Coming to Australia over a decade ago, the HVAC supplier has seen steady growth and success, in large part due to its focus on customer satisfaction, continuous improvement of its product portfolio and services, and its pioneering role in electric mobility.
“Our success was started by securing some great contracts within the industry here,” Spheros Australia general manager Paul Williams told ABC.
“Soon after, customers started gaining trust and confidence with us as a brand, and it was all uphill from there.”
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With increasing sales comes increasing visibility, the system supplier soon began gaining attention from other big players in the market and securing contracts with the likes of Brisbane City Council and the State Transit Authority.
In 2016, Valeo Group purchased Spheros and integrated it into its organisation, giving Valeo access to a range of previously Spheros products. Now, the brand has gone back to its original roots.
“We operated under the Valeo umbrella for seven years and made incredible products with them,” Williams says.
“But now, it’s exciting to be back under the Spheros name and operating independently once again.”
The Valeo Thermal Commercial Vehicles product group that once owned Spheros was recently sold to H.I.G. Capital. After a complete redesign of the Spheros brand, the company once again operates under the name Spheros GmbH and has been operating legally and financially independently ever since.
Now, Spheros has decided to continue the trajectory it had set out on, starting with the opening of a brand-new store in Sydney. Joining its Melbourne and Christchurch counterparts, Williams says it was the perfect opportunity to grow the brand.
“We wanted to increase our footprint in Sydney and be available to help customers with their spare parts on a quick turnaround,” he says.
“This store enables us to hold stock on all of our fast-moving items, where technicians and those alike can have quick and easy access so buses can be back on the road as soon as possible.”
The Spheros service network offers the best access to attractive and high-quality services and products, as well as experienced employees.
Peter Mercer has become the face of the new Sydney store, bringing a wealth of knowledge and history to the space as Spheros’ sales and technical representative.
“Peter has recently joined our team and has already become a key asset to our business there,” Williams says.
“His prompt responses and strong technical expertise have really helped instil confidence in our products among our customers.”
But it’s not just the aftersales care that is top-notch, with its electric HVAC systems flying off the shelves. Its hallmark model, the REVO®-E Global, found success as global markets began electrifying their fleets.
“We thought for a long time about what this new age of buses and coaches would need,” Williams says. “And I feel we have hit the nail on the head.
“A particular emphasis has been placed on lightweight construction, performance and ease of installation, hence why our electric model goes up on the roof of the bus.”
In addition to heat pump technology, customers also have the option of PTC heating and battery cooling for Spheros’ zero-emissions models. To enhance riders’ experience, the system cools and heats the interior of the electric vehicle efficiently and with low energy consumption.
“Customers now have the choice to integrate our E-Cooler into the unit,” he says.
“This is particularly good for electric buses as it doesn’t take up excessive space and fits seamlessly on the roof.”
The E-Cooler Spheros has a maximum cooling capacity of 10 kW, offering an optimal solution for a wide range of applications. Depending on the requirement, the E-Cooler protects the battery from overheating during charging and discharging and cools it while the bus drives at high outside temperatures or with heavy loads onboard.
An additional heating function even warms up the sensitive batteries if necessary to restore the optimum temperature range.
From temperatures of –20 degrees Celsius to more than 50 degrees Celsius, these models are designed to work in a variety of arrangements for operators.
The innovative system was created on the back of customer feedback, something that Spheros prides itself on. As Spheros now plots its own way forward, the brand is looking to continue using market information to take its HVAC products to the next level.
“We’ve had a lot of operators asking for a bigger battery system. We’ve had a five-kilowatt system for a very long time, but they’ve been asking for a bigger unit that’s able to cool the coolant,” Williams says.
Operating for more than 60 years, Spheros has demonstrated its ability to see the bigger picture by ensuring its products adapt to the ever-changing needs of the industry.
From classic diesel vehicles to the new electric buses sweeping the market, the company’s in-house software and control solutions were designed to provide an efficient air management system for any type of vehicle hitting the road.
“One of our main goals is always ensuring that our customers are heard and our products constantly evolve with what they are needing.”
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