Altronics is celebrating 50 years in business, marking five decades of growth from a single electronics store in Perth to a national operation spanning 11 retail locations, three distribution centres and more than 140 employees.

Founded in 1976 by Jack O’Donnell, the business began on Stirling Street in inner Perth, initially targeting the growing demand for DIY electronics, CB radio equipment and hobbyist computing.

Before establishing Altronics, Jack was involved in locally manufacturing public address equipment and audio amplifiers under the Redford brand, which was later renamed Redback. The products were developed to support bids for Western Australian government tenders as Perth’s population and infrastructure expanded.

Recognising an opportunity to bring a broader range of electronics hardware to consumers, Jack used his existing supplier relationships to establish what was then a new style of supermarket-inspired electronics retailer.

Five decades later, Altronics continues to operate across retail, wholesale and manufacturing, supplying more than 10,000 products to a diverse range of industries throughout Australia.

While much of the electronics manufacturing industry has shifted offshore, the company has maintained its local manufacturing operations in Balcatta, Western Australia, where it continues to design and produce its Redback commercial audio range.

Altronics general manager Dean Stephens says the brand remained an important part of the company’s identity, with customer feedback playing a significant role in product development: “Redback really is the gem of the business. We have always placed a strong focus on listening to what customers need, with many of their suggestions incorporated directly into our products.”

One example is the Redback One-Shot ceiling speaker, developed in response to the practical needs of installers. The product was designed to simplify commercial audio installations, reducing installation times from several minutes to seconds.

“Our customers were the biggest beneficiaries of that product innovation. It’s that mutual benefit we try to ensure underpins everything we do and a big part of that is the conversations we have with customers every day,” Dean says.

As Altronics marks the milestone, its continued investment in local product development and manufacturing reflects the approach that has helped the business evolve over five decades, while maintaining its connection with Australian electronics customers and the industries it supplies.