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

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