Our History
1972 – Blackwell Trading Company was founded. Operated from shed on the Robertson family property.
1979 – Len Bonucelli became the first employee to join the company.
1981 – Ken Robertson founded the HIC International Company.
1982 – Moved to bigger premises in Salisbury Rd, Asquith, to support growth. Acquisition of Parkware Trading Pty Ltd.
1985 – HIC International was nominated for the National Small Business Award by the National Australia Bank.
1989 – The iconic brands of FIX-A-TAP, FIX-A-LOO & BOSTON were born. Further expansion saw HIC International move to Leighton Place in Hornsby.
1992 – The next generation of Robertson’s joined Hardware International as Ken’s sons Andrew and Ian joined the company.
1996 – FIX-A-TAP was awarded the BBC/Hardware House National Plumbing & Bathroom Product Supplier of the Year.
1997 – HIC International achieved Quality Assurance Services (QAS) Watermark Accreditation, AGA & ISO 9002 Certification.
2001 – FIX-A-TAP New Zealand was formed.
2004 – Soft Turn® tap valve released in Australia.
2005 – The Lindoni brand was born and entered the Australian market.
2008 – FIX-A-TAP became a signatory to the Australian Packaging Covenant committed to their environmental recycling responsibilities.
2010 – Launch of FIX-A-TAP Tennis Foundation.
2012 – PlumbConnect International is formed to provide global sourcing solutions.
2013 – Lindoni Scald Guard wins the Australian International Gold Design Award.
PlumbConnect International exhibits at the USA National Hardware Show in Las Vegas.
2014 – PlumbConnect wins best new plumbing product in USA for the Boston Burst Alert washing machine hose, at the Distribution America & PRO Group Conference.
2015 – PlumbConnect enters into a distribution agreement with Danco Inc. USA (NCH Corp.).
2016 – FIX-A-TAP relaunches consumer and social-media driven website.
2018 – FIX-A-TAP achieves AS/NZS 9001:2015 certification.
FIX-A-TAP is a finalist for the 2018 APCO Awards in recognition of our ongoing commitment to meeting the goals of the Australian Packaging Covenant.
2019 – FIX-A-TAP wins the 2019 Supplier of the Year Award for the Bathroom & Plumbing Products category at the Queensland Hardware Industry Awards.
2020 – Launch of PlumbConnect Expanded Plumbers Registry.
Launch of the Hygenix brand, featuring touchless cisterns and more hygienic toilet seats.
2022 – Move to new, larger premises in Mount Kuring-Gai.
FIX-A-TAP wins the 2022 Supplier of the Year Award for the Kitchen & Bathroom Products category at the Victorian & Tasmanian Hardware Industry Awards.
2023 – Ken Robertson honoured as a Industry Icon in the National Timber & Hardware Australia Awards.
