DEC JAN 2014

PUBLISHER: PROJECT PUBLISHERS Dux Hot WaterTEL: +27 11 346 5053 With Australians’ growing have improved in leaps and boundsEMAIL: [email protected] participation in the international with respect to energy efficiency.WEBSITE: green shift, consumers are paying Dux Hot Water is one of the manywww.projectpublishers.co.za more and more attention to how they companies that have been on the might make their homes more vanguard of that change. Today, Dux62, 2ND AVENUE, HOUGHTON, energy efficient. Dux Hot Water has Hot Water produces some of theJOHANNESBURG. been on the leading edge of hot most reliable and efficient waterP.O. BOX 92744, water systems, developing heaters on theAustralian market.NORWOOD 2117 innovative means for reducingJOHANNESBURG, energy costs, and in turn, saving its Dux Hot Water was founded by theSOUTH AFRICA. customers money. Middleton family in 1915 and has been leading the charge inDESIGN AND LAY OUT OF THE While there have been many recent developing increasingly efficientMAGAZINE innovations in furnishing hot water technology ever since. The directly to people’s homes, the company began as a familyIN - HOUSE tradition actually goes back several business, though its name comes centuries. Ancient Roman water from the Latin word, meaning leader.PROJECT PUBLISHERS publishes heaters still dot the Italian Since that time, the company hasprojects Magazine and several special countryside, and while today they invested heavily in research andStand Alone Publications in different are primarily tourist attractions, at development, giving it a competitivesector industries , mainly the time of their construction water edge in the market and producingin South Africa. We aim at high was heated by fire and then piped heaters that use technology yearsstandards of quality of the services we through a series of aqueducts before ahead of Dux’s competitors.offer advertisers as well as readers. ending up in someone’s bath. InThe Publisher does not accept any contemporary developed nations, Dux is now the oldest hot waterresponsibility for the accuracy or water heaters are now installed in heater manufacturer in Australia,authenticity of our homes and businesses, some providing water heating solutions tothe contributions contained in the large, holding hundreds of litres of Australian homes for the last 98Magazine and advertisements. Views water, while others are small, years. Its headquarters are locatedexpressed by the contributors are not heating the water as it passes an hour and a half outside of Sydneynecessarily those of the Publishers through piping. Whatever kind or within the Southern Highlands manner of heating, hot water has region of New South Wales. The become a staple of the modern company is also part of the world. Australian owned GWA group within the Bathrooms and Kitchens division In the late 1800s, Benjamin Waddy sitting alongside well known invented a device that was able to Australian brands such as Caroma, heat water by running it through a Dorf and Fowler. series of hot wires. This device was named ‘The Geyser’ after the hot “Most innovation within the hot water springs of Iceland. It was so named industry has occurred over the last not because it produced hot water, 20 years,” comments Peter Faase, but because it lacked a vent to the Business Development release the pressure created by the Manager of Dux Hot Water. Steve hot steam, leading to a dangerous Linton, Service and Marketing in-home geyser. Luckily a Manager, adds that, “Early water Norwegian inventor named Edwin heating devices were quite different Ruud would later remodel the to those we see today. For example, original prototype, heavily copper tanks or heating devices at influenced by Waddy’s earlier the faucet to heat the water as it design. passed through, are now very rare. In the last 20 years the predominant With a little ingenuity over the years, heaters used in Australian homes hot water heaters have become have been electric or gas storage much safer, more reliable and they tanks.”© All rights reserved 1

SX Projects SX Projects is a SX Projects’ Director is Vince Battaglia, whose career amenities on each floor; four new lift services; and leading builder of in the building industry has spanned more than thirty- retail work on the ground floor and the basement.commercial and luxury five years. Vince has been with SX Projects since When completed, the project will achieve certification residential buildings 2000, and today oversees the day-to-day operations of for a four star rating (As-Built) under Green Star.and industrial, sporting companies SX Projects Pty Ltd and SX Projects (QLD) Pty Ltd. He has a hands-on role in the successful The Loftus apartments, Darling Point (luxury and community delivery of projects undertaken by both companies residential) project involved the construction of fourfacilities. With its main with responsibilities that include managing the project high end luxury whole floor apartments set over six team and the overall construction process. By applying levels, with basement car park, car lift and wet-edge office in Sydney and a progressive way of thinking, Vince is at the forefront pool. The site had extremely difficult access and which another office in of implementing innovative solutions and techniques. required extensive shoring works. This project was a winner of the 2012 Master Builders Association Brisbane, this multi- The company’s turnover is around $60 million and it Excellence in Housing Awards for Best Apartments award winning employs some seventy-five staff members (including $1.0 million-plus. This $8.6 million project for Strada some labourers and estimators as well as project Development (No.1) Pty Ltd was completed inconstruction company managers, although trades are generally February 2012. specialises in a huge subcontracted). Many of the company’s projects are range of high quality design-and-construct, using external consultants, and At Bondi Waters, SX Projects undertook the design much of its business comes from repeat clients, putting and construction of a luxury fifty-six bed aged careresidential, commercial SX Projects in a relatively comfortable position even in facility, with secure onsite parking including a six car and community the current ultra-competitive climate. stacker facility, landscaped courtyards and rooftop projects. terrace at 47-51 O’Brien Street, Bondi. The facility Despite this, Vince and his team are constantly out in provides mixed level care, consisting of low care, high the marketplace to back up the effort on tendering too. care and dementia care. This $11 million project for The company’s Sydney office can undertake a wide Bondi View Pty Ltd was a winner at the 2011 Urban variety of projects and the company is keen to grow Taskforce Development Excellence Awards for business at its Brisbane office, where it mainly Retirement LivingAustralia. undertakes residential work – although current projects also include a roller-coaster ride! Medium density apartments at Culworth Ave, Killara involved the construction of fifty-one luxury Strong and streamlined management practices keep apartments at 42-48 Culworth Ave for Ernst & Young in SX Projects competitive and highly effective, and the two separate buildings with two and three basement team was able to recently complete a tricky project at levels respectively. the corner of King and Elizabeth Streets in Sydney. Tricky, says Business Development Manager Allyson The Bourke St, Waterloo (Commercial Building) Wolff, in part because the company had to take over project involved the adaptive reuse of the Valiant the project from another builder. This mixed retail and Office Hire Building in Waterloo. This three-storey commercial project consisted of the redevelopment of concrete-framed commercial building was an existing fifteen storey office building, including all transformed into an ultra-modern mixed-use new services within the building as well as a new development containing ground floor retail, an Aldi curtain wall façade; commercial fitout of each of the Supermarket and strata commercial tenancies which floors to PCAGradeAstandard; a new roof terrace with incorporated a common area. office space to L14; revised entry lobby fitout; new2



SFIThe company began as What began as Specialized Fabrication Industrial amount of work that has to be done in such a short a general industrial Suppliers over a decade ago has now been shortened period of time. So they need to have as much supplier, and about to SFI. This business offers “Everything for joining & equipment and stock onsite as possible with minimal fabricating pipes,” a broad spectrum of services for costs to them.” SFI covers most areas right across fifteen years ago was customers. Brad Thomas, the company’s Project and Australia with this service. given the agency for Technical Sales Manager, explained to Business in Orbitalum products. Focus how the company came to be. Relationships with suppliers of quality materials and goods are critical to the performance of SFI. As Brad Orbitalum handles The company has approximately sixty per cent of the explains, “We are the Australian agents for ITW specialised pipe or pipe fabrication equipment market share in the dairy Cutting and Welding which has Orbitalum and E.H. industry and has more recently expanded into the Wachs products, our biggest supplier. We send our light fabrication, much larger industries of oil, mining and gas. “More technicians to the ITW factories for training. We also cutting and welding recently we have moved into the gas, mining and attend trade shows occasionally as we manufacture amachines that are used power industry which has now become approximately lot of our own products ourselves, such as the eighty per cent of our business,” explains the Project Orbimax Pipe Stands and Australian made pipe for light stainless Manager. “Our product range is dedicated to the clamps which are very well known as the best in thefabrication in the dairy mechanical installation in construction of pipe work industry.” and process plants for the gas and the mining and general food industry.” The specialised nature of the product means that most industries. sales for the company come about as a result of onsite For this target market, the company carries a range of demonstrations. Brad explains that, “It is more the specialised pipe fabrication equipment products that building of rapport and that we are getting more and cover the entire fabrication process from marking out more on board with larger construction companies, of the pipe, to supporting it, cutting it, crimping, and that is certainly been helping us to grow the bevelling, welding and clamping, to the final polishing business. ” The company receives inquiries via its and testing. “I guess you would call us a real one stop website for its specialised gear. “Some inquiries in turn shop for pipe fabricators,” says Brad. may require visits and we would then have one of our key representatives travel to remote areas to show our “We have the specialist know-how to always be able to products and go through the special applications and answer any questions coming our way in that industry. the whole process with potential customers and We are focussed on the process pipe work equipment contractors.” and onsite consumable supply. We also offer a service where customers can purchase everything from SFI has just recently released a new logo. The Project safety equipment and products, to abrasives, power manager says that the new product range name tools, hand tools, adhesives and all the general Orbimax will be more recognised in the oil and gas consumables, directly from us.” The company sectors. It also acquired the agency for the EH Wachs provides this as part of its Ezy-Store System – its range of equipment. “EH Wachs has made some new onsite supply system. machines and have offered them to our agency, so we have a representative who is dedicated to that The Ezy-Store System is like having a store right at the account.” As this is somewhat of a separate arm of the jobsite. Anything that might be needed, from pipe tools business, the product range is now split into two and sealants to fasteners and welding equipment, is different areas. stocked onsite in shipping containers or storage cabinets. Materials are stocked on consignment and “We’ve got our Orbimax, which is superior piping remain the property of SFI until used by the customer. equipment for the lightweight sanitary dairy industry Restocking and invoicing can be done daily, weekly, right through to the heavy pipe industry. SFI handles fortnightly or monthly depending on the needs of the all specialist tools for the pipe and tube fabrication clients. “We want to stay proactive and be there for industries, including Orbitalum and Wachs products. them so there is no downtime whatsoever,” Brad Another division is called ValveMax, which handles explains. “The system allows for complete control and Valve exercising equipment, hydraulic pumps, organisation of needed materials on site and saves diamond wire saws, etc.” time for the customer. Because what the company does is so specialised, “For example, if the contractor is supplying to a gas indentifying the competition is a difficult thing to processing plant that is being built, there might be a quantify; staying ahead, for SFI, has largely come container on site and have anywhere from 100 or 400 down to the quality of its customer service and the workers that we would supply all equipment and resulting client loyalty. consumables to and we would just keep that topped up as required.” The system is also used for pipeline “Primarily, our pricing is competitive as we have high construction as those companies often require volume for a lot of our products. Roughly sixty per cent specialised equipment in remote areas. of what we sell is imported and we have a good reputation for personal service. We are very “Our services are very beneficial as we provide these knowledgeable about the range of specialized onsite warehouses that are actually moveable as the products. Because we are so specialised in this project progresses. Also an instance might have a industry, guys will move from one job to the next and boiler at an existing processing plant that may require take us with them. Because of our know-how we can being shut down to be re-serviced or refurbished for an stay along the whole job from start to finish as we upgrade. It is roughly a three or four week process that provide professional and technical advice and choice might require 500 additional workers on that site customer service.” working day and night as there is such a massive4









