[qode_workflow animate=”yes” line_color=”#e62a42″][qode_workflow_item title_tag=”h2″ image_alignment=”right” title=”1996: Ai Founded” text=”Aluminium Industries of Australia began in late 1996, when Jim Gallagher launched is as a sole trader. Initially, Jim wore all the hats – sales, customer service, marketing, product design, procurement, installation, and delivery.” circle_border_color=”#e62a42″ circle_background_color=”#e62a42″ image=”2049″][qode_workflow_item title_tag=”h2″ image_float=”yes” image_alignment=”left” title=”2000: Braeside Warehouse” text=”Ai’s first location was a serviced office in Moorabbin with shared receptionists directing calls for Ai. Jim made logos, designed brochures, and created the Ai flag. In 2000, Ai moved into a small warehouse in Braeside. Operations expanded and Ai started storing pre-cut metal extrusions.” circle_border_color=”#e62a42″ circle_background_color=”#e62a42″ image=”2045″][qode_workflow_item title_tag=”h2″ image_alignment=”right” title=”2000: Sally Cordell joins Ai” text=”Ai started to expand. Sally Cordell joined Ai on a casual basis, getting the accounts in order. She initially worked one day per month.” circle_border_color=”#e62a42″ circle_background_color=”#e62a42″ image=”2042″][qode_workflow_item title_tag=”h2″ image_float=”yes” image_alignment=”left” title=”2000: Ai supplies Sydney Olympic Games” text=”The Sydney Olympic Games brought an order about 200 new flagpoles. Jim and Greg filled the order with help machining from Vincent Caia.” circle_border_color=”#e62a42″ circle_background_color=”#e62a42″ image=”2041″][qode_workflow_item title_tag=”h2″ image_alignment=”right” title=”2001: Second Braeside Location” text=”Ai moved to Industrial Drive in Braeside in 2001. It was a larger premises with better facilities. However, Ai and team continued to grow and this site, too, was quickly full.” circle_border_color=”#e62a42″ circle_background_color=”#e62a42″ image=”2045″][qode_workflow_item title_tag=”h2″ image_float=”yes” image_alignment=”left” title=”2002: Mark Hill Joins Ai” text=”Mark Hill, known to Jim from his Comalco days, joined Ai in early 2002, Mark took on an all-purpose sales role and was Ai’s first full-time employee.” circle_border_color=”#e62a42″ circle_background_color=”#e62a42″ image=”2042″][qode_workflow_item title_tag=”h2″ image_alignment=”right” title=”2003: Tony Oliver and Angelo Pisano joined the Ai team” circle_border_color=”#e62a42″ circle_background_color=”#e62a42″ image=”2042″][qode_workflow_item title_tag=”h2″ image_float=”yes” image_alignment=”left” title=”2004: Kim Sim joined the Ai team” circle_border_color=”#e62a42″ circle_background_color=”#e62a42″ image=”2042″][qode_workflow_item title_tag=”h2″ image_alignment=”right” title=”January 2005: Tim Wilks joined the Ai team” circle_border_color=”#e62a42″ circle_background_color=”#e62a42″ image=”2042″][qode_workflow_item title_tag=”h2″ image_float=”yes” image_alignment=”left” title=”March 2005: Keysborough Location” text=”In March 2005, Ai moved to 10 Carson Avenue in Keysborough. A newer, larger facility, this marked a change in philosophy. More people joined the team and people were able to focus more on their area of expertise instead of everyone doing a little bit of everything.” circle_border_color=”#e62a42″ circle_background_color=”#e62a42″ image=”2045″][qode_workflow_item title_tag=”h2″ image_alignment=”right” title=”November 2005: Journey to China” text=”Jim took the entire Ai team to China during the November Melbourne Cup weekend to celebrate the company’s first million dollar month in September 2005.” circle_border_color=”#e62a42″ circle_background_color=”#e62a42″ image=”2040″][qode_workflow_item title_tag=”h2″ image_float=”yes” image_alignment=”left” title=”2006: Ai Architectural” text=”With Tim Wilks on the team, Ai builds Ai Architectural, an aluminium architectural range. When Ai launched, it offered sourcing services for