Telwater Buys Savage

by Jeni Bone on 29 Oct 2008 The iconic, 110-year old Savage brand name will be back on the market from January 2009, manufactured by Telwater on the Gold Coast.

All brand and manufacturing assets have been sold by Brunswick for an undisclosed sum.

Effective as of 31st October 2008, the agreement means Savage manufacturing will relocate to Telwater’s facility at Coomera, Queensland.

John Pfeifer President of Brunswick Asia Pacific Group says the decision represented a strengthening of the company’s industry partnership with Telwater.

'Brunswick Asia Pacific Group and Telwater saw the opportunity to mutually enhance each other’s business. Telwater gains additional manufacturing volume while we benefit from the security of a long-term contract for the supply of engines.'

Newly appointed Savage National Account Manager Cameron Wood, who has been with Telwater since 2002 in a dealer development role, says he is 'absolutely looking forward to reviving the ideas' of the Savage brand.

'We won’t be changing it to look like a Stacer or Quintrex. It will be the Savage product that dealers and customers know. The main advantage for the Savage brand is Telwater’s logistics, computer systems for ordering and monitoring build status and transport – all of which will improve with the extra volume. We will maintain the same dealer network, no changes there. I am just taking the time now to introduce myself.'

According to Wood there are around 59 dealers nationally, some of whom may be dormant.

The range too will remain the same. 'There won’t be any dramatic changes, but we will reassess and refine.'

Warranty on Savage boats manufactured prior to the sale remains the responsibility of the Brunswick Asia Pacific Group and will be coordinated through regional service managers.

Employees affected by the closure of the Melbourne manufacturing facility have been offered redundancy packages.