15 Years of Drymatic in Australia: The Heat Drying Revolution

A Birthday Worth Celebrating

It’s the 15th birthday of one of Australia’s favourite pieces of restoration equipment — the Drymatic Heat Drying System. For a decade and a half, Drymatic has been the go-to tool for restorers who need fast, reliable, and science-driven drying solutions. It’s more than just equipment; for many, it’s been a trusted partner on job after job.

The Origin Story

Back in 2010, Garry Carroll, then owner of All Aces Services in Queensland, was on the hunt for new technology. At the RIA Conference in the US, he came across DBK’s Drymatic system — a clever piece of kit from the UK that combined heat and airflow with smart algorithms to dry out tough water damage. At first, he thought it wouldn’t work here, but then he realised it ran on 240V power and could be adapted for Australia.

Of course, things aren’t always that simple. Australian homes run on a 10A supply, not the UK’s 13A. So DBK worked with Garry to reconfigure the system for our market. He trialled it for a year in the field and gave it a glowing review: “the system is unreal.” From there, Drymatic’s Australian journey began.

Tailored for Australian Market

UK homes tend to be smaller and built differently, while Australian houses often have big open-plan layouts. That meant Drymatic needed more than just a power tweak — it needed to be tailored to our conditions. Working together, Garry and DBK developed the Drymatic Boost Box, giving restorers the ability to add supplementary heat in a smart, cost-effective way.

Over time, feedback from Aussie contractors shaped the design further. People wanted something lighter, easier to set up, and more portable. In 2015, DBK released Drymatic II — smaller, stronger, with double the airflow and a touchscreen interface. It was proof that Drymatic was being built with restorers, not just for them.

The Technical Evolution of Drymatic Equipment

Over the past 15 years, the Drymatic family of products has gone through major transformations, each stage designed to make drying faster, smarter, and more practical for restorers.

Drymatic I – 2010

The original Drymatic I, released in 2010, weighed in at 57kg. It was a pioneering heat drying system that combined electric heat with airflow, but its weight and bulk highlighted the need for a more portable solution.

Boost Box – 2011

In 2011, DBK introduced the Boost Box, using a coil heater design. This add-on allowed restorers to supplement drying power, particularly in open-plan Australian homes where thermal loss was an issue.

Heat Drying Mats – 2012

By 2012, Drymatic expanded with a set of five patented heat mats. These mats allowed restorers to dry walls and adjacent floors simultaneously, making targeted drying faster and reducing the need for strip-out.

Drymatic II – 2014

Feedback from Australian restorers drove the development of Drymatic II, released in 2014. This redesign brought the unit’s weight down to 25kg, added hose connections for flexibility, and delivered improved airflow and control.

Accessories – 2015

To complement Drymatic II, DBK launched a range of accessories in 2015 including the Y-piece, exhaust kit, and injection kit, providing more ways to target airflow and manage contained drying areas.

Boost Bar Range – 2016

In 2016, the Boost Bar was developed, with 12-port, 4-port, and L-shaped versions available. Built with PTC heating technology, the Boost Bar would only heat when airflow was present, ensuring both efficiency and safety.

Updated Boost Bar & Expanded Options – 2019

By 2019, the Drymatic Boost Bar MKII 6 heater unit replaced the 5 heater boost bar and attachment range grew further with 22-port and 5-port configurations, offering restorers even more targeted drying flexibility.

New Solutions – 2022

The innovation continued in 2022 with the launch of skirting mats, a 3-port adaptor, and a 100mm Y-piece kit, expanding the ability to dry skirtings, edges, and tight construction assemblies.

Looking Ahead – 2025

Set for release in 2025, the latest development is an Air Cleaner Inlet Drymatic Adaptor attachment, further enhancing Drymatic’s versatility and efficiency in professional drying projects by allowing you to pair air cleaners with your Drymatic II helping to contain and extract contaminants during the drying process.

Continuous Innovation

Every upgrade to Drymatic equipment has come directly from restorer feedback. By listening to the challenges technicians face in the field, DBK has consistently refined its products to match the realities of modern restoration.