small to medium end users of extruded products. Ai Architectural introduced supply to the architectural window and door systems market.” circle_border_color=”#e62a42″ circle_background_color=”#e62a42″ image=”2044″][qode_workflow_item title_tag=”h2″ image_alignment=”right” title=”2007: Pivotech” text=”Next door to Ai at Keysborough was Pivotech, an Ai customer looked after by Mark Hill. In 2007, Ai acquired Pivotech, a shower door and wardrobe wholesale company with a national network of distributors.” circle_border_color=”#e62a42″ circle_background_color=”#e62a42″ image=”2046″][qode_workflow_item title_tag=”h2″ image_float=”yes” image_alignment=”left” title=”2008: Keysborough Location Expands” text=”In April 2008, Ai took over 2 Carson Avenue next door. To incorporate the 20 Carson Avenue with the 10 Carson Avenue location, a few brick walls had to be removed.” circle_border_color=”#e62a42″ circle_background_color=”#e62a42″ image=”2045″][qode_workflow_item title_tag=”h2″ image_alignment=”right” title=”2009: aiFAB” text=”Jim bought a CNC machine in a Grey’s Online auction in 2009, launching the manufacturing and fabrication services offered by aiFAB. Vinnie remembers getting a call from Jim, and asking if he knew how to operate one. Vinnie answered, ‘not really’. Jim said, “Well you’d better learn fast. I just bought one.”” circle_border_color=”#e62a42″ circle_background_color=”#e62a42″ image=”2038″][qode_workflow_item title_tag=”h2″ image_float=”yes” image_alignment=”left” title=”2010: Ai Powder Coat” text=”The Ai powder coat line started at 160 Ordish Road in Dandenond South as a resource for our architectural customers.” circle_border_color=”#e62a42″ circle_background_color=”#e62a42″ image=”2039″][qode_workflow_item title_tag=”h2″ image_alignment=”right” title=”2010: EDGE Architectural” text=”In 2010, EDGE Architectural Glazing Systems released a super suite of high performance architectural window and door systems. The EDGE DNA takes international best practices, like thermal break and advanced drainage, and makes them uniquely Australian.” circle_border_color=”#e62a42″ circle_background_color=”#e62a42″ image=”2044″][qode_workflow_item title_tag=”h2″ image_float=”yes” image_alignment=”left” title=”2011: Dandenong South Location” text=”To accommodate the growth and production needs of aiFAB, Pivotech, Intrack, and EDGE Architectural, Ai moved to a purpose-built 12,000sqm facility on Ordish Road, Dandenong South.” circle_border_color=”#e62a42″ circle_background_color=”#e62a42″ image=”2045″][qode_workflow_item title_tag=”h2″ image_alignment=”right” title=”2012: Ai acquired Pivotech QLD” circle_border_color=”#e62a42″ circle_background_color=”#e62a42″ image=”2046″][qode_workflow_item title_tag=”h2″ image_float=”yes” image_alignment=”left” title=”2012: PivotPoint, EdgePoint” text=”In 2012, Ai began our journey of in-house software development with the launch of PivotPoint, an online ordering platform for Pivotech customers, and EdgePoint, an order and specification platform for EDGE customers and stakeholders.” circle_border_color=”#e62a42″ circle_background_color=”#e62a42″ image=”2047″][qode_workflow_item title_tag=”h2″ image_alignment=”right” title=”2013: Innovation Award” text=”Thanks to our teamwork, innovative activities and industry growth, Ai earned finalist recognition in two categories in Melbourne’s South East 2013 Business Awards, Business of the Year Overall Business Excellence and Environmental and Sustainability.” circle_border_color=”#e62a42″ circle_background_color=”#e62a42″ image=”2037″][qode_workflow_item title_tag=”h2″ image_float=”yes” image_alignment=”left” title=”2014: Comtruk And Tasman” text=”Ai acquired Comtruk ute trays and Tasman bullbars in 2014. Both brands had been long-time customers of Ai. Comtruk had established itself as the market leader of quality, innovative aluminium truck tray bodies and serves as the industry benchmark.

