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APRIL - JUNE 2022
Van life
As Australians look for safer domestic holiday options, caravanning has surged in popularity Page 18
Family business
DEEP BREATH A rising number of cases of silicosis has prompted a call for the urgent education of workers about exposure to crystalline silica dust
Celebrating 110 years in business, Hutchinson Builders has managed to maintain a strong family culture Page 14
Digital switch
What does a digitally-advanced business actually look like? Page 30
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C SS M E M BE RS – AU STR A L IA N OWN ED AN D I N DEP EN DEN TLY OPER AT ED
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Construction Supply Specialists Pty Ltd Administration - Head Office 17 Lakeside Drive, Broadmeadows VIC 3047 Tel: (03) 9357 4228 Fax: (03) 9357 4229 jeff@cssgroup.com.au www.constructionsupply.com.au
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CONTENTS April-June 2022
About us The store listed on the front of this magazine is a member of the Construction Supply Specialist Group. While the majority of your work will be conducted with your local CSS Member, this store is part of a national network of stores that can provide you with exceptional service and support wherever you may be working in Australia. For more store locations, visit www.constructionsupply.com.au.
COVER STORY
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Save your breath
To prevent silicosis, more education is needed about exposure to crystalline silica dust.
18
04. Welcome
06. News Home renovations loan sizes shrink; new building permit records set; and more.
14. Profile Hutchinson Builders celebrates 110 years in the business.
18. Lifestyle Caravanning holds increasing appeal as today’s caravans offer the comforts of home.
22. Members in action Ferntree Gully Bolts and Jayco are a partnership made in RV heaven.
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25. Supplier profile Selleys is expanding its reach into the professional construction market.
28. Business Here’s what you need to do to become a successful subbie.
COVER PHOTO: DREPICTER - 123RF
30. Tech talk Your competitive edge now very much depends on how much you embrace technology.
40. F.A.T. Mag fun Crosswords and more! PLUS Supplier editorials
Advice, new products and more from a selection of CSS suppliers. Check out past issues of the CSS F.A.T.MAG at www.cssfatmag.com.au. CSS F.A.T. MAG 3
WELCOME Greetings everyone from CSS Central and welcome to another edition of the FAT Mag.
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are getting too excited as there will be the inevitable catch up to deal with at some stage. It maybe that this is already manifesting itself in product shortages brought on by a shortage in raw materials, and workplaces right around the world are being affected by staff shortages relating to COVID down times. This coupled with increases in freight costs (especially in regard to imported products) may put some more hurdles in our way, but we will get over them and continue to move ahead as we all have in the past. There is plenty of evidence that some have not done it as well as others but as a collective—how good are we Australians? During a global pandemic, which turned many lives upside down, we also had to deal with droughts, fire and flooding rains and we have still managed to keep the spirit going, thus illustrating exactly what a resilient pack of people we really are. Listening to the news reports and sorting the wheat from the chaff, it is apparent that Australia (in total) has fared so much better than most countries
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around the world and we should be so proud of our achievement at a time of such great uncertainty. Surely, you would not want to live anywhere else. Well done, Australia! Foot note: As a part of our fresh marketing initiatives, CSS, and its independently owned and operated members, would like to introduce you to Troy and Tracy Tradie (or as my partner prefers it, Tracy and Troy Tradie), A.K.A. The Tradie Twins, as our new ambassadors (see above). The twins feature in the first of a series of coloring/activity books we have put together for those children that often come into our stores with their parents. The books come with a small set of pencils and the opportunity for the kids to have their finished pics featured on the CSS website and on our Tradie Twin Wall in our office. The kits are free and details of how to send us your completed artwork are on the back page of the books. We hope it brings a little joy into the lives of those kids who get hold of them. Jeff Wellard
PHOTO: SUPPLIED
As I sat down to write this article, I took a little time to get my head straight by relaxing for a moment and letting my thoughts run free. Surprise, surprise! The brain, instead of clearing, was flooded with images of the beach, the sand, surfing, fun, fellowship, food and drink and everything else that goes with a holiday at the beach. For a few brief moments I was transported back to Pambula (South Coast NSW). The shoes, the long pants and the collared shirts were all gone and I was stretched out on the sand, collecting some rays—being careful to follow the rules to SLIP, SLOP, SLAP, of course. Next thing the phone buzzed and the reality of real time in the workplace kicked back in and I started to jot some notes about this welcome. While it does already seem like a distant memory, the fact I had the opportunity to recharge the batteries and get the mind back into gear was especially