Vladimir Petrovic, Managing Director of South Australian innovative air conditioning technology company Dadanco Pty Ltd, won the Ernst & Young South Australian Entrepreneur of the year award (incorporated in the Telstra Awards, announced on October 25).

The Ernst & Young award acknowledged Mr Petrovic's ability to innovate and convert his vision for his company, Dadanco Pty Ltd, into a reality.

Dadanco developed revolutionary low-cost air conditioning technology that is breathing new life into older commercial buildings and providing cost-effective alternatives for new buildings around Australia and overseas.

The technology, developed at the University of Adelaide by the company's founders and owners, Vladimir M. Petrovic and Professor Sam Luxton, has been incorporated into new constructions and building refurbishment projects in most Australian capital cities as well as New Zealand and Singapore.

Dadanco technology can improve the capacity of induction air conditioning systems by up to 50%, lower air-conditioning background noise by up to 15 dB, reduce maintenance and running costs, and lower environmental impact through reduced energy usage.

A newly developed product, the Dadanco Active Chilled Beam system, combines the energy efficiency, noise and space-saving qualities of Dadanco technology with a highly efficient heat transfer system to reduce fan energy consumption by 65%.

The company has grown from a two-person, start-up enterprise in 1995 to a $multi-million award-winning company with an annual growth rate of 500 per cent providing engineering solutions for air conditioning problems in new or existing office buildings, hotels, hospitals, schools and airport lounges.

From their manufacturing, sales and distribution facility at 2/49 Holland Street, Thebarton, (SA), Dadanco now exports their technology to all Australian States, New Zealand, Asia and Europe.

Mr Petrovic said his company has set up a joint venture company in Singapore having already installed a new Dadanco air conditioning system in The United World College of S/East Asia, and is tendering for projects with a potential earnings value of more than $4 million.

"We have also recently set up a joint venture company in London, operating under the name of Dadanco (Europe) Co Ltd, that is currently negotiating some very exciting contracts," he said.
Mr Petrovic said projected revenue from Australian, Asian and UK projects over the next two years is $10 million.

Dadanco has embarked on a $2 million 3-year research and development program this year that will allow them to further their efforts to increase their air-conditioner technology efficiency and reduce energy usage.

Earlier this year, Dadanco was selected as a finalist in the Australia Day Council of South Australia Business Awards.