Abey Australia’s History

For over 60 years Abey Australia has been providing fellow Australians quality products that have endured the test of time. Renowned for their focus on quality and innovation, Abey Products are held in the highest regard amongst professional trades people.

The Abey head office and manufacturing facility, located in Melton, Victoria, employs over 200 full-time and part-time staff.

There are local Abey offices throughout Australia, with plans to expand into New Zealand and Asia.

Today Abey is represented in all Australian states, manufacturing and marketing a vast range of over 1,200 products including plumbers clipping systems, flexible connectors, gas flueing systems, stainless steel building connectors, flashings and a broad range of accessories across their business areas.

2020

To help reduce their carbon emissions and offset external their electricity consumption, Abey have installed a vast solar panel array on their warehouse roof for greener a cleaner manufacturing business.

2019

Another innovation from Abey after much research and specialist design input, are their Acoustic Clamps for the Commercial Plumbing industry. Providing significantly superior sound deadening properties and considerable cost savings.

Installation of state of the art Horizontal Powder Coating Machine enables Abey to stay on top of streamlining production and enabling Abey to compete on price with low cost, often inferior imports.

2018

Abey introduced the next generation flexible water connectors “High Class Hookers” to their range of plumbing products which solves the burgeoning issue of corrosion and water leakage.

Stainless Steel wood burning flue kits have also been introduced into Abey’s range flueing products.

2017

Abey’s new designer showroom opens in Western Australia.

2015

Abey expands its range of bathroom products to include Toilets and Basins.

Striving for greater production automation output, Abey took the bold move to introduce robotics to their powder coating system.

2014

Strategic move by Abey to design, import and introduce their Gareth Ashton range of tapware targeting the commercial builder market.

New release of the Abey Speed Clipping range for the plumbing industry which was an upgrade reinvention of their original “Bolted clipping system” that was first invented in 1979 – 35 years on.

2013

Chambord Kitchen Sinkware are added to Abey’s international stable of high end quality international brands.

2012

Abey upgrade to a new and bigger showroom in Sydney.

2011

Another Italian Tapware brand, Armando Vicario joins Abey as their distributor to target commercial projects.

2009

Abey are appointed exclusive distribution of High end quality German Schock sink and tapware.

2007

Italian company Barazza joins Abey’s stable of exclusive designer brands with revolutionary appliances and kitchen products.

2006

Abey open their first Designer Showroom in Brisbane. The showroom quickly proved to be an essential ingredient to authenticating Abey as a serious player within the high end designer products market and bespoke showrooms in Melbourne, Sydney and Western Australia soon followed.

Abey introduce an innovative new product Airflex to their trade products.

2005

With major retailers importing cheap products directly from China, Abey take the bold step to co-manufacture sinkware in China. This partnership enables Abey to maintain control of the design and quality of their products, reduce costs yet still offer local product support. Abey open their very first designer Showroom in South Melbourne.

2002

Abey is made the exclusive Australian distributor of the world’s most acclaimed designer Italian Tapware company Gessi. The first of many top International brands to join Abey’s distribution umbrella.

2000

Abey moved their Head Office, manufacturing and warehousing into state-of-the-art facilities in Melton, now Cobblebank, west of Melbourne. The relocation enabled Abey to amalgamate their Victorian divisions, within 10,000 sq metres of architecturally designed factory and warehouse space. The facilities are located on 10.5 ha. (26 acres) of available land space, providing ample area for growth.

1997

Having developed the market, Abey acquired an opposition US company based in Queensland that manufactured flexible plumbing connectors. A product category that Abey pioneered, promoted and made an industry standard.

1991

Abey develop their own branded sinkware to gain a small niche market share in the high quality stainless steel kitchen and laundry sink market. The success of this initial venture led Abey to become a market leader within this field, offering the largest range of products in the marketplace.

1990

Abey took the information gained by the devastating Newcastle earthquake and developed a unique new range of corrosion resistant stainless steel masonry products – a concept which is now recognised worldwide.

Further growth saw the company expand into four factories in the area and expansion to other states. With sales offices and warehousing in the key capital cities of Queensland, New South Wales, and Western Australia and distribution networks to all other states and regional areas.

1989

Abey invented their unique Flexishaft Skylight System which made skylight installation simple and inexpensive by eliminating the need for solid light shaft construction and gaining greater light reflection through the flexible shaft.

1979

Abey revolutionised the plumbing industry by inventing a new “Bolted Clipping System”, winning the prestigious “Best New Product” award, gaining national acceptance throughout the plumbing industry and still being sold and copied to this day.

1975

Seeing an opportunity in the marketplace Abey began its first imports program selling twin skin Duravent products.

1967

Aged 23, Geoff Anderson joined the company as a toolmaker and the company then began manufacturing a new range of products for the hardware and plumbing industry in the form of masonry, plumbing and timber connectors.

1965

Further expansion their operation they acquired a warehouse in Airport West adjacent to their manufacturing facilities.

1956

The year the Olympic Games came to Melbourne, Australia, the company expanded their operations by acquiring a small factory in Airport West, Victoria, where they began manufacturing safety belt components for passenger vehicles.

1953

Foundation year – company then known as A&B Tool and Die Manufacturers. From modest beginnings they began manufacturing press tools for the automotive industry (Ford, GMH)