Engineering Practical Solutions for Over 50 Years
Abberfield is an Australian designer and manufacturer of specialised revenue‑collection and facility‑management equipment. For more than five decades, we have built products that are purpose‑built, reliable, serviceable and engineered for long‑term performance. From our earliest electronic instruments to today’s smart water filling systems and modular controllers, Abberfield has always focused on one thing: creating technology that solves real‑world problems with simplicity and durability.
What We Do Today
Abberfield delivers user-friendly, field‑proven solutions that support councils, water utilities, transport operators and facility managers across Australia and internationally. As a leading supplier of revenue‑collection equipment, we provide secure credit‑card payment systems alongside durable cash‑based options tailored to specific applications. Our offering includes water‑dispensing systems, coin timers, coin validators, push‑button timers, and both standard and custom tokens, providing ongoing support for the many Abberfield products still operating after decades in the field.
To support customers on‑site, we operate two fully equipped mobile workshop and support vehicles, enabling service, commissioning and technical assistance wherever it’s needed. Photos of our mobile support vehicles and Water Filling Stations can be viewed in our Gallery.
With design and manufacturing carried out in‑house, we ensure consistent quality, long‑term serviceability and dependable continuity of supply.
Our Story
Abberfield’s history began in the 1960s as a small, part‑time engineering venture focused on solving real‑world problems with easily operated, reliable technology. Our first major product was a peripheral nerve stimulator designed in collaboration with Burrows Wellcome and the company’s founding engineer. This battery‑powered, transistorised instrument was marketed worldwide and manufactured for two decades — a remarkable achievement for a young Australian business.
Building on this early success, Abberfield expanded into valve‑controlled electronic timers, then into solid‑state timers, cam switches and coin‑operated time switches. These products quickly became the backbone of the business. By offering mass customisation rather than one‑size‑fits‑all models, Abberfield outperformed larger competitors and established a long‑term revenue stream that funded decades of innovation.
The 1970s and 80s saw rapid growth. Coin‑controlled bed vibrators, hotel and motel systems, and pay‑television timers became widespread across Australia. Abberfield’s first major national contracts followed, including Australia Post, Sydney Ferries, Channel 7 (Quintex), and large‑scale vending and ticketing systems. During this period, Abberfield developed its signature “black box” modular technology — rugged, plug‑and‑play components designed for reliability, serviceability and long product life. Winning the Australian Technology Showcase (ATS) Award gained much recognition for this ingenious and leading-edge technology.
International expansion soon followed. Abberfield delivered major projects in Sheffield, Dublin, Belfast, Malaysia, New Zealand and Argentina, and established Abberfield Europe Ltd to support overseas service and maintenance.
Across every decade, Abberfield has remained committed to designing and manufacturing its own components, ensuring that products are built for purpose and supported for the long term. Many systems installed in the 1980s and 1990s are still operating today, a testament to the company’s engineering philosophy.
Today, Abberfield continues to evolve with modern solutions such as mains / solar powered, credit / smart card and coin Water Filling Stations, facility‑management controllers and specialised revenue‑collection systems. While the technology has advanced, the core principles remain unchanged: applied engineering, long‑term reliability and a commitment to doing things properly.
For a deeper look at Abberfield’s heritage, milestones and product evolution, you can download our 50 Years of Abberfield brochure.
Innovation & Engineering
Innovation at Abberfield has always been practical, not theoretical. Our engineering philosophy is built on:
- Modular, serviceable design
- In‑house manufacturing of key components
- Long product lifecycles and backward compatibility
- Customisation of Abberfield’s existing products to suit specific applications
- Registered Australian R&D capability
From world‑first coin validator technology to modern credit and smart ‑card Water Filling Stations, Abberfield continues to develop solutions that are simple to operate, easy to maintain and built to last.
Confidentiality
Confidentiality is respected as many projects are produced under the customer's name or for other reasons are considered confidential. All Abberfield staff are bound by confidentiality agreements and for customer's, Abberfield have a standard confidentiality agreement ready to sign at any time.
Legacy Products
With almost 60 years of manufacturing behind us, many Abberfield products remain in service today. We maintain a comprehensive library of legacy equipment and continue to support customers with spare parts, repairs and upgrades.
Explore our range of legacy products.
Our People
Abberfield’s strength comes from a highly skilled group of engineers, technicians and support staff who take pride in long‑term craftsmanship and reliability. Our people bring decades of experience to every product we design and support.
Careers
Abberfield’s team is built on long‑term experience, functional engineering and a commitment to quality.
Although we don’t recruit often, we encourage interested applicants to check our Positions Vacant page for any current opportunities, or to contact us with a resume for future consideration.
Our Technology & Solutions
Below is a video highlighting Abberfield’s engineering capability and the breadth of our product range, featuring a mix of long‑standing products and the solutions we deliver today. It reflects the depth and progression of our technology as we continue to look ahead and innovate for the decades to come.