RPF GroupWhen Mother Nature decides to go haywire and insurance work by completing owner build projects When disaster affectsdestroy buildings, the expense of repairing the such as the Cumberland Grove Village senior living someone’s life thisphysical structure isn’t the only worry. Often, a residences, which is the company’s biggest drastically, it helps tonatural disaster can leave people in dire living development to date. The facility, located in have the best crewsituations… Shortland, Newcastle on 1.3 hectares of landscaped working to put it right. For grounds, has 55 two or three bedroom villas. this job, there is oneThe RPF Group branched out from a single company Currently, there are two more retirement villages in group of companies thatcalled RPF Building Pty Ltd, which was founded by the works for RPF Building that are in the has been present afterReg Flannery in 1999. In the beginning, the company development application stage. every major naturalwas predominantly conducting insurance recovery disaster to hit the easternworks for the 1999 Sydney hail storm, followed by the The RPF Group has also taken on another part of the seaboard of Australia.Blue Mountain fires of 2002. With those two disasters industry by adding RPF Demolition, which is an area From floods andrecovered from, RPF Building was offered an that has great potential for growth. This addition will hailstorms toopportunity to assist in the rebuilding efforts needed also help the company to become a one stop shop for earthquakes, cyclonesafter 2006's Cyclone Larry and the company niche insurance companies who are looking for a low and fires, RPF Group haswas discovered. During those trying times, RPF hassle company to handle all of their needs, instead been there to help.Building completed over one hundred and sixty of making time consuming calls to a number ofrepairs with three full teams and sixty tradies. different companies. RPF Demolition is in the process of acquiring a class A asbestos license andRPF Building developed its own procedures, audit of safety processes and systems to gainprocesses and methodology in order to be more national accreditation.responsive when managing large scale events. Thedamage can be assessed by an experienced eye By performing the demolition that needs to take placeand repaired with unmatched proficiency in a timely before the rebuild, RPF will be able to preserve ormanner, so that a family can move back into their recover either items or whole areas of a site. Byhomes as quickly as possible and go back to their having access to the site earlier, strip-outs,normal lives. sanitisation and dry out – along with early, selective demolition – will prevent mould from spreading toSoon after its inception, the company expanded to previously untouched areas. This process ensurescomplement the disaster recovery work with regular that the homeowner gets their home back sooner,building business and home warranty insurance without spending more than necessary.works. To save time, the company has developed its ownWhen disaster strikes, RPF is on the ground, no software application to run on an iPad. Estimatorsmatter where the need is. The company has been can quote insurance repairs, no matter where theydoing whatever needs to be done to clean up are and regardless of whether or not they havefollowing events such as the horrifying Black access to an internet connection. A quote can beSaturday fires in Victoria in 2009, the Brisbane floods generated with minimal input, measurements orof 2011 and Cyclone Yasi in 2011 quantities and photos. The quote is then automatically uploaded to the main system as soonAccording to Reg Flannery, who is now the principal as connectivity is achieved. Once the quote isof RPF Group, this decision to expand the scope of approved, the application can then be used by thethe company, combined with its extensive recovery site supervisor to manage the whole process fromwork following some of the worst disasters to befall job notes, photos and purchase orders to progressthe region is the reason for the company’s growth and budget. The insurance assessors or the insuredfrom a one man operation into a firm that now can also log on to the app and view the informationemploys more than forty staff. from anywhere in the world. “It allows for example a property owner living interstate to log on and see howRPF Group has offices in Cairns, Townsville, their repairs are going and view photos of theBundaberg, Brisbane, Newcastle, Sydney, progress,” says Mr Flannery.Melbourne, Geelong and Adelaide. It is currentlyawaiting approval for a business license in Western The RPF group also boasts an excellent wasteAustralia to add to its builder’s licenses in management system that allows the company toQueensland, New South Wales, the Australian keep active work sites clean and tidy at all times. TheCapital Territory, Victoria and SouthAustralia. company’s own crane trucks and bins allow for a site to be independent of local resources which might beNot only does RPF Building do insurance repairs, but overtaxed or even unavailable in a post-disasterthe company has also done building jobs between situation. Aone stop shop with such experience, RPF also has its own tippers and excavators. In addition, the company has also invested in a number of 9

Rawcorp Building companies David Walton is half of the management team at accepts that the fifteen-storey projects will probablylooking for work in the Rawcorp, the other half being Anthony Rigby. The have to wait a little longer, though there are signs of construction company was established in January pent-up demand that will sooner or later start to flow bigger city is nothing 2005 and it has definitely been tough over the through into the marketplace. Multi-storey projectsunusual, of course, but intervening years, David concedes, as the have a problem with the unions and also the fact that,David says, in the case construction industry has suffered the effects of wider with pace still available, “you can build out flat for the of Rawcorp, it was not global economic upheavals. Rawcorp, however, has same amount of money. It’s a lot easier – you can do been prospering. 130 townhouses without a tower crane.” The 130 a question of there townhouses is a Gold Coast job for which Rawcorp being no work around The company pointed its sights at Brisbane five years was tendering. the Gold Coast itself. ago and concentrated on operating around the“We never actually left metropolitan area there in preference to more In addition to the two directors, the company employsthe Gold Coast, and we generally around the Gold Coast. “That has been the six foremen/site managers, three contracts have never not had a key to our success in those last five years,” says administrators, a university undergraduate, an job here, either one of David. accounts person and a receptionist. Almost all trades are subcontracted. “We keep it lean for survival, ours or for someone The company has an associate entity called although we are growing and probably we will need to else.” The company’s Rawspace that does some development work as well put more people on. We anticipate employing more and Rawspace keeps ticking over, to say the least. staff in the near future.” new offices at “We always have a job on the go. Recently we finishedMerrimac, near Surfers twenty-seven units in Brisbane, a nine-unit project David says there was something of a shortage in some there too and ten single-bedroom units in Palm sectors in recent months after the mining industry Paradise, were Beach.” This helps to provide projects for Rawcorp enticed some trades away from construction. “It was completed in 2012. too, of course. probably a little difficult to get a carpenter three months ago.” Rawcorp noticed a distinct lack of David and Anthony are both builders in their own right. response to advertised tenders for work. “They all David has been in the construction business since he went to the mines but we can see them coming back was seventeen; Anthony, too, has a long background now, slowly.” in the industry. David admits the job today is mainly about management, although, on the day of our Rawcorp does not advertise itself as an innovator, but conversation, he had just arrived in the office after David says it does try to keep up with technological being on site all morning, filling in for a foreman on trends and, in particular, with energy-efficient systems leave and mentoring another member of staff. “Of and processes. “We also like to use innovative course I enjoy it. It’s what we do and we like being at engineering systems as much as we can. If we can the coal face.” see a plus for the client, it’s a plus for us too.” At the request of the client, the company is about to start “We are more builders than project managers; we are using a new prefabricated wall system to replace block not people who work on titles – so many people like to wood on one project, and is happy to gain experience give themselves titles.” David agrees that so many of the system. “We always like to be involved and people use the title of project manager now, that the consulted.” On one current project in Southport, meaning of the position is devalued. “If we were asked Rawcorp counselled against using certain systems to provide project management, we can do so because there would be an associated risk and the because we do have qualified staff in house, but we do client has taken the advice, adopting new tiling understand the distinction and we don’t set out our systems instead. stall as project managers.” The company is currently working on the Southport Rawcorp’s work tends to be split in roughly equal parts project at Eugaree Street for a client who plans to between commercial and residential projects and retain all the units and rent them out. It consists of encompasses a wide variety of jobs, including thirty-one apartments (in two separate towers) and a refurbishments and a 5,000 square metres medical centre with a basement car park.At the time of showroom. Among its refurbishments was an award our chat, Rawcorp was pouring concrete for the winning, $4 million project done for a Hyundai footings in the 1,200 square metre basement in the dealership at Southport. Generally, the company is first part of this nine-month project. happy anywhere in the space of projects from $2 million to $15 million. At Robina, Rawcorp is undertaking the rollout of a new type of office building called CityPods, offering space The market dictates, to some extent, the direction of for small businesses in a complex of fifteen two-storey the company, which at the moment is engaged in buildings. This concrete structure, featuring epoxy multi-residential projects – townhouses and floorings and lightweight brick cladding on the upper apartments – in a sector which has remained defiantly floors is quite an upmarket project, says David. strong while the commercial sector has been languishing. David agrees with several other experts At Carina Heights, Rawcorp is involved in three multi- in the area that there are the first faint signs of new life residential projects, two of them to be held by (repeat) in the commercial sector and Rawcorp is poised to clients and a third involving eleven two-bedroom take advantage of that. “We have just tendered on a apartments for a new client. In another project, 64 six-million dollar refurbishment of a hotel; that sort of Kates Street, Morningside, the company is building work is just beginning to come along again.” twelve one-bedroom apartments which are to sit above the ground level car park. The architect has Getting the federal election out of the way is obviously selected internal finishes of a high standard and all likely to help, he concedes. He remains cautious and units will be accessible via communal lift.10

Property company pushes green-building- growth points new no.1 Silo projectThe trend towards green building and the concept of “Green building also has difficulty in challenging the However, Growthpoint’sgreening existing buildings have been slow to take perception that green means higher costs.” strategy is to lead in thisoff in South Africa, as these are voluntary exercises, area and this issays property investment holding company Basha acknowledges that there was concern about demonstrated by the factGrowthpoint Properties utilities management head the quality of certain green products, owing to the use that the company is aEssop Basha. of substandard materials and technologies in the founding member of the past and that, over the years, greening has earned a Green Building Council of“There is not a massive demand for green space and, bad reputation. As a result, Growthpoint has invested South Africa (GBCSA),generally, the perception is that, although there significant resources in the research and adds Basha, noting thatshould be a demand for green space, it has not development of solutions to ensure that the required the building industry hashappened yet in SouthAfrica,” he says. standards with regard to safety and durability are to find a balance between met. being financially prudentShawn Theunissen, head of corporate social and using enviroment-responsibility and manager of Growthpoint Growthpoint has established working partnerships friendly products andProperties’ enterprise development programme, with State-owned power utility Eskom, piloting the designs.Property Point, believes that many more people are testing of green technologies. Other partners includeconsidering green building and expects that this various local and international lighting companies.building trend will become the norm, as it will drivecost reductions. Currently, the capital needed to Basha highlights that Growthpoint worked with agreen a building is still high, but as greening local solar project developer in 2011 to provide andbecomes more ingrained in the South African install solar panels at Lincoln on the Lake, inbusiness environment, this demand will offset costs Umhlanga Ridge, KwaZulu-Natal (KZN). Thedramatically, he says. initiative was profiled that year at the seventeenth Conference of the Parties, an internationalGrowthpoint has adopted a holistic ‘cradle to grave’ environmental and climate-change conference inapproach, whereby developers review every aspect Durban.of the construction process. This includes the natureof the materials sourced, how they are sourced and In mid-February, the company received its first six-how they are eventually disposed of. star GBCSA rating for the new No 1 Silo office building at Cape Town’s V&AWaterfront.“For green building to succeed, we need to focus onmatters like localisation, which is a core element of a This success follows Growthpoint’s completion ofgreen economy. The main challenge we currently Lincoln on the Lake and Mayfair on the Lake, also inface is that most of the great technological advances Umhlanga Ridge, KZN, in the last two years. Bothin green lighting solutions, for example, are coming buildings received four-star GBCSA ratings in 2012from abroad,” says Theunissen. in theAs-built and By-design categories respectively.To counter this trend, in 2008, Growthpoint initiated “The path to the greening of buildings can be arduousProperty Point, a programme that mentors small and can, at times, contain many pitfalls,” says Basha,businesses and links them to larger companies by who remains positive.promoting their services in the property sector,including green building projects. “Green building allows for long-term sustainable building, which will reduce the total costs ofHowever, Basha notes that establishing a local occupancy for our tenants through the correctmanufacturing process on the back of such initiatives implementation of genuinely green technologies,” heremains a challenge and it is hampering the industry, concludes.with the consequence of significant costs beingadded to green projects. 11