important for me and a great deal of the people I associate with in business. Iain Brown, Managing Director of Bordo International, is just one of a number of businesspeople who holiday in the same park and we all agree that this year, we needed an unbroken period of rest and relaxation so we could be up and running for 2022 and beyond (two years ago bush fires cut our stay in half and it was COVID a year ago.) It has been a tough couple of years and even though it has not been exactly ‘business as usual,’ the industry segments our members operate in are travelling relatively well and all of us have survived. In fact, some have thrived because our market bases were kept going through various interventions by some state and federal government initiatives designed to stimulate the economy and because we were quick to react to required changes in procedures. There is no doubting we are all thankful for that. While we now see some light at the end of the COVID tunnel, none of us
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NEWS
The Clean Energy Finance Coroporation (CEFC) is seeking to transform Australia’s approach to large-scale building construction, with a new $300 million program to encourage mass timber construction across the property sector. The approach has the potential to substantially cut constructionrelated emissions, providing a greener alternative to conventional construction materials. The CEFC, which invests on behalf of the Australian Government, has created its Timber Building Program on the back of new CEFC research confirming the critical need to transform our approach to construction if we are to achieve an economy-wide transition to net zero emissions. CEFC CEO Ian Learmonth said: “Timber has been used in construction for generations. Innovations in engineered wood products have created new opportunities for mass 6 CSS F.A.T. MAG
timber construction to be used in larger projects, creating the potential for immediate and long-term environmental benefits. “Our new Timber Building Program will help finance this transition by encouraging owners, developers and builders to use lower carbon engineered wood products in their projects. The CEFC has a strong track record in financing new market developments, from large-scale solar to cleantech start-ups. We are excited to bring this expertise to sustainable construction.” Through the Timber Building Program the CEFC has allocated up to $300 million in debt finance for eligible projects Australia wide—including commercial offices, retail, industrial, healthcare and education. Finance may also be available for multi-residential apartments, seniors living and student accommodation projects. Concessional finance may be available under certain
circumstances. l Eligible projects will be considered on a case-by-case basis and may include those which: l Use low carbon engineered wood products in large-scale construction; l Have secured appropriate materials source, accreditation and embodied carbon outcomes; l Require $20 million-$75 million in CEFC debt finance; l Are commercially sound, reflecting the rigorous investment requirements of the CEFC; l Comply with the CEFC Investment Policies, Guidelines and Risk Approach. Embodied carbon produces some 28 per cent of emissions in building and construction globally, and is expected to account for almost half the emissions of new construction by 2050. The use of timber reduces embodied carbon by up to 75 per cent compared to the use of conventional steel and concrete.
PHOTOGRAPHY: VALMEDIA1 - 123RF
$300 million timber targets building transformation
PHOTOGRAPHY: SHERSS - 123RF
Home renovations loan sizes shrink Master Builders Victoria (MBV) analysis of monthly lending figures for December 2021 show that Victorian borrowings for home renovations jobs remains very high. However, the average size of the loans has started to shrink quite substantially over recent months—both for investors and owner-occupiers. During the last three months of 2021, the number of loans to owner-occupiers for home renovations was 77.8 per cent higher than a year earlier, with the pace of growth even stronger for investors (+87.2 per cent). In contrast, the typical home renovations loan size has become smaller in Victoria over recent months. During November 2021, Victorian owner-occupiers borrowed an average
of $225,418 in home renovations loans. This fell back to $212,980 during the December 2021 quarter. A similar trend has affected investors. Master Builders Victoria (MBV) CEO Rebecca Casson said it was surprising that renovations loans are getting smaller given materials and trades costs are rising quickly. “It may be that there is some nervousness amongst consumers about the amount of borrowing they take on for renovation work,” Casson said. “This is because speculation has increased about interest rate increases. The RBA has repeatedly pledged not to increase its cash rate until inflation has settled firmly into the two per cent to
three per cent band. Outside of home renovations loans, Casson said investors were continuing to take a bigger bite of the market at the expense of owner-occupiers. The housing investor share of loans for the purchase of residential land was particularly large (30.5 per cent) during the December 2021 quarter. Investors accounted for a slightly smaller share of loans for new home construction (27.2 per cent), new dwelling purchase loans (27 per cent), and loans for home renovations (27.7 per cent). Home renovations are the strongest area of owner-occupier lending, with loan volumes here up by 78 per cent a year earlier.
