Moving from Austria in 1990 to a freezing flat in Bacchus Marsh, about 60 kilometres north west of Melbourne, exposed Edith and Tony Paarhammer to Australia’s relatively low standards for thermal and draft performance of windows and doors. And trying to source high-performing windows and doors for their own home was the beginning of their business designed to remedy that issue.

“People just said to close the curtains to keep the heat in, and in summer to close the curtains to keep the heat out,” Edith says. “But if you can’t see through them, why have windows?’’

Rather than re-inventing the wheel, they set about making the European style windows and doors which they grew up with. The industry is moving quickly towards more energy efficient products, partly driven by well-educated home owners (high energy prices, more comfort) and some industry professionals, but also through new regulations. The National Construction Code will improve energy efficiency first for commercial applications in 2019, and then in the residential construction sector in order for Australia to meet targets for the Paris Climate Agreement. Paarhammer is well placed to take advantage of these new regulations and grow further. The family business employs 22 staff at the moment, and processes are in place for a handover to the next generation in 5-7 years.