Laundry tub manufacturers Everhard Industries started out selling concrete tubs in 1926 and this week celebrated its 80th birthday.
The company has endured stages of fierce competition with interstate and overseas rivals, a devastating fire at its Geebung factory, oodles of bureaucratic red tape and the comings and goings of hundreds of staff throughout its life.
And according to Selwyn Davis, Everhard's history of innovation will continue.
"Our ability to create new products and drive Australia's water-based product industry has always been the key ingredient behind our success," Mr Davis said.
"We currently have a number of new innovative products being fine-tuned, products that we hope will help Australians adapt to our growing water crisis, particularly in southeast Queensland."
Everhard average an annual turnover of $50 million and sell a collection of locally made laundry and kitchen products including sinks, taps, septic systems, water drainage and pit and grate products.
Mr Davis is the nephew of Everhard co-founder Alfred Davis and his daughter Sue Boyce now sits on the board as chairwoman.
The company now employs 300 staff and boasts seven outlets across the eastern seaboard, producing 3500 water and wastewater products distributed across Australia and throughout New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, the Pacific Islands, South-East Asia, the Middle East and South Africa.
Mr Davis said the family-owned company was intertwined with the history of Queensland itself.
"We intend to continue to change the way Queenslanders and Australians live – always for the better," he said.
"I don't know where we are going to from here, but I look forward to sitting back and watching it all happen."
