The ALFAB Story
ALFAB 70 year retro badgeEst. 1955 · Australian made

70 Years of Trust, Craft & Innovation

From two brothers in 1955 to three generations of Australian manufacturing.

Begin the journey
Proud and committed

A legacy built over time.
A future still being shaped.

For seventy years, ALFAB has been shaped by family, driven by engineering and built on trust.

What began in 1955 with two brothers and a belief in the potential of aluminium has grown into a respected Australian manufacturer supporting the marine industry through three generations. This is the story of a family, of skilled people on the factory floor, and of customers who became trusted partners.

“Seventy years on, ALFAB remains grounded in the same values it was founded on: Quality, Service, Integrity and Trust.”
John Maddison and family
A family story

Built over generations

ALFAB’s story begins with brothers John and Vic Maddison.

John brought mechanical engineering knowledge, technical thinking and a pioneering mindset. Vic brought energy, relationships, sales instinct and a passion for boats.

Together, they built a business around solving problems, designing better systems and working closely with customers. From the beginning, ALFAB was never just about supplying parts—it was about understanding how things worked, how they could work better, and how to build something that would last.

Seven decades of progress

The ALFAB journey

Post-war

Engineering roots

John Maddison, a Swinburne-educated mechanical engineer, served during the Second World War teaching soldiers motorcycle and vehicle handling and maintenance—work grounded in discipline, precision and practical problem solving.

Army motorcycle training workshop
1955

ALFAB is established

As aluminium emerged as a revolutionary material in Australia, John and Vic saw an opportunity. They founded ALFAB on engineering know-how, practical thinking and the belief that a better product could always be built.

Early years

Caravans, architecture and aluminium

Architectural systems, caravan windows, custom framing and proprietary extrusions became part of the early journey. At one point, truckloads of caravan windows were leaving the factory each day.

Vintage caravan from ALFAB's early years
Marine

A natural move into boating

Vic’s passion for boats and strong industry relationships guided ALFAB toward Australian boat builders. Work with Caribbean, Bertram, Cruise Craft and Haines helped establish a reputation built on quality, service and dependability.

Early aluminium window frame
1975

The second generation

Clyde and Leigh Maddison joined the company, inheriting knowledge, standards, customer relationships and a deeply ingrained way of thinking. They carefully evolved the business without losing what made it strong.

Today

Three generations, one standard

From Melbourne to Capalaba and ultimately Crestmead, ALFAB has continued to invest in capacity, systems and people—adapting through changing markets while staying focused on technical problem solving and reliable Australian manufacturing.

Three generations of the ALFAB family
The thread through everything

Trust made the business possible

Trust between brothers, between generations, between the team and management, and between ALFAB and its customers.

Quality

Pride in doing things properly and building products that last.

Service

Understanding the whole journey from technical challenge to finished product.

Integrity

Standards that are maintained through changing markets and pressures.

Trust

Relationships built over decades, not transactions.

More than manufacturing

Experience that remains relevant

ALFAB works in the space between custom and scalable—developing systems that can be built more than once, even when volumes are small. Decades of proprietary extrusions, profiles, technical knowledge and process improvements give every product genuine ALFAB DNA.

Modern Australian boat with ALFAB glazingModern yacht interior featuring marine glazing
The next chapter

We are proud of our heritage—and committed to what comes next.

Talk to ALFAB about your next marine or specialist glazing project.

Contact ALFAB

Proud and Committed

For seventy years, ALFAB has been shaped by family, driven by engineering, and built on trust. What began in 1955 with two brothers and a belief in the potential of aluminium has grown into a respected Australian manufacturer, supporting the marine industry through three generations.

But this is more than the story of a business. It is the story of a family — passed from brother to brother, from father to son — and of the many people who have become part of that journey along the way.

It is the story of long-standing customers who became trusted partners. Of skilled hands and experienced minds on the factory floor. Of relationships built over decades, not transactions. And of lessons learned, challenges faced, and standards that were never lowered.