Investment demand in Australia’s property higher than before pandemic Property experts have seen positive movements in investment trends across commercial property in Australia during Q4 last year, while owners continue to diversify the way we use office space, according to the latest RICS Global Commercial Property Monitor. Across all sectors, investment enquiries rose for the fifth successive quarter, leading to capital value expectations rising for the year ahead. The strength of the industrial sector continues to stand out, with a net balance of +63 per cent of respondents expecting prime industrial values to increase over the next 12 months. The outlook is also positive for prime office values, as a net balance of +23 per cent of respondents foresee an increase
during 2022 (the strongest reading since Q4 2019). Looking at the alternative sectors, respondents project an uplift in capital value expectations for aged care facilities and hotels. However capital values for data centres and multifamily residential are likely to rise at a slower rate than in Q3. Furthermore, respondents anticipate a fall in capital values for student housing, but to a lesser degree than in the previous six quarters. Simon Rubinsohn, RICS chief economist, commented: “Although sentiment remained a little flat in the run-up to the year-end looking at the aggregate RICS indicator for commercial property in APAC, there predictably
continues to be significant divergence both at a country and sector level. Australia and New Zealand continue to show the greatest buoyancy according to key metrics, with real estate linked to the provision of data centres, logistics, aged care and residential performing most strongly from a sector perspective across the region. The numbers for China continue to paint a mixed picture which in part reflect some of the ongoing challenges affecting areas of the property development industry but critically, the real estate market is now viewed as being cheap or fair value by around three quarters of respondents to the survey. Moreover, projections for prime real estate are generally positive looking 12 months out.”
CSS F.A.T. MAG 7
NEWS
Helping young workers speak up
Named for the expression that comes to mind when we’re not sure what to say, UMM, the new social media campaign from WorkSafe Victoria, aims to teach young workers about their rights and encourage them to speak up about unsafe working conditions. WorkSafe executive director Health and Safety Dr Narelle Beer said UMM would speak directly to young workers about common but uncomfortable situations they might experience. “Like many young workers UMM is eager to make a good impression, but can feel a little awkward about speaking up if something feels unsafe,” Dr Beer said. “No worker should ever feel unsafe. We’ve all experienced that ‘umm’ feeling before, so we want to empower young people to better understand their rights and feel confident speaking up when something isn’t safe.” Created by young people, for young people, the social media campaign represents a new approach for WorkSafe to communicate with this young audience. UMM will target 15 to 19-year-olds who might have started their first part-time job, as well as 20 to 24-year-olds starting their first professional roles. “Safety is about more than just reducing the risks of physical injury,” Dr Beer said. “This campaign will show that unsafe work practices can happen in a range of industries and situations—from unreasonable workloads, to comments about appearance or being asked to complete tasks without proper training or guidance.” The campaign will run across social media platforms including Facebook and Instagram.
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WorkSafe wants young workers to speak up if they feel unsafe at work.
PHOTOGRAPHY: DIEGO_CERVO - 123RF
First mega boring machines ordered for Sydney Metro West
Two huge tunnel boring machines have been ordered to build the city’s next metro rail tunnels as part of the Sydney Metro West project, with the first machine set to be in the ground before the end of this year. The two tunnel boring machines (TBMs) are part of the $1.96 billion Central Tunnelling Package awarded in July to the Acciona Ferrovial Joint Venture, which has contracted world-leading manufacturer Herrenknecht to design, build and deliver the TBMs following a global tender process. Each TBM will tunnel an average of 200 metres per week and will be operated by a team of 15 workers per shift as they dig the 11 kilometre twin tunnels from The Bays to Sydney Olympic Park. These are the first of six TBMs being used to build the 24 kilometre tunnels from the Sydney CBD to Parramatta. The two borers are 1266 tonne, 165 metre long doubleshield, hard rock, gripper-type TBMs, designed to excavate through sandstone and shale. These TBMs will be specifically built for the conditions they will meet on this job, with design improvements taken on board from the experience of building more than 30 kilometres of tunnels for Sydney Metro Northwest and City & Southwest.
