Ausbrella: The Australian Umbrella Built for Serious Wind
A clear look at Ausbrella, who makes it, how its twin-skin frame works, its Storm 135 and Hurricane 160+ models, wind testing, warranty, patent history, and real-world uses.
Introduction
Ausbrella is not a normal handheld umbrella.
It is a heavy-duty Australian-made market umbrella range built for outdoor areas where wind strength, stability, shade, and long-term use matter. The range comes from Melbourne manufacturer Awnet and is mainly aimed at commercial spaces, resorts, councils, hospitality venues, pools, and premium outdoor areas.
The big talking point is strength.
Awnet uses a reinforced aluminium mast system rather than a basic hollow centre pole. Its strongest current Ausbrella model, the Hurricane 160+, has been tested by the manufacturer at wind speeds above 160 km/h.
That makes Ausbrella an unusual product. Let us look at what is actually known.
Quick Facts
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Product name | Ausbrella |
| Product type | Heavy-duty outdoor market umbrella |
| Manufacturer | Awnet |
| Company | Asigns Pty Ltd |
| Country | Australia |
| Manufacturing base | Melbourne, Victoria |
| Creator linked to the product | Chris Pierias |
| Current main models | Storm 135 and Hurricane 160+ |
| Storm wind rating | 135 km/h on its dedicated product page |
| Hurricane test level | More than 160 km/h |
| Main frame idea | Twin-skin aluminium centre pole |
| Hurricane frame | Double twin-skin pole |
| Opening system | No ropes or pulleys |
| Main canopy material | Acrylic canvas |
| Standard Ausbrella warranty | 5 years on frame and cover |
| Australian made | Yes |
| Fixed public price | Not currently listed |
| Minimum order | No minimum order stated |
What Is Ausbrella?
Ausbrella is a range of large folding market umbrellas made for demanding outdoor conditions.
Basically, the idea was to build something stronger than the usual café or patio umbrella without turning the centre mast into a huge solid piece of metal.
Awnet says founder Chris Pierias saw the need for a safer and stronger market umbrella and created Ausbrella around that problem. The product uses a reinforced mast, engineered frame components, a securely attached canopy, and a mounting system intended for commercial outdoor use.
It is worth keeping one thing clear.
Some newer pages on the web use the name “Ausbrella” for unrelated ideas. The documented Australian product is an outdoor market umbrella range from Awnet.
That is the product covered here.
Who Makes It?
Ausbrella is made by Awnet.
Awnet operates under Asigns Pty Ltd, an Australian private company. Australian Business Register records show Asigns Pty Ltd with active ABN status and a main business location in Victoria. The historical ABN record also lists Awnet and AwnetPlus as current registered business names from June 2026.
Awnet says its market umbrellas are designed, engineered, and manufactured through its Melbourne factory system.
That local manufacturing setup also lets the company make custom sizes, branding, fabrics, and mounting options for different jobs.
Who Created Ausbrella?
Awnet identifies Chris Pierias as the founder behind Ausbrella.
He is also closely tied to the intellectual property behind the umbrella mast system. Australian patent records name Christopher Pierias as the inventor of the related “A Mast and Umbrella” technology.
The Ausbrella name itself is not new.
Australian trademark records show an Ausbrella application filed on 8 July 2010 for umbrellas. The current trademark database record lists it as registered/protected.
So this is not a product name that suddenly appeared online recently.
There is a clear history behind it.
The Current Ausbrella Range
Right now, Awnet mainly presents two Ausbrella models.
They are the Storm 135 and Hurricane 160+.
The basic idea is simple.
Storm is the strong general-purpose option. Hurricane goes further for locations with tougher wind conditions.
Storm 135
The Storm 135 uses Ausbrella’s twin-skin centre pole.
Its dedicated product page gives the umbrella a 135 km/h wind rating and says it was tested at 135 km/h in the Monash University wind tunnel.
The model includes:
- twin-skin centre pole
- eight radial arms
- bolted fabric cover
- easy-opening system
- no exposed ropes or pulleys
- matching stainless-steel in-ground socket
- five-year warranty on the frame and acrylic canvas cover
There is a small specification issue on Awnet’s website.
The dedicated Storm 135 page states 135 km/h, while the main Ausbrella range page currently mentions 140 km/h for the Storm range.
For a model-specific figure, 135 km/h is the clearer number because it appears on the dedicated Storm 135 page and in its wind-test description.
Hurricane 160+
The Hurricane 160+ is the stronger model.
Awnet says it was designed and wind-tunnel tested to withstand speeds above 160 km/h. The company says the test reached the wind tunnel’s maximum speed of roughly 161 km/h.
Its centre structure also changes.
Instead of the Storm’s twin-skin pole, the Hurricane uses what Awnet calls a double twin-skin pole.
That extra structure is there to handle tougher loads.
