Oceania celebrates a century

In 1926, Alfa Laval Australia was established in Sydney. New Zealand followed a year later. 
This year's celebrations are about more than just the passage of time. They recognize the hard work and ingenuity of  generations of people who built the business across the region.

To learn more about the centenary and the celebrations, we spoke with Alexander Jaeschke, Managing Director of Alfa Laval Oceania.

Alexander, tell us how you are celebrating 100 years.

We invited our staff to a large event at our Sydney service centre, along with channel and industry partners from across Australia and New Zealand, representatives from the Swedish embassy, and Executive Vice President Julien Gennetier. There were also retired staff, some of whom had been with us for over 40 years. In the evening we hosted a gala dinner in Sydney Harbour celebrating our rich Australian history with indigenous performances, an official cake cutting and awards ceremony to reflect our history and achievements. It was a great opportunity to share thoughts about our past experiences and the future of Alfa Laval Oceania.

What is unique about this market? 

With our separation technology we have customers who have been with us for decades. Over the years we enhanced our offering into various energy sectors, such as mining and utilities while, as well as helping craft breweries and municipal wastewater plants improve their energy efficiency and performance. We are a critical partner to our customers, from design to commissioning and ongoing service. We are a large continent and we have been able to serve our customers far and wide through our service centres and skilled technicians on the ground. 

What does this milestone mean to you? 

Our incredible history shows that Alfa Laval Oceania is resilient and can adapt to ever-changing market conditions. That motivates me to realize that no challenge is too big. We are set up for success. During times of change, the individuals here in Oceania continue to drive our business forward and ensure we deliver a positive experience for all of our customers and partners. 

What is your vision for the future of Alfa Laval Oceania?

With the developments in performance, product development, AI and customer demands, the world we are living in is fast-paced and more dynamic. Therefore, we need to adapt quickly to new market trends, while predicting customer needs and overcoming geopolitical challenges through innovative solutions. My vision is to build an agile team, dominate key industries with our product offering, and proactively stay ahead of the curve when it comes to industry trends and changing environments.