1986 |
Kingfisher founded by Bruce & Rosmin Robertson in their garage in Victoria, Australia |
1987 |
World's first handheld laser source, exported to USA, Japan, New Zealand |
1987 |
Long-range, multi-party fiber talk set, won major contracts worldwide |
1988 |
World's first fully integrated return loss meter, won major contracts worldwide |
1989 |
World's first no-warm-up light sources, Won major contracts worldwide |
1991 |
Moved out of garage, into a small factory based in Rowville |
1992 |
World's first handheld solid state VFL, using our own laser pig-tailing |
1993 |
Asia's first commercial in-house traceable optical calibration laboratory |
1994 |
ISO 9001 certification |
1994 |
Introduced 7xxx series product framework |
1994 |
World's first fully automated handheld attenuator (still the world's most accurate!) |
1995 |
76xx power meters, offering the world's best accuracy (3%) |
1996 |
Industry's first 3-7 Year Warranty, 3 year calibration cycle |
1996 |
Telecom Australia (now Telstra) Export Endorsements (entire product line) |
1996 |
Handheld instrument control software KITS™ |
1996 |
Cold Clamp™ novel cable fault finder (patented) |
1996 |
First website |
1997 |
Inexpensive interchangeable connectors (patented) |
1997 |
Photonics Circle of Excellence Award - Cold Clamp |
1999 |
Dun & Bradstreet/Age - business award |
2000 |
OEM alliance with Hewlett Packard/Agilent Technologies |
2001 |
Moved into custom-built factory in Scoresby |
2002 |
Implemented demand forecasting & ex-stock delivery capability |
2002 |
Governor of Victoria Export Award |
2002 |
Austrade National Export Award finalist |
2003 |
Survived .com bust |
2003 |
KI3xxx power meter and light source world's best battery life |
2003 |
Simple loss test set |
2004 |
World's fastest two-way fiber tester introduced |
2005 |
Added plastic fiber capability to two-way fiber tester |
2005 |
Traceable loss & power calibration at CWDM wavelengths, world's best accuracy (1%) |
2005 |
G2 connector (Patented) |
2005 |
Inducted into Victorian Manufacturer's Hall of Fame |
2005 |
Victorian Photonics Network - Achievement Award |
2006 |
World's first two-way 4 wavelength fiber tester |
2006 |
World's first .NET (XML) compliant reporting software KITS™ 3.03 |
2006 |
Sprint-Nextel (now KGP Logistics) supply contract signed |
2008 |
KI 9000 range of budget handheld optical testers |
2008 |
World's first Encircled Flux compliant light sources (released before EF spec!) |
2010 |
FiberSafe microscope with innovative optics for clarity and eye safety |
2011 |
World's first handheld test kits optimized for MPO ribbon fiber connectors |
2011 |
KI 2600 range of premium handheld optical power meters |
2012 |
KI 2800 / 2400 range of premium handheld optical light sources |
2012 |
KI 2700 / 2300 range of optical loss test sets |
2015 |
Moved factory to 720 Springvale Road, Mulgrave 3170 |
2015 |
World's first handheld POF variable optical attenuator |
2016 |
World's first loss test reporting solution accepted by all major industry sectors |
2016 |
World's first 16/32 MPO test solution |
2017 |
Range of improved POF testers |
2018 |
Innovative MPO Visual Cable Verifier Kits |
2019 |
Optical calibration laboratory re-accredited to ISO/IEC 17025:2017 |
2020 |
innovative KI200 series two-way loss & length tester (during coronavirus lockdown) |
2021 |
Launched innovative optical power leveller |
2022 |
Lightwave Magazine Innovation Award received for loss, length & ORL tester |
2023 |
Acquired by Tempo Communications |
2024 |
Launched innovative power meter with improved VE detector |