A gap turned into a thriving operation
Ben Hyde is the Managing Director of Polar Industries Electrical and Air Conditioning, a high-quality residential and commercial electrical and HVAC business based in North Queensland. Starting off in 2004 with just one car and employee, Polar Industries has now grown into an operation that has over 100 active jobs at any one time.
A Commitment to Excellence and Progression
A typical day at Polar Industries reflects the scale and structure the business has developed over the years. Having multiple teams and supervisors, nurturing apprentices and implementing AI in their daily operations, Polar Industries has created a culture committed to excellence and development.
Ben is proud not just of the business itself, but of the pipeline of talent Polar Industries has helped build.
“I’m proud that we’ve helped get nearly 100 apprentices through their trade and into the electrical industry,” he says.
Polar Industries’ growth is driven by the teams’ adaptability; a perfect example is their implementation of AI tools. Ben strongly believes that this will be a major catalyst for growth and productivity.
Powering projects with Clipsal
Clipsal offers a variety of products, but the Clipsal Iconic range, circuit protection and airflow ceiling fans are essentials for Polar Industries in their day-to-day work. A gamechanger for Ben and Polar Industries is ClipSpec — a design service platform with an intuitive visual interface, that helps his team manage entire projects.
“A big player for me is ClipSpec, it allows us to basically take care of the entire project from initial consultations all the way to final handover”
15 Years with Club Clipsal
Ben has been a Club Clipsal member for 15 years experiencing the community, connection and lifelong learning. The Club has offered Ben and his team free training, great product support and hosted major conferences like AMPED. Being a long-time member of the club, Ben has witnessed the evolution of the club program from supporting only sparkies to now broadening it to include their families as well.
“I love how the club used to be and how it’s adapted to what it is today. It’s now a lot more supportive of younger electricians and their families,” Ben says.
Smarter Homes and Energy Efficiency
Homeowners are increasingly interested in energy efficient solutions — EV charging and Wiser products. Across Australia about 50% of homeowners have a smart device. Wiser is a scalable smart home system that is compatible with existing Clipsal wiring devices. More importantly, it’s adaptable to all lifestyles and climates.
Ben says, “It’s a very hot climate up here in Townsville, so implementing Clipsal Wiser helps with climate control — It’s a big part of our new homes at the moment.”
With a growing interest in energy efficiency, sparkies now play a role in guiding households on how to save money by being energy efficient, whilst boosting their comfort.
Lighting the Way Forward
From apprentices to AI, from climate-smart homes to community-minded leadership, Polar Industries continues to grow with purpose. Ben’s commitment to adapting, supporting his team, and embracing innovation ensures the business is not just keeping up — but leading the way.
If you’re looking to build smarter, work more efficiently, and stay ahead of industry trends, exploring Clipsal’s ecosystem — across Club Clipsal, Wiser, Iconic, and ClipSpec — might just be your next step.
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Ben Hyde is the driving force behind Polar Industries, a business he’s grown from just 3 staff to a thriving team of 35. Specialising in electrical and air conditioning work across Townsville homes, Ben brings 25 years of trade experience and a strong belief that people skills are just as important as technical.
He leads with care — supporting families, encouraging diversity, and building a positive team culture through regular connection and team building. A Club Clipsal member for over 15 years, Ben has seen the club evolve to better support younger sparkies and foster a more inclusive industry.
