At 22, Jimmy Moran imported the first induction coating removal machine into Australia after turning an initial “no” into an opportunity through years of persistence. Fourteen years later, ACR Tech has grown into a national industrial remediation specialist.
“I first came across the technology while studying business at QUT and working for an industrial blasting and painting company,” said Jimmy.
“Tom Arne Baann, the founder of RPR Technologies, came over from Norway to launch the system and I spent time showing him around Brisbane. We built a relationship and I could see that induction coating removal had potential well beyond removing paint.”
When the original Australian licence holder closed its doors, Jimmy picked up the phone and contacted Tom.
“I called Tom and asked if I could become the Australasian distributor, but he told me no because I was too young.
“So I went away, built a website, put together a business plan and found the resources I needed to show him I was serious. Eventually he gave me the opportunity and I imported my first machine in September 2012.
“It certainly wasn’t a success story at the start, believe me. After a year or two, I thought I’d made a terrible decision.
“For six years I lived at my parents’ place while trying to build the business. During the day I’d work as a labourer on site and at night I’d pick up shifts in grocery stores and bottle shops just to keep the business afloat.
“But I knew the technology had a lot of potential in areas like the resources sector. Looking back, the issue wasn’t the technology. Nobody had heard of ICR so I needed to show people what it could do rather than tell them.”
The turning point came when ACR Tech landed a massive coal tar removal project in Port Hedland after demonstrating the technology in action.
“Landing that coal tar removal project meant people could finally see what the technology was capable of, and it gave me the confidence to leave my night jobs and focus on ACR Tech full time.”
Another turning point came in 2020 when coating specialists IPCQ partnered with ACR Tech after seeing the technology firsthand. IPCQ co-owners Luke Emery and Daryl Mears saw what many others didn’t.
“A lot of the coatings specialists saw ACR and this technology as a threat, but we saw it as an innovative, environmentally friendly solution,” said Luke.
“We saw this young guy with this world-beating technology and knew our large-scale industrial coatings experience could help take ACR Tech to the next level.”
The partnership marked another turning point as ACR Tech continued to expand, bringing new people into the business.
“It’s always hard handing over the reins to your baby, but it wasn’t until Shannon Hobbs joined as Managing Director that we really took a global approach.
“Shannon’s knowledge of business, together with IPCQ’s coating experience, has put us in a strong position as we continue to grow.”
ACR Tech now delivers large-scale remediation projects for clients including Gladstone Ports Corporation, Rio Tinto and Monadelphous. Recent work has included the resurfacing of Rio Tinto’s Cape Lambert port.
The business has since acquired a majority stake in RPR Technologies – the Norwegian company behind the technology that started it all.
“Did I ever think we’d own the technology itself? Of course not.
“But it was always a dream and when the opportunity came up we were in the fortunate position to acquire a majority stake in RPR Technologies.
“Now we’re focused on developing the technology even further.”