It is a story of quiet persistence. Of pride in doing things properly. Of building something that lasts — not just in products, but in reputation.

Seventy years on, ALFAB remains grounded in the same values it was founded on: Quality, Service, Integrity, and Trust.

3 Generations

A legacy built over time. A future still being shaped.

We are proud of our heritage and committed to what comes next.

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A Family Story Built Over Generations
ALFAB’s story begins with brothers John and Vic Maddison.

John brought mechanical engineering knowledge, technical thinking and a pioneering mindset. Vic brought energy, relationships, sales instinct and a passion for boats.

Together, they built a business around solving problems, designing better systems and working closely with customers in emerging industries. From the beginning, ALFAB was never just about supplying parts. It was about understanding how things worked, how they could work better, and how to build something that would last.

That thinking still shapes the company today.

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Post-war Beginnings & a New Material for a New Australia

The roots of ALFAB sit in post-war Australia — a time of rebuilding, ambition and practical innovation.

John Maddison was a mechanical engineer, educated at Swinburne, with a mind for design and an instinct for how things could be improved. During the Second World War, he served by teaching front-line soldiers motorcycle and vehicle handling and maintenance — work that demanded discipline, technical precision and calm problem solving.

Vic Maddison, John’s younger brother, brought a natural strength in relationships and industry connections. Where John’s focus was engineering and design, Vic’s strength was in people — working closely with customers and helping shape the early direction of the business.

With a genuine passion for boating and strong ties to the industry, he helped guide ALFAB into new opportunities — little knowing at the time that this would quietly steer the company toward the marine sector for decades to come.

Mechanics repair a vintage motorcycle engine in an Army motorcycle training shop.
Mechanics repair a vintage motorcycle engine in an Army motorcycle training shop.

After the war, he returned to civilian life and worked at Dowell Windows, helping oversee production and development at a time when aluminium was only just beginning to emerge as a revolutionary material in Australia.

That moment mattered. As aluminium production began to take hold locally, John and Vic saw an opportunity. In 1955, they established ALFAB — a business founded on engineering know-how, practical thinking, and the belief that a better product could always be built.

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Vintage caravan and trailer parked beside a weathered wooden building with a sign reading 'Gaffney's Creek Melbourne Bitter'; two children sit on a fence watching the scene.

Caravans, Architecture and
the Move into Marine
In the beginning, ALFAB worked across a niche but growing mix of industries.

Architectural systems, caravan windows, custom aluminium framing and proprietary extrusions were all part of the early journey. These were industries looking for lighter, stronger, better-designed systems — and ALFAB found its place by responding with practical, tailored solutions.

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Blue window frame with frosted glass panes leaning on gravel outdoors.
Vintage caravan and trailer parked beside a weathered wooden building with a sign reading 'Gaffney's Creek Melbourne Bitter'; two children sit on a fence watching the scene.

Caravans were a major early market. At one point, truckloads of caravan windows were leaving the factory each day. The business was solving real manufacturing needs at scale, while still doing the technical thinking required to improve systems over time

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Blue window frame with frosted glass panes leaning on gravel outdoors.
Vintage caravan and trailer parked beside a weathered wooden building with a sign reading 'Gaffney's Creek Melbourne Bitter'; two children sit on a fence watching the scene.

From there, the Move into Marine Came Naturally.

Vic loved boats. Through relationships, reputation and a genuine connection to the industry, ALFAB became increasingly involved with Australian boat builders. What started with caravan and architectural systems evolved into long-standing partnerships in marine — relationships that would become one of the defining strengths of the business.

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Blue window frame with frosted glass panes leaning on gravel outdoors.

A trusted name in Australian boat building
As ALFAB’s marine work grew, so did its reputation.

The company worked with respected Australian builders including names such as Caribbean, Bertram, Cruise Craft and Haines — many of them strong businesses in their own right, and some still connected to ALFAB decades later. That longevity says a lot.