New building permit records set in 2021
Victoria’s building industry has recorded another year of substantial growth, with new data released by the building regulator highlighting a nearly $4 billion increase in the value of works. The Victorian Building Authority (VBA) data shows 127,792 building permits, worth $44.6 billion were issued in 2021, an increase of more than 14,000 (or 12.66 per cent) from the previous year. The cost of domestic building permits issued increased by more than $4.3 billion, up from 96,367 in 2020 to 109,367 in 2021. This is the first time that domestic permits have topped 100,000 in a calendar year in Victoria. The number of permits issued increased in all parts of the state, with the biggest increase seen in the outer suburbs of Melbourne, followed by the North Central region and Gippsland. VBA chief operations officer Jocelyn Crawford said another year of strong growth was a positive sign for the building industry. “Victorians have experienced a challenging two years, but as a community we have remained resilient and the industry has continued to grow, proving it to be the backbone of the state’s economic future,” she said.
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CSS F.A.T. MAG 9
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HEALTH
There is a growing awareness of health risks around silicosis on construction, infrastructure, mining and demolition sites.
Save your breath
A rising number of cases of silicosis on major construction sites and among stonemasons has prompted the call for the urgent education of workers about exposure to crystalline silica dust. By Cameron Cooper
C
ertified occupational hygienist Kate Cole recalls watching construction workers hosing the air on one site in an effort to reduce the threat of crystalline silica dust exposure. It is a moment that highlights the misconceptions and lack of onsite knowledge about how to better manage the threat of silicosis—a serious and potentially fatal respiratory disease— among construction workers and tradespeople who work with engineered stone. “That’s completely useless and shows that they haven’t got the right level of expertise to keep themselves safe,” says Cole, an engineer who has worked in the construction industry for almost two decades. “Young workers, in particular, think ‘Oh, it’s just a bit of dust’ and they don’t understand that in 20 years’ time it
could result in an early retirement, or an unfortunate early loss of life.” Cole is one of a growing band of industry and government champions who are educating construction workers about the risks of silicosis and developing governance processes to create safer workplaces. The Australian Government’s National Dust Disease Taskforce released a report in 2021 (see panel on the next page) stating that there is a critical need for urgent action to further protect workers in the engineered stone industry, in particular, who cut and install kitchen benchtops. There is also growing awareness of health risks on construction, infrastructure, mining and demolition sites. “The challenge really is to help raise awareness and provide education to the workforce,” Cole says. CSS F.A.T. MAG 11
HEALTH
“It’s one thing to provide training to your workers on the hazards of silica dust, but you need to provide a safe working environment. And that requires more than just providing a dust mask.” Kate Cole, occupational hygienist
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Kate Cole, engineer and certified occupational hygienist, has worked in the construction industry for almost two decades.
produces very fine dust particles when cut or disturbed. In Brisbane, the host rock, tuff, is formed from volcanic eruptions and also produces fine dust particles. Mining sites in other states also come with high risks. PREVENTATIVE MEASURES Education is the key to addressing the silicosis risk, according to Cole. Even when workers get a construction site White Card, of if they train at TAFE or study engineering at university, there is typically no mention of silica dust risks or safety measures. “You’re just not taught about it,” she says. “We really need to fix this because
we have young workers coming into the infrastructure sector—which is a wonderful place to work—but the first time they hear about silicosis is in a site induction, if they’re lucky. That’s just not good enough.” While larger construction companies typically manage silica dust exposure quite well, the level of awareness often is not sustained among smaller contractors and sub-contractors down the project chain. A range of actions can help mitigate the risk of silica dust exposure, including: insisting on pre-project planning to eliminate or control dust and
PHOTOGRAPHY: SUPPLIED
WHAT IS SILICOSIS? Silicosis results in a scarring and hardening of lung tissue after silica dust particles are inhaled and become embedded in lungs. The disease can be progressively debilitating and fatal. On construction sites, workers can be easily exposed to silica when tunnelling, drilling, crushing or blasting rock that contains silica or concrete and masonry products. These minute particles have a far smaller diameter than a human hair. In addition to silicosis, exposure to silica dust is often associated with workers getting other illnesses such as chronic bronchitis, emphysema and lung cancer. In most cases, the condition develops over 10 to 20 years, but in acute cases high exposure to silica dust can lead to the onset of the disease within a year or so. The Australian Workers’ Union suggests that about 600,000 workers are exposed to silica dust every year, with about 350 diagnosed with silicosis and 250 with lung cancer. Exposure to silica dust is a nationwide problem. Cole says Sydney, in particular, presents a risk because it sits on a basin of Hawkesbury sandstone, which has high concentrations of quartz, which
KEY RECOMMENDATIONS
In its final report released in 2021, the National Dust Disease Taskforce recommended: setting up a nationally consistent healthmonitoring program for silicosis, establishing a dust register that is mandatory for all diagnosed cases of silicosis, better support for workers and their families affected by dust diseases through individually tailored programs of psychological, financial and return-to-work support, and investment in training of medical specialists to better understand silica-related disease.
