How was 2023 for Aussie Pumps?

Last year Australian Pump Industries celebrated 30 years in business. It gave me a chance to reflect on the progress we have made since starting in just a double garage at the back of a property in the Hills district suburb of Sydney, Arcadia.  Starting from not one dollar of turnover, the aim of the original four employees was to provide the users with better outcomes from innovative products that were based on market feedback.

That may seem like an obvious thing to do but at the time, we could see there was a degree of exhaustion in some manufacturers of cleaning equipment in Australia. Within one and a half years we had to move to a 2 ½ acre site at Castle Hill and set about developing a range of hot and cold high pressure washers that we believe are the best in the world.

28 years on our production has now grown to the point where our Castle Hill premises in no longer fit for purpose. 2024 will be a breakout year for us. As I write this, we are in the process of moving to a new, purposed designed facility in Norwest which will see a revolution in the way we build our pressure cleaners.

The new, larger factory with integrated test room and special areas for large builds, will enable us to continue to grow and improve our production efficiency. The oversize warehouse and office space will enable us to increase the sales support team and house stock on the one site. We are excited to take this ‘tiger by the tail’ and fully understand the challenges and opportunities this opens.

In 2023 we also saw an increase in our export sales and expansion of our overseas dealer network. New dealers have been set up in Hong Kong, New Zealand, and the Middle East. We’re seeing an acknowledgement of the quality of what we do from the market worldwide, and we’re proud that a relatively small manufacturing operation in Australia can take on some of the giants of the industry and win.

What are the company’s main priorities for 2024?

Aussie Pumps is setting out on a huge expansion program for 2024. We have already brought on board an expanded sales team and have been really impressed with the progress the new team members have made.

Obviously, we’ll also be building up our numbers of production and store staff to facilitate the increases in assembly of machines and demand for shipping products. We’re already seeing results, with the new team stimulating our dealer network and spreading the message about our commitment to quality.

On the product development front, that never ceases here at Aussie Pumps. We are always looking for ways to improve and enhance our product line up.

How does Aussie Pumps plan to innovate to meet the evolving needs and expectations of customers?

We’ve seen a significant move to hot water pressure cleaners both electric drive and engine drive units. Many customers appreciate that cleaning with hot water saves times, reduces the amount of chemicals used, and delivers a better cleaning result with faster drying times.

There has been a perception that hot water machines can be difficult to maintain. Aussie has worked hard to overcome this by developing machines that are robust and designed specifically for the Australian market.

Take our Sizzler Hot Wash for example. We’ve designed a revolutionary machine that runs on a four-pole electric motor and a slow-speed 1,450 rpm pump, delivering 1,800 psi pressure at 80°C. The 80°C temperature melts grease, removes chewing gum, and tackles some graffiti. All of this is housed in a stainless-steel cover and a steel chassis frame with four wheels with flat-free tires for easy movement. The product is now a fixture in the market, popular not only because of its exceptional   features that protect both the operator and the machine.

A major accomplishment has also been the launch of our pressure cleaning safety training program, “Aussie Safe Operator” but many customers are calling it “Get Home Safe”.

We set out to encourage safety in the workplace when it comes to the use of pressure cleaners. Even the lightweight machines from hardware stores can be dangerous if used improperly. The online course also encourages routine maintenance and assists the operator or service technician understand why they are doing those simple checks. 

We encourage all cleaning operators and maintenance staff working with pressure cleaners, irrespective of their size and capacity, to log into our Safe Operator Training Program. It’s essential for all in the industry to understand the importance of safety.

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