Evolving from stainless steel kitchen fabricator Markforce, Ecogroup was established in 2007 by current CEO Chris Kenny. At that time the market for premium kitchen exhaust hoods was monopolised by a few suppliers. The products available were complex, cumbersome and very expensive to maintain.
Ecogroup set out and succeeded in designing and manufacturing specialist kitchen products for the hospitality industry that are easy-to-use, low maintenance and cost effective.
Ecogroup’s range of Ecocanopy commercial kitchen exhaust hoods incorporate state of the art UV system technologies to eliminate grease and odour from the air. Fewer moving parts and DIY UV lamp changeovers increase operating efficiency and reduced maintenance. Innovations include the ezyAXS, which won the Health & Safety Invention of the Year in the 2018 Worksafe Awards and the Ecomist hood specially designed for use over solid fuel cooking processes.
The popularity of the Ecocanopy exhaust hoods is evident; the hoods are installed in major commercial kitchens around Australia, including Crown Casino, Star Casino, Optus Stadium, MCG, and Marvel Stadium to name a few.
New Beginnings
More recently the company became the sole licensee for US based Bradford Products, a leading designer and manufacturer of custom stainless-steel pools, spas, water features and specialty wellness products.
A newcomer to the Australian market, the stainless-steel pools have made a big impact. Weighing up to four times less than concrete, they’re the perfect solution for elevated installations. The pool’s design allows for reduced structural support that delivers increased head-height to the floors below.
Reduced installation time and low ‘whole-of-life’ maintenance costs add to the pools appeal. An industry leading 25-year guarantee is testament to their durability.
Recent projects include the manufacture and installation of seven custom pools for the penthouses of the recently completed Sirius apartment building, a landmark project in The Rocks, Sydney.
“Because our pools are pre-fabricated and there is no interruption to onsite works, precise installation times can be scheduled with the builder; they can be delivered right at the end of the project if required. Size accuracy to within a couple of millimeters is another key benefit,” Ecogroup’s Project Engineer Akram Sulaiman said.
“Without the use of stainless steel, some rooftop pools would simply not be an option” Akram said. “Likewise at The Mews apartment development under construction in St Kilda Road. The reduced floor depth that a stainless-steel pool requires ensures there is sufficient swimming depth – an important factor with any rooftop pool.”
Both the pools and exhaust hoods are manufactured at Ecogroup’s state-of-the-art factory in South East Melbourne which is fitted-out with the latest cutting -edge sheetmetal processing equipment.
Association with Applied Machinery
Ecogroup has had a long association with Yawei machines and Applied Machinery; they purchased their first Yawei turret punch press around fourteen years ago and since then have progressively acquired new Yawei press brakes.
“We wanted to install a new fiber laser to cope with the thicker gauge stainless steel we were cutting - a task that had previously been outsourced. Bringing this capability in-house boosts our production efficiencies and lowers our costs.
Given our existing association with Applied, the Yawei HLF fibre laser was the obvious choice. Whilst a 6kW would have been sufficient for our immediate needs, we opted for a 12kW model to allow for future projects.
“The service and support we received from Applied Machinery during the purchase process was excellent. I went over to China to view the machine with Sales & Marketing Manager Daniel Fisher. Daniel really helped us understand exactly how the fiber laser would assist us operationally and what options would be beneficial.
We made multiple specification changes during the procurement process to ensure the machine was fit for purpose and specified for our exact needs. Through the entire process the whole team at Applied supported us,” Akram said.
“In particular, Service Manager Amol Chavhan who oversaw the installation did a fantastic job. Nothing was too much trouble; when we had to move things around to suit our factory layout he just got on and did it without any fuss. The training he gave us was outstanding, taking the time and effort to fully explain every feature and capability to enable us to use the machine in a very short time. He made the installation process an absolute pleasure.”
“ The service and support we received from Applied during the purchase process was excellent. I went over to China to view the machine with Sales & Marketing Manager Daniel Fisher. Daniel really helped us understand exactly how the fiber laser would assist us operationally and what options would be beneficial. “
The Results
“The purchase of the Yawei fiber laser was one of the best decisions we have made; it has boosted our production efficiencies and lowered our costs and has met all our expectations. We couldn’t be happier.”
The interest and enquiry on stainless steel pools from architects and builders of high-rise apartment blocks is increasing daily. Ecogroup are finding that once a builder has experienced the ease of installation and the pools other remarkable benefits, they are coming back with repeat orders.
We’re the only company in Australia with the knowledge and resources to manufacture worldclass stainless steel aquatic vessels. The back up and support we obtain from Bradford Products in the US ensures that no matter what the challenge, we can find a solution,” Akram summed up.
Such is the interest in the stainless-steel pools, Ecogroup are currently looking at options for new factory premises to cope with the increased demand.
