IES Equipment | History

IES Liquids is a core division of the original IES business and traces it origins back to Liquip Handling Equipment Pty Limited (Liquip), which was founded by Bill Currey in 1968. Liquip was originally established as a general machine shop, but evolved over its first ten years to specialise in the production of valves, manhole covers and other equipment for road tankers.

During the next two decades the company continued to build on its product range and developed a reputation as a manufacturer of high quality tanker components and accessories, with customers both in Australia and around the world. During this time, Liquip also commenced the manufacture of specialised vehicles for the refuelling of aircraft. This division has grown significantly and is now a leading provider of this equipment to customers around the world.

In 2003, Liquip was acquired by listed Australian company ION Limited which combined it with the existing Cootes Transport Business to form ION Energy Services Pty Limited.

Two years later, in 2005, both Liquip and Cootes were acquired by IES, with Liquip forming the cornerstone of the IES Equipment division.

IES has constantly sought to expand IES Equipment and in 2006 this goal was significantly advanced through the acquisition of Beta Fluid Systems, an aviation refuelling systems manufacturer based in North Carolina, USA. Beta has allowed IES Equipment to significantly expand both its product range and geographic reach, with a significant proportion of its sales now coming from international customers.