ALFAB did not build its position through hype. It built it by doing good work, solving difficult problems, and being dependable over time. Product quality mattered. Service mattered. Technical understanding mattered. But above all, relationships mattered.

Over the years, ALFAB became part of the fabric of Australian boating. Walk through marinas around the country and you will find ALFAB products on vessels of many sizes and eras — quiet proof of the company’s long contribution to the industry.

Some of these relationships continue today.

3 Generations
3 Generations
3 Generations
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Clyde & Leigh
continue the journey

In 1975, the second generation stepped into the business, with Clyde Maddison and Leigh Maddison joining the company.

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They inherited more than a business. They inherited knowledge, standards, customer relationships and a deeply ingrained way of thinking.

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As leadership transitioned, different strengths once again came together. Just as John and Vic had complemented one another, so too did the next generation. Technical knowledge, commercial thinking, systems, operations and long-term planning all played their part.

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The company continued to evolve, but without losing what made it strong in the first place. This was not a change for the sake of change. It was careful stewardship — building on the foundations already laid, while making sure ALFAB could continue to grow.

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Planning for the future, one step ahead
Growth at ALFAB was never accidental. It came from vision, discipline and the confidence to plan ahead

As demand grew, the company expanded. Operations moved from Melbourne into Queensland, beginning at Capalaba and eventually growing into Crestmead. Each step reflected the same mindset: create room for the next stage, and never stop building for the future.

That philosophy ran deep. Factories were not just opened to meet immediate needs. They were built with further growth in mind. Additional space was secured. Capacity was increased. Systems were improved. And the company kept positioning itself for what came next.

This long-view approach helped ALFAB keep pace with the changing marine market while maintaining control over quality and process.

office old

Through changing markets, recessions and industry shifts
Seven decades in manufacturing does not happen without challenge.

ALFAB has weathered recessions, market slowdowns, industry shifts, international competition and changing customer demands. It has seen materials evolve, production methods modernise and Australian manufacturing come under pressure from lower-cost imported alternatives.

The caravan market changed dramatically. Cheap, standardised imports made that space harder to compete in. But ALFAB adapted. Rather than chase mass production at the expense of quality, the company leaned further into what it did best — technical problem solving, custom design, reliable manufacturing and long-term customer relationships.

White travel trailer with blue and black graphics on a grassy field; tandem axle and front spare tire with diamond-plate panel.
White semi-truck with a large, boxy living-quarters trailer extended from the cab, parked on a lot
White SUV towing a large off-road camper trailer on a dusty desert road under a blue sky

The ability to adapt without losing identity has been one of ALFAB’s greatest strengths.
The business has never stood still. It has listened, adjusted, improved and kept moving forward.

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The value that runs through everything
If there is one word that sits at the heart of ALFAB, it is trust.

As leadership transitioned, different strengths once again came together. Just as John and Vic had complemented one another, so too did the next generation. Technical knowledge, commercial thinking, systems, operations and long-term planning all played their part.

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Trust between brothers. Trust between generations.
Trust between family members with different strengths.
Trust between management and team. Trust between ALFAB and its customers.

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Across three generations, trust has been the foundation that allowed decisions to be made, risks to be taken, challenges to be worked through and relationships to endure.

In many ways, that trust is what made the business possible.

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It is there in the loyalty of customers who have returned over decades.It is there in the culture of the business, where staff are treated as part of the wider ALFAB family.

Trust is not just part of the story. It is the thread that connects all of it.

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More than manufacturing
ALFAB has always been about more than simply producing parts.

Its strength lies in understanding the full journey — from concept to development, from technical challenge to finished product, from customer requirement to repeatable manufacturing outcome.

That means knowing how to work in the space between custom and scalable. It means developing systems that can be built more than once, even when volumes are small. It means drawing on decades of proprietary extrusions, profiles, technical knowledge and process improvements to create products with genuine ALFAB DNA.

