In the 1950s, he arrived in Australia from Holland, where he had earlier served in the Air Force. Len, a highly accomplished draftsman, began his career as a welder fabricator at the Carnarvon whaling station.

Len subsequently worked for the State Energy Commission in Belmont as a welder fabricator, fabricating various electrical manufactured steel pole hardware items after leaving Carnarvon and relocating to Perth. Len quickly saw an opportunity to establish a business manufacturing line components for the S.E.C. While Len was making street light brackets for the S.E.C. for about nine shillings and sixpence each, he proposed to make them for less than five shillings each.