Thunder Laser Australia Marks 10 Years: How One Machine Started a Lasting Partnership

Celebrating the 2016–2026 partnership between Thunder Laser and Thunder Laser Australia — a decade of local growth, customer success and education impact.

Thunder Laser is celebrating ten years of exclusive partnership with Thunder Laser Australia, operated by I-Create Laser Cutting and Engraving and based in Chevallum, Queensland.

What began with a single Thunder Laser machine in a Queensland workshop has grown into one of Thunder Laser’s strongest international market partnerships — built through local expertise, long-term customer support and a shared commitment to making professional laser technology more accessible across Australia.

Over the past decade, Thunder Laser Australia has developed from an experienced machine user into Thunder Laser’s exclusive Australian distributor, building local sales, warehousing, training and technical support capabilities while helping businesses, creators and schools adopt laser technology with confidence.

A Partnership That Started With a User, Not a Sales Pitch

The story began before Thunder Laser Australia officially existed.

In 2014, Glenn Traves purchased his first Thunder Laser system for his own laser cutting and engraving business. Working with the machine firsthand gave him a practical understanding of the Nova platform — not simply as a product, but as a tool used every day to serve real customers.

Impressed by its design, performance and potential in the Australian market, Glenn approached Thunder Laser directly.

In 2016, that relationship became official, and Thunder Laser Australia was established as Thunder Laser’s exclusive distributor for Australia.

It is a beginning that still shapes the business today: Thunder Laser Australia did not start with a sales pitch. It started with someone who first trusted the machine as a customer, used it in a working business and then chose to represent it.

Ten years later, that firsthand experience remains part of how the Australian team works with customers — understanding not only machine specifications, but also what it takes to integrate laser technology into a real workshop, business or classroom.

Ten Years of Local Growth

From 2017 onward, Thunder Laser and Thunder Laser Australia worked together to build the foundations of a genuine local presence.

The partnership expanded beyond equipment distribution to include a local showroom, an Australian website, exhibitions, marketing programs and closer cooperation between the Australian team and Thunder Laser’s manufacturing and technical teams.

In 2018, local warehousing was established in Australia, helping shorten lead times, improve machine availability and provide customers with a more responsive buying and ownership experience.

That foundation supported rapid growth.

Between 2016 and 2021, Thunder Laser Australia achieved a compound annual growth rate of more than 50%, helping establish Australia as one of Thunder Laser’s fastest-growing international markets.

Throughout that growth, Mandy Traves was already working alongside Glenn and contributing to the business while continuing her career as a primary school teacher. Together, Glenn and Mandy helped develop customer relationships, grow the local market and build Thunder Laser Australia’s presence across both commercial and education sectors.

Education had been an important focus for the Australian team well before Mandy moved into the business full time, with schools and Design and Technology programs becoming an increasingly significant part of its customer community.

In 2025, Mandy left her teaching career to join Thunder Laser Australia full time, marking a new stage in the development of the business. Her years of classroom experience added further depth to a team that was already actively working with schools and educators across Australia.

That same year, Thunder Laser Australia delivered more than 150 laser systems, marking its strongest annual result to date.

Behind those numbers is something more important: a local organisation that has grown alongside its customers.

More Than a Distribution Partnership

For a business or school investing in a laser system, the decision rarely comes down to the machine alone.

What happens after installation matters just as much.

Over the past decade, Thunder Laser Australia has developed the local infrastructure needed to support customers throughout the ownership journey — from initial consultation and demonstrations to installation, training, applications advice and ongoing technical support.

Australian-based stock and local service also mean customers have access to a team that understands both Thunder Laser systems and the environments in which they are being used.

Across Australia, that has included customers in signage, personalisation and gifts, woodworking, acrylic fabrication, creative businesses, workshops and small-scale manufacturing.

The role of Thunder Laser Australia has therefore grown far beyond selling equipment.

The Australian team acts as the connection between Thunder Laser’s global engineering and manufacturing capabilities and the practical requirements of Australian customers — helping translate technology into working solutions for local businesses, creators and educators.

Supporting Australian Classrooms and the Next Generation of Makers

Education has been an important part of Thunder Laser Australia’s market development for many years and continues to play a growing role in the partnership.

Through its broader education solutions, Thunder Laser supports schools, makerspaces and educators with laser systems, software, teaching resources, training and ongoing technical support.

Laser cutting and engraving systems are becoming more established within Australian Design and Technology, STEM and STEAM learning environments, giving students the opportunity to move from digital design to physical production within the same project.

Over the years, Thunder Laser Australia has worked with schools and educators to support not only machine adoption, but also the practical realities that come with introducing laser technology into a teaching environment — including training, applications, ongoing technical support and confidence in day-to-day use.

At St Benedict’s College in Mango Hill, Queensland, Thunder Laser systems are integrated into the school’s Design and Technology program.

Students use laser technology across different year levels to turn ideas into finished objects — from name badges and light boxes in junior projects to more complex work such as skateboards, stools, chairs and engineered bridge structures in senior programs.

The Nova Plus series serves as a practical classroom workhorse in environments like these, combining the flexibility to work across a wide range of materials and applications with the reliability required for regular educational use.

