Newsletter Number 76
April 2013
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Fantech celebrates Forty years ago Jack Pirie and Glen Harries met for a drink at a pub one evening. The meeting had a profound effect on both men’s lives as they began a journey to form a new company and start an unbreakable friendship that would see many highs and lows.
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To commemorate the 40 year anniversary and thank customers for their continued support, Fantech held their annual customer function at the Melbourne Aquarium where over 320 customers, suppliers and staff came together. Master of Ceremonies and actor Shane Jacobson (also known as plumber Kenny Smyth, in the 2006 film Kenny and Australian Top Gear host) kept the crowd entertained as Jack and Peter talked about Fantech’s history and some industry first developments.
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“ What has evolved is a family of employees with a ‘can do’ attitude...”
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Talking to guests, Peter said it was important to show where the company had come from, but also demonstrate its future direction. “Fantech has recently introduced a new service, offering fans prefabricated to include a range of ancillaries, ready for lifting and mounting into position,” he said. “This is a first for Fantech and a real opportunity for projects to gain installation efficiencies on the building site.”
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Air & Noise Equipment began in 1973, and later changed its name to Fantech. Glen’s daughter’s bedroom soon became Head Office as the two men, full of passion, commitment and vision, set out to create the most trusted and well respected fan company in Australia.
Today Fantech is part of the Elta Group Asia Pacific (EGAP) operation with approximately 340 staff and facilities in Malaysia, New Zealand, and most states of Australia. Fantech Managing Director Peter Wingfield said the company’s success could be traced back to the initial philosophies established by Jack and Glen. “Their aims were to provide a new level of customer service and high quality products which are still a core value of the company today,” he said. The two men strongly believed they could improve the design of existing products in the market so by 1978 Fantech started selling axial flow fans and roof units that they had designed and manufactured. To help them with the constant push to provide a better product and superior service, they surrounded themselves with like-minded people, some of whom are still with the company today. “What has evolved is a family of employees with a ‘can do’ attitude and a commitment to providing intelligent ventilation solutions,” Peter said. “We continue to listen to our customer base and to respond to their needs with innovative new energy efficient products.”
Fantech is passionate about pursuing intelligent ventilation solutions as the trend towards ‘green’ technology continues to grow in demand. The company is researching and developing ideas that will integrate purpose-built software with Fantech products to improve efficiency and reduce energy consumption.
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In driving the company forward he spoke of the immense number of products available from the Elta Group and the company’s ability to offer customers a packaged ventilation solution that could include duct and diffusion products, fans, silencers, air handling units and filter systems. “It is a real advantage to our customers and partly explains why we have been able to confirm a major project in Hong Kong.”
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Peter thanked everyone for attending and helping the Fantech team celebrate their 40th year anniversary. An enjoyable night was had by all.
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From left to right: Gary Ritchens (James L. Williams), Shane Jacobson (MC), Peter Wingfield (Fantech), Warwick Stannus (A. G. Coombs) and Anthony Lamaro (Fantech).
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