Full steam ahead at 90

A 4th-generation family business is celebrating 90 years of engineering and innovation in Australia. 

Ai Group member Simons Boilers was established in 1932 and is now run by Derek Simons and his father, Robert, who have been working together for the past 30 years and are pictured, above. 

The milestone was celebrated at Sydney’s Powerhouse Museum on Wednesday with special guests including one of the founders, Sol Simons, the brother of Derek’s grandfather.

Ai Group's Head of Member Relations and Head of NSW, Helen Waldron (pictured below with Dr Robert Simons OAM), also attended.    

Artisan carpenter Woolf Simons started the business making ice chests in the days before refrigeration, and with sons Asher, Percy and Sol, founded Simons Boiler Company. 

In the late 1930s, Asher, a mechanical engineer and Derek’s grandfather, invented a new way of pressing clothes using an electric iron with a small steam boiler.  

“While he was delivering ice chests, he saw ladies ironing uniforms for the war effort and realised the way they were ironing was not productive,” Derek, who joined the business in the 1990s, said. 

“He went on to invent the first steam boiler and steam iron and patented it straight away.” 

The invention of the Simons iron was an instant success and later became part of Australia’s war effort pressing military uniforms. 

With offices in Sydney and Melbourne, the company has grown into a leading supplier of steam and hot water boilers, steam humidifiers and garment pressing machinery throughout Australia.  

It is the only manufacturer of electric steam boilers in Australia. 

 

Mr Simons describes the steam boiler as the unsung hero of industry.  

“Most people don't know how important this piece of equipment is,” he said. 

“Steam boilers create steam, which is used in most industries, but they are rarely seen. 

“They are tucked away in the corner of plant rooms, quietly powering the more glamourous machines that make many of the products used in our daily lives.  

“Everything you eat, drink and wear and even the medicines you take have all been processed using steam or hot water.  

“Without steam boilers, we cannot operate on hospital patients or make beer and whiskey. 

“We can’t manufacture food items such as cornflakes, soups or ice cream. We can’t make concrete, press our clothes or heat buildings and pools. We can’t even make Covid vaccines. 

“Each day, we field dozens of distress calls from our customers when these often-forgotten machines are out of action.” 

The family’s willingness to pivot is among the secrets to its success. 

“When Asher was at the helm, clothing was predominantly made in Australia, so our steam boilers were in huge demand from these manufacturers,” Mr Simons said. 

“However, that changed in the 1980s when clothing manufacturing started happening offshore. It meant we had to adapt our business model and begin selling overseas.” 

Other challenges followed. 

In later years, the export market for steam boilers into South East Asia became under threat from cheaper boilers out of India and China, and the local market for electric steam boilers was challenged by a cheaper fuel source in the expanding natural gas network.  

A defensive position was needed. 

“Leveraging on our strength and reputation in thermal engineering, the decision was taken in 2001 to grow our footprint in the domestic market through the introduction of a whole new range of products which included gas-fired steam and hot water boilers for the commercial and industrial markets,” Mr Simons said. 

“In hindsight, this was a wise decision, which has provided a solid base for the growth of Simons Boilers into a position today as market leaders in the manufacture of locally produced steam boilers. 

“Along with the development of several distributorships, and with the striking of strategic partnerships with market leaders, we now have more than 30,000 machines switching on across the globe each day.” 

Wednesday's celebrations gave the Simons family a chance to reflect on the impressive achievement of staying afloat over four generations while remaining an Australian manufacturer competing in a global market. 

“I remember attending a family business conference back in 1996 where a rather sobering statistic was shared,” Mr Simons said. 

“Thirty per cent of family businesses make it through the second generation, 10 per cent through the third and only 3 per cent through the fourth.  

"Well, here we are with our 4th generation of engineers at the helm, still punching on.  

“If any of my three kids decide to take on the next round, I hope they, too, will prove the pundits wrong.” 

 

Simons Boilers has been a member of Ai Group since 1950

“Simons Boilers has been a proud member of The Australian Industry Group (formally MTIA) for over 70 years.

Ai Group has and continues to perform an integral part of Simons’ development. The group's guidance on all aspects of award implementation, employment conditions, entitlements and employee and executive training programs is always welcome.

Ai Group staff are always most cooperative and forthcoming in their advice and guidance on a range of topics including the now delicate and sensitive area of political correctness and anti-discrimination.

Ai Group provides the security blanket for industry and we know we could not be in better hands." — R N Simons OAM – Chairman, Simons Group