In the past year, Coachair has surged in the local HVAC market on the back of two new unit releases. When Coachair brought out its new look XT 44 and electric EX 32 models, it signalled an evolution of air-conditioning technology for the local brand.
Coachair general manager Anthony O’Donnell has spent 2023 spreading the word of the two new units far and wide to Australian operators.
“Coachair has brought out two new units in the past 12 months,” O’Donnell told ABC.
“They’ve both been received incredibly well. Now, we’ll be continuing to support our customers by getting out in the field to do what’s needed to keep equipment on the road.”
The first major release from Coachair was the XT 44. A technological progression from Coachair’s popular XT 353 model, the XT 44 is a lighter unit with larger capacity and air flow. Using new technology, the refrigeration coil and fan motors remove the need for running motor drivers.
This technology has fast become a flagship of Coachair’s modern range, being offered as standard for diesel buses and coaches across Australia.
“For power to weight ratio, it would be the largest and lightest unit in the Australian market,” O’Donnell says.
“It’s also backed by Coachair’s vast network of aftersales service and spare parts.”
O’Donnell says the XT 44 has been “received magnificently”, with major customers transitioning from the well-loved XT 353 to the XT 44 without any hesitation. O’Donnell says a major part behind this seamless change has been the improved technology, lighter weight and larger capacity of the new Coachair unit.
Yet the XT 44 is only half the story behind why 2023 has been one of Coachair’s best years in recent memory. The electric EX 32 has also burst onto the scene, expanding Coachair’s foray into cutting-edge technology.
“Our data on the EX 32 proves it’s the lightest and most power efficient electric unit in the Australian market today and has the largest capacity available in the local market,” O’Donnell says.
“Coachair has been building electric rail and tram units for 40 years, so this progression in technology makes it an innovative model.”
O’Donnell says an important part of Coachair’s success has been on the back of its local focus. The 100 per cent Australian owned company designs and develops the models through Australian engineers with local conditions and operators in mind.
He says this has been a key reason behind the EX 32’s immediate popularity.
“Some of our parts are manufactured locally in Australia, that’s our focus,” he says.
“People know we’re an Australian company that has local jobs in engineering, designing and developing.”
What to look forward to in 2024
While O’Donnell is proud that 2023 was one of Coachair’s best years in recent memory, this won’t stop him from attacking 2024 with similar vigour to help Coachair continue its forward momentum.
He’ll be continuing to strengthen his aftersales and service side with further growth so that they can assist customers with the two leading Coachair units on Australian buses and coaches.
“The high-quality team that’s behind the high-performing Coachair product is the reason why our customers are coming in droves to Coachair,” O’Donnell says.