SAXENI -FOSKER FEATURE We utilize mostly our own Established in 2008, SAXENI is a South African WHAT WE OFFER YOU equipment on projects of owned and operated company, based in Sundra, which a couple are listed Mpumalanga. We function as a multi disciplinary Project managementbelow. Our Current fleet of contracting and management concern in the Turnkey projects vehicles is in excess of 80 mining and construction industries. Construction management and installationunits and expanding as the Strategic alliances industry demand for our Because our core personnel have been working together as a team for the past ten years, our Range Of Services work increases. collective ability and expertise enables us to deliver on our mission statement. Overland conveyor systems Dome installations Heavy lifting and rigging Stacker and reclaimer installation Process plant installation and material handling design Plant civil works and Bulk Earthworks Steel fabrication Steel and mechanical piping installation HDPE Piping Electrical and C & I Eskom HV line installation All personnel are actively involved in the in day to day activities of the Company. Safety and Quality Saxeni is a Black Ecomonic Empowerment SAXENI management and workers are Company, with Managing Member Mr Samuel committed to safety. Our strive is “TARGET Makolane holding a 26% Shareholding in the ZERO” Even though SAXENI is not accredited company . Our current B-BBEE Status is Level 2. with ISO 9001, we comply to all standards and procedures, and will accommodate reasonable We are committed to supplying good quality requests from our clients, given the uniqueness products and superior service to all our clients. and nature of the project.12

Tel: +27 (0)87 944 2082 Tel: +27 (0)13 661 1773 Fax: + 27 (0)86 743 1869 Email: [email protected] Website: www.saxeni.co.za 72 Modderfontein Rd Plot 408 SUNDRA 2200 South Africa P.O. Box 269 SUNDRA 2200 South AfricaSaxeni is a management concern, providing both services and equipment to the mining and construction industries.Our strength lies in the diversity of our personnel, providing expertise on project management, construction management, plantinstallations and partnerships in strategic alliances.We pride ourselves on our multi disciplinary team able to offer advice, management services or the infrastructure needed in thecomplex world of mining and construction.WHAT WE OFFER YOU RANGE OF SERVICES Project management All types of process plant installations Turnkey projects Overland conveyor systems Construction management and installation Dome installations Strategic alliances Heavy lifting and rigging Construction plant sales and hire Stacker and reclaimer installation TO BE THE MOST PROFESSIONAL SERVICE PROVIDERTO OUR BUSINESS PARTNERS … AND BE THE BEST IN EVERYTHING WE DO. 13

Proessional Project Services (PPS)Commercial construction Professional Project Services (PPS) specialises in The company does not set out to maximise its profits is quite a tough market, bulk townhouse developments. Over the last six on the design side, but rather to price the design Peter admits, and it has years, says PPS Commercial Construction component as part of the overall project rather than a been for the last five Manager, Peter Warrell, the company has also separate profit centre as it would be with an external become involved in the commercial construction architect. “It is more about making us moreyears. “But we have been sector. competitive on the overall pricing of the job. We fortunate to maintain a obviously make the design pay for itself but we don’t repeat client base and a PPS generally avoids Open hard dollar tenders, aim to make too much money on that aspect of the large proportion of new although it is prepared to do so on the odd occasion – job.” In any case, he adds, if you put too much margin work coming through even this company is not ready to turn away potential into a price, you just don’t win the project in today’s has come through word business. Peter says the most challenging part is market. of mouth,” he explains. finding jobs which are not flooded with tenders from contractors, some of whom are pricing at rock- Indeed, “Things have been quiet on the commercial“As a rule, we tend not to bottom – and unsustainable – rates. “In those cases side of the business but we have been ticking over advertise. Given the we don’t waste our time quoting,” he says. with two or three projects on the go at any one time. The problem is that they are not big projects. On tough conditions across Peter explains that PPS prefers design and average they are only $2 million each, because the the industry, we are construct projects. “There are three elements to the higher tier contractors – the ones in the $50 million doing quite well for business,” he shares. “We have PPS Special bracket – have moved down into our market and are ourselves.” Projects, which is our design arm. This does pricing jobs they would not have given a second everything from town planning issues to building and thought in years gone by.” development approvals. We have an in-house architect and design manager to work with the At the moment, says Peter, there are hopeful signs in clients, and consultants to design the project.” In the the housing market with pre-sales beginning to majority of cases they pass the job on to either the move again over the last twelve months. There is not commercial or the domestic arm of PPS. too much of a lag between approval of the plans and sale of enough units to satisfy the banks, although in Clients appreciate that the majority of the company’s most cases the property developers in the area are work is performed in-house. The divisions between using their own financing. the residential, commercial and design arms are very flexible and these three sections of the Peter himself has a background in tier one building company share staff and resources – including site companies and in large projects and agrees that managers, estimators and project managers. “Even PPS is in a relatively unusual position with its small with labourers and carpenters, we swap round and footprint but its ability to handle high value jobs. “We move as we need to, which gives us great flexibility,” have no desire to be doing the $100 million jobs… I says Peter. “This is one of the key success factors in would prefer to keep things under control and tight at our business – the fact that everyone can move all times.” around into whatever business arm we need to, learning new skill sets which can be advantageous.” The company limits its overheads intentionally, and, At present there are four project managers (including “internally we do things differently to many other Peter and the other owners of the companies), six companies so we don’t have people sitting around in site managers, four carpenters, fifteen labourers, quiet times. We have all had to learn new skills to be one full-time estimator and four staff members on the able to run the business in the way we do. At the administrative side. moment it seems to work quite well. It also gives us a better knowledge of the job from start to completion “As a general rule, we subcontract the trades but we because we have to be involved in every stage of the are starting to use our own labourers more. Some of project.” our labourers are also landscapers; we do all our own landscaping and transfer them across to In any case, PPS stands poised to pick up several labouring when it is quiet.” Most of the carpentry is significant new commercial projects. They will boost also subcontracted. The in-house Carpenters are that sector, which has accounted for only around $5 being trained on the way to become site managers, million turnover in the last couple of years compared “so they will not just be stuck in the one trade but will to nearer $35-40 million on the townhouses. But the be supervising and learning other trades as well – commercial side has at least the benefit of variety – such as plumbing or plastering – learning the tricks everything from Volkswagen service centres to a of the trades.” Greek Orthodox Church youth camp. “We are also still doing a lot of school work with repeat clients. PPS has its offices on the Gold Coast (Southport, to There is not too much that we don’t build, especially be precise), but Peter says that the company’s now with our in-house design team. projects have been predominately up in Brisbane in the last six years. PPS has commenced a large The residential market is set to hold up, Peter project on the south side of the Queensland capital, believes, while it appears there is new life in the a major townhouse development. This is being done commercial sector. “Unfortunately, I think change will with the design totally in-house, with PPS’ own be gradual, rather than the quick one we are all architect and design manager. Peter points out that hoping for,” he shares. On the other hand, if PPS can the overheads of PPS are considerably lower than do so well in what has been such a difficult market, those of an established architects’ practice. heaven help the rest of the industry if this company ever starts to advertise itself!14

Kagiso Mall uplifts the communityThis mall consists of 11 700 square metres with 9 200 Limpopo Province which boasts a 7 834m² The R123.5 millionsquare metres of new-line shops that house a retail shopping centre complex opened at the end of redeveloped Kagiso Mallmix of 50 shops. Fast food tenants face the main October 2009 with an investment amount of project in Mogale City inparking area so as to enable extended trading hours. R75m. In addition, Phumlani Mall in Tembisa on Gauteng has addedIn the design there are various items that add to the the East Rand in Gauteng was acquired for valuable contributions todrive to achieve sustainability within the overall R175m. This modern shopping centre was sustainable communitybudget constraints. In partnership with Old Mutual completed in July 2009 and is fully operational development andand KMH architects these two have specifically with a tenant mix of about 75% comprising township upliftment.addressed the sustainable aspects of the project national tenants.which include utilising local skills and expertise in thedevelopment phase, re-usable building materials Kagiso is a township located west ofwhich are donated to the local community if not used Johannesburg near Krugersdorp. The mall wasin the new development, rainwater harvesting, low originally developed in the 1980s and hadenergy lighting and improved insulation become desperately out-dated and run-downspecifications. with low occupancy rates. After demolition of the old mall, the only anchor tenant that remainedThe final design finishes propose to include was the Shoprite Supermarket which retained 2numerous artworks and contributions from the 600 square metres. The refurbishment began incommunity to depict images relevant to the local 2008 and the project involved demolishing rathercommunity. Old Mutual Property are eager to than refurbishing the mall. This project will be acontinue finding ways to contribute to social valuable enhancement to this community'sdevelopment projects that benefit the community and shopping and social experience.townships and are very proud of their contribution tothe development of the Kagiso area. Communityinvolvement in the project has been consideredthrough each stage of the project which is one of thedistinguishing factors of the story of this mall.This is not the first project undertaken by Old MutualProperty to improve the community. Old Mutualacquired Phanghami Mall situated in Thohoyandou in 15

NC CIVILS WORKS With more than four In four short years, NC Civil Works has used its strong, the company to be one of the most adaptable and able hundred employees service based philosophy to grow into Papua New contractors in Papua New Guinea.and a fleet of over one Guinea’s contractor of choice for large and small scale hundred mobile units, construction projects and civil works throughout the Nicholas used his invaluable history in business the company offers a region. management and the construction industry to build a suite of services most network of clients who became some of NC Civilcompetitors could only NC Civil Works’ comprehensive fleet of major earth Works first customers. “Within one month of starting, dream of providing to moving and roading machinery is one of the most we received a number of contracts. From that early customers in Papua complete in the region. The company maintains a fully success, each year we have grown massively,” with staffed workshop, including many satellite work continued growth expected this year, he says. New Guinea. spaces to facilitate the demands of working on site in any terrain. This ensures the company the ability to NC Civil Works’ Managing Director attributes the routinely maintain equipment, have increased control business’ ongoing growth to its satisfied customers of operations, reduce risk and maintain competitive who appreciate its high level of personalised service. pricing and the availability of equipment, regardless of “We’re driven by our customers,” he says. “We are the task. quite ambitious within our management and aggressive in the marketplace, but our biggest factor Through experience, the company has developed is our customers. They are the biggest focus and the valuable skills across various industries, completing core of our business.” some major civil projects, working with the PNGLNG project and building platforms for land based oil rigs for Nicholas describes construction as being service Sessol, Oil Search and Exxon. The team has built an oriented, and he works to develop relationships with impressive portfolio of completed works and has clients while working to exceed their expectations. earned a solid reputation for quality and service. The “We try to be very clean and crisp with the guys that we company holds one of the leading market positions in deal with and they appreciate that. There is no time the construction and management of civil wasting.” infrastructure, as well as commercial and industrial development. Though building authentic diverse relationships within the business is important for Nicholas, NC Civil Works One of the company’s greatest strengths is its also works with local communities to build high level diversity in terms of employee skill sets and employable skills for members of Indigenous experience. This asset allows NC Civil Works to communities in Papua New Guinea, including by complete projects with confidence, professionalism providing an in-house employment and mentoring and proficiency in a number of areas including project program for young nationals. Ninety-eight per cent of management, civil design, infrastructure NC Civil Works’ employees are Papua New Guinean development, land development, quarry services, nationals. community management, transportation and plant hire. These values are expressed everyday in the work that the company produces in Papua New Guinea. The Managing director, Nicholas Constantinou is proud of principles of premium service, quality and safety are what the company has achieved since inception four core to the company’s philosophy. years ago and sees an exciting future on the horizon, with emerging opportunities and continued growth in Using its extensive history in the business, NC Civil Papua New Guinea. With twelve years of oil and gas Works provides valuable counsel to clients that may works experience, Nicholas has been able to secure know what they want, but not fully understand what it and maintain relationships in these fields, opening takes to get there. “We provide experience and valuable opportunities for NC Civil Works and proving knowledge for our clients. The best tool that we have is16

