A Cleaner Future
Every company has an origin story, and for ACW Facility Services, it didn’t begin in a glass office tower or a polished boardroom. It started in a family home, with three partners, a lot of uncertainty, and a simple desire. To make a cleaner world.
More than 35 years later, ACW Facility Services has grown into a company delivering cleaning services, property maintenance, preventative maintenance, aged care support, energy solutions, and hospitality services for organisations across multiple industries. But the company’s evolution didn’t happen overnight. We had a chance to sit down with Ray (Managing Director) and Tony (General Manager) to better understand the journey. Getting to know their story, one thing became clear. ACW’s evolution happened through risk, relationships, and an unwavering belief in doing the job properly, no matter who you are.
When Ray looks back at the earliest days of ACW, what stands out most isn’t a single big breakthrough. It’s the constant stream of small decisions. How do we approach new customers? Do we interrupt people during their lunch breaks to pitch our services? Where do we go from here? “We were thinking about how we were going to get this business going,” Ray recalls. The turning point came when the company moved out of the family home and into its first office. “That first office accelerated the business,” Ray says. “It marked the first step toward professionalism.” With a proper base of operations, the company began expanding beyond basic cleaning services. ACW introduced cleaning chemicals and products, which gradually opened the door to something bigger.
As ACW grew, one thing became clear: the company’s success would depend on people. Ray explains that from the very beginning, hiring decisions were guided by values. “We’ve always strategically chosen people who are like-minded and share our values,” he says. “Treating the business like a family has helped solidify that philosophy.” But culture alone wasn’t enough. There was also a deeply ingrained work ethic. Ray remembers moments when leadership meant rolling up his sleeves… literally. “I remember running the business and scrubbing toilets at the same time, still wearing a suit and tie,” he says. “It didn’t matter who I was, as long as the job was done well.” Anyone who knows Ray, knows he would still do that today after 35 years. The fact he no longer needs to, is proof how that attitude helped shape the standards ACW continues to operate by today.
For many years, ACW was primarily known as a commercial cleaning company. But as the business matured, leadership noticed something important about their clients. They didn’t just need cleaning. They needed support across their entire facility. Tony remembers the moment when the company faced a critical strategic decision. “We had a choice,” he explains. “Do we try to get more customers for the same service, or do we provide more services to the same customers?” ACW chose the second option. Instead of scaling cleaning alone, the company began expanding its capabilities to help clients in more areas of their operations. The first step was property maintenance and over time, expertise grew, improved and something became clear. The operational model that worked so well in cleaning could work in other areas too. What followed was the gradual expansion into a broader suite of services including:
- Property maintenance
- Preventative maintenance
- Aged care services
- Energy solutions and solar
- Hospitality support
- Community engagement
What began as a cleaning company was evolving into a fully integrated facility services partner. Ask Tony what separates a good facility services provider from a great one, and he doesn’t hesitate.
“Care.”
Not just delivering a service. Caring about the people behind the business. “Our clients know we care about them,” he says. “If they’re successful, we’re successful. Our joy comes from their success.” That mindset shapes how ACW approaches every relationship. The company doesn’t simply maintain buildings, it helps organisations operate at their best. “We provide a service so our clients can shine,” Tony says. Across the industry, many businesses share the same frustration when it comes to cleaning and facility maintenance providers. Tony sees the same pattern repeatedly.
“Most companies over-promise and under-deliver.”
ACW built its reputation by doing exactly what it states it will do. The standards that guide the business today trace directly back to the early days, and to Ray’s personal approach to service. “Those standards come from Ray’s heart,” Tony explains. “It’s how he views service and how he values the work being done.” Those standards have helped sustain the company for more than three decades. For ACW Facility Services, the most successful partnerships go far beyond service agreements. They’re built on understanding. Tony explains that effective facility management requires insight into a client’s business, not just their building. “We try to understand their needs, their business climate, and even the seasons their business goes through,” he says. That level of understanding allows ACW to support clients through both smooth periods and challenging ones. It turns a supplier into something more valuable: A long-term operational partner. Today, one of the biggest opportunities for businesses lies in integrating multiple facility services under one partner. For years, some organisations saw ACW as simply a cleaning provider. But clients who utilise the company’s broader capabilities often see the greatest results. “When businesses take advantage of the full spectrum of services we offer, that’s when they benefit the most,” Tony explains. Integrated facility services can help organisations:
- Simplify operational management
- Improve communication across services
- Reduce maintenance risks
- Improve long-term efficiency
And increasingly, businesses are realising the value of preventative maintenance. Looking ahead, Tony believes preventative maintenance will become a defining feature of modern facility management. “The future is catching things before they happen,” he says. By identifying potential issues early, businesses can avoid costly disruptions, improve safety outcomes, and maintain smooth operations. ACW has increasingly focused on areas like:
- Preventative maintenance programs
- Hazard detection and OHS awareness
- Integrated cleaning and facility services
The goal is simple: solve problems before they become problems. Facility management is also becoming a key driver of sustainability. ACW supports businesses through services such as energy solutions and solar, helping organisations reduce operational costs while operating more responsibly. Preventative maintenance itself also plays a role in sustainability. Maintaining equipment properly extends its lifespan, reduces waste, and helps businesses operate more efficiently over time. After more than three decades of growth, ACW Facility Services has become something far larger than its founders might have imagined in those early days. What started as a cleaning operation has evolved into a multi-service facility partner capable of supporting businesses across nearly every aspect of facility management. And yet the company’s mindset hasn’t changed. When asked what he would say to a business considering improving its facility management, Tony keeps the message simple. “Give us an opportunity,” he says. “Our capabilities have grown to the point where we can help businesses succeed across every facet of their facilities… from consulting to a full-fledged relationship.”
Ready to Improve Your Facility Management?
If your organisation is looking to improve commercial cleaning, property maintenance, preventative maintenance, or integrated facility services, ACW Facility Services has the expertise to help.
With over 35 years of experience, ACW partners with businesses to create cleaner, safer, and more efficient facilities.
Contact ACW Facility Services today to explore how our team can support your organisation.
