By Ian Neubauer

MELBOURNE: Glen Dimplex, the world’s largest electrical heating business, has launched a new business unit in Australia and will market heaters and kitchen appliances.

Based in Melbourne, Glen Dimplex Australia will focus on the distribution of electric flame-effect heaters and kitchen appliances.

“We see Australia as a very good opportunity. It’s a mature market populated with a unique mixture of cultural backgrounds and a unique demographic that suits our products well,” said Glen Dimplex Australia general manager, Dave Woodward.

Glen Dimplex already has a long history of distribution in Australia, with various companies handling the sales of different product categories.

The group’s Belling and Stoves brands were distributed here by Eurolec Australia until the company went into administration in March following a disagreement with a major Singaporean shareholder.

“Eurolec had some financial problems and went into administration. We were only dealing with them for six months so it’s been a very clean turnover,” Woodward said.

“We are trying to solve customer care issues so we have set up a large spare parts warehouse in Melbourne to support our products.”

Woodward said he is now looking forward to establishing the Glen Dimplex brand in Australia. “We are taking a long-term view of entry,” he said.

Former Eurolec managing director, Martin Shaw, has joined Glen Dimplex as divisional manager for home appliances.