Tasman produced a comprehensive range of aerodynamic highway bars suitable for combating the harsh and complex elements of the Australian landscape.” circle_border_color=”#e62a42″ circle_background_color=”#e62a42″ image=”2042″][qode_workflow_item title_tag=”h2″ image_alignment=”right” title=”2015: 133 Ordish Road Opened” text=”To house aiFAB’s growing stable of CNC machines and Comtruk’s emerging Sport Utility Bed product line, Ai added building 1/133 and 2/133 to its Ordish Road facilities.” circle_border_color=”#e62a42″ circle_background_color=”#e62a42″ image=”2045″][qode_workflow_item title_tag=”h2″ image_float=”yes” image_alignment=”left” title=”2015: PivotPoint Pro Released” text=”In 2015, Pivotech launched the Pro, a configure, price, and quote program to accompany PivotPoint. With Pro, customers confidently calculate, draw, and order showers and wardrobes. Pro allows Pivotech customers to simplify complicated configurations, get instant glass sizes, digitise their job records, and reduces order times.” circle_border_color=”#e62a42″ circle_background_color=”#e62a42″ image=”2047″][qode_workflow_item title_tag=”h2″ image_alignment=”right” title=”2016: A Passage To China” text=”At the end of the 2014/15 financial year, Jim challenged the team on a new target for the 2015/2016 year, with the award of taking everyone to China if the goal was met. The team rose to the challenge and travelled together for the long Melbourne Cup Day holiday. With more than 50 going, this was a significantly larger group than the one that made the team trip to China in 2005.” circle_border_color=”#e62a42″ circle_background_color=”#e62a42″ image=”2040″][qode_workflow_item title_tag=”h2″ image_float=”yes” image_alignment=”left” title=”2017: Sport Utility Bed Released” text=”Comtruk’s Sport Utility Bed set the new standard for commercial use pickup trays. It delivers easier and safer load management, plus increased fuel efficiency and system durability for utes and commercial light-duty pickups.” circle_border_color=”#e62a42″ circle_background_color=”#e62a42″ image=”2044″][qode_workflow_item title_tag=”h2″ image_alignment=”right” title=”2018: Ai earned ISO 9001:2015 Certification” circle_border_color=”#e62a42″ circle_background_color=”#e62a42″ image=”2043″][qode_workflow_item title_tag=”h2″ image_float=”yes” image_alignment=”left” title=”2019: Holmesglen Partners With Pivotech” text=”The team at Pivotech started building a relationship with Holmesglen TAFE, illustrating how helpful PivotPoint Pro can be for their students in the glass and glazing program.” circle_border_color=”#e62a42″ circle_background_color=”#e62a42″ image=”2046″][qode_workflow_item title_tag=”h2″ image_alignment=”right” title=”2020: GLYDE” text=”Ai started GLYDE® in 2020 to deliver the highest-quality flexible space solutions for the education and commercial sectors. All of GLYDE’s Operable Walls, Sliders, and Decorative Screens are smooth and safe to operate, can be configured to meet DDA requirements, and offer industry-leading acoustic performance.” circle_border_color=”#e62a42″ circle_background_color=”#e62a42″ image=”2048″][qode_workflow_item title_tag=”h2″ image_float=”yes” image_alignment=”left” title=”2021: XT150 And HD150″ text=”Comtruk released the XT150 heavy duty rack bars and HD150 heavy duty platform racks in Australia, New Zealand, and the USA.” circle_border_color=”#e62a42″ circle_background_color=”#e62a42″ image=”2044″][qode_workflow_item title_tag=”h2″ image_alignment=”right” title=”2022: EDGE acquired by Capral” text=”Capral Aluminium acquired EDGE Architectural Glazing Systems from Ai.” circle_border_color=”#e62a42″ circle_background_color=”#e62a42″ image=”2042″][qode_workflow_item title_tag=”h2″ image_float=”yes” image_alignment=”left” title=”2023: Ai wins Spark Innovation Award” text=”In March, we won SYSPRO’s Spark Award for how our software development integrated our proprietary software systems at Ai, Console, Atlas, Compass, Scout, PivotPoint, and PivotPoint Pro with their ERP system.” circle_border_color=”#e62a42″ circle_background_color=”#e62a42″ image=”2037″][qode_workflow_item title_tag=”h2″ image_alignment=”right” title=”2023: Ai announces CEO” text=”On 1 July, George Iliadis was appointed the CEO of Aluminium Industries Australia Pty Ltd.” circle_border_color=”#e62a42″ circle_background_color=”#e62a42″ image=”2042″][/qode_workflow]