our knowledge.” In this way, the company operates roads. Once situated on the world’s largest cut mine,as a one stop shop for customers’ engineering and the site has been inactive for some time but is in theconstruction needs by understanding what clients process of redevelopment. NC Civil Works will workneed, and working diligently to create the perfect to re-establish roads around Bougainville and buildsolution. infrastructure in the region to facilitate itsNicholas’ experience in the country has also been a redevelopment, including rebuilding communitiesvaluable resource for larger, international that were destroyed during the war.corporations that may not understand the particular NC Civil Works has been one of the few contractorschallenges when working a region with more than who have commenced work in the region. Theeight hundred languages and extreme terrains. development of Buka Ring road and targeting otherThe company completed its first work constructing oil facilities such as first aid posts, police posts andplatforms for Sessol and Oil Search, which has since community buildings are expected, in addition toopened the door to a great deal more work in the more than one thousand kilometres of road networkssector as the company’s proficiency and reputation to be addressed for the Autonomous Region offor professionalism spreads. One of its largest gas Bougainville. “We have supported the communitiesrelated projects was contracted by Oil Search some through sports and health and hope to have moretime ago which lasted around ten months at the Ping opportunity to support further the people where everYang site. we can,” Nicholas says.The project included massive construction elements, With such incredible growth in only four years ofincluding clearing mountain tops to facilitate drill rig existence and the development of valuable skill setsconstruction, as well as base camp areas for to serve customers across a diverse range ofworkers. “The beauty of it is the original crew that we industries, NC Civil Works is poised to continue tohave grew with me from working on other tapped grow into Papua New Guinea’s preferred contractorplatforms, and they built skills on top of their for major construction and civil works projects.developed skill set, and we outperformed the other “I think the future for us is being at the top of the list ofcontractors on site… “We go from strength to preferred contractors and being one of the largeststrength and everything complements each other, companies around here,” suggests Nicholas. “Wewith our core skills overlapping,” says Nicholas. “We will be as competitive as others, if not better in termstake advantage of that and use it to build of service and quality.”opportunity.” And Nicholas has what it takes to navigate theNC Civil Works has since been able to secure further competitive industry successfully, being one of thecontracts in oil and gas based in one facet of few directors of business in Papua New Guinea, orbusiness alone upon the company’s performance on elsewhere, who keeps his boots to the ground sixthat project and is working towards becoming Papua days a week and more. He makes it his focus to be onNew Guinea’s preferred contractor. site to work with our team and clients, building theOther major works include NC Civil Works’ contract lasting relationships that have benefited thewith Jacksons Airport, Papua New Guinea’s largest company so greatly.airport, for ongoing maintenance and rehabilitation. Though Nicholas employs project managers for eachThe company had previously been competing with contract, he still makes it a point to be visible andother contractors to complete minor works projects at available for customers. “I wear my hard hatthe airport, situated at Port Moresby, but has since everyday and still wear steel toed boots,” he says,come to perform the majority of maintenance work discussing the importance of being available toand has focused and specialised its expertise in this clients as much as possible. “If my customers don’tregard looking into other regions. These regular see me for a couple of days, I get a call asking wherecontracts represent a valuable ongoing project for I’ve been.” It is this hands-on management style thatthe company. helps to build confidence in the company andA major project that the company will undertake in ensures customers feel that their needs are beingfuture is the redevelopment of the Bougainville heard. 17

Standard Bank Building wins award for exceptionalDesign and quality of Fabrication. As the Main Steelwork Contractor on the Project , Tass Engineering ( Pty ) Ltd is proud to be associated with the Project and the prestige that it hasgained in the Rosebank precinct with this award. The new Standard Bank building on the corner of facing facades of the office towers have narrower Baker and Oxford Roads in Rosebank has been atria, stretching from podiums at first-floor level all the awarded the coveted Tubular Category Award at the way up to their roof levels, bringing in substantial recent thirty second annual Steel Awards hosted by natural light to the inner-office floor spaces. the Southern African Institute of Steel Construction in Johannesburg. The desire from the Façade/Structural Engineers was to utilise very large panes of glass in the end walls of One of the judges representing the Association of the atria so that the external envelope gridding was Steel Tube and Pipe Manufacturers of South Africa large in proportion , thereby reflecting the large space said “ the project used tubes in an aesthetically that was the atrium itself. Because of steels superior pleasing and effective manner both from an stiffness and strength over aluminium it was possible architectural and engineering point of view , while the to utilize nearly a full standard stock sheet of glass in quality of fabrication also impressed “. the gridding of the facades. This gridding is also successfully reflected in the eastern and western The architectural vision was for an “ institutional atria. building “ with a transparent exterior that reflected Standard Banks desire for transparency with its client The north south atrium is fantastically transparent base. To this end steel and glass played an when viewed from faraway suburbs as well as from instrumental role in ensuring that this vision was within and achieves the transparency that the achieved. architect was seeking. In addition the northern atrium “hangs” from a giant one storey deep steel truss The stunning development consists of two office elegantly cross braced and bridging the divide towers of nine and eleven stories each atop a between the eastern and western blocks of the multilevel underground car park. The towers are building. This hanging steelwork grid then supports joined by a 36m-wide, nine-story high, north-south the end wall glazing of the atrium and allows elegantly running atrium enclosing multilevel escalators and crafted and glazed steel entrance canopies and link bridges at the southern end. The east- and west- covered regions to float beneath the northern façade.18

The major challenge, from an engineering and fabrication point of view, was the need to achieve structurallysound connections throughout the exposed tubular members with clean smooth lines and no exposedconnection bolts. This had particular relevance in the two main support girders on the northern façade andstep-down roof, due to the extremely high forces that are carried by these girders. The end result was onlyachieved through excellent communication between the design engineers and the steelwork contractors.In addition to its exceptional design and build quality , the building has also achieved a Five Star Design ratingwith the Green Building Council of South Africa and is on track to achieving a similar rating for its “as built”operation. The building generates its own power with a tri-generation plant and has many innovative featurestoo numerous to mention. The external envelope façade is cutting edge technology with the use of a tripleglazed façade with active blinds in the cavity between the triple glazing making for a modern highly energyefficient and transparent external envelope to the building. 19



Melbourne Body Corporate ManagementAcross Australia, many worthwhile organisations are Owners Corporation. When he founded MBCMcreated out of need, and Melbourne Body Corporate What is an Owners Corporation? in 1989, Andrew BurfordManagement is no exception. saw the need for In his 10 Top Tips, Mr Honeyman outlines the professional bodyAs the first franchisee, General Manager Elly Foster necessity of Owners Corporations. Although every corporate management inhas seen MBCM grow over the years into a leader state in Australia may refer to them by different Victoria. Bringingassisting builders, developers, property owners and names, such as Strata, Strata title, community units, considerable experienceclients across Victoria. Focused on providing and bodies corporate, the Victorian Owners in insurance valuationssuperior levels of service, MBCM remains the Corporation Act was passed in 2006. According to Mr and real estate to theindustry-leading Owners Corporation Management Honeyman, an Owners Corporation is automatically organisation, Mr Burfordgroup, and is committed to not only supporting created when a Plan of Subdivision containing realised after a few yearsproperty owners and clients, but building and Common Property is registered at Land Victoria; in that the need for hisfostering relationships. short, wherever there is common property, an services was so great that Owners Corporation exists, which must also be set he either had to centralise“When I began, the Yellow Pages hardly had any up or activated. Since they are legal entities, Owners and employ staff, orentries for owners corporations; today, there are Corporations can be sued, and great care and decentralise andpages and pages,” says Ms Foster. “It is seen as an diligence must be taken when rules regarding franchise. “Melbourneindustry that is excellent. It offers a lot of people a Occupational Health and Safety (OH&S), Australian Body Corporategood earning capacity, and it offers a very secure Business Numbers, tax file numbers, and other Management was the firstbusiness.” Signing up as the first franchisee in 1992, issues are set. company in the industryMs Foster – with years of experience in ever to be franchised,”administrative and operations management roles in Requiring sound documentation such as records and says Ms Foster of thethe travel and insurance industries – felt working in correspondence, lot entitlement, lot liability, organisation, which hasthe field of owners corporations would strike an ideal insurance, budgets and fees and more, Owners since grown to over 40balance between her family and career. Corporations require the specialists at MBCM to take successful franchises.Complete Range of Services care of any and all issues. Owners Corporations are also held responsible for managing any commonCommitted to providing superior service to assist property, and this includes the legal responsibility formembers of Owners Corporations (OCs) meet their appropriate Public Liability insurance.statutory obligations, MBCM works with a diverserange of highly experienced professionals to assist Typically, a number of common property issues willothers with a range of services, including insurance, regularly arise, and rules and laws must beaccounting, maintenance, arranging meetings, respected and obeyed. These include seeminglysecretarial and more. With an established and simple issues, such as a tenant who wishes to mountextensive resource of local trades, specialist a hanging plant on the wall outside his or her unit,contractors, property consultants and allied which requires permission from the Ownersprofessionals, MBCM’s dozens of owner / managers Corporation. Other areas where both owners andoperate from strategically located offices, all of them tenants must follow rules include parking, excessivein close proximity to properties under management. noise, and pets. Whilst there is the standard set ofPassionate about the industry, managers like Greg model rules, special rules can also be prepared andHoneyman take great pride in working with others. lodged, which might relate to heritage or other important issues, which for instance, may stipulate“I’ve developed expertise helping developers set up that outdoor painting must be done in heritagetheir Owners Corporations,” says Mr Honeyman, colours, dictate the location of central air conditioningwho established the latest MBCM franchise in May of units, and other considerations that impact the visualthis year. Working at the University of Melbourne’s appeal of a structure.Law School as Manager of Marketing,Communications and Recruitment – and having held In some cases, more than one Owners Corporationpositions as Manager of Marketing and Public Affairs exists for mixed use buildings, with one responsibleat the State Library in Victoria and the Australian for restaurants or shops downstairs in a complex,Bureau of Statistics – Mr Honeyman was working as another OC handling apartments upstairs, and yeta marketing consultant when MBCM became a another OC governing residents only having accessclient. Together, they spent several months working to gym and pool areas. “It can be quite complex,”on branding the organisation and developing a says Mr Honeyman, who handles the Ballarat MBCMmarketing plan. Mentioning that he and his wife were franchise with his wife. “I went throughinterested in moving to Ballarat, the fastest-growing comprehensive training, and even people who haveregional city in Victoria, the decision was made to been in this industry for 20 years say that they learnestablish a MBCM franchise in the city. something new every day.”“A big part of what I’m doing is helping developers set How MBCM Helpsup their Owners Corporations, and get them doneproperly,” says Mr Honeyman. “Fourteen per cent of “We’ve grown organically, simply through theBallarat-area developments are Owners provision of good service,” says Ms Foster, “andCorporations.” With accelerated local development, MBCM has a good reputation for service delivery atMr Honeyman is working with developers and others the optimum level. The importance is on creating andin the nation’s building and construction industry, and maintaining good relationships with our clients, andrecently penned an informative document, 10 Top we’ve successfully been able to do that, so thatTips to Help Developers Avoid Problems with their certainly has been a major part of our amazing growth over the years.” 21

