Jenera: 50 Years of Innovation, Powered by People

Jenera: A Legacy of Manufacturing

For more than 50 years, Jenera has been a cornerstone of manufacturing in the Bayswater Business Precinct. Established in 1974 as Jenkin Bros Engineers and rebranded in 2024 to mark its milestone anniversary, Jenera has grown into a modern, Australian-owned company specialising in precision CNC machining, laser cutting, welding, sheet metal fabrication, and product development. Today, it supplies major transport OEMs and industries spanning mining, rail, and automotive.

With around 60 employees, Jenera invests heavily in training and development, including Lean Six Sigma programs, ensuring its workforce remains agile and competitive. The company’s ethos, “One Partner, Many Solutions”, reflects its ability to deliver end-to-end manufacturing services while staying true to its heritage of quality, innovation, and community contribution.

Brooke Kreuzer: Driving Change and Innovation

One of Jenera’s most inspiring stories is that of Brooke Kreuzer, a finalist for Woman Manufacturer of the Year in the 2025 Victorian Manufacturing Hall of Fame. Brooke joined the business in May 2023, coming from a background as a beauty therapist and swimming teacher. She began as an administration assistant with no prior manufacturing experience.

She admits the transition was daunting, saying “I was working blindly for months, asking myself what am I doing here?” But with strong support from the Jenera team, Brooke quickly learned the ropes, applying her customer service skills and problem-solving mindset to thrive in a new environment.

Brooke’s adaptability has seen her advance into critical roles, leading process improvements such as automation tools for order dispatch and streamlining production data to reduce errors. She also project managed improvements to the trip line system, tracking trucks through production checkpoints to ensure compliance and streamline operations in a fast-paced environment.

Her ability to pivot and innovate has been vital in helping Jenera shift from a traditional assembler to a customer solution provider, offering import replacement solutions and customised manufacturing for Australian trucks.

CEO Simon Bowen credits Brooke’s success to her values, her willingness to learn, passion for solving problems, and commitment to customers. He emphasises that Jenera’s culture is built on respect, honesty, and accountability, saying “It’s all about trust and teamwork.”

Brooke’s story also reflects the importance of diversity in the workplace. Her fresh perspective has introduced new ways of problem-solving and engagement, demonstrating how varied skills and viewpoints can be a powerful asset in manufacturing.

Culture, Partnerships, and Future Growth

This culture is strongly reflected in Jenera’s partnership with Kenworth, a leading truck manufacturer and valued client within the Bayswater Business Precinct. When urgent challenges arise, Jenera responds with customised solutions to meet customer needs. Brooke’s customer engagement skills have been pivotal in working directly with Kenworth, supported by Simon and the wider team. By empowering staff like Brooke to take ownership, Simon cultivates a workplace built on confidence, trust, and collaboration.

Brooke’s proactive approach has also driven innovation. When a critical truck part was due to be imported from Mexico, she identified an opportunity to manufacture it locally. By engaging with internal production staff, Jenera was able to make this part in-house, avoiding delays and enabling the business to continue building trucks without interruption. This example highlights Jenera’s ability to pivot and adapt, ensuring competitiveness in an industry where traditional approaches no longer suffice.

Jenera’s story is one of heritage, innovation, and people. From its beginnings as Jenkin Bros Engineers to its modern identity as Jenera, the company continues to evolve while staying rooted in Bayswater. With leaders like Simon Bowen fostering a culture of trust, and emerging talents like Brooke Kreuzer proving that fresh perspectives can drive growth, Jenera exemplifies the resilience and ingenuity of the Bayswater Business Precinct.

Jenera, 6 – 8 Ramage Street, Bayswater, 3153

Phone: 03 8727 6600

Email: sales@jenera.com.au

Website: jenera.com.au