as an Australian manufacturer.
For Rocky, the partnership with the Global Lifting Group is part of that resilience. “They help us reach more of the industry, and we help them with products and solutions they can trust,” he said. “It’s simple, but it works. That’s what keeps us both strong in a competitive market.”