organising appropriate ventilation of sites, use of on-tool water suppression of dust to contain the hazard and protect adjacent workers, conducting regular air monitoring of sites, provision of adequate PPE gear for workers, proper ‘fit testing’ of masks to ensure they are the right size for each worker, showering and changing clothes before leaving a site to prevent contamination of cars and homes, and provision of ongoing medical checks and health surveillance of workers. “A lot of it comes down to the employers,” Cole says. “It’s one thing to provide training to your workers on the hazards of silica dust, but you need to provide a safe working environment. And that requires more than just providing a dust mask.” The positive news is that she has seen appropriate safety measures successfully being applied to many construction sites. “It can be done, but
it does take effort and planning,” Cole says. NATIONAL ACTION PLAN One initiative that is crucial is the promise by the Department of Health to lead the development of a National Silicosis Prevention Strategy and a National Action Plan. Different approaches are adopted across each state, but some are forging ahead. Victoria, for example, released new regulations in 2021 on silica dust control. “In Victoria, for the first time in our country’s history, we have regulation that specifically calls out the particular risks associated with tunnelling, which is great,” Cole says. “But we need nationally consistent regulation that addresses workers in the infrastructure, construction and demolition sectors.” In addition to more training, Cole says the key to future success in tackling silicosis risks will be around compliance with any regulations that are introduced. “It’s one thing to have a workforce exposure standard, but it’s a different thing to ensure that companies comply with the rules.”
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13 CSS F.A.T. MAG
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CSS F.A.T. MAG 13
PROFILE
All in the family
I
t can be difficult taking a highly successful family business to the next level—growing it without losing the culture that made it special. For Brisbane-born Hutchinson Builders, it involved taking an innovative approach to the structure of the company, supporting its growth while maintaining a family feel. Associate director Jack Hutchinson is the fifth generation of his family to work in the business and says much of the credit for the successful expansion of Hutchies (as it is fondly known) goes to the managing director Greg Quinn. “Up until the early 2000s, my father Scott was the managing director and then he saw the place expanding beyond what he felt he could control,” he says. “Dad decided to hand over the managing director role to Greg while he
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took over the chairmanship.” “Greg was the one who really grew the business. He kept the same structure, which is a little unusual, but works for us.” Jack Hutchinson explains that Hutchies is divided into self-managed teams, either by project type or location. “Hutchinson is structured so there’s 30 construction teams who almost run their own shop with no centralised HR department,” he says. “They hire their own people. They have their own relationships with subcontractors; they bring in their own work through clients (although some comes centrally to the company and is distributed). They’re tasked with running their own operation within the company. “When Greg took over, he expanded that structure geographically into
Sydney and Melbourne, Hobart, Adelaide and Darwin.” This approach has led to unprecedented growth, Jack says. “When I was a kid, we were probably turning over $100 million and had 100 staff. And now it’s $2.7 billion turnover and 1500 staff. “Each team has their own mini culture within the company, but I think that the general values of the company are repeated and have scaled with growth.” Jack says that this structure makes the team leaders accountable for the success of their individual construction teams and helps to provide a supportive environment for all their staff. “Often when a company grows, they add more middle management, which leads to a reduction in accountability, or a more corporate feel where everything
PHOTOGRAPHY: COURTESY OF HUTCHINSONS
Celebrating 110 years in business, Hutchinson Builders has managed to maintain a strong family culture despite huge growth in the last 20 years. By Lynne Testoni
Samples of Hutchinson’s work: This page, student accomodation at the University of Tasmania and (below) Manuda Place in Darwin. Left, top to bottom: Broken Hill High School, Manuda Place in Darwin, Merrylands Public School in Sydney, and Howard Smith Wharves in Brisbane.