Why Restorers Choose Drymatic

Sure, there are cheaper alternatives out there, but here’s why Drymatic has stood the test of time:

• Insurance Friendly: Approved by the Australian Insurers Association for flood claims.
• Certified for Australia: Both Drymatic and Boost Bar systems meet local regulatory requirements.
• Patented Tech: The triangular wall mats are patented worldwide, letting you dry walls and floors at the same time.
• Built to Last: Mats are tough, reusable, and made for real job site conditions.
• Safety Assured: Fully UL approved in the USA — a globally recognised standard for compliance and safety.
• Designed for Restorers: Every improvement has come from listening to contractors and solving their day-to-day challenges.

What Restorers Are Saying

Real-world users continue to sing Drymatic’s praises:

• Boost Bar — “It’s a fantastic product to create heat and dry target areas with %RH requirements, especially timber floors and concrete.” – Arthur, Oct 2024
• Game Changer — “I was recommended this by a colleague and I’m so pleased with it. It has really transformed our drying operations.” – Richard Melling, Mar 2023
• Investment Worthwhile — “Purchasing our 2nd Drymatic range from Garry and Lorelle just made sense! It’s already the first piece of equipment the team look for (and fight over). From support training to simplicity of setup, we couldn’t be happier.” – Danielle Hage, Dec 2024
• Target Drying Made Easy — “These mats have allowed us to target the drying operation much tighter and reduced overall drying time. Will be investing in more for sure.” – Richard Melling, Mar 2023
• Dry Kitchens Like a Pro! — “The second most used item in the van… can’t leave home without it.” – Dan Haynes, Jun 2024

Real Life Success Story

In February 2022, Brisbane and South-East Queensland were inundated with floodwaters after an already wet summer, leaving thousands of homes, businesses, and people affected.

One of our customers, who at the time operated a relatively small restoration business, was suddenly presented with an opportunity to take on a large volume of insurance restoration work. Recognising the scale of the challenge, they invested heavily in equipment — with the Drymatic Heat Drying System at the core of their operation.

The results were extraordinary. Within just six months, this business:

• Completed over 50 full flood house restoration jobs — from demolition and cleaning, through to remediation and drying, with hygienist clearance ready for builders to begin the rebuild.
• Successfully delivered several large commercial projects alongside countless hundreds of partial water damage jobs.
• Built a workflow system that allowed a relatively small 3-person drying team to handle the drying portion of the workload while coordinating with broader trade teams.

Using heat drying was absolutely essential to this process. Even after the floodwaters receded, Queensland endured months of persistent wet weather and high humidity. Without the ability to use Boost Bars to direct heat and Drymatic II to exhaust wet air from contained areas — creating the optimal drying conditions — the restoration process could have taken significantly longer leaving more people displaced from homes and living in flood impacted homes.

The Drymatic system played a vital role in scaling their business rapidly and delivering results under extreme pressure.

“The work we were able to do in 2022, although hard and at times all-consuming, was only possible with an amazing team of trades as we triaged and worked through thousands of jobs. Our equipment and tools were some of our hardest ‘workers’ and we could not have reached these results in this timeframe without implementing Drymatic Heat Drying into our jobs.”

More Than Just Equipment

In 2014, Garry Carroll and Lorelle McCulloch set up Drymatic Heat Drying Australia to provide local support, training, and distribution. This venture soon became the foundation for Restore Solutions, created to support the cleaning and restoration industry with the best service and support, while sourcing quality equipment and products from around the world at the best price for Australia and New Zealand.

To this day, the Drymatic system remains the most popular and transformative product within Restore Solutions’ catalogue. Restorers who have adopted this innovative heat drying system in their business consistently report faster drying times, better insurance outcomes, and significant business growth. It’s proof that when the right technology is paired with the right support, the results speak for themselves.

Looking Ahead

Now, 15 years on, Drymatic is more than just another drying system — it’s a piece of equipment many Aussie restorers simply wouldn’t be without. It’s been tested, refined, and trusted in the field, shaped by both DBK’s innovation and the feedback of the people who use it every day.

Wrapping Up

So, happy 15th birthday to Drymatic — the heat drying system that’s helped transform the way Australia restores water-damaged properties. Here’s to the next 15 years of innovation, smarter drying, and making restorers’ lives just that little bit easier.