A thriving Far North Queensland horticultural business, Branches Nursery, has recently partnered with Toyota Material Handling Australia (TMHA) to enhance its operational efficiency and prepare for future growth.
Nursery principal, Oscar Michel, has just taken delivery of his third Toyota Huski 4SDK4 Skid Steer Loader and is consulting with TMHA on the supply of upgraded forklifts for his two sites.
TMHA last year opened a dedicated branch in Cairns in response to expanding opportunities in the region.
“Previously we’d been relying on remote service from Townsville 350km away,” Oscar said.
“Now we not only have access to local service, but we also have a business manager who understands our requirements.”
Branches Nursery maintains an inventory of 50,000 plants across 150 species, growing at two sites in Cairns and Port Douglas.
Fifty per cent of its stock is sold outside the region, largely in Brisbane and on the Gold and Sunshine Coasts, but also surprisingly further north fulfilling government contracts in areas like Thursday Island.
The other 50 per cent is sold locally to landscapers who are working hard to keep up with demand in a region whose population has doubled from 80,000 when Oscar started his business in the 1990s to more than 170,000.
Cairns Regional Council forecasts a population of more than 240,000 by 2050, a constant growth curve which both Branches Nursery and Toyota Material Handling seek to service.
TMHA area sales manager Paul Allen said Branches Nursery was a very important client.
“Operating in Far North Queensland comes with a unique set of challenges which are best met by a close understanding of local conditions and requirements,” he said.
Oscar agrees, saying he had been operating with machinery too large for efficient use.
“Now we have right-sized machines to maximise the operation. The Huski skid steer loader is able to properly manoeuvre within our rows and purpose-built implements are easily interchangeable between each machine,” he said.
Row width is particularly important in Branches’ nursery operation.
The Huski 4SDK4 is just 900mm wide, the smallest of Toyota’s six-model range, yet it has an operating capacity of 320kg, more than sufficient for the nursery’s intricate requirements.
Branches’ Cairns manager Sebastian Abrue said easy changing between implements from auger attachments to a range of buckets reduced downtime and maximised the ability to fulfill customer orders on tight turnaround.
“We call on the Huskis to do everything from levelling new sites, to crushing rock , preparing potting mix on a weekly basis, and most importantly transplanting trees as part of their growth program,” he said.
“Reliability and versatility have been a major part of our experience with the Huski.
“We’ve rarely had issues and to have service now available in Cairns increases our confidence.”
Branches Nursery has earned a reputation for innovation not only in horticulture but in logistics.
It has worked with a local transport company to efficiently move its plant stock more than 1600km to Southeast Queensland while backloading the same trucks with soil, potting mix, and nutrients essential to future growth.
The efficient movement of plants and materials within Branches’ two sites is an ongoing part of conversation between the company and Toyota Materials Handling.
Oscar and his wife Kate started family-owned Branches from a 1.6-hectare greenfield site in Kewarra Beach, now an exclusive suburb of Cairns where they continue to maintain their headquarters.
In 2018, the couple expanded to an additional 15-hectare site at Mowbray outside Port Douglas to take advantage of less expensive land prices and to give their son Nick, 24, a grounding in the business.
Nick manages Port Douglas while Sebastian, now 10 years with Branches, runs Cairns.
“We had intended to consolidate in Mowbray, but COVID demand highlighted how the two sites could work to complement each other,” Oscar said.
Equitable allocation of machinery and staff between the two sites, on an as-needed basis, formed a substantial component of the cost- benefit advantages to support the continuation of both sites.
As Branches Nursery continues to grow, the partnership with TMHA ensures they have the reliable support and equipment needed for sustained success and innovation in the horticultural industry.
For more information, freecall Toyota Material Handling Australia on 1800 425 438 or visit www.toyotamaterialhandling. com.au