 
App-Tek was founded in 1992 to source air monitoring equipment from
around the World and to concentrate on supplying that equipment for
Occupational Health and Safety applications within Australia. The
company built up a comprehensive range of scientific measurement apparatus
which included sound level meters, noise dosimeters, heat stress monitors,
dust samplers, and specialised air samplers to detect vapours and
hazardous gases.
In 1993 the business moved to premises at Brendale in Pine Rivers
Shire, Queensland, Australia and App-Tek then began to promote its
imported product range into new areas. In particular, App-Tek successfully
introduced the Neotronics MiniGas portable gas detector to the Australian
underground coal mining industry and by the late 1990's had developed
this product to the extent that it had become the most used and best
supported portable gas monitor in this industry.
With the employment of key technical staff in the mid to late 1990's,
the new skills they brought allowed the company to address a niche
market opportunity to design an electronic measuring instrument for
odor control in the wastewater industry. Ensuing research and product
development culminated in the January 2000 launch of an innovative
environmental product, the OdaLog H2S Gas Logger, and by this stage
the business had grown to employ 15 people.
The initial OdaLog
Logger (see image opposite) was designed specifically to record hydrogen
sulphide gas emissions to address environmental odour control concerns
associated with urban wastewater collection systems and was quickly
recognised as the most advanced gas logging device available in terms
of its application for sulfide odor source monitoring in the Australian
wastewater industry. (Prior to the development of the OdaLog H2S Gas
Logger, various H2S safety gas detectors were being modified and adapted
for this application with limited success).
To address increasing market demand, floor space was increased in
July 2000 and again in December 2002 through the purchase of additional
premises adjacent to the existing facilities at Brendale in Queensland.
To focus on research
and development and to maximise exports, a new wholly owned entity
"App-Tek International Pty Ltd" was formed to employ the Research
and Development team. This new business began operating from the new
premises from July 2000.
The original business (now known as App-Tek
Safety Pty Ltd) remained at the original address to concentrate
on maintaining the existing importing business as well as to promote
the first OdaLog
model within Australia.
Following market acceptance in Australia, international marketing
activities commenced and, as at June 2003, distributors had been appointed
in twenty one countries with excellent acceptance of the OdaLog brand
occurring in Europe and North America.
Concurrently with this overseas activity, staffing has grown to the
present level of 14 people at App-Tek Safety and 24 people at App-Tek
International.
As a result of acquiring further specialist staff and expanded
Research and Development effort, enhanced monitors are being developed
and it is anticipated that increasing sales will lead to around
100 people being employed worldwide at App-Tek by year 2010.
Because the three shareholders of App-Tek are all dedicated "hands
on" Directors who work full-time in the business, this future expansion
will continue to include valuable input from staff and customers.
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