Welcome To ECEFast

Herbert Griffiths, co-founder of Electro Chemical Engineering P/L, is born in Coolgardie, WA, followed by his brothers Norman (co-founder) and Clyde. Their parents, Edith and John, had eloped there from Ballarat when the marriage was opposed by their families. Edith had migrated to Ballarat in the early 1850s from Cornwall, where her father was a tin miner. John had been a student at the Ballarat School of Mines and then a mining engineer and manager in WA.

Herbert and Norman grow up in Perth and attend Perth Modern School and the University of Western Australia. Clyde is sent to Ballarat to be raised by his grandparents and Edith’s sister Lydia. His brothers visit him frequently and after their education, they move to Victoria.

Herbert and Norman founded Electro Chemical Engineering Pty Ltd. (ECE). The company produces refractories and cements, and sells abrasives. It is located at 301 Burwood Road, Hawthorn, next door to the family home at 303. In the same year, Ron McLerie joins the business, where he is to remain for almost 40 years, becoming Managing Director.

The company expands its product range, manufacturing Chemelec Box Type furnaces, industrial ovens, heated tube furnaces, laboratory and commercial hotplates and aeration controllers.

The company expands its premises into the former family home at 303 Burwood Road, and adds a second storey instrument works area to number 301.

Sydney office opens in Carlotta Street, Artarmon Herbert Griffiths dies. Newly appointed director, Ewan Baird, engages Jim Walker as a Sales Engineer in the Sydney office. Jim goes on to become Managing Director.

Sydney office grows to equal the size of Melbourne.

ECE opens its Queensland office in Hyde Road, Yeronga. Arthur Kokolekos, an Instrument Technician in the Hawthorn office, is promoted to manage the new branch.

Jim Walker is appointed Managing Director.

ECE expands further with the long planned acquisition of a calibration laboratory, based at Thomas Street, Hawthorn. The company changes its trading name to ECEFast and the laboratory is named Fastlab.

ECE starts a sensor manufacturing company called Thermoelectric Engineering, which operates from a site in Bundoora from 1998 to 2000.

ECE is offered a distributor agreement in New Zealand by Raytek, one of its principal suppliers, leading to the first overseas ECE office, in Auckland.

New offices at 26 Business Park Drive, Notting Hill are acquired. This enables the consolidation of ECE, Fastlab and Thermoelectric Engineering into a single site at the new premises. enabling all three sites to be consolidated into a single ECEFast facility. Thermoelectric Engineering becomes ECEFast Sensor Manufacturing Division.

ECE acquires Engineering and Thermal Products p/l located in Gladstone Queensland.

ECEFast opens an office in China (in later years this is closed and replaced by a partnership with Widewell in China)

Mary Smith appointed Managing Director. Jim Walker becomes Director – Marketing. The GFC hits and slows the economy and ECEFast’s market.

ECEFast undergoes a strategic business restructure, and four distinct business units are created: import and distribution; Fastlab (NATA accredited laboratory); Systems Group; and Sensor Manufacturing Division. This structure creates the environment and focus from which ECEFast moves into its next phase of successful growth.

ECEFast introduces a new supplier – UK company Hanwell.

Jim Walker retires
Another new supplier is engaged, Danish company Ellab

The COVID pandemic hits – ECEFast continues to operate and serve customers.

ECEFast marks its 90th anniversary.

ECEFast launches new branding and new website to position for further growth ahead.

Herbert Griffiths, co-founder of Electro Chemical Engineering P/L, is born in Coolgardie, WA, followed by his brothers Norman (co-founder) and Clyde. Their parents, Edith and John, had eloped there from Ballarat when the marriage was opposed by their families. Edith had migrated to Ballarat in the early 1850s from Cornwall, where her father was a tin miner. John had been a student at the Ballarat School of Mines and then a mining engineer and manager in WA.

Herbert and Norman grow up in Perth and attend Perth Modern School and the University of Western Australia. Clyde is sent to Ballarat to be raised by his grandparents and Edith’s sister Lydia. His brothers visit him frequently and after their education, they move to Victoria.

Herbert and Norman founded Electro Chemical Engineering Pty Ltd. (ECE). The company produces refractories and cements, and sells abrasives. It is located at 301 Burwood Road, Hawthorn, next door to the family home at 303. In the same year, Ron McLerie joins the business, where he is to remain for almost 40 years, becoming Managing Director.

The company expands its product range, manufacturing Chemelec Box Type furnaces, industrial ovens, heated tube furnaces, laboratory and commercial hotplates and aeration controllers.

The company expands its premises into the former family home at 303 Burwood Road, and adds a second storey instrument works area to number 301.

Sydney office opens in Carlotta Street, Artarmon Herbert Griffiths dies. Newly appointed director, Ewan Baird, engages Jim Walker as a Sales Engineer in the Sydney office. Jim goes on to become Managing Director.

Sydney office grows to equal the size of Melbourne.

ECE opens its Queensland office in Hyde Road, Yeronga. Arthur Kokolekos, an Instrument Technician in the Hawthorn office, is promoted to manage the new branch.

Jim Walker is appointed Managing Director.

ECE expands further with the long planned acquisition of a calibration laboratory, based at Thomas Street, Hawthorn. The company changes its trading name to ECEFast and the laboratory is named Fastlab.

ECE starts a sensor manufacturing company called Thermoelectric Engineering, which operates from a site in Bundoora from 1998 to 2000.

ECE is offered a distributor agreement in New Zealand by Raytek, one of its principal suppliers, leading to the first overseas ECE office, in Auckland.

New offices at 26 Business Park Drive, Notting Hill are acquired. This enables the consolidation of ECE, Fastlab and Thermoelectric Engineering into a single site at the new premises. enabling all three sites to be consolidated into a single ECEFast facility. Thermoelectric Engineering becomes ECEFast Sensor Manufacturing Division.

ECE acquires Engineering and Thermal Products p/l located in Gladstone Queensland.

ECEFast opens an office in China (in later years this is closed and replaced by a partnership with Widewell in China)

Mary Smith appointed Managing Director. Jim Walker becomes Director – Marketing. The GFC hits and slows the economy and ECEFast’s market.

ECEFast undergoes a strategic business restructure, and four distinct business units are created: import and distribution; Fastlab (NATA accredited laboratory); Systems Group; and Sensor Manufacturing Division. This structure creates the environment and focus from which ECEFast moves into its next phase of successful growth.

ECEFast introduces a new supplier – UK company Hanwell.

Jim Walker retires
Another new supplier is engaged, Danish company Ellab

The COVID pandemic hits – ECEFast continues to operate and serve customers.

ECEFast marks its 90th anniversary.

ECEFast launches new branding and new website to position for further growth ahead.