06/06/2026
The Airflow Story - Thought you might like to know a little more about us.
We are Uniquely Airflow
Precision in Every Cut, Perfection in Every Design
Built on Family, Backed by Experience
Airflow Engineering (SI) Ltd — known simply as Airflow — is a Christchurch-based family business specialising in HVAC solutions, custom manufacturing, sheetmetal fabrication, and precision laser cutting.
With over 34 years of industry experience, we support installers, builders, manufacturers, and homeowners with practical advice, reliable service, and quality products made for real-world applications.
We believe in a straightforward way of doing business. We earn customers through the way we work, not by taking them for granted. That means treating people with respect, patience, honesty, and clear communication.
We are small enough to care about every job and experienced enough to take on projects of all sizes. Our customers rely on us for practical knowledge, consistency, and a genuine willingness to help.
Our Founder
Airflow was founded in 1988 by Derek Thompson as Derek Thompson HEVAC Sales, originally supplying filters and heating elements. In 1992, the business became Airflow Engineering (SI) Ltd.
Derek built the company on strong relationships, trust, a handshake, and doing what you say you will do. Those values still guide the business today.
In 1994, Derek passed away after a battle with cancer — a significant loss for both the family and the business.
Following this, his daughter Cherry stepped in to lead the company. Through resilience, hard work, and consistency, she carried the business forward and laid the foundation for what Airflow is today.
Cherry has now built and run the business for over 32 years, continuing the values her father started while guiding Airflow through decades of change and growth.
A Family Business Moving Forward
Airflow has always been family-driven.
2003, Cherry’s husband Kevin joined as a director, managing warehouse operations and light manufacturing.
2021, their youngest son Chris became a director and part-owner, bringing fabrication expertise and expanding Airflow’s workshop capability. Chris established the sheetmetal division and developed the company’s in-house manufacturing capacity.
2021, Eryn, Chris’s wife, joined the business in administration, supporting the day-to-day operations of the company.
2023, Alex, Cherry and Kevin’s eldest son, became a director and part-owner, strengthening sales, development, and the next stage of business growth.
2025, Kevin retired from his role at Airflow and as a director, while remaining involved as a legacy shareholder.
With the next generation now actively involved, Airflow continues to grow while staying true to the values it was built on.
What We Do
Today, Airflow Engineering combines HVAC expertise with in-house manufacturing capability.
Our products and services include:
HVAC products and components
Ducted system design
Ducted heat pump plenums
Ducted heat pump zoning solutions
Fresh air ventilation products
Duct and air distribution products
Custom sheetmetal fabrication
Precision fibre laser cutting
Workshop manufacturing and assembly
By bringing design, manufacturing, and supply together under one roof, we are able to provide practical, reliable solutions backed by real industry experience.
Whether we are supplying HVAC components, manufacturing a custom plenum, producing a laser-cut part, or helping an installer plan a ducted system, our focus remains the same: doing the job properly and being easy to deal with.
Our Workshop & Workplace
Airflow is based at 3 Langstone Lane, off Langdons Road in Christchurch, where we have been proudly located since May 2018.
Our workshop is practical, busy, and always evolving. With fibre laser cutting, CNC machinery, press brake forming, sheetmetal fabrication equipment, and in-house manufacturing capability, we continue to invest in the tools and people needed to support our customers.
We have kept the environment simple and approachable:
Easy access and off-street parking
A small showroom customers can visit
Practical advice from people who understand the products
A friendly, no-fuss way of working
If you stop by, you can expect a coffee, a straight answer, and someone willing to help.
How We Work
We keep things straightforward:
Do the job properly
Be easy to deal with
Communicate clearly
Support our customers
Stand behind the work
Most of our relationships are built over time, and that is how we prefer it.
We work closely with installers, builders, contractors, manufacturers, and homeowners, providing support without making things more complicated than they need to be.
Looking Ahead
Airflow continues to grow with the next generation working alongside Cherry and the wider team.
We are building on decades of experience while continuing to invest in new equipment, new capabilities, and better ways of working.
The business has changed a lot since 1988, but the foundation remains the same: family, experience, practical solutions, and doing right by our customers.