This kind of capability is hard won. It comes from experience, from mistakes learned from, from years of listening, refining and solving.

And it is one of the reasons ALFAB has remained relevant in a demanding, specialised industry.

L-shaped cream sofa with gray and white pillows in a wood-paneled luxury yacht lounge, curved windows showing calm water outside.
Quintrex Windscreen Replacement
Quintrex Windscreen Replacement
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Family, Passion and Perspective
ALFAB has never been separate from the lives of the family behind it.

Boats, cars, engineering, travel, weekends, stories, family holidays, factory visits, learning by watching, absorbing the values of those who came before — all of that sits within the company’s history too.

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Vintage caravan and trailer parked beside a weathered wooden building with a sign reading 'Gaffney's Creek Melbourne Bitter'; two children sit on a fence watching the scene.
Blue-framed double-window pane leaning on a gravel surface with other window frames in the background.

70 Years of Trust, Craft & Innovation

From two brothers in 1955 to three generations of Australian manufacturing.

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70 Years of Trust, Craft & Innovation

From two brothers in 1955 to three generations of Australian manufacturing.

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For the love of family, fun & pushing limits

This is the block to add images and tell the story of the lifestyle and hobbies which bonds the people in the company, builds the culture and helps to ensure innovation is a way of life and not a task at work

Begin the Journey

For the love of family, fun & pushing limits

This is the block to add images and tell the story of the lifestyle and hobbies which bonds the people in the company, builds the culture and helps to ensure innovation is a way of life and not a task at work

Begin the Journey

70 years of trust, craft and innovation

From two brothers in 1955 to three generations of Australian manufacturing, ALFAB has been shaped by family, driven by engineering and built on trust.

A legacy built over time. A future still being shaped.

For seventy years, ALFAB has supported Australian industry by solving difficult problems and building products that last. This is more than the history of a business—it is a family story carried forward by generations of employees, customers and trusted partners.

1955 — John and Vic Maddison establish ALFAB

Mechanical engineer John Maddison brought technical thinking, design knowledge and a practical instinct for improving how things worked. His brother Vic brought energy, relationships and a genuine passion for boats. Together they founded ALFAB around engineering know-how, practical problem solving and the belief that a better product could always be built.

Post-war beginnings and a new Australian material

After serving during the Second World War by teaching vehicle and motorcycle handling and maintenance, John returned to civilian manufacturing. At Dowell Windows he helped oversee production and development as aluminium began emerging as a transformative local material. John and Vic recognised the opportunity and built a business ready to use it.

Caravans, architecture and custom fabrication

ALFAB initially worked across architectural systems, caravan windows, proprietary extrusions and custom aluminium framing. These growing industries needed lighter, stronger and better-designed systems. At one point, truckloads of caravan windows were leaving the factory each day—combining manufacturing scale with continuous technical improvement.

The move into marine

The transition into marine came naturally. Vic’s relationships and passion for boating brought ALFAB closer to Australian boat builders, while the company’s engineering and fabrication capability made it a dependable technical partner. Caravan and architectural experience evolved into long-standing marine partnerships.

A trusted name in Australian boat building

ALFAB worked with respected builders including Caribbean, Bertram, Cruise Craft and Haines. Its reputation was earned through dependable service, consistent product quality and the ability to solve difficult glazing and fabrication problems—not through hype. Many of those industry relationships have lasted for decades.

Three generations, the same foundation

Across three generations, ALFAB has continued to invest in people, capability and technology while remaining grounded in the values established at the beginning: quality, service, integrity and trust. The company is proud of its heritage and committed to what comes next.

Built in Australia. Ready for the next challenge.

Today, ALFAB operates from Brisbane and Melbourne, supporting marine, automotive and custom fabrication projects across Australia. The tools have changed and the technology has advanced, but the underlying approach remains the same: understand the problem, do the work properly and build something that lasts.

Talk to the ALFAB team