Beyond green – socio-economic factors addedto green building ratings “In the same way that Cape Town, October 2013: In a pioneering move, the the launch of this venture and believe social Green Star SA tools Green Building Council SA (GBCSA), with imperatives in property development and have inspired sponsorship from Old Mutual Property, is set to launch management are extremely important, as are the a new PILOT Socio-Economic Category (SEC) for environmental issues,” says Old Mutual Property CEOtransformation towards Green Star SA rating tools, which aims to recognise Peter Levett. “This aligns with Old Mutual's dedication 'greener' practices in the socio-economic achievements of green building to being leaders in environmental, social and the property industry, projects. governance matters in all its investment activities.” we hope that this Socio-Economic The new PILOT SEC will be launched at the GBCSA's A diverse Technical Working Group of 18 people Category will annual convention in Cape Town on 17th October spanning public and private sectors worked alongside encourage a mindset 2013. Registered green buildings will be invited to test the appointed consultants, Aurecon, to help develop change around the it in PILOT phase for at least 12 months, after which it benchmark metrics and assessment measures for the socio-economic will be updated and launched as a Version 1 Category. new Socio-Economic credits. A 10-person peer review upliftment potential of Projects that achieve a rating for the SEC PILOT will committee also contributed their expert views. building projects,” get additional recognition for this, alongside their says GBCSA CEO Green Star SArating. Development of this category has taken place in an Brian Wilkinson. international context, as the need to introduce socio- Moving beyond the traditional 'green' assessment economic factors into green building rating systems criteria for buildings, the GBCSA views the inclusion of has been recognized globally. On behalf of the World social and economic factors as important to address Green Building Council, the GBCSA has also led the broader sustainability issues, which are particularly creation of an 'International Framework', which can be relevant for South Africa and other developing adapted for local use in other developing countries. countries. Societal challenges such as poverty, This resource document was informed by a 15-strong unemployment, lack of education and skills, and poor multi-country advisory panel, including views from the health can all be addressed, to some degree, through international green building community, and was also the process of designing and constructing green funded by Old Mutual Property. buildings. “These credits address some of the burning issues South Africa's SEC will have seven possible credits facing developing countries worldwide. They have under Green Star SA. These focus on: employment typically not been dealt with by existing rating tools, creation; economic opportunity; skills development but are an important part of the broader concept of and training; community benefit; empowerment; sustainability. Much interest has been expressed and safety & health; and mixed income housing. we're hoping that the market will respond favourably,” says Bruce Kerswill, GBCSA Non-Executive Chair, “As an organisation committed to responsible and initiator of this project. business practice, we are proud to be associated with22

Landini AssociatesRight up front, Mark Landini states categorically that prioritise the practical aspects of the projects they Mark Landini is founderhe is a commercial artist, meaning that commercial work on – the structural and budgetary aspects, not and Creative Director ofimperatives precede art in importance. just the pretty looks. As proof of the effectiveness of Sydney-based Landini the work, he cites one recent revamp of a food retail Associates, a leadingThis is not an architect’s practice. “We work in brand, chain where the makeover increased turnover design house. Theand in corporate identity, but most people know us as through the shops from $1 million per week to $1.4 company does projectsdesigners,” he explains. These are people in the million. “That’s why people pay us. Don’t forget I also around the world,know, too – some of the biggest and best known used to be a retailer – when I worked at Conran, producing practical – asnames in retailing including Selfridge’s (the unique which was owned by the group that had Habitat and well as aestheticallyLondon department store for which the company is Mothercare and other chains.” He was Creative pleasing – work forabout to redesign the famed Food Hall), Loblaws Director of the design group which had responsibility clients in customer facing(Canada’s dominant supermarket force), Amore for designing the stores themselves as well as the businesses such as retail,Pacific’s (upmarket boutiques in Seoul) and Jones product that went into the shops, the catalogues that the hospitality industrythe Grocer (internationally) as well as domestic were sent to consumers to entice them into the and related fields such asstalwarts such as Coles and Westpac and global shops, the advertising and even the buildings property developmentbrands including Volvo and Hilton. themselves. In that context the all-in approach is and service industries. immediately understandable. “You quickly learn notMark hails from the UK and holds impeccable to do things that are superficial and frivolous.”credentials – Conran Design Group, where he wasCreative Director, and Fitch. He joined the latter LandiniAssociates does a lot of work for Hilton, muchwhen it had fifteen staff and left when it was at 600 of it directly for building owners (most of the hoteland the only publicly listed design agency in the group’s properties are locally managed). “So veryworld. Arriving in Australia as Europe was hit by often our fees are being paid by the developer, andrecession, his intention was to start a business with a they push us very strongly,” Mark explains. “We havepartner. First, he visited a bottle shop for some wine a reputation for being able to punch above our weightand took an instant dislike to the ambience, writing a when it comes to cost and they love us for it. Weletter of complaint to the company’s Managing manage to do things on really tight budgets –Director. sometimes perhaps a quarter of what their competitors are spending on a like-for-like basis.”Aweek later, the company – a major chain – engaged Once – just once, says Mark with a tinge of regret –him to redesign the whole set of shops and the first to has a client complained that he was not spendingbe refitted was Mark’s ‘local’; the extremely enough money on a project. That was a client insuccessful design he came up with remains the basis France who had just come from LVMH andfor the stores some twenty years later. “It was an purchased Lanvin and required a money-is-no-incredible piece of luck,” says Mark, of the design object approach.firm’s origins. In general, you may be assured that the companyToday, it helps that the clients tend to know each favours function above form: it needs to work first,other – for example, Selfridge’s is owned by a major and then look good. “I am a modernist, not a post-shareholder in Loblaws. Generally, it’s word of modernist. We are all in search of something that ismouth, rather than letters of complaint, that get Mark as simple as possible but which will last. First, it hasand his team the business. “In many cases people to work.” In this context, Mark and his team are ablecome to us because they have seen the work we to frequently overturn the conventional wisdom of thehave done for someone else, somewhere else in the store refit every three to five years; many of Landini’sworld, and liked it,” Mark says. refits and designs (Coles supermarkets, for example) that are still in place are well beyond aIt was simply unknown at the beginning for a design decade – some nearing two decades – old, with onlycompany to touch every part of the business. minor tweaks to keep them fresh.“Normally, it would be the advertising company thatdoes the graphics, or the merchandising or whatever, It is vital to start with a design that is hard-wearingbut we did everything.” In Australia it remains and long-lasting, not fragile and trendy. Style shouldunusual to offer the full palette of design expertise in be classic. “If you do it sensibly, and do somethinga single agency, although, says Mark, it is the norm in that is not of the moment, then it should last. GoodEurope. “It’s not really in their blood – their DNA. But design lasts forever. I sit on chairs that weresince leaving college, I had never worked for a designed fifty years ago that don’t need redesigning.”company that did not integrate every design skill. For It’s about getting it right first time. Sometimes theme it is just the way designers work, but in Australia I client can be its own worst enemy, redrafting strategyhave yet to find anyone with such a comprehensive constantly and forking out for a new identity to go withrange as ours.” it (Mark cites the financial sector as particularly bad in this respect).Nevertheless, he finds it easier to work in Australiathan on his trips back to the UK, where there is more Despite their relative lack of familiarity with the ‘all-in’of a corporate game and brinkmanship and you have approach to design, Australian companies are betterto watch what you say and to whom. “InAustralia they placed than clients elsewhere to take advantage oftake you at face value – as they do in Canada, which I the talents of Landini Associates, says Mark, nottend to regard as a ‘cold-climateAustralia’ – culturally least because, “they are so much more open-they are just so similar.” minded, more responsive to new things than people from a lot of countries that are more steeped inBeing a commercial artist means that Mark and his history. It is much easier to do modern work here thanteam of twenty designers need to continually in Europe, for example.” 23

Instant Waste Management Instant Waste Instant Waste Management is the largest privately over 200,000 tons of mixed C&D waste each year. It Management doesn’t owned waste management and recycling company in boasts half a kilometre worth of conveyor line and the just manage waste – Western Australia. The family run business is latest in recycling technology, including a rotating predominately focused on the construction and electromagnet, a floatation tank, a sand oscillation the company demolition industries and delivers a wide range of screen, and one of the largest shredders that has ever maximises recycling services, from waste collections and recycling all the been imported into the Western Australian recycling way through to fully integrated waste collection industry. These machines are able to extract a and resource contracts for both the private and public sectors. remarkable variety of materials from the construction regeneration and demolition waste including sand, wood, metals,opportunities. “We are The company serves Perth and the surrounding north brick, light materials, and concrete. Furthermore, leaders in the west and south west regions of Western Australia with many of these recovered materials will eventually be environmental space an extensive fleet of vehicles, a comprehensive range returned to the Western Australian constructionin regards to recycling of bins, and a brand new, state of the art Material industry. For instance, the metal that the waste rather than Recovery Facility. electromagnet removes will be shipped away for landfilling it,” says Focused on Recycling further processing, then used as reinforcement inside State Resource the state’s concrete structures. The sand that theDevelopment Manager These efforts are particularly important because facility recovers is put to a particularly good use, since Jake Hickey. The Western Australia’s recycling rates lag behind the rest this building material is remarkably scarce in Western company is at the of the country quite dramatically. “We are the worst Australia. “We live on the edge of the desert, but it is leading edge of mainland state for recycling and we produce the most quite ironic that we are actually five million tons short providing sustainable waste per capita,” Mr Hickey reports. “So we are really every year of sand that we need to build in WA,” Mrsolutions for recycling behind the eight ball in that.” In fact, “as a state, Hickey reports. Sand recovered by Instant Waste construction waste Western Australia only recycles approximately 30 per Management will go on to be used as a fill material and is involved in cent of its construction demolition waste.” The team underneath housing slabs. numerous non-profits wants to see its state achieve the same level of and associations that responsible waste management that other regions of The Material Recovery Facility’s complex processes promote responsible Australia have reached. “We really want to bring WA and high level of waste recovery are new to Western waste management. closer to the Eastern States’ recycling targets,” Mr Australia. “We are following European trends,” MrThe team even advises Hickey explains. Hickey explains. “We are leading the way.” In fact, the government on much of the facility’s design is a closely guarded recycling solutions. Part of the problem, he believes, is the fact that secret – but the team still wants to educate the industry Western Australia does not have the same level of and the public about its forward leaning facility and taxation on landfill materials as most other states do. what it can achieve. In fact, Instant Waste The landfill levy is “$12.00 to $25.00 approximately Management gives tours of its Material Recovery per ton in WA, whereas in the eastern states it well Facility and employs Green Smart professionals to exceeds $100 a ton. We can see the government provide educational presentations. “We’ve had over using that tax to encourage the industry to recycle 700 key industry stakeholders go through our viewing more by increasing that levy in the short term.” Indeed, balcony,” Mr Hickey reports, including two different Mr Hickey says that the landfill levy is likely to soon be Ministers for the Environment. “We are basically raised in WesternAustralia. “We are expecting there to teaching people that when you put it in the bin it be increases in the near future on the cost of landfill in doesn’t just disappear off into a landfill,” Mr Hickey WA in order to drive people toward recycling. Industry explains. “It comes to this state of the art facility.” is doing its best but government is looking to step in.” And, when government steps in, Instant Waste The company is also hosting 140 university students Management will be able to provide substantial cost this month. The students are learning about savings to the construction and demolition industry. sustainable home design and a visit to the facility is an Material Recovery Facility ideal teaching tool because future designers need to be keenly aware of minimising waste. “Poor design in Instant Waste Management has recently opened a the industry has actually contributed to substantial leading edge Material Recovery Facility to better waste being produced. It is always better to try and serve its customers. “It is the first fully integrated, state design out excess waste in the beginning, rather than of the art construction and demolition material producing too much.” recovery facility in WA,” Mr Hickey reports. The company has invested around $15 million into the Instant Waste Management also has an online video project over the last two years and is now reaping the of the facility in action so everyone can get a firsthand benefits. look at how waste recovery works. The team placed a camera in a giant Styrofoam cube to create the Perhaps best of all, the total recovery facility can footage. “We just let it go through the conveyor lines,” recycle between 80 to 90 per cent of construction Mr Hickey says, likening the experience to a “rubbish demolition waste in a single skip bin system. “That is roller coaster.” By shooting video on the conveyor belt, really a very critical factor,” Mr Hickey points out. the company is able to educate the public while still “There is no need to source separate anymore.” Until protecting its intellectual property. “A lot of people now, it was best practice to sort waste onsite, but this were asking if they could take pictures,” Mr Hickey solution never worked very well. “The subcontractors recalls, but this posed an obvious risk to trade secrets. and the builders just didn’t do it,” Mr Hickey admits. “By putting the camera on the conveyor lines and then “Nobody would. Behaviour change was difficult to using stop motion speeded up footage, [viewers] can’t implement and it was costly as well.” tell the angles and the speeds of the conveyors and they don’t get to see any of the sensitive parts of our The Material Recovery Facility can treat and process facility.”24