CSS F.A.T. MAG 15
PROFILE
“When I was a kid, we were probably turning over $100 million and had 100 staff. And now it’s $2.7 billion turnover and 1500 staff.” Jack Hutchinson, associate director, Hutchinson Builders
goes through multiple layers of management,” he says. “We’ve always resisted the urge to add more layers of management. Essentially, all those 30 team leaders report directly to the managing director. “It’s still a very flat management structure and a very non-hierarchical place. And it’s about keeping the sense of fun too. Often, when corporations get big the culture becomes more cautious, whereas we’ve tried to keep the sense of fun while being respectful to everyone. We’ve always tried to encourage being yourself at work.” Still a private company, Hutchies has a very healthy balance sheet, says Jack, with no debt. “The only shareholders are my father and his parents,” he explains. “We have no outside capital or outside 16 CSS F.A.T. MAG
shareholders. And they don’t really raid the balance sheet or pay themselves big dividends. They leave the cash in there and we’ve built that balance sheet over time.” This freedom from shareholder pressure allows the company to plan for long-term success. “A publicly listed company has statutory obligations around reporting and you can have activist investors who want you to sell off part of your business,” Jack says. “We don’t have to worry about that. We don’t have any non-exec directors either. All the directors work within the company; they’ve all been there a long time so they understand the culture.” As the fifth generation of his family to work in the company, it would be easy to think that there was a lot of pressure
The directors of Hutchinson Builders (left to right): Russell Fryer, Greg Quinn, Owen Valmadre, Scott Hutchinson (chairman), Kellie Williams, Jack Hutchinson and Jack Hutchinson (Jnr).
on Jack to pursue a career within both the building industry and the family company. However, he says that’s not true. “There was not really much pressure, to be honest,” he says. “The opportunity was given but it never felt like I didn’t have options.” Instead, Jack says that by seeing the company up close, it allowed him to appreciate its strong culture and robust integrity. “Even from a young age, I was going to staff Christmas parties and it was pretty clear it was a good organisation to work for,” he says. “There were always a lot of long-term staff, even from when I was a kid, who are still here now. I had a good feel at a pretty young age that it would be a good place to spend my life.”
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LIFESTYLE
Van life As Australians look for safer domestic holiday options, caravanning has surged in popularity. But today’s caravans are nothing like those cramped versions of childhood camping trips. Caravans now offer all the comforts of the family home. By Shane Conroy 18 CSS F.A.T. MAG
A
s COVID-19 has slammed international and state borders closed, many Australian holidaymakers have rediscovered the pleasures of holidaying at home. This has tended to mean discovering their own backyard with a caravan in tow. According to the Caravan Industry Association of Australia, caravanning and camping was the most popular
PHOTOGRAPHY: SUPPLIED
“We have seen an increase across all product segments, particularly those products that allow people who are new to the market an affordable way to travel.” Scott Jones, national sales manager, Jayco
holiday type in 2019. “Jayco has experienced an upsurge in sales nationwide across its entire range,” says Jayco national sales manager, Scott Jones. “We have seen a 35 per cent increase in sales across all new and used RVs, with new people coming into the market that may not have considered caravanning before.” But the pandemic has made it more challenging for Australia’s caravan
builders to meet this spike in demand. Matt McPhail, national sales manager at New Age Caravans in Victoria, says pandemic-related restrictions and supply chain hold-ups have made it tough for Australia’s busy caravan builders to keep up. “It has been a roller-coaster. We had periods through lockdown where nobody was allowed on site. Due to social distancing, we could only have
two people working on a caravan at any one time. Add to that supply chain issues with some materials difficult to source, and staff off work due to exposures.” However, you can’t keep a good caravan builder down. “We have seen an increase across all product segments, particularly those products that allow couples and families who are new to the market an affordable way to travel,” CSS F.A.T. MAG 19
LIFESTYLE
