Decades of endorsement at Dubbo

Founding director Bob Hogno began his career fencing with his father, Sam, 40 years ago and together built their first shed north-west of Canberra.

Shed building was much more physically demanding back then, according to Mr Hogno.

"Everything was done off ladders and foundations were dug by crowbar and shovel," he said.

"Concrete was mixed in small concrete mixers or by hand as we didn't have the luxuries and equipment available to builders today."

All-terrain elevated work platforms, cordless drills, truck-mounted post-hole borers are a necessary part of today's operations.

"Not to mention the advances made in the equipment and plant used in the fabrication of the structural components of a building," Mr Hogno said.

"But these are no longer luxuries; they are an integral and necessary part of a modern operation."

State Wide Sheds began when Mr Hogno and a partner purchased a small steel fabrication business.

"That was the beginning but we outgrew that operation very quickly and we built a much larger premises from which we operate today."

The most common shed built in the early years was a standard three-sided machinery shed, which still remains a significant part of today's business, Mr Hogno said.

"The shed sizes have increased significantly though, in terms of height and widths with the increase in value and size of larger equipment used in today's broadacre and conservation farming techniques," he said.

Current business partner and director of State Wide Sheds Richard Watkins said the company had more to offer in its range these days.

"We are fabricating a five-stand shearing shed, a speciality 1300 square metre drying shed for a south-east NSW abattoir, a very elaborate structural frame for an extremely large residence in the Central Highlands of Queensland and a 1250sqm bulk commodity shed for an established client here in Dubbo," he said.

"We are also erecting a fully enclosed 1500sqm cyclone-rated shed in Darwin which we recently fabricated and delivered."

Six more large commercial buildings are being fabricated and erected.

Mr Hogno said the company had resisted the appointment of a dealer network.

"It's been a trend followed by many other shed fabricators," he said.

"Although logistically there may be merit in such a strategy, we believe that one of this company's key strengths is maintaining control of the total process.

"That includes sales, design, fabrication, delivery and erection of its buildings."

Mr Hogno said with his set-up there were no grey areas of responsibility.

"Others will rely on third parties to place the foundations, deliver the cladding and purlins, or erect the buildings," he said.

"State Wide Sheds generally retain all of that responsibility."

Mr Watkins said the proof of the success of that philosophy was evidenced by the fabrication, delivery and erection of sheds to all States and territories in Australia.

"That includes the gulf country in Queensland to islands in Bass Strait, from Kununurra in north-west Western Australia to the Gippsland of Victoria."

He said a great proportion of business came from existing clients or referrals from clients.

"You can't get better endorsement than that."