Ai’s first location was a serviced office in Moorabbin with shared receptionists directing calls for Ai. Jim made logos, designed brochures, and created the Ai flag. In 2000, Ai moved into a small warehouse in Braeside. Operations expanded and Ai started storing pre-cut metal extrusions.

Ai continued to grow. Sally Cordell joined Ai on a casual basis, getting the accounts in order. She initially worked one day per month.

Mark Hill, known to Jim from his Comalco days, joined Ai in early 2002, Mark took on an all-purpose sales role and was Ai’s first full-time employee.

Kim Sim joined the Ai team.

In March 2005, Ai moved to 10 Carson Avenue in Keysborough. A newer, larger facility, this marked a change in philosophy. More people joined the team and people were able to focus more on their areas of expertise instead of everyone doing a little bit of everything.

With Tim Wilks on the team, Ai builds Ai Architectural, an aluminium architectural range. When Ai launched, it offered sourcing services for small to medium end users of extruded products. Ai Architectural introduced supply to the architectural window and door systems market.

In April 2008, Ai took over 2 Carson Avenue next door. To incorporate the 20 Carson Avenue location with the 10 Carson Avenue location, a few brick walls had to be removed.

In 2010, EDGE Architectural Glazing Systems released a super suite of high performance architectural window and door systems. The EDGE DNA incorporated international best practices, like thermal break and advanced drainage, and made them uniquely Australian.

To accommodate the growth and production needs of aiFAB, Pivotech, Intrack, and EDGE Architectural, Ai moved to a purpose-built 12,000sqm facility on Ordish Road, Dandenong South.

In 2012, Ai began in-house software development with the launch of PivotPoint, an online ordering platform for Pivotech customers, and EdgePoint, an order and specification platform for EDGE customers and stakeholders.

Ai acquired Comtruk ute trays and Tasman bullbars in 2014. Both brands had been long-time customers of Ai. Comtruk had established itself as the market leader of quality aluminium truck tray bodies and served as the industry benchmark.

Tasman produced a comprehensive range of aerodynamic highway bars suitable for combating the harsh and complex elements of the Australian landscape.

At the end of the 2014/15 financial year, Jim challenged the team on a new target for the 2015/2016 year, with the award of taking everyone to China if the goal was met. The team rose to the challenge and travelled together for the long Melbourne Cup Day holiday weekend. With more than 50 going, this was a significantly larger group than the one that made the team trip to China in 2005.

Ai started GLYDE® in 2020 to deliver the highest-quality flexible space solutions for the education and commercial sectors. All of GLYDE’s Operable Walls, Sliders, and Decorative Screens are easy and safe to operate, can be configured to meet DDA requirements, and offer industry-leading acoustic performance.

In March 2023, we won SYSPRO’s Spark Award for how our software development integrated our proprietary software systems at Ai, Console, Atlas, Compass, Scout, PivotPoint, and PivotPoint Pro with their ERP system.

To satisfy the need of interior architects and designers for technical support in the specification of structurally engineered shower screens, Ai created the Parc (Pivotech Architetural) brand. Our designs offer better utilisation of space, elevated quality, and big, bold, beautiful lines. The range includes oversize panels, fresh colours, and clean features.

In 2026, Ai celebrates 30 years of delivering everything in aluminium.