Fume hoods “Made in Australia” – for 50 years

Sometimes a great company story begins in a place where you least expect it: in a plumbing workshop. As with Waldner, it was precisely this craft that paved the way for a completely different industry. The construction of tanks led to initial contacts in the chemical industry – an environment that places the highest demands on safety, precision and technical solutions. Step by step, this developed into Lab Systems: a specialist for laboratory fume hoods in Australia.

But the path to this point was anything but straightforward: what decisions led to a craft business becoming a company that later became part of the Waldner Group? We asked Vicki Arbrew, who ran and developed the company for many years together with her husband Max.

How did it all begin? Why and how was Lab Systems founded?

Vicki Arbrew: At the end of the 1940s, Ivor Lewis had completed his training as a plumber at the age of just 20 and gained experience in the maintenance and construction of corrosion-resistant chemical pipelines, tanks and similar structures for the chemical industry. In the early 1970s, he and a partner founded a small company that manufactured corrosion-resistant industrial tanks and corresponding piping made of industrial plastics. Their specialised products and their quality struck a chord with the spirit of the times, and they were able to establish themselves as a competent supplier to the chemical industry. During this time, Ivor also equipped a large commercial winery with all the piping, tanks and associated equipment.
In 1975, Ivor's partner left the company and Ivor founded ‘Lewis Plastics’ with his wife Elsa – a company that soon became known throughout Australia. In the years that followed, Ivor once again demonstrated his keen sense for market needs and turned away from the manufacture of corrosion-resistant tanks and piping to focus on the manufacture and development of plastic fume hoods. The company continued to grow over the next few years. In 1999, Vicki and Max Arbrew purchased the company. Lewis Plastics became Laboratory Systems Group to more specifically reflect the company's products and services.

How has the company developed since its foundation?

Vicki Arbrew: Ivor laid the foundation for the product range early on, focusing on industry. When Max Arbrew joined Ivor Lewis' team in 1985, he brought his knowledge of electrical engineering to the company. Together, they developed a range of extractor hoods that incorporated new electronics as well as new flow technologies. Gradually, salespeople, draftsmen, additional fabricators, CNC machining, service technicians and administrative staff joined the team. By 2015, the product portfolio had continued to grow, resulting in a range of extractor hoods and special ductless filtered fume hoods. For example, a fully developed scrubber was designed for the fume hood. Lab Systems now employs over 40 people.

Are there any milestones in Lab Systems' history that you can tell us about?

Vicki Arbrew: Ivor and Max's overarching goal was to offer tailor-made products – from technical consulting to design and manufacturing to installation and maintenance – in order to meet each customer's needs wherever they were. Many customer-specific products were one-offs and were manufactured specifically to customer specifications.
Over time, Lab Systems took on increasingly larger projects and became known in the market as a reliable and competent partner. For example, the University of NSW (Sydney) is working on 100 special fume hoods from Lab Systems. The University of Otago (New Zealand) set up a laboratory without any metal components – no metal was allowed to be used in the entire facility and equipment. Lab Systems supplied five 40-foot containers with Fume cupboards, pass through cabinets, filtration systems and overall metal free joinery elements . Monash University in Melbourne for example, has special laminar workbenches, fume hoods and exhaust air systems from Lab Systems.

How did the collaboration with the German Waldner Group come about and how is it being received in the markets?

Vicki Arbrew: After first contacts in the early 2020s, Waldner eventually acquired Laboratory Systems Group in 2023. Waldner had been active in Australia for over 15 years by then, but was looking to expand its presence in the market. Lab Systems was an ideal company for an acquisition with a highly skilled workforce, industry leading products and a trusted brand. Over time, Waldner expanded the portfolio of Australian made fume cupboards with low flow fume hoods from Wangen and added the furniture as well to become a full-service provider for laboratory projects. The only one in Australia. Clients recognize this value and with the combined offer, the teams could triple the sales volume in the past 2 years with many projects all over Australia. Together, Lab Systems and Waldner offer an unparalleled set of experience to the market. With offices in Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane, together with partners in Adelaide and Perth we bring this strength to our clients, from initial consultation to annual service and maintenance.