says Jones. It’s clear to insiders that the industry is facing a bright future despite short-term challenges. “Demand for our product has never been to these levels in my time,” McPhail says. “While we might not see this level of demand again, I think in the long-term, we’ll still see more people choosing caravanning as a great way to see our country.” THE FAMILY VAN McPhail is not just referring to the grey nomads who have traditionally dominated the caravanning market. He has noticed a significant shift in his customer base from intrepid retirees to adventure-seeking families. “In 2021, eight of our top-10 bestselling caravans were family vans,” he says. “Our customers include young tradesmen who grew up in the camping lifestyle and are keen to continue it with their own kids, or people who have planned overseas trips and decided to stay home. It’s not just for grey nomads anymore. The family van is huge for us.” Family-friendly caravans have evolved well beyond the rusty rattler you might remember from your childhood. The emergence of familyfriendly resort-style caravan parks— 20 CSS F.A.T. MAG
“Caravans can range anywhere from $60,000 to pick a number. It’s probably the second biggest investment you’re ever going to make, so you want to know it’s going to go where you want it to go and will still be in one piece when you get back.” Matt McPhail, national sales manager, New Age Caravans
some with their own water parks—has also helped make caravanning more appealing to a new generation of families. McPhail says his company’s top models now feature all the mod cons you enjoy at home. “Back when I started selling caravans, they had a bed, a cooktop and maybe a rollout awning. Now, they
are literally five-star houses on wheels. The furniture is thicker and stronger, and they have fully-equipped kitchens, a hot water service, toilet, shower, washing machine, solar power, air conditioning, TV screens—you name it. Most caravans in our range even have external speakers so you can sit outside and listen to the cricket.” According to Jones, “One of the
emerging markets has been the adventure market which has really captured the attention of younger travellers.” Amongst the impressive new features in the 2022 Jayco range is a new MPPT solar system, capable of improving power output efficiency by up to twentypercent. Another new addition to the range across Outback models will be an Anderson plug, which enables an additional portable solar panel to be connected. This additional power source and improved solar technology will allow for greater off-road capabilities for keen adventurers. SAFELY OFF-GRID McPhail has also seen increasing demand for caravans that can handle remote, off-grid trips. He says that’s why New Age Caravans has developed a lighter chassis. “Caravans can easily be equipped for long off-grid trips these days. You can add water tanks, greywater systems, and solar power,” he explains. “But these additions can be quite heavy, so we’re seeing a need for caravans with a lighter, stronger chassis.”
McPhail says rigorous safety testing is also critical. “Caravans can range anywhere from $60,000 to pick a number,” McPhail concludes. “It’s probably the second biggest investment you’re ever going to make, so you want to know it’s going to go where you want it to go and will still be
in one piece when you get back.” But that investment doesn’t just help you. “The opportunities now to explore and travel in our own regional areas is huge,” says Jones. “It also helps boost the local economy and businesses that may have been affected by the pandemic in the last 24 months.”
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CSS F.A.T. MAG 21
MEMBERS IN ACTION
A business relationship between CSS member Ferntree Gully Bolts and Jayco plays a vital role in keeping their recreational vehicle production rolling. By Kerryn Ramsey
Happy campers L iving through the COVID-19 pandemic has presented many challenges, particularly for those in the holiday and travel industries. With cruises and overseas vacations largely off the cards, many people are looking for a safe, affordable way to travel. Jayco has provided options for thousands of Australians to explore the country with its wide range of caravans, campervans and motorhomes. Currently, Jayco is investigating ways for its vans to go off-grid using solar panels, lithium batteries and inverter technology. Campers will be selfsufficient, able to watch television and charge their phones, while visiting some seriously remote places. “This technology will enable people to
22 CSS F.A.T. MAG
pull up and have a holiday wherever they see fit,” says Scott Jones, Jayco’s sales and innovation manager.
WORKING TOGETHER In Victoria, another Australian company, Bolts and Moore, is doing its part to keep Jayco vehicles rolling off the production line. The owner of the company, Justin Moore, started Ferntree Gully Bolts 18 years ago. He opened a second store, Bayswater Bolts, seven years later and a third store, Hallam Bolts, five years ago. “We’re an industrial supply company with an emphasis on fastener-related products,” says Moore. “All three stores operate independently but Bolts and Moore is the parent company. We employ 21 people across the three stores.”