The Hurricane also comes with the same general commercial features: engineer certification, bolt-on fabric, rope-free opening, and a matching in-ground stainless-steel socket.
How the Twin-Skin Pole Works
This is where Ausbrella becomes more interesting.
A normal hollow umbrella mast can bend because most of its strength comes from one outer wall.
The patented mast idea adds another structural layer.
Patent documents describe an inner tubular section and an outer wall or tubular section, with connecting web sections running between them. Those internal connections help spread stress across the mast.
Think about it like a reinforced column.
Instead of one thin shell taking the full bending force, the mast has internal sections that help share the load.
The patent also describes versions where multiple shafts can fit inside each other.
That approach lines up with the stronger Hurricane system.
Is Ausbrella Really Wind Tested?
Yes, according to the current Awnet product information.
Awnet says its Ausbrella umbrellas were tested through the Monash University Mechanical and Aerospace Wind Tunnel Facility and rated with engineering input from Don Moore Engineering.
For the Storm 135, Awnet reports testing at 135 km/h.
For the Hurricane 160+, it reports testing beyond 160 km/h, reaching about 161 km/h during the cited wind-tunnel run.
The company says engineering certification and the Monash report are available on request.
Still, a wind-tunnel figure should not be read as permission to leave any umbrella open during any storm.
Real sites are different.
Ground fixing, umbrella size, surrounding buildings, terrain, gust direction, maintenance, and installation all matter.
For exposed commercial sites, the right model and fixing method should match the location.
The “World’s Strongest Umbrella” Claim
Awnet markets Ausbrella as the “World’s Strongest Umbrella.”
That is a company marketing claim.
There is supporting evidence that the Hurricane has been tested at unusually high wind speeds for a folding market umbrella. But there is no public global test comparing every commercial umbrella made by every manufacturer.
So the careful wording is simple:
Awnet markets Ausbrella as the world’s strongest umbrella and reports wind-tunnel testing beyond 160 km/h for the Hurricane 160+.
That keeps the claim clear.
Patent History
The patent story needs a little care.
Awnet’s website references Australian patent number 2014200765 in its Ausbrella material.
Patent records show that application AU2014200765A, titled A Mast and Umbrella, was filed in February 2014 with an earlier priority date of February 2013. Christopher Pierias is named as inventor. That original application is listed as abandoned.
But the story did not stop there.
A related divisional application, AU2018202191A, continued the same patent family. It later became granted patent AU2018202191B2, published as a granted patent in December 2019 and shown in the patent family as active.
So saying “the Ausbrella patent was abandoned” would be misleading.
The earlier application was abandoned, while the related divisional application became a granted patent.
Materials and Construction
Awnet says its commercial umbrella frames use custom aluminium components with stainless-steel nuts and bolts.
The standard canopy material is solution-dyed acrylic canvas.
According to Awnet, the acrylic material is made to resist UV exposure, rot, and fading. Other material options are available for some market-umbrella orders.
The Ausbrella cover is also bolted onto the frame.
That sounds like a small point, but it matters.
Commercial umbrellas live outside. Wind keeps pulling at the fabric. A secure frame-to-cover connection helps keep the canopy fixed to the structure.
No Ropes or Pulleys
Many large patio umbrellas use ropes, cords, or pulley systems.
Ausbrella takes another path.
Both current models are advertised with an easy-opening system that does not use ropes or pulleys.
That removes common exposed parts that can wear, tangle, or break with repeated daily use.
For a café, resort, or public space, that can make day-to-day handling simpler.
Mounting Options
The standard Ausbrella information highlights a matching in-ground stainless-steel socket.
Awnet also sells umbrella bases, weight plates, and weight bags across its wider market-umbrella accessories range.
The right mounting method matters a lot.
A strong frame still needs a secure base.
For permanent commercial locations, an engineered fixing can be far more suitable than treating a large Ausbrella like a small portable patio umbrella.
Can Ausbrella Be Customised?
Yes.
Awnet offers custom umbrella sizes, shapes, and colours. It also provides commercial branding through methods including screen printing, large-format digital printing, and heat-transfer printing.
That makes the range useful for cafés, resorts, branded outdoor areas, events, councils, and hospitality sites.
Businesses can use the canopy as shade and advertising space at the same time.
Is There a Minimum Order?
No minimum order quantity is currently stated.
Awnet says it can make one-off customer orders because manufacturing is handled in-house. Larger commercial orders are also possible.
That means Ausbrella is not limited to big chain orders.
A homeowner or small venue can ask for one.
Current Warranty
Ausbrella currently comes with a five-year warranty on the frame and cover, according to Awnet’s warranty information.
The company has different fading warranty periods for printed canvas.
Screen-printed canvas is listed with three years against fading, while digitally printed canvas is listed with one year against fading.
Older articles may show different warranty terms.
For a current article, five years is the figure to use for standard Ausbrella frames and covers.
