Network Breakfast - February 2002ebruary 2001

Guest Speaker

George Lewin

The journalist who invented the Triton Saw Bench, and then turned his backyard business into a $300 million Australian hardware icon.

Educated in Melbourne at St.Kilda Park State School, Middle Park Central School, Elwood High School. HSC completed in 1966.

In 1975 discovering woodwork as a hobby, he got stuck during the first project, and soon conceived the basic idea of the Triton saw bench to solve cutting problems.  He then went on to refine the idea, built various prototypes, applied for Provisional Patent.  He conducted market research, and tried to interest various manufacturers, marketers and distributors in the concept, without success.  

In June 1976, commenced manufacture of a pilot batch of components for 100 units, mostly financed on credit and borrowings, to be finished off and assembled from home .

Appeared on “The Inventors” on ABC National tv - July 6 1976 and then resigned his career in journalism and plunged into the nightmare of full-scale manufacture from home.  Sold the first batch of Triton Saw Benches(Mk 1) to eager viewers of the program and several major retail chains.     

 1977 – 1999  George built Triton up from a tiny backyard operation, into a 100% Australian hardware success story, with well over 100 employees and annual turnover approaching $20m from domestic and a dozen export markets.

 More than 350-thousand Triton Workcentres, plus about 2 million accessory products were sold during these years - with total sales approaching $300 million.

 George sold Triton to Hills Industries in 1999, and has now embarked on a national philanthropic venture to help other inventors commercialise their ideas, and to thereby promote a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship in Australia.

“The Triton Story”

 a classic saga that almost died, then went on to create sales of $300 million

• four minutes that can change your life
• the backyard idea that made millions  -  thanks to a TV Show
• how innovation and determination took this idea and turned it into an Australian Icon.