L.R. Instruments Pty Ltd, in July 2007, celebrated 25 years in business. From a humble beginning in 1982 located in a small section within another warehouse, L.R. Instruments have grown into a multi-national company.
In July 1982, Lionel Richards decided to set up a medical supply company to supply surgical and medical equipment to the trade at a competitive price. Our beginnings were humble with a chair, a kitchen table, two Visacards at $1,000.00 each and a rusted out Falcon car. First years turnover was $66,258.00.
We moved into our first warehouse at 651 Waterdale Road Heidelberg in 1984 and then onto Korong Road in 1986. From 1982 to 1990 we shared the warehouses with transport companies owned by Lionel’s brothers. L.R. Instruments was only in a small corner of their warehouses.
In 1990 L.R. Instruments moved into its first warehouse on its own in Ringwood. At this time we had 3 employees including Lionel Richards. Over the next few years, the company grew at an annual rate of 27%, going from a very small company into a medium size one. By 2000, there were 8 staff working, 6 in Melbourne, 1 in Sydney and 1 in Queensland.
In 2004, due to the rapid expansion of the company, we had to move out of Unit 2-160 New Street into a larger warehouse at Unit 7-100 New Street Ringwood. We moved from a 300 sq metre warehouse into a 1,600 sq metre warehouse. This was a great move for us, as it gave us room to expand.
In 2006 L.R. Instruments Pty Ltd established its first office in New Zealand and now employs 2 staff in this office. L.R. Instruments Pty Ltd currently employs 20 people in Australia and New Zealand.