Where Is Ausbrella Used?
Ausbrella is aimed at places needing large outdoor shade with stronger wind performance.
Awnet lists uses such as resorts, council open spaces, and premium residential outdoor areas. Its wider market-umbrella business also serves restaurants, cafés, hospitality spaces, and outdoor dining areas.
There is also a documented public example.
Trade coverage from 2014 reported the use of 4.3-metre round Ausbrella umbrellas for Heineken’s outdoor bar and dining area at the Australian Open near Rod Laver Arena.
That gives a useful idea of the product’s intended scale.
These are not little backyard umbrellas.
Is Ausbrella Australian Made?
Awnet says yes.
The company states that its market umbrellas are designed, engineered, and manufactured through its factory in Melbourne, Australia.
The dedicated Storm and Hurricane pages also describe those products as Australian made.
For buyers who want local manufacturing and access to replacement or repair support, that can be a strong point.
Is Ausbrella Repairable?
Awnet promotes repairability as part of its wider manufacturing approach.
The company says its commercial umbrellas and barriers use long-life materials and can be repaired rather than automatically replaced when individual parts wear. It also points to aluminium and steel as recyclable materials used across its products.
For commercial buyers, repair access can matter almost as much as the first purchase price.
Outdoor equipment gets worked hard.
Parts eventually need attention.
How Much Does Ausbrella Cost?
A current fixed public price is not clearly displayed on Awnet’s Ausbrella product pages.
Buyers are directed to contact the company about their requirements.
That makes sense because Ausbrella can vary by model, size, fabric, branding, base, fixing, and custom work.
So there is no responsible single price to quote without a current supplier quotation.
Old Models vs Current Models
Historical information can cause confusion here.
The Ausbrella range has changed over time.
Current Awnet pages mainly show Storm 135 and Hurricane 160+.
That means old names and old wind ratings found in archived articles should not automatically be presented as the current product line.
For anyone buying now, check the current Awnet specification for the exact model being quoted.
Who Is Ausbrella Best For?
Ausbrella makes the most sense where a normal lightweight patio umbrella may not be enough.
That could mean an exposed restaurant terrace, resort pool, council area, large home entertaining space, outdoor bar, hotel, club, or other location where a large folding umbrella gets regular use.
The Hurricane 160+ is clearly the more wind-focused choice.
The Storm 135 covers less extreme requirements.
Still, location comes first.
Check the site. Check the fixing. Then choose.
What Ausbrella Is Not
Ausbrella should not be confused with a small personal umbrella carried in a bag.
It is also not proven to be a smart connected umbrella, weather app, or software service.
The verified Australian Ausbrella is a physical outdoor market umbrella product made by Awnet.
That distinction matters because unrelated newer web pages can create a very different picture.
Final Thought
Ausbrella has a clear reason for existing.
Wind is a real problem for large outdoor umbrellas. Awnet approached that problem with reinforced aluminium mast construction, stronger frame parts, secure mounting, engineer-backed designs, and wind-tunnel testing.
The current range is simple: Storm 135 and Hurricane 160+.
For ordinary backyard shade, that level of engineering may be more than needed. For exposed hospitality, commercial, council, resort, or premium outdoor locations, the idea makes much more sense.
The strongest facts are easy to check. Ausbrella is Australian made, Awnet produces it, Chris Pierias is linked to its creation and patented mast technology, current models carry a five-year frame-and-cover warranty, and Awnet reports Hurricane wind-tunnel testing beyond 160 km/h.
That is what separates the real Ausbrella from the vague descriptions appearing elsewhere online.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Ausbrella?
Ausbrella is an Australian-made range of heavy-duty folding market umbrellas produced by Awnet. It is intended for outdoor commercial and premium residential shade areas.
Who makes Ausbrella?
Ausbrella is manufactured by Awnet in Melbourne, Australia. Awnet operates under Asigns Pty Ltd.
Who invented Ausbrella?
Awnet credits founder Chris Pierias with creating Ausbrella. Patent documents for the related mast technology name Christopher Pierias as inventor.
How strong is the Ausbrella Hurricane 160+?
Awnet says the Hurricane 160+ was wind-tunnel tested at speeds above 160 km/h and reached about 161 km/h during the cited test.
What is the Ausbrella Storm 135 wind rating?
The dedicated Storm 135 product page states a wind rating of 135 km/h. Awnet’s broader range page currently shows 140 km/h, so the dedicated model specification is the clearer figure to use.
Does Ausbrella have a warranty?
Yes. Awnet currently lists a five-year warranty for Ausbrella frames and covers.
Is Ausbrella made in Australia?
Yes. Awnet states that its market umbrellas are designed, engineered, and manufactured through its Melbourne operation.
Can I buy only one Ausbrella?
Awnet states that there is no minimum order quantity, so one-off orders can be produced.