Successful businesses need to embrace the“sustainability revolution”People, Planet, Profit Convention, Nedbank has long recognised the We live in a time ofIt is accepted that we can only sustain our livelihoods importance of sustainability and is at the forefront of unparalleled change andwith new thinking, new behaviours, and new focuses. the 'green' revolution,” says Frank Berkeley, for businesses thisDoing good is no longer a nice to have, but a must do Managing Executive Nedbank Corporate Property means facing challengesand social and environmental issues are more Finance. As a group, the bank has a highly integrated that are more significantimportant than ever. Enter the triple bottom line approach that includes social, environmental, and complex than ever –aconcept of “People, Planet, Profit” – which is about cultural and economic sustainability. We not only are vulnerable economy andmoving the issues of sustainability from the fringes to significantly involved in financing and occupying a global warming, povertythe heart of business. It demands that business number of developments that speak to this and scarcity of naturalleaders rethink fundamental strategic questions and interconnected mindset, but are constantly driving resources, a populationconsider new values and criteria for measuring this approach to facilitate products and services such explosion and a lack oforganizational success by considering three factors: as the Green Savings Bond, Renewable Energy confidence and trust ineconomic, ecological, and social. For businesses, Independent Power Programme (REIPP)- that is businesses, withthey represent opportunity, operational improvement aimed at reducing South Africa's reliance on coal- consumers perceivingand competitive advantage. based power and energy generation, while lowering them to be greedy and the national carbon footprint - and a number of irresponsible.A self-confessed environmental capitalist collaborations,' adds Berkeley.“Globally boardrooms are being held to account fortheir sustainability, ethics and social contribution,” Customers are setting the pacesays Jason Drew, an entrepreneur, passionate Customers are becoming increasingly aware andenvironmentalist and visionary who advocates for demanding sustainable business partners andthe sustainability revolution. Drew, a self-confessed products1; and with skills shortages being an'environmental capitalist', who will be one of the ongoing challenge to business success, talentkeynotes at the imminent Green Building Council attraction needs to also be a priority. Research doneSouth Africa Convention, happening at the CTICC by PriceWaterHouseCoopers2 shows thatfrom 16 – 18 October,argues that sustainability has sustainability is a key concern when candidates areto have an economic impact and moreover, an deciding where they want to work, and that it's alsoeconomic reward, if it is to strike a chord with a global one of the issues employees consider when decidingaudience. He believes that whilst capitalism may whether to remain with a company or movehave caused many of the issues we face - it may be on.“Focusing on sustainability will be a majorthe only tool we have that is strong enough to fix the differentiator for a business's success in the future.problems.“As we move out of the era of the industrial Ultimately, it will contribute to the long-term survivalrevolution and into the sustainability revolution, of an organization and serve to reshape the way wecapitalists and environmentalists will become natural do business,” says Brian Wilkinson, CEO of thebedfellows, not the adversaries they once were,” Green Building Council South Africa. There is moreadvises Drew. to creating a sustainable business than recycling, turning off a light switch or donating money to anThe green revolution ecological charity. Wilkinson advises that“We are shifting from one period to another and those responsible businesses need to see what impactwho get it, get it,” says Drew. “For example, their organisation has on the environment and whatNedbank in South Africa, which now calls itself the they can do to lessen the negative impacts and toGreen Bank, and the Cooperative Society in the UK better manage the consequences.have emerged as ethical, green-focused bankinginstitutions.”“As the primary sponsors of the Green Building 25

Ford & Doonan Air Conditioning SystemsFord & Doonan was one of the Who doesn’t love to step inside an air conditioned controls had the ability to turn off the air flow to areas of first air conditioning space during a hot Australian summer? Over the the house not being used, but with modern Wi-Fi years, climate control has become a part of our lives technology, the sky is the limit. “Today’s Facebook companies in Western as to be comfortable is well worth the expense. Air generation wants to be able to control everything from Australia to achieve such conditioning units keep every modern building, plane, their smartphones,” says Cameron. “We like to allow success with three company train and automobile comfortable, and Ford & Doonan them to do that.” stores and, beginning about has been designing and installing air conditioning twelve years ago, the start of systems for the past twenty-eight years. Whatever the customer wants installed to control their system, Ford & Doonan can definitely provide. For its franchise stores. Ford & Doonan was founded by Andrew Ford and Kyle installation work, the company uses a mixture of Doonan, who had worked previously as a two man experienced tradesmen; some are directly employed contracting team. At the time they decided to form the by the company and others are subcontractors. All company, air conditioning wasn’t as common as it has have had criminal record checks and all have to since become and the designs not nearly as comply with the company’s quality assurance sophisticated. The two recognised the need for a retail procedures both during and after an installation. This outlet offering air conditioning products and also makes certain that all installations are installation – and business quickly boomed. “They standardised simplifying future maintenance work. started with one store in West Perth and slowly expanded, winning several business awards along the “We generally have no problem with paying better way,” explains Cameron Yates, Director and owner of wages or paying for more training so that we can have the Mandurah branch of the company. better customer service. This is one of the ways that we can guarantee better service.” Customer service is “That first franchise store was my store down here in one aspect that the company prides itself on. Mandurah, Australia. It was run for two years by its previous owner, and then I bought it ten years ago,” Unlike companies that mainly focus on installation, says Cameron. “Since then, several other franchise Ford & Doonan has strong after-hours service and stores have been opened in other locations; there are scheduled maintenance packages. This is how the now eight stores.” team can ensure that no customer will be inconvenienced. If there is a problem, all a customer Cameron Yates decided to buy his branch because he should have to do is pick up the phone and call the was intrigued by the excellent business model, and all same company that installed the system. of the systems were in place for an optimal operation. “I saw a lot of potential for growth,” he says. “The Most people can’t live comfortably without their air company was very well established and marketed.” conditioning units, especially with the rising When compared to other companies in the same temperatures being felt across the country. When sector of the market, the parent company profile is something goes wrong, especially on a day where it much larger, making for instant brand awareness seems like the siding is going to melt off of the house, a among clients. repair team can be dispatched at a moment’s notice to make sure that a unit isn’t down for long. Ford & Doonan handles predominantly residential contracts, delivering air conditioning system design, Because each branch of Ford & Doonan is service, installation and maintenance. The company independently owned, any one customer could very also does a lot of commercial work and, despite the well deal directly with the owner of the franchise. “We tough economical times that have been affecting the are owner operated; that’s what really makes us construction sector, is looking to do more in the better,” says Cameron. It is the best of both worlds, coming months. Recently, in its new commercial really; the brand and buying power of WA’s largest air division, the company started taking on projects for conditioning company, and the owner / operator schools and other commercial fitouts. service and care levels. “We can handle anything from a single room right At Cameron’s branch, most of the employees in the through to a large scale commercial project,” explains customer service department are former tradies with Cameron. “After we install a system, we can handle many years of experience. The company prides itself people’s preventative and breakdown maintenance.” that even customers who know little about air Before any system is turned on, it is always inspected conditioning can get exactly what they need and that to ensure that everything has been done as well as it every system can be customized to suit the can be. customer’s specific needs. The system can be planned via a home appointment or at the company’s Most homeowners in Western Australia are now fully operational showroom. installing central (ducted) air conditioning. Consumers are also becoming more discerning about what control “We’re not just a warehouse,” says Cameron. “We options are installed in their homes. Some prefer to have fully working machines on display; my showroom have a unit operate as efficient as possible while has glass ceilings installed in the front showroom so others want controls with timers that can turn the that people can come in and take a look at the full system off while occupants are at work and back on runnings of the system so that they aren’t just ten minutes before they enter the door. Still others speculating on what’s going to go on their roof.” prefer a control unit that allows them to operate the system via a smartphone application. In years past,26



