Our story
There has to be a better way…
Our story dates back to 1988. At that time our MD Gary Chapman, (myself), was working for Email Air in Osborne Park, Perth, WA in the Commercial Air division. I always remembered thinking, thank goodness for filters as the byproduct that came from the filters we processed, especially shopping center’s, was scary. What if people had to breath this stuff. What are the long-term health effects that we are yet to see going to be I wondered?
Fast forward to 1992. I then started selling wide format printing solutions into the sign and print industries. The solvent inks contained harmful VOC (Volatile Organic Compounds), and during that period ink technologies evolved to less harmful compounds but still far from ideal for humans to breath, and that still remains the case even to this day. Printers had to be in an airconditioned environment meaning the outgassing of vapor’s was being inhaled by staff, customers and sometimes families in the workplace, and there were no real viable solutions to remove these toxins from the work environment.
Our story dates back to 1988. At that time MD Gary Chapman, (myself), was working for Email Air in Osborne Park Perth WA in the Commercial Air division. I always remembered thinking, thank goodness for filters as the byproduct that came from the filters we processed, especially shopping centers, was scary. What if people had to breath this stuff. What are the long-term health effects that we are yet to see going to be I wondered?
Then in 1994 Gary and many others in the market, started selling laser engraving and cutting technologies. While the laser produced no harmful gasses the material being engraved and cut most certainly did. MDF is full of nasty glues and chemicals and it’s probably the most commonly cut material, alongside Acrylics and many other materials. Some metal marking compounds are carcinogenic and still some people don’t use filters.
Management of these harmful toxins is easy. Just add a filter system to connect to the machine. But of all the lasers I sold only 1 in 40 would install a filter system. Why? It was a 2-fold problem. First is the cost of the filter machine which in some cases was as much as the laser, and the second was the cost replacing the filters and frequency of replacing them. Unfortunately for many, profits seem to come before health.
Fast forward to this year. After selling the business I had served for 33 years it was time to retire…or was it. My inspiration for starting this business comes from a client, who then became a friend, to try to make a difference in the way we do things. My friend was in the laser business for many years. Processing mainly timber products. A while back he developed a lung disease. The doctors know what the disease is but don’t know what causes it. I wondered if what he was breathing in, as he had no filtration, was in part responsible? Following the diagnosis, a double lung transplant was performed. All went well for 12 months before rejection set in and I lost my friend. That is what has inspired me to try to make a difference through education & innovation through AppleAir.
Price of units and filters was the impediment to purchase. So along with my overseas partners we have brought to market premium solutions to make a real difference. Filter systems start at around 1.5k for a small one and for a laser around 3k, Filters prices are the lowest on the market and need to be changed annually – not quarterly, with the main filter being washed, not replaced saving you thousands of $$$.
And so, the journey begins. No matter what your situation you should always protect your health. I have brought to market our cost-effective range of “AppleAir” Premium filtration systems…. For the past 33 years I have sold commercial machinery that puts pollutant into the air if not being filtered. For the rest of my days, I will try to make a difference selling solutions to reverse & prevent that from happening again…There has to be a better way and we believe this is it…..For Larry.
