For those familiar with Marine Window Services (MWS), the name Freeman Kemp represents more than its founding — it stands for craftsmanship, perseverance, and the spark that shaped what is now Integ Marine Group.
Freeman’s story is one of curiosity turned into expertise. From his beginnings in automotive glass to his pioneering role in marine glazing, his journey laid the groundwork for an operation that continues to thrive under Darren’s leadership.
From Automotive to Marine
“Production engineering is my area of expertise, both in qualifications and work experience. I started out in a windscreen factory, and I was fortunate to have a traineeship back in those days — half my study time was paid for by the employer. So that was my first four or five years: working in a factory making automotive windscreens.”
By the mid-1990s, Freeman had moved north and transitioned into small business, running a Novus windscreen repair franchise. It wasn’t long before the marine world came knocking.
“People started bringing in boat window problems and asking, ‘Can you fix this for me?’ Of course, I said, ‘Absolutely — no problem!’”
What began as a few side projects quickly evolved into a full-time pursuit. “At the last minute, I added a clause to the sale [of my windscreen business] that allowed me to keep working on boat windows — because trade restrictions usually prevent that. The buyers were more than happy; they said, ‘We don’t want anything to do with boat windows.’ So off I went — and that’s how Marine Window Services was born in 2003.”
A Craft, Not a Trade
“The skill and knowledge involved in boat windows is more of a craft or artistic expression,” Freeman says. “You’re either the kind of person who does it properly or you’re not.”
His approach quickly set MWS apart. “Many in the marine trade didn’t want to touch it because they didn’t know how, but I had years of experience with glass and saw that many design principles being adopted in the marine industry actually came from automotive technology. That gave me a head start helping the marine sector transition from old to new styles.”
By 2010, Marine Window Services had made its mark internationally, completing major projects for superyachts across Spain, New Zealand, Fiji, North America, and Europe. “Who would’ve thought a little boat window business that started off the back of a windscreen shop would go international?” Freeman reflects. “People used to say, ‘Surely in North America they can do that.’ Well, yes, they can — but not quite as well as we could.”
Passing the Torch
After more than a decade building the business, Freeman began considering its next chapter. “After 20 years of working as hard as I did, I was really keen to find somebody who wanted to take it to the next step,” he explains. “When I realised after meeting Darren that this could be the renaissance of Marine Window Services, I knew it was the right move.”
He saw in Darren both the capability and drive to scale what he had built. “Darren struck me as being somebody who was, or always would be, going to steer the thing from the front. He wasn’t going to work in the business; he was going to work on the business,” Freeman says.
In 2022, Freeman officially handed over Marine Window Services to Darren — a transition that paved the way for the creation of Integ Marine Group.
A Legacy That Lives On
Today, Freeman continues to play an active consulting role within Integ Marine Group, sharing his decades of technical knowledge with the next generation. “I like to think that they listen to me, and that some of those foundational work practices that I introduced into the way we ran Marine Window Services are continuing in Integ now,” he says. “As I’ve said to the boys, in time they will teach me things.”
That exchange of knowledge — between past and present — has become a hallmark of the company’s strength. Freeman notes, “It’s a big melting pot of learning from someone else’s experience, but also filtering the information that comes across the bow. You need to be prepared to keep your eyes and ears open. No one has dibs on the knowledge for any particular industry.”
Strength in Evolution
Looking at Integ Marine Group today, Freeman couldn’t be prouder. “Just the fact that it’s gone from the size that I had it at, and now with the three divisions — that’s a very wise way to market it,” he says. “It’s like watching something grow that I had a fairly big hand in producing and getting it up and walking. I take a lot of pride in it.”
He believes the company’s success under Darren’s leadership comes from shared principles: an unwavering commitment to quality, and the courage to innovate. “I know that Darren subscribes to that quality philosophy that I’ve been rabbiting on about, particularly in the high-end stuff,” Freeman says. “You can’t afford, even just from an image or reputation point of view, to have work that leaks.”
It’s a mutual respect built on experience and trust — a partnership that continues to shape the company’s trajectory. “I genuinely get on with Darren, not only from a business point of view, but also in terms of his quirky sense of humour — we get on,” Freeman says. “In time, they’ll teach me things. Unless you’re working at the coalface, you don’t get to see all the new stuff that comes along.”
Looking Ahead
Freeman’s advice to those entering the marine industry today is simple but powerful: “Quality, in terms of work practices and procedures, and just as importantly, service ethic,” he says. “It’s all well and good to do everything right according to the A to Z, but you need to be understanding with your customer and generally seek to please them.”
That same philosophy continues to guide Integ Marine Group today — a company built on Freeman’s foundations and elevated under Darren’s leadership. Together, they represent the best of both worlds: experience and innovation, tradition and progress.
As Freeman puts it best, “The company’s still growing, still innovating. And the quality’s still there. That’s what matters.”
For more information visit integmarine.com.au