ControlworksControlworks uses the Many people working in offices often have no idea who developing projects from concept to completion whileNiagara platform from or what controls the climate, turns the lights on and off adhering to all safety, quality and environmental or controls who gets to enter the building. That’s the standards. “We are heavily customer-oriented to software company job of companies like Controlworks. meeting their expectations,” Mr Rouse explains. Tridium. By operating “We’re not a massive company compared to Since 2003, Controlworks has been a leader in competitors, but that gives us the ability to tailor on the Niagara building automation and energy management custom-developed solutions for our clients.” framework, it has solutions for clients. The company provides services to customers throughout Australia and New Zealand. The Niagara platform gives the company the ability to become one of From its headquarters in Sydney, the company integrate, centralise, manage and control different Australia’s largest provides building automation services for a number of business systems such as temperature, humidity, Certified Systems sectors including education, research, healthcare, ventilation, security and energy in any size building industry, retail, and for buildings from offices, hotels and environment. By adapting the software platform Integrators (SIs). and apartments to leisure facilities. through Controlworks, customers can reduce Niagara can be development time and costs while using less energy managed and Project and Sales Director Greg Rouse spoke on and lowering operating expenses in their facilities. Controlwork’s success. “We are focused on keeping controlled over a good relationships with our clients,” Mr Rouse said, Another vendor Controlworks works with is Aircuity. standard internet adding, “We are able to quickly bring a solution to our Aircuity is a leading airside efficiency company customers. ‘No’ is not an answer.” providing building owners with sustained energy connection and savings by optimising ventilation rates through its integrates different Specialising in systems integration, Controlworks is intelligent measurement solutions and ensuring systems and devices responsible for the design, commissioning and building performance through Aircuity Advisor onto one platform. installation of products that control the HVAC, lighting, Services. By combining real-time sensing and access control, energy management and other continuous analysis of indoor environments, the building systems. company has helped commercial, institutional and lab building owners lower operating costs, improve safety The company provides training for building and become more energy efficient. management and control systems projects and operates multiple systems on one network from a The company also operates with KNX open protocol single software platform. Data from those systems is systems for building control and automation assimilated and converted into information that that applications across commercial and industrial market enhances efficiency, comfort and wellbeing for segments. The system is used for different building occupants and owners. applications such as lighting control, façade automation (for blinds and windows), HVAC controls, One service Controlworks specialises in is energy energy metering, security and monitoring, audio- management. The company provides tools for visual control and interfacing, as well as IP building managers and owners to collect data from connectivity and remote access. multiple sources so they can create reports and profiles and see what trends are occurring in a Controlworks provides these quality energy and building’s performance. Controlworks creates a facility management services to educational and central repository to collate, validate and store data research institutions, data centres, healthcare from a number of systems. facilities, industrial facilities, office buildings, shopping centres, hotels, sporting arenas, and cultural facilities. To support the building and energy management Some upcoming projects the team is working on functions, Controlworks performs scheduled include data centre expansions in Sydney and preventive maintenance activities for clients as well as Melbourne. “We have recently started contracts with on-call service for new and existing installations to data centres for companies such as Metronode,” says sustain the performance of a building and reduce the Mr Rouse. incidence and costs of equipment failure and repairs. The company also offers a range of virtual monitoring, Another customer is Fujitsu, which operates data technical maintenance, energy efficiency and centres throughout Australia, (consisting of 15,000 operational support services including: square meters of total floor space) with its locations in Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria and Western - Training Australia. Fujitsu’s data centre service includes uninterrupted facility management, infrastructure - Upgrade notification and installation for hardware support with redundant and failover systems, internal and software and external cable pathways, continuous security controls, and a support hotline staffed day and night by - Database backups site operators. Controlworks also monitors the HVAC equipment for Fujitsu as well as fire trip alarms, - Software configuration switchboard multi-function meters, main switchboard fault and condition statuses and monitoring of units.All - Routine re-calibration BMCS data is backed up on dual redundant servers utilising high fault tolerance and high-availability - Energy audits, remote energy monitoring and software ensuring operating equipment runs twenty- performance contracting four hours a day, all year. - Recommissioning and retrofits on existing systems - Emergency repairs - Environmental management systems for car parks Controlworks is dedicated to designing solutions and28

Cadwell Construction & InteriorsSince its inception in 2003, Cadwell Construction & the program.” In particular, though theInteriors has been steadily building a broad portfolio, company caters to aspecialising in education, healthcare, industrial, On every project, a Cadwell foreman is available on- broad range of industries,office and hospital fit-out and refurbishment projects. site – to ensure timeline adherence, quality of Cadwell has completed workmanship, sub-contractor management, and to over six hundredIn this way, Cadwell Construction & Interiors are true answer any questions or concerns raised by the commercial fit-out andexperts in the healthcare space. Through the client – for the duration of the project. “Our foreman construction projectscompany’s hard-won experience within the industry, on site policy is in stark contrast to industry norms worth over $60 million – ait is effectively able to eliminate risk on every project, where foremen flit from job to job making it very significant portion ofleading to exceptional quality outcomes for its clients difficult to get hold of them in case of issues,” which came from withindelivered consistently within pre-established time explains Mr Jensen. “And yes, this does add to our the healthcare industry,frames and budgets. costs, but it aligns to our absolute commitment to ranging from Hospital and quality and a job well done.” Operating Theatres to“Our level of quality and our level of service sets us Office Complexes, Bloodapart within the industry,” shares Soren Jensen, The company also works closely with a very select Bank Laboratories andManaging Director for Cadwell, in a recent interview roster of subcontractors to ensure a comprehensive Professional Soundwith us. “We work very closely with our clients to experience for its clients on even the most complex Testing rooms.achieve positive outcomes for them and for projects. Sub-contractors, explains Mr Jensen, arestakeholders. We focus on quality, certainly on time, the key factor in the success – or failure – of a project,and on working through to very tight deadlines within which is why he says the company only uses sub-budget.” contractors with whom it has developed long standing relationships and who are known to meetAs a financially stable company, Mr Jensen says that quality standards and who deliver on time andCadwell has been able to offer its clients a certain budget. New sub-contractors are put through a“peace of mind’ – which has also gone a long way in rigorous selection and quality evaluation processbuilding long term industry relationships. whereby their previous work, financial records andFurthermore, the company does not require any ‘up accreditations are assessed in depth by the Cadwellfront’ fees or hidden charges and always takes the team.time to sit together with clients prior to thecommencement of each project to ensure that “Effective communication between builder, architectpayment terms are agreed upon. and clients is vital to the successful completion of a project,” asserts Mr Jensen. “Every job will haveThroughout the process of each project, Cadwell issues – it’s the nature of the beast – but it’s how youprovides periodic progress updates, which handle these issues that make all the difference todemonstrate, in a high level of detail, the percentage stress levels for all concerned! As such, our clientscompleteness in all areas of work. Through this constantly positively comment on our level ofprocess, clients are able to see that they are only proactive communication. If we come across anever paying for actual work that has been completed issue (potential or real), we take immediate steps toand not just pie-in-the-sky promises. “And in our communicate to the relevant parties be they theexperience, by the time the actual payment is due, architects or client’s project managers.”these levels of quality have been well and trulyexceeded,” adds Mr Jensen. In general, the company is always looking to improve upon its systems to ensure that they assist inThe company pays particular attention to the way in delivering exceptional quality – especially withwhich its representatives work together with clients regards to improvements where safety andto exceed expectations. “We have a very proactive environmental concerns are addressed – two areasapproach to solving any site or design issues,” of particular importance within the healthcareexplains Mr Jensen. “We notify clients of any industry. “We are always looking at ways ofchanges to the original plan and we obviously work to minimising dust in the air and noise, specificallyan overall construction program. We also break that within healthcare environments where we are alwaysdown so that we can communicate with our clients using the latest technologies or innovations to comeevery week and every day to let them know what will up with smarter ways of doing things – nottake place each day and what type of interruptions necessarily conventional or faster ways, but wayscould be expected, to ensure that that fits with their which will facilitate a better project for the client withbusiness requirements for that day, and if it doesn’t, less interruption or inconvenience.”we will reshuffle or reschedule to carry out noisy orshut-down work to fit in with their business Cadwell is a member of the Green Building Council ofrequirements.” Australia, ensuring that sustainable practices are at the forefront of each and every project. Cadwell isBy working this closely with clients, the Cadwell team also an active member of Master Builders Australia,is able to immediately flag any design issues, which and, as many of its projects are completed inare then addressed with appropriate and efficient sensitive areas such as health and education, thealternatives. “Rather than throw our hands in the air company is also a member of the Infection Controlto say that it will cost more and take longer, we Association of NSW. The company is ISO accreditedgenerally will find a cost-neutral solution to ensure to AS9001, AS4801, and AS14001 standards for itsthat we can move forward to not impact the budget or quality integrated management systems. 29

Australian Vinyls Corporation Australian Vinyls It is unusual for a manufacturer of raw materials to advantages. Aluminium is also produced using Corporation, campaign to consumers. But when the situation is so government subsidies.” Australian Vinyls is working unclear and the equation so complex, action is called with the Vinyl Council of Australia on establishing an Australia’s leading for. In this case we are talking about the pros and cons industry Code of Practice and proper local standards manufacturer and of various materials for construction – notably piping for PVC window profiles. supplier of polyvinyl and window frames. chloride (PVC) resin Key to the company’s education initiative was the and wood-plastic However, competition between materials is fierce and emergence of PVC as being good from an a lot of people underestimate the difference in environmental point of view, with the Green Star composites, is performance between PVC and polyethylene (PE). award for best practice by the Green Building Council embarking on an The former’s reputation took a heavy blow, especially of Australia (see sidebar for more). Mr Jones sees thiseducational program to in Europe, when Greenpeace decided to argue for the credential as crucial to the future of the industry. try to put across the abolition of chlorine, a gas which occurs naturally. virtues of PVC— Chlorine, or chloride (its ionized state) is the ‘c’ in PVC. While Australian Vinyls does not produce pipe, only particularly in such the resins for others to manufacture, it does have its According to Australian Vinyls’ Market Development own brand of flooring – ModWood. This is a wood applications as Manager Nigel Jones, “PVC uses up around 40 per composite that looks and feels like natural timber, but building and cent of the world’s chlorine, as chloride, and if it didn’t, requires none of the maintenance of traditional woods. we would have to think up an alternative way of infrastructure. dealing with it.” ModWood is manufactured mainly from recycled Essentially, the products, including plastics (PE sourced mainly from company produces The company’s customers were not active enough used milk containers) and wood flour (from used PVC resin, which is themselves in trying to get the market to understand building timber, such as offcuts), making it the difference between materials, which is why the environmentally friendly. The precise details of the mix then used by Australian Vinyls team decided to weigh in itself. Pipe are a trade secret, but the product is roughly a 50-50 manufacturers across producers have in any case had a lean time in recent mix of wood and plastic, of which more than 80 per years – following the trends in their main industry: cent of the latter and all of the former are recycled. At the country to make construction. “What might have been a lifeline was the this kind of proportion, the case for ModWood’s electric cable evolution of the coal seam gas market, but most of that environmental credentials is even stronger than the piping has been done in PE,” explains Mr Jones. “The product itself, given the concern over forest insulation, packaging, major plastic pipe producers manufacture both PVC sustainability both at home and abroad. Many of the floor coverings and and PE pipe, so have been able to focus on PE for coal world’s woodchips and a lot of timber come from automotive seam gas. We thought we could take the initiative and places such as Indonesia, where logging is done with components, as well try to get something done about growing the PVC minimal supervision and in many cases illegally. What as piping for liquids market by launching our ‘Think Pipes. Think PVC’ better way to offset this worry than to use almost and gas. Pipe is not campaign.” Pipe accounts for around 75 per cent of all entirely recycled product? well-suited to import PVC resin used inAustralia. ModWood uses home-grown technology based on the because of its relative Some education has also been required to point out latest advances in additives for the wood-plastic bulk, so local the performance differences between PVC and PE in, industry from all over the world. These additives are for example, piping applications. A homeowner is thoroughly tested in Australian Vinyls’ laboratory toproduction is relatively likely to simply request “plastic,” and a plumber may ensure the result is a safe, environmentally friendly, healthy. just use whatever is at hand. In commercial and world-class product. The material is suitable for high- infrastructure applications, of course, there is greater traffic areas where wear can be a problem with awareness. Mr Jones travels the country lecturing on conventional timbers, and for in- or outdoors. the advantages of PVC – not least of which is that it is user-friendly. “At the end of the day, if everything is For the builder, there are numerous advantages – no taken into account, it is also usually the most cost warping, knots or bowed lengths. Unlike timber, effective,” he adds. ModWood actually comes with a warranty (10 years in residential, seven years in commercial applications). In non-pipe applications PVC also has distinct For an architect, ModWood offers “long-life performance advantages. Mr Jones describes the contemporary colourways and profiles that retain their benefits in cabling (insulation). He also cites window designer’s intent for years, with virtually no frames – in particular, double glazing – as an example. maintenance.” Mr Jones says, “homeowners will While careful not to call installers unscrupulous, he appreciate the simple fact that it needs almost no believes many window suppliers fail to give their maintenance beyond sweeping the leaves off with a customers the optimum product for their home. broom each autumn – no staining, no sanding. There Aluminium frames may be cheap but their thermal is a small colour fade in the first six months – performance is far inferior to that of plastics. PVC accounted for by the natural process of the timber comes at a price premium, but only compared to element in the product – but after that time there is no aluminium with a narrow gap between the panes. If further change in coloration. It is virtually impervious to you want an efficient thermal break aluminium frame, termites too.” you will need a plastic insert between two sections of extruded metal. Even then, aluminium will not match The latest news is that the ModWood range now has a the thermal performance of PVC. version that can be used in areas prone to bushfires. Flame Shield is a specially formulated board with a fire Mr Jones explains that, “PVC has distinct energy- retardant additive included. Until now, decking board saving propensity by comparison with metal, not only options for bushfire-prone areas were limited. Now in terms of reducing consumption in the home. Flame Shield can be used in BAL-12.5, BAL-19, BAL- Aluminium requires seven times as much energy to 29 and BAL-40 areas to give a traditional timber produce. The carbon footprint is way higher; when it decking look and feel. comes to the environmental side, PVC has many30

