03/09/14
Derek Gattegno created Air Design in 1979 and soon called on fellow mechanical engineering classmate Neil Bone to come on board as a business partner. Right from the start the business was built on the highest quality products and a skilled team that focused on service and customer satisfaction.
From the early days Air Design distributed the full range of Fantech fans and attenuators throughout Queensland, further afield to Darwin and even Papua New Guinea. In 1998 Air Design changed the Australian air handling unit market by launching the Australian made Modutherm range that incorporated a unique thermal barrier construction. Queensland State Manager Shawn Harris said the company was purchased by Fantech in 2007.
“Being part of the Fantech group provides connections with customers throughout Australia, New Zealand and South East Asia. The Modutherm range has continued to grow and today Air Design has a team of 68 dedicated staff,” he said. Shawn said the technology had changed considerably in the past 35 years, but the company’s commitment to providing the right products to meet customers’ needs was still the total focus. “We have made a lot of progress in the way we present product information to customers. We started with a ring binder catalogue of product brochures and today have an interactive Product Selection Program for customers to access more detailed information quickly.
“In recent years there has been a focus on energy efficient products. As a result we will continue to offer quality products like Modutherm air handling units with EC plug fans and optional energy recovery, VSDs, Rickard variable air volume diffusers, high efficiency EC fans and the JetVent carpark ventilation fans to meet customer’s ‘green’ requirements,” he said.