History
A history of innovation in refrigeration
Since our founding in 1906, Hussmann has provided solutions for food retailers around the world.
A legacy of retail innovation
McAlpine Hussmann has been at the leading edge of providing
Commercial Refrigeration and Air Conditioning design, engineering,
installation, service and maintenance in Australasia for over 90 years.
1906
Company founded in St. Louis, Missouri, by Harry L. Hussmann
1917
First patented meat display case, cooled with ice and salt
1927
Cooling coil installed in Hussmann case, marks beginning of automatic electric refrigeration
1932
James McAlpine commenced business
1935
James S McAlpine Ltd registered as a company
1937
Started building ice cream cabinets and built the firstrefrigerated ice cream transport outside of the US
1939
Supplied ice cream cabinets and churns to make ice cream toHMS Leander and HMS Achilles
1944
Built Cool rooms which were dropped by parachute to American Forces in the Islands
1945
Introduced a merchandiser that keeps temperature near zero in an open display
1947
Production line reached 100 units for domestic refrigerators/freezers
1948
Started importing Prestcold refrigerators and freezers into New Zealand to assemble
1950
Built Walls Road, Penrose factory
1953
Received order from NZ Dairy Co-op for 1000 x Ice Bank Chillers for use in the Waikato
1954
Installed first Supermarket type cabinets in New Zealand for Milne & Choyce
1955
Obtained franchise to build American designed supermarket cabinets
1956
Installed first open display cabinets in New Zealand for pre-packed meats for Bob Foreshaw
1957
Commenced manufacture of a complete range of supermarket cabinets for the first “Foodtown” supermarket at Otahuhu
1961
James S McAlpine died
1966
Commenced Operations in Australia under the company name Triangle Refrigeration
1969
Commenced exporting domestic freezers to GE Australia
1970
First involvement with Container shipping, supply 185 clip-on refrigerated units to Australia. McAlpine becomes the only refrigeration company in New Zealand to obtain the “Lloyds” Certificate of Approval for Refrigeration Machines for Use with Freight Containers
1972
Introduced revolutionary dual air curtain system for meat cases
1973
Purchased Snowline Industries Christchurch and commenced manufacture of American”Tyler” supermarket cabinets
1975
Became NZ franchisee of Kysor Warren
1982
Laundry appliances added to the Prestcold appliance range
1984
Commenced manufacture of all Email brand shipping refrigeration for worldwide distribution
1985
Celebrated 50 Year Anniversary!
1993
Opened office in Australia
1994
Negotiated initial distribution and marketing agreement with Hussmann Corporationencompassing Australia, New Zealand and Pacific Islands
1995
Hoverd Industries, Contract Refrigeration and McAlpine Industries merge to become
McAlpine Refrigeration
McAlpine Refrigeration
1995
Purpose built factory in Tauranga completed
1996
New offices and warehouse completed in Penrose, Auckland
1996
McAlpine Refrigeration and Triangle Refrigeration Aust merge to form McAlpine Triangle Pty
1998
McAlpine Triangle purchased by Hussmann Corporation St Louis, USA. Name changed toMcAlpine Hussmann
2006
Hussmann celebrated its 100-year anniversary
2009
Move Production to Wujiang IR facility
2010
Austral Refrigeration started at Suzhou
2013
Austral Refrigeration assets acquisition by Hussmann
2015
Production moved to Suzhou Facility for Hussmann and Austral
2016
Hussmann Corporation was acquired by Panasonic Corporation on 1st April
2018
Hussmann Oceania founded as a dedicated company to service Australia, New Zealand, China, the Middle East and South Africa
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