Our History
The globally patented Swivelpole™ system was developed by founding director Robert Pannekoek during the late 1990s from a country town in Australia. Swivelpole™ has grown to become a global business providing some of the world's largest industrial customers an innovative and ingenious solution to their industrial lighting needs.
Rob spent his early years working alongside his migrant father and older brothers in their fabrication business. His upbringing created his attributes of hard work and determination and this coupled with a passion for innovation and development resulted in him continuously looking at and developing better ways of manufacturing items.
Rob began working in the construction industry in the mid-1980s specialising in the electrical installation and maintenance sector. In the late 1990s, after recognising the need for a better and safer approach to industrial lighting installation and maintenance, invented, developed and sold the first Swivelpole™ product.
After years of continuous development and improvement, Swivelpole™ now has a comprehensive product range providing a solution for all types of industries, including oil & gas, mining and infrastructure. The Swivelpole™ product range has applications for both new projects and existing plants meeting all international code requirements.
Timeline
1999
Rob Pannekoek invented the Swivelpole™ (previously called 'Safe Swivel') and established manufacturing in Mandurah.
2000
Rob at first trade show attended, Mienex International Mining and Engineering Expo, Perth, Western Australia.
2003
Goonyella Riverside Mine won a BHP Safety Award for their success in solving a maintenance problem by installing Safe Swivel Light Pole.
2005
A welding robot was purchased to keep up with production requirements, producing 1000 poles per month.
2007
Retrofit was developed with first major project sale to the Karratha Gas Plant of 4000 units.
Operations commenced in Canada under a licensee agreement with local manufacturer Safety Lighting Products.
2009
Received invitation to tender for Chevron’s Gorgon Gas Project.
First order received for BHP Shenzi Platform (Gulf of Mexico) - 400 poles over 2 years.
2010
Licensee agreement with Safety Lighting Products extended into USA.
2011
Opening of purpose-built manufacturing and distribution facility in Mandurah.
Dedicated Australian sales support and business development divisions established.
First order received from Wholesale Electric for Gorgon Gas Project.
2012
Licensee agreement with Safety Lighting Products ceased in USA and Canada.
Established business entities in USA and Canada with distribution centres in Houston, Texas and Langley, British Columbia.
Chevron Gorgon Project Update December 2012 – 5000 poles supplied
2015
First order received for NASA’s Vehicle Assembly Building at Kennedy Space Centre.
Received invitation to tender for Shell’s Canada LNG.
Research and development commenced on what was then the “NextGen” and is now known as the Maxis™.
2017
Safe Swivel Joint no longer just a retrofit product, re-introduced as a “Build Your Own” option.
Autonomous truck HVPT solution for BHP was improved.
2018
G5 was released.
2019
First sales of the Maxis™ in Australia.
2020
First major global project sale of the Maxis™ to Canada LNG.
First sales of the Maxis™ in USA and Canada.
2024
Established Swivelpole™ Europe office and distribution warehouse.