But successful adoption depends on more than installing a machine.

That idea reflects an important part of the Thunder Laser Australia partnership.

For educators, local training, technical knowledge and ongoing support can determine whether a laser system remains an isolated piece of equipment or becomes a meaningful part of teaching and project-based learning.

Mandy’s long involvement in Thunder Laser Australia, combined with her professional background as a primary school teacher, has also given the team a valuable perspective on the needs of educators. Her move into the business full time in 2025 strengthened an education focus that Thunder Laser Australia had already been developing for years.

Growing Together With Laser Technology

The Australian market has changed significantly since Glenn purchased his first Thunder Laser machine in 2014.

Customer expectations have increased. Applications have become more sophisticated. Businesses want faster workflows, greater reliability and equipment that can scale with their operations.

Schools are also looking beyond basic machine capability toward safety, usability, training, curriculum integration and long-term support.

Thunder Laser’s technology has evolved alongside those needs.

From its established CO₂ laser cutting and engraving systems, the company has continued expanding into RF CO₂ laser technology, laser marking, intelligent workflows powered by LaserMaker, fume extraction and broader digital manufacturing technologies.

Throughout that evolution, the role of the Australian partnership has remained consistent: bringing new technology to the local market while ensuring customers have access to the service and expertise needed to use it effectively.

It is a model built around a simple combination:

global technology, supported by strong local expertise.

Looking Ahead to the Next Decade

After ten years, both teams see the next chapter as an extension of the principles that built the partnership in the first place.

Thunder Laser will continue investing in professional laser technologies, RF laser systems, smarter workflows and digital manufacturing solutions.

Thunder Laser Australia will continue developing the local capabilities that make those technologies practical for Australian customers — local stock, product knowledge, demonstrations, training, service and long-term support.

The opportunity ahead also extends beyond individual machines.

For businesses, it means helping customers improve productivity, expand applications and build more capable workshops.

For schools and educators, it means helping laser technology become a meaningful part of practical learning, design thinking and modern manufacturing education.

For Thunder Laser and Thunder Laser Australia, it means continuing to build the Australian market one customer, one application and one relationship at a time.

From one machine in a Queensland workshop to a nationwide customer community, the first decade has been defined by steady growth, shared trust and local commitment.

The next one is already beginning.

Ten Years at a Glance

• 2014: Glenn Traves purchases his first Thunder Laser system for his laser cutting and engraving business.
• 2016: Thunder Laser Australia is established as Thunder Laser’s exclusive distributor in Australia.
• 2017: The partnership expands with a local showroom, Australian website, exhibitions and joint marketing programs, while the team continues developing both commercial and education markets.
• 2018: Local warehousing is established in Australia, improving machine availability and customer support.
• 2016–2021: Thunder Laser Australia achieves a compound annual growth rate of more than 50%.
• Over the years: Mandy Traves works alongside Glenn in the business while continuing her career as a primary school teacher, contributing to Thunder Laser Australia’s growth and its relationships with customers and educators.
• 2025: Mandy leaves teaching to join Thunder Laser Australia full time. The business delivers more than 150 laser systems, its strongest annual result to date.
• 2026: Thunder Laser and Thunder Laser Australia celebrate ten years of official partnership.

About Thunder Laser

Founded in 2011, Thunder Laser develops professional laser and digital manufacturing solutions for businesses, creators, educators and manufacturing users around the world.

Its technology portfolio spans CO₂ laser cutting and engraving, laser marking, fume extraction and metal additive manufacturing solutions.

Through a global network of more than 30 dealers and partners, a manufacturing footprint of more than 23,000 m² and a portfolio protected by more than 110 patents, Thunder Laser combines reliable engineering, precise performance, practical workflows and responsive support to make professional-grade laser technology more accessible to users worldwide.

About Thunder Laser Australia

Thunder Laser Australia, operated by I-Create Laser Cutting and Engraving, is the exclusive Australian distributor of Thunder Laser systems.

Based in Chevallum, Queensland, Thunder Laser Australia provides local sales consultation, machine demonstrations, Australian stock, training and technical support for laser engraving, cutting and marking customers across the country.

The team supports businesses, creative professionals, workshops and educational institutions throughout the full ownership journey — from selecting the right machine to installation, training, applications and ongoing support.

Website: https://www.thunderlaser.com.au/
Email: sales@thunderlaser.com.au
Phone: 0407 963 306

Where Can I Buy Thunder Laser in Australia?

Thunder Laser systems are available in Australia exclusively through Thunder Laser Australia, based in Chevallum, Queensland.

Thunder Laser Australia provides Australian customers with local machine stock, sales consultation, demonstrations, training, technical service and ongoing support.

Visit https://www.thunderlaser.com.au/ to explore Thunder Laser products available in Australia or contact the local team.

Learn More

Discover Thunder Laser’s global range of laser and digital manufacturing solutions at https://www.thunderlaser.com.

For local sales, machine availability, demonstrations, training and technical support in Australia, visit Thunder Laser Australia at https://www.thunderlaser.com.au/.