WIKA Australia: A Legacy of Precision and Growth
WIKA Australia's journey began with DOBBIE Brothers, founded on October 21, 1921, by C.S. (Stan) Dobbie and C.W. (Cecil) Dobbie. Originally focused on optics and thermometer manufacturing, the company expanded into scientific and industrial instruments in the late 1950s. In 1960, a new building on Exhibition Street, Melbourne, supported this growth, and around that time, operations transitioned to Norman Dobbie, Stan's son.
A significant milestone came in 1962, with a new factory in Sandringham, allowing on-site production of dial and glass thermometers and later pressure gauges. By 1967, DOBBIE had partnered with WIKA to supply small pressure gauges, eventually becoming WIKA’s sole Australian distributor in the early 1970s. In 1974, the optical division closed, and all operations centralized in Sandringham, while branches in Sydney and Adelaide supported steady growth into the 1980s.
In 1983, DOBBIE was sold to a Perth-based company that merged multiple branches into DOBBIE INSTRUMENTS (AUSTRALIA) PTY. LTD., with Norman Dobbie as Managing Director. In 1990, new ownership under BEP Engineering led to a 1994 decision to close Sandringham manufacturing and consolidate operations in Sydney, with WIKA now supplying all pressure and temperature gauges.
WIKA acquired DOBBIE in 1998, merging it with Budenberg Gauges Australia to form what is now called WIKA Australia Pty Ltd. Further expansion followed with acquisitions of Benney Transfer (2006), Process Instruments in New Zealand (2007), and KD Instruments (2016), enhancing service, repairs, and NATA-accredited calibrations.
Today, WIKA Australia operates with a strong team of 75 across ANZ, delivering reliable instrumentation solutions for diverse industries.