“Innovation is in our DNA” with Founder and CEO of Moddex Alvin Rowland

Founder CEO of Moddex Alvin Rowland has a background in metal bending and rolling, and  while he enjoyed the trade, he was looking for a way to add greater value to his work.

So when a friend returned from a trip to the UK with a cast clamp Alvin saw enormous potential in the way it could allow metal components to be bolted together to form larger structures.

When he first started trying to sell the clamps that connect the Moddex handrail systems today, he received little interest. That is until a builder said: “I’m not interested in clamps but need a run of handrails along this retaining wall here by next Friday. Is there any chance you could help out?”

“That was the catalyst for me to look at the clamp I had in my hand…and I thought, why not have a crack,” Alvin says.

He successfully delivered the product and realised he could make a go of the concept at scale and that it could be a much more successful business than simply selling the clamps.

“From there, I was on to builders like a rat up a rope. Every day for me was a learning mission,” he recalls.

He says a key vision underpinning Moddex is bringing ‘system’ into handrails and barriers.

“We’ve got you covered for compliance with our pre-engineered and pre-configured systems, so your reputation and how you’re going to sit when you do that final check with a certifier are safe with us.”

“Innovation is in our DNA. We like to see ourselves as rebels with a cause”.

Originally, it was a challenge for them to have customers see modular or kits accepted as more than temporary.

“There was a lot that didn’t believe it could be done. It was a real hurdle for us, so it took some grit and some belief and persistence,” he says.

And the persistence paid off, with Moddex now a leader in no-weld, modular handrail and balustrade systems.

For Alvin, one of Moddex’s most memorable projects was the Brisbane Airport Link Tunnel.

“In behind the walls of the tunnel, there are kilometres of disability egress. What we were able to do there using our modular design and kit set approach is we got them away from welding in confined spaces,” he recalls.

He says Moddex was able to bring ease and convenience to the project while eliminating potential WHS and OHS issues. The kits are delivered with installation instructions, meaning they can be installed quickly. Rather than weeks on-site, it only takes days.

“We deeply believe that Moddex exists to find a better way to do things,” he says.

“You look around and there’s just way too many things that are being done the same way for too long. You can make an assumption in your mind that everything is being done really well but I think the truth is if you open your eyes up you can always find a spot that is being overlooked or ignored”.

Discover how Alvin Rowland transformed a simple idea into a pioneering modular handrail system. His story offers valuable insight into problem-solving, persistence, and the role of innovation in creating practical solutions for complex industry challenges. 

Listen to the whole episode of the podcast here.