Founded by Bruce Arnot in South Africa, MAT-a-Door begins in a garage supplying door seals, PPE, and hardware. Driven by a passion for exceptional service, the business quickly grows.

Matador Sales secures the Switch King agency, marking a major move into electrical wholesale and power distribution solutions, while also expanding its electrical range, importing and distributing high-quality Hole Saws and Tungsten Halogen tubes from Japan, and precision tap and die sets from the UK.

Bruce launches MATelec Distributors, selling the Matador name and the hardware division to focus solely on the electrical sector, marking the beginning of a new chapter with the birth of MATelec.

MATelec begins manufacturing cable clips and glands in an outbuilding with its first injection moulding machine. As the business grows, so does its impact, partnering with disadvantaged communities to provide meaningful work, assembling and packing moulded products. Three more machines soon follow, expanding capacity and purpose.

MATelec launches its first proprietary electrical products including LightTronic twilight switches, Floatronic float switches, and Scorpion motion sensors, followed by the addition of rugged outdoor lighting solutions such as Centurion, Galaxy, Emperor, and Mirage polycarbonate fittings. To support this growth, MATelec moves into a larger facility equipped to scale with bigger machines.

The family relocates to regional Victoria, with Richard and his family putting down roots in Shepparton.

Richard officially launches MATelec Australia, initially offering a limited range of products, including cable accessories, float switches, and Day/Night (Twilight) switches.

As Victoria faces a major drought and residential outdoor water use is restricted, demand for greywater solutions surges. MATelec Australia is approached by a customer of float switches to create a controller for greywater pumps, prompting the team, to use its skills in electronic design, to develop the first electronic pump controller, enabling irrigation systems to efficiently and compliantly, use stored greywater to water garden beds.

MATelec Australia moves into new premises, and commences in-house, production of Pump Controllers, and launches a new division: Control Solutions.

MATelec Australia launches the FPC range of pump control products, including the APC5 and ME-90, marking the beginning of its innovative Hydro range.

From the launch of the Hydro range, MATelec Australia focuses on smart, fit-for-purpose innovation, shifting the market from relay logic to intelligent electronic control, and going on to launch products such as:

• HydroTOUCH (c. 2015) - intuitive touchscreen interface multi-pump control
• HydroWHIZ (c. 2020) - smarter sensing and enhanced capability
• HydroSTART (c. 2023) - durable, efficient pump control

MATelec Australia hits a major milestone. 100 employees, becoming a significant employer in the Goulburn Valley.

MATelec Australia’s pump control products are certified to carry the Australian Made logo, a trusted mark of genuine Aussie products.

Marking two decades of growth, innovation, and commitment to quality, MATelec Australia has evolved into a trusted manufacturer of reliable electrical control solutions. This era reflects the dedication of our people, the strength of our partnerships, and a shared commitment to continuous improvement.

Fifty years on, MATelec has transformed from a small South African operation into a respected Australian manufacturer. This milestone reflects decades of technical expertise, product reliability, and strong industry relationships that continue to shape the brand today.

MATelec Australia achieves ISO:9001 Certification, underscoring its commitment to exceptional quality.

Launch of Propitect; marking the start of MATelec Australia's advancement into the IoT space in Control & Automation Solutions.

MATelec Australia achieves ISO:14001 (Environmental Management Systems) and ISO:45001 (Occupational Health & Safety Management Systems) certification, formalising our commitment to responsible environmental practices and workplace health and safety.