Barlow IndustriesBarlow Industries Ltd works to ensure customer We spoke recently with Mr John Uthmann, CEO of Barlow is part of thesatisfaction by supplying high quality, world-class PICSA, during a time of transition in which Barlow Comcraft Group, a multi-ASNZ standard steel products – providing excellent Industries’ Manager of the last three years, Jim national companysolutions for customers across a range of industry Jenkins, is moving on to new opportunities. It is clear represented in Australia,sectors in Papua New Guinea. that Mr Uthmann is excited about the quality of the Singapore, Africa, PapuaBarlow provides merchant steel and rolled steel products that the company offers and what its New Guinea, and beyond.products to the construction industry in Papua New success means for its employees and the company For more than threeGuinea, supplying the best steel products available as a whole. decades this companyincluding products to support roofing, gutters, “Quality, service, and customer support are our has been involved in thebuilding frames, as well as reinforcing steel and strengths,” says Mr Uthmann. “If there’s a high rise manufacture, trading andmesh – right down to chain mesh and security being built, we can provide the reinforcing steel in the distribution of qualityfencing. The company endeavours to provide a initial stages of the earthworks with providing, steel goods, offeringdiverse range of products to suit the needs of bending, and processing the steel right up until we plumbers, builders andbuilders from the ground up, quite literally. put a roof and gutter on top of that building,” he other trades access to topPapua New Guinea, home to Barlow Industries, is explains. Mr Uthmann goes on to say that the quality across manyincredibly culturally diverse, especially for a region of company strives to meet the needs of the contractor continentsits size. It is made up of less than seven million from the very beginning, and right through to thepeople, who between them speak more than 800 completion of the building process.distinct languages. Much of the nation is sparsely Speaking of the building industry in Papua Newinhabited, including vast expanses of jungle and Guinea more broadly, Mr Uthmann recognises amountainous regions which steward many small, recent boom in the industry due to the liquefiedtraditional rural communities. These areas are home natural gas (LNG) pipeline project in the nation,to thousands of unidentified plant and animal which has ignited a wave of housing,species. In fact, fewer than twenty per cent of the accommodations, and factory building projects. Hepeople of Papua New Guinea reside in the country’s says, “We’re going through the biggest boom thatlargest urban centres, Port Moresby being the PNG’s ever seen in construction, which is reachingcapital. its plateau.” Barlow currently has a series of largeWith such a strong culture of tradition, many Papua ongoing construction projects in the region, and isNew Guineans practice subsistence farming and taking advantage of the opportunities Papua Newhave little access to academic opportunities. The Guinea has to offer.diversity of Papua New Guinea is one of its great Indeed, the company can ensure its customers ofstrengths, but also one of the impediments to high quality products that will stand the test of time:commercial and industrial development, as many “We only stock ASNZ standard steel to provide aareas lack the infrastructure to support industry and surety to the building industry that we conform withsettlement, or are themselves virtually inaccessible. anything that they have in place, from architects toOf course, this absence presents opportunities, and Australian standards in place for the buildingmany infrastructure and other developments are industry,” shares Mr Uthmann – which is important,presently in the works by numerous conscientious as industry in Papua New Guinea begins to moveoperators throughout the country. For its part, Barlow away from cheaper, lower quality imported steel andIndustries provides meaningful employment for more toward the best, world-class products available.than one hundred citizens of Papua New Guinea, “We want to bring PNG to Australian index standardsencouraging the development of valuable trade so that they conform with the rest of the world. We’reskills. moving away from the cheaper import steel andPapua New Guinea has become one of the fastest we’re making sure that we have good solid recordinggrowing economies in the world, ranking as the sixth and backup in the quality of our products.”fastest growing, and opportunities in mining, forestry, Mr Uthmann attributes much of this success not onlyconstruction, and other sectors have created the to the high quality of products the company provides,perfect environment for major growth and social and but also to the lasting relationships it has been able toeconomic development. forge. Being situated on an island, Barlow IndustriesThe country has varied regions, such as the New wisely makes sure to hold a great deal of stock to beGuinea Highlands, which runs the length of the able to meet the demands of customers. Theisland, while the lowlands are dominated by dense company also prides itself on the timely, meaningfulforests and wetland areas. Due to the challenging support it can provide customers. “We offer veryterrain of the nation, many areas are only accessible good technical support and technical advice inby air transport. Papua New Guinea is a land rich in grades and types of steel required for certainnatural resources, with minerals, forest products, projects, which customers come to expect from us.”tuna, and coffee making up the bulk of the nation’s To accommodate demand for its products, Barlowexport. That said, the rugged and varied environment Industries has invested in a great deal of newhas tended to slow further potential growth. machinery and workspace, building a new factory atDespite the challenges that Papua New Guinea the Barlow complex and new equipment tofaces, since 2008 the nation has continued to grow accommodate work in the roll-forming sector, sucheconomically, at a rate as high as nine per cent as panel rib and corrugated iron. “The expansion andannually, weathering the global financial crisis of that development done by Jim Jenkins to lift the companytime better than many other nations. This economic in three years to be the major supplier in these areasgrowth is largely attributed to the continued strength is a credit to the incredible work he has done,” saysof commodity prices in not only the mining sector, but Mr Uthmann. “The factory and its facilities are nowto a lesser degree in agriculture. world class.”Most of the largest centres in Papua New Guinea are Barlow Industries expects continued growth in thesituated on the eastern half of the Island of New future, with a focus on quality products, excellentGuinea, where Port Moresby and Lae, the country’s service, and lasting relationships in the growingsecond largest city, are located. This makes the area construction industry in Papua New Guinea.one of the nation’s most important centres of tradeand commerce. 31

Data Centre FacilitiesUptime Institute, whose As Australia pushes forward with its massive ICT Review’s three priority areas. mandate is to increase National Broadband Network (NBN) rollout, the In a recent run-down of the top five latest data centre potential of enhanced communications trends, journalist Charles Babcock stated that, ‘As the global IT productivity capabilities for individual Australians and evidence builds for global warming, the unbridled and uptime by, businesses alike continues to advance. The need growth of computing in many forms is coming under for intelligent foresight in data centre development attack as a wasteful contributor to global warming.’ ‘identifying practical, likewise becomes crucial… immediate data centre His recommendations included the use of design and operations To assist in making the most of these capabilities, prefabricated modular data centres, which can Australia’s Department of Finance and effectively reduce the Power Usage Effectiveness improvements that Deregulation (DFD) has recently introduced its (PUE) down to 1.1 (with an ideal PUE at 1.0, meaningyield significant energy latest iteration of the Australian Public Services all power brought into the data centre is used strictlysavings without capital Information and Communications Technology for computing needs and not additional energies for (ICT) Strategy – 2012-2015. lighting, cooling, etc.); alternative energy sources; expenditure, and and careful selection of environmental locations for offering strategies for The ICT Review – as it is more commonly referred data centres so factors contributing to PUE such as to – is a comprehensive document which offers a cooling can be reduced naturally. breaking down the practical framework for improving the organisational barriers development and productivity of new and existing At the organisation’s symposium 2013 in May, data centres within Australia in an effort to, Director of Content Matt Stansberry presented that undermine ‘maintain and enhance the Australian preliminary results, adding in several observationsprogress,’ has recently Government as a world leader in the use of ICT’. and recommendations. published the findings In his Secretary’s Forward to the recently ‘IT organisations that will benefit most are those that of its third annual published 2013 ICT Strategy, DFD Secretary take a systematic approach,’ he declared, ‘starting at Uptime Institute Data David Tune stated that, ‘ICT plays a critical role in the application and data layers: consolidatingCentre Industry Survey. delivering and transforming the operations of applications and servers, de-duplicating data, government… The Strategy outlines how APS removing comatose but power-draining servers, The survey asked agencies will continue to use ICT to drive better building redundancy into the applications and IT approximately 1,000 service delivery, improve government operations, architecture rather than physical systems, improving facilities managers, IT drive productivity, and to engage with people, the server utilisation. These initiatives will result in themanagers and industry community and business. It supports better, more most significant efficiency gains and drive the nextexecutives from around accessible government services for people when, wave of energy-efficiency innovation.’the globe questions on where and how it suits them, so they can be more a range of data centre- productive.’ The ultimate message coming out of these results and IT-related topics. was an overall push toward cloud computing and In the ICT Review Executive Summary, it is stated Data Centre Infrastructure Management (DCIM) that opportunities are created for Australia’s systems, which will help drive down those participation in new economies through the global inefficiencies and improve collaboration – as connectedness that arises from the technology. prioritised by the ICT Review. This allows Australia to be a, ‘leader in exploiting technology for national growth through the NBN In fact, since 2008 when the government first and to be a preferred destination for new embarked on its ICT Reform Program, it has – enterprises’. through a focussed ‘whole-of-government approach’ – successfully avoided what was estimated at $1 ‘The Strategy identifies actions to be taken billion in inefficiencies which could have arisen from between 2012 and 2015 to continue the release of ‘agency ICT business-as-usual operations’. government data for wider use, to share information and knowledge resources and unlock Indeed, the ICT Review seems not only timely, but further economic and social value.’ also incredibly optimistic about the positive impact that increased data centre connectivity – including From the Review, three areas were identified as cloud computing, which effectively offers a ‘priority areas’: the delivery of better services, comprehensive and ‘convenient’ storage network of including increased capabilities in delivering more all available information across all networks – will efficient, effective and improved services; the have not only on the future ofAustralia as a nation, but improvement of the efficiency of government more so on the incredible ways in which it will help operations by encouraging more innovative and individual citizens and businesses thrive. strategic use of ICT and optimal investment; and a focus on more open engagement so as to It is perhaps interesting to note that 2008 – the year in encourage active involvement of all stakeholders which government made its ICT reform a priority – by creating knowledge and collaborating was also the year in which construction was originally effectively. slated for completion of the Defence Department’s newest data centre – a state-of-the-art, secret data In response to growing concerns over excessive storage facility to support the operations of Australia’s waste resulting from data centre operations, signals intelligence agency, the top-secret Defence others have become vocal with their Signals Directorate (DSD), located just outside of recommendations for the development of data Canberra a the HMAS Harman communications centres – many of which are in keeping with the base.32