Member Profile: MooreAir

WITH DAVID MOORE

Can you tell us the history of your business?

Bob Moore started his own business in 1994 as a sole trader fixing bus air conditioning systems, after having worked for 15 years helping with the design and development of the earlier bus air conditioning systems for other companies. The company grew to eight technicians within the first seven years.

The business was first based at Bob Moore’s family home in Brooklyn Park, with workshop space kindly provided by a customer in their Mile End workshop.

Within five years, Bob was able to hire premises of his own and expand to include truck air conditioning and refrigeration. They re-located to their current premises in Camden Park in 2008, and are the only company to offer bus and truck air conditioning services outside the northern or southern industrial zones. MooreAir is now managed by David Moore, with Bob still providing technical and training advice to the business.

How has your business changed over the years?

Over the years MooreAir has diversified its services to include design and manufacture of air conditioning units for the local trams, and refrigeration units for small trucks. MooreAir has expanded into rail, shipping and airport support equipment, servicing and repairing air conditioning and refrigeration equipment for those industries.

What services/products do you offer?

MooreAir offers air conditioning and refrigeration service and repairs for heavy transport vehicles, including buses, trucks, trains, earthmoving and airport ground support equipment. MooreAir will custom design and engineer equipment where required. As well as the workshop at Camden Park, it has a fully mobile fleet of technicians to service customers at their depot when required. MooreAir also supply air conditioning spare parts to the bus industry.

How many employees do you currently have and what areas do they work in?

MooreAir currently has seven staff, consisting of a service manager, four full-time technicians and administration staff.

Why did you become a member of the MTA?

MooreAir felt it important to be aligned with an industry association which could support and advice where needed.

How has the MTA assisted you over your 25-year membership?

The MTA have been extremely helpful in providing information and advice with changing industrial and work health related requirements. They have provided much needed advice regarding employment awards and processes, and legal advice whenever needed. The MTA has been extremely helpful in assisting with the set-up of workplace procedures and policies, and have guided MooreAir through any government incentive packages that could relate, including during the last two years of the pandemic.

David Moore of MooreAir. 25-year member of the Motor Trade Association.

What have been the greatest challenges in 2020-2022 and how have you responded?

During the Covid pandemic MooreAir initially lost just over 80% of its work. They chose to retain all their staff, but work hours had to be heavily reduced. Some staff were on temporary standby, and the rest were rostered to work as required. Gradually all the staff’s work hours were increased as work began to flow again. The government incentives were paramount in helping the company stay afloat at that time.

Gradually MooreAir managed to recover, but are still down somewhat from their previous workload.

What are the factors - including personal traits and business factors - that have contributed to your success?

MooreAir was originally built around the personality of Bob Moore. His attitude has always been if it’s worth doing, it’s worth doing properly. This attitude has continuously meant the products the company installs and services are reliable for their customers. It is also important to MooreAir that its employees are respected and appreciated; all staff are extremely important in making the business strong and effective. MooreAir also instills in its workers the importance of looking after their customers. Every customer is important and the company takes care to look after their needs well.

Does your business help the local community in any way?

MooreAir priorities the use of small business local suppliers where possible. The company also give financial support to local groups, such as Coastlands Community Care and to Genesis Pregnancy Support Inc.

What do you enjoy most about working in the retail automotive industry (and do you have a favourite memory?)

Our staff enjoy the challenge of designing improvements so our customer’s air conditioning/ refrigeration systems can work at their optimum performance. Our staff enjoy the day-to-day interaction with customers and helping them so they can in-turn do their job effectively and efficiently.

For example, one Christmas Eve we received a phone call from a customer who was stuck in Port Augusta with a bus load of passengers on a Christmas tour. The clutch on the bus air conditioning compressor had broken, which meant no air conditioning for his passengers whom he was taking to Coober Pedy on Christmas Day. One of MooreAir’s technicians agreed to help out overnight, so the bus driver drove the bus to Adelaide while his passengers slept in the local accommodation. Our technician finished the repairs by 5am Christmas morning, the driver arrived back to Port Augusta on time to pick up his passengers, and the passengers got to enjoy their Christmas in Cooper Pedy. A couple of weeks later MooreAir received a gift package, which Bob Moore gave to the family who was put out by their father going out on Christmas eve to fix the bus!

Any hobbies or pursuits outside of work?

Our technicians are all into 4-wheel driving and camping, so there have been a few fun group camping and fishing weekends together. David Moore is an amateur triathlete and competes in Ironman events. Bob Moore is part of his local tennis club and is enjoying his semi-retirement as a grandfather of 10.

MooreAir apprentice, Troy Azzopardi, fixing a compressor.