The Origins of Australian Piping Solutions

In the beginning

Australian Piping Solutions Pty Ltd is a family owned and led business, whose doors were opened in 1987 by Anna Commons-Fidge and was incorporated on 1st July 1994. APS (Formerly NT Acrylic & Plastics Pty Ltd, NTAP) started out by supplying custom made plumbing fittings to the local market and rapidly grew into a small to medium sized business, supplying plastic sheet material, cut to size and fabrication of PVC, acrylic, polycarbonate and HDPE products, to the Northern Territory market.

Growth into Mining Services

Anna’s son, Ian, has been involved in the business from a young age and started whilst still attending school. After finishing year 12, Ian completed his plastics trade qualification in 1996. Ian’s passion for the business grew and he soon became the Foreman for the workshop and an Owner/ Director in the company. Ian continued his studies into Mechanical Engineering and as a result, as early as 2005, took the business into new markets, including the mining and civil, followed by the mechanical services industries.

Ian identified the need for custom piping solutions in the mining sector and got busy putting his specialist high density polyethylene knowledge and fabrication skills to good use. He did this through the supply and construction of HDPE pipelines, fabricating and installing polyethylene pipe spooling plus associated HDPE solutions, such as pre-insulated potable water tanks, launders and chutes. Ian has also led Teams of tradesmen installing over 1 million square meters of HDPE geomembrane liner across Mining and Civil applications in the NT, Qld, NSW and WA

iH2O HVAC Piping solutions is born

In 2013 Anna retired and Ian stepped-up into the role of Managing Director of the company. Australian Piping Solutions has since embarked on manufacturing a new product range, for chilled water commercial grade air-conditioning systems and other HVAC applications. This product is branded iH2O and includes pre-insulated pipe and associated pre-fabricated capillary fittings plus a JIT Onsite Cladding/ Lagging system. The iH2O brand is owned by APS and is being developed as a quality national brand with the vision to become a global brand.

In 2021 APS opened a new fabrication facility and manufacturing facility via a new sister company Permapipe Australia, based in Brisbane Qld. All of the large bore pipe HDPE/ Carbon Steel/ Stainless Steel Underground and Aboveground iH2O Pre-insulated piping for mining and diesel double-containment fuel line applications is manufactured in the new Brisbane facility based in Loganholme Qld.

Today APS specialises in mechanical and HVAC piping solutions and geomembrane lining solutions for the mechanical, mining services, civil and construction industries.