Earning the status of one of Australia’s most trusted air-conditioning partners requires more than just a superior product or effective marketing. It demands years of dedicated effort, and Coachair has epitomised this through its pursuit of quality and innovation.
Since 1978, Coachair has been a pioneer of the Australian HVAC market, providing high-quality products and exceptional customer support, solidifying their position as an industry leader.
“We didn’t achieve this overnight,” Coachair general manager Anthony O’Donnell told ABC.
“We have spent decades honing what makes us different and benchmarking how we measure up against the rest of the industry.”
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O’Donnell attributes Coachair’s success to three core pillars.
Australian-owned
As an Australian-owned company, Coachair’s products are designed for Australian operators, by Australians, with the country’s unique operating environment front and centre.
“We remain one of the only companies to design, build and manufacture air conditioning systems for the Australian bus and coach industry,” O’Donnell says. “This means our products have been designed with local climates and conditions in mind.”
“Australia is a unique place where people expect and prefer a climate-control air conditioner rather than a standard heat/cool air conditioner.”
A heat/cool air conditioner does not provide dehumidification in winter, but a climate control unit ensures constant dehumidification. Given Australia’s climate, there’s no questioning why operators prefer climate control.
“Our customers consistently recognise that with Coachair’s systems, issues like fogging and dehumidification are effectively managed.”
The operation of the A/C System is controlled by an advanced electronic Climate Control System located in the Return Air plenum of the rooftop unit. The strategically and conveniently placed electrical panel ensures easy service access from the bus cabin.
A notable aspect of Coachair’s products is their local production.
Designed and engineered in Sydney, all Coachair’s electronics for its diesel units, including the computer, controllers, dash panel and wiring, are made locally in Brisbane.
“By manufacturing the key components in Australia, we are able to control the quality and ensure our customers are always receiving the best of the best,” O’Donnell says.
“This approach helps us achieve our goal of providing customers with quality products at a lower cost, weight and power consumption.”
Local industry experts
For most businesses, it’s the people involved that determine the success or failure of a product.
Fortunately for Coachair, they have assembled a team of experienced professionals in every department – from engineering and product development to sales, service and support.
“Industry experts lead our team, and unlike many HVAC Suppliers, our staff are local,” O’Donnell says.
“We have teams on the ground across Australia, with engineers, technicians and service managers in each capital city.
“We also provide exceptional support for rural and regional customers with a network of trusted service providers, plus personalised visits to you from one of our industry experts.”
The HVAC supplier encourages operators to leverage its experienced employees, providing technical support over the phone or through on-site visits and fleet audits.
“We recognise the historical challenges faced by regional and rural operators in accessing support, and we have made it a priority to address these issues.”
Innovative approach
Coachair has a comprehensive product range to meet the diverse needs of bus and coach operators.
The electric series (EX) represents forward-thinking innovation, preparing bus and coach operators for the future of our industry. Meanwhile, the reliable diesel units (XT/CA) are some of the most efficient in the current market.
When zero-emissions buses emerged, Coachair immediately responded, creating a premium product to suit the needs of the changing market.
“The EX series is a specifically designed unit for any zero emission bus, compatible with battery, electric, hydrogen and hybrid buses.”
“It’s the premium model that we market for standard 12-14 meter long buses, whether it’s a route bus or a charter bus or coach.”
Designed in Australia, the EX-series utilises market-leading technology to combine high airflow with low power consumption.
Due to the two smaller DC voltage compressors, the roof top weight is over 50 per cent lower, allowing operators to increase passenger numbers or carry extra batteries with ease.
“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.”
“Drawing on our 40 years of experience building electric rail and tram units, we have leveraged our expertise and technological advances to create an innovative model for the bus and coach industry that meets our customer’s needs.”
By continually advancing its product offerings, Coachair remains at the forefront of the Australian HVAC industry. It delivers leading solutions for modern transportation challenges, which will be on display on stand S108 at the upcoming National Bus & Coach Show.
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