Harrop Engineering celebrates 65 years

Based in Preston, Victoria, Harrop Engineering has accrued a legendary reputation for proprietary innovative design and precision manufacturing, supporting programs for iconic motorsport teams, automotive OEMs, as well as diverse aftermarket and industrial customers globally.

Founded in 1955 by Len Harrop in the inner Melbourne suburb of Brunswick, Harrop Engineering originated in specialist general engineering for the textile and general trucking/haulage industries. As the business grew, Len and Elsa’s son Ron joined after completing his boilermaker apprenticeship. Ron had a strong interest in modifying cars and motorsports, so with Len’s technical knowledge and Ron’s motorsport passion the business evolved, opening them to the world of automotive performance parts.

The production of performance parts continued to gain momentum through Ron’s car racing, with the iconic Harrop Howler through to touring cars (HDT) and then engineering Holden Racing Team Commodores. Harrop Engineering enjoyed enormous on-track success, playing a decisive role in the precision design of performance products for racing teams over the past 30 years.

In 2008, Harrop Engineering was acquired by Adrad Group, a family-owned conglomerate of companies from Adelaide, South Australia. Today the business offers several core product groups – supercharging and induction, braking, driveline and cooling over several different market segments, alongside its industrial manufacturing capabilities.

“We’re very proud of our rich heritage and talented team who design, develop and deliver our world class products,” says Heath Moore, General Manager at Harrop Engineering. “It’s a significant milestone for Harrop to reach 65 years manufacturing in Melbourne, with an increasingly diversified global focus today which is exciting for all of our stakeholders”.

Harrop Engineering recognises its ability to remain agile and capitalise on new product opportunities both locally and in export markets as fundamental to its ability to remain a leader in the automotive aftermarket industry. As a result, Harrop Engineering USA was recently established in Dayton, Ohio, to support the brands growth in the US market, and the company has invested in an Agile Robotic System and Mazak Multi-Pallet Variaxis to remain at the forefront of manufacturing technologies to support its production efficiency and capacity.

Harrop Engineering was also recently certified by SAI Global to the internationally recognised AS9100D standard, gaining accreditation to precision manufacture components for Aerospace and Defence applications.

“We are very proud to be celebrating our 65th year as an Australian manufacturer,” says Operations Manager Tim Harrop. “It is with a salute to our staff who create and our customers that partner with us, that enables us to deliver precision engineered solutions. We embrace the challenge of continuing to innovate our products, processes and engineering service offerings for our broad customer base.”