Profile
When Peter Kos decided it was time to join his father in the family business, Profile Glass, it was a turning point in their relationship. The Kos clan had been a typical Dutch immigrant family, with strong patriarchal control of its affairs. But now, working together every day with superheated glass meant that father and son had to strike a new balance for the business to go forward. Suddenly ?Dad? became ?Frank?, Peter says. Until then it had always been Frank Kos on his own.From a farm shed in rural Victoria, Kos had created a unique business that specialised in bending and ?slumping? decorative glass ? slumped glass is formed in a kiln where a texture is added to the glass. A master plumber, Frank learned the glass business by trial and error. His business skills were acquired in much the same way. He took on the bending and slumping jobs that were too difficult or too small for the larger operators. The business grew rapidly, but Frank knew that to move to the next level he would eventually need help.
Meanwhile, Peter Kos was establishing credentials in medical technology and a career in microbiology beckoned. He had no thought of joining his father?s business until he realised the public health system couldn?t accommodate his creative and entrepreneurial spirit. Three years ago, Peter joined Profile Glass. The business has forged ahead, partly because their skills complement each other, Peter says.
Peter?s understanding of information technology enabled him to bring order to his father?s rather chaotic administrative system. Peter?s mother Marga now does the bookwork and a five-year business plan guides Profile?s fortunes. Better office systems allow the Melbourne company to pitch with confidence on more sophisticated projects.
In recent years, Profile has established a niche market supplying curved glass to Ford and Holden for prototype and concept vehicles. Holden turned to Profile Glass when it needed a visually striking glass roof for its Torana Turbo concept car for the 2005 Melbourne Motor Show. It was the culmination of the family?s journey to its combined potential.
?We made the windscreen, the roof, and the rear and side windows,? Frank says. ?This was the most prestigious job I had ever worked on because the expectations were so high. Everything had to fit precisely.?
At the same time, Profile also collaborated with up-and-coming Melbourne artist Rowena Martinich on the production of a series of exquisitely coloured glass leaves for her entry in the 2005 Helen Lempriere National Sculpture Award. Leaf Morpho genesis consisted of five textured leaves, each 1 .2m x 2Gm. It achieved finalist status in the premier competition, showing that the Kos family business was now efficient enough to work with major industrial clients while retaining the creativity to help artists like Martinich realise a vision.
In response to a growing slate of work, Peter?s brother-in-law Terence Wright has now joined the business. Turnover has jumped five-fold in recent years to nearly $600,000. The business plan calls for that to double again as Profile moves into liquid laminating of safety glass, which will soon become a requirement for domestic use under Australian standards.
It?s definitely Frank Kos?s business ? ?I still make all the decisions,? Frank says ? but the next generation has found a niche in Profile Glass. ?It?s been a very smooth working relationship,? Peter says. ?The key is to keep private life and business totally separate.?