By Patrick Avenell

Vax Appliances (Australia) Pty Ltd is set to merge with Techtronic Industries (Australia) Pty Ltd (TTIA), effective 1 January 2008. From this time, TTIA will be the legal entity that the Vax business will operate under. All existing agreements with Vax will be carried over on that date.

In an internal memorandum obtained by Current.com.au, TTI Australasia managing director, Michael Brendle, wrote positively about this merger.

“I feel strongly, that bringing our two businesses together, will provide a strong base for future growth,” wrote Brendle. “More importantly, it will allow us to drive further service improvements for all of our Australian customers.”

In February 2007, Current.com.au reported that TTI, which has a head office in Hong Kong, had purchased the Hoover vacuum brand from Whirlpool.

In other Vax news, Eddie-Leigh Baroni has left Vax Appliances after 16 years of service. Glenn Oakley, who has been at Vax for three years as state manager of Victoria & national accounts, has been promoted to the role of national sales manager of Vax’s floorcare division. Daniel Watters is now the new national marketing manager.