Jayco started in 1975 in a cowshed in the Victorian town of Cranbourne. “That cowshed is still standing,” says Jones. “I actually drove past it recently.” At present, Jayco has 1100 employees building 14,000 recreational vehicles each year. The company is still based in Victoria with its manufacturing facility sitting on 16 hectares in Dandenong South. There are multiple factories on site. BUILDING A RELATIONSHIP Since 2015, a business relationship between Ferntree Gully Bolts and Jayco has worked to the advantage of both companies, their employees and their customers. “Jayco buys a few odds and sods off
us but our most important deal is the supply of one particular type of screw,” says Moore. “These screws attach the flooring to all their caravans and vehicles. I’m very proud that our product is in every Jayco vehicle.”
The product is an eight-gauge screw, 4.2mm in diameter and 30mm long. They’re designed to drill through timber and steel, so the two materials can be joined in one screw. It’s an effective way to anchor the floor to the frame.
Ferntree Gully Bolts supplies between 50,000 and 100,000 screws every month. One of the unique features of these screws is that they are part of a collated screwing system used with a long screw gun. It means workers don’t need to
PHOTOGRAPHY: SUPPLIED
Ferntree Gully Bolts, the first store in the Bolts and Moore chain
CSS F.A.T. MAG 23
MEMBERS IN ACTION
The Jayco facility in Dandenong, Victoria
“Jayco offers great value for money. We deal fairly with our suppliers to purchase the best products, negotiate good pricing, and then pass that value onto our customers.” Scott Jones, sales and innovation manager, Jayco bend over or kneel while screwing in the floors. It’s faster, more efficient, and once a screw is placed, the next screw automatically loads. Of course, this also has a great OH&S aspect, doing away with back strain and knee problems. WORKING TOGETHER This relationship between two proudly Australian businesses is nothing short of a win-win situation. Success stems from the relationship in a way that’s mutually beneficial for all concerned. “At Jayco, we pride ourselves in working with our suppliers to create the best outcomes,” says Jones. “Our suppliers are constantly innovating and that helps us improve our efficiency and
Morgan Dohnt, sales rep at Desco Workplace Supplies
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quality. It’s just good business to support a local company like Ferntree Gully Bolts. We can rely on them and they’re just a phone call or a short car drive away.” That’s one of the biggest advantages of using local rather than international suppliers. If you need them on the ground to help out, they’re there to support you. During COVID-19, using Australian suppliers circumvented many of the supply chain problems that plagued overseas companies. “It’s a huge benefit,” says Jones. “A local supplier like Ferntree Gully Bolts will have stock readily available. There are short lead times in regard to deliveries. It has become painfully obvious over the past 12 months that lead times with
At work in the Jayco factory
shipping and freight from overseas has become longer and longer.” RELIABILITY, QUALITY, COMMITMENT Ferntree Gully Bolts established a relationship with Jayco by supplying a niche product for a niche market. The success and longevity of the agreement is due to reliability of delivery, the quality of the product and a commitment to supply. “I expect our relationship to last well into the future,” says Moore. “We’re in constant contact with Jayco, and the caravan market is pretty strong at the moment. While COVID has created a few problems in regard to staffing, we’ve successfully avoided any hiccups in our supply chain.” The Jayco future is bright with its vans and vehicles popular right across Australia and successfully exported to New Zealand. There’s been a growth in customers in the 18 to 34 age group, and Jayco is popular among all types of tradies. “Jayco offers great value for money,” says Jones. “We deal fairly with our suppliers to purchase the best products, negotiate good pricing, and then pass that value onto our customers.” With advances in technology offering a whole new off-grid experience, the working relationship between Jayco and Ferntree Gully Bolts is well positioned to explore future demands and opportunities.
SUPPLIER PROFILE
Selleys is expanding its reach into the professional construction market while embracing sustainability and supporting local Australian production. By Frank Leggett
PHOTOGRAPHY: COURTESY OF SELLEYS
Seal of approval W hile Selleys has been the market leader in the home handyman market for the past 75 years, it’s also moving in a new direction. It’s expanded into the professional construction market thanks to the acquisition of another Australian company. Two years ago, Selleys acquired Admil, a manufacturer and supplier of high-quality silicone sealant and adhesives for use in many industries and markets. Their range of products is specifically designed for use on construction sites, residential builds and all manner of professional projects. The merger is a perfect fit. While Selleys is targeted at the home handyman market, Admil is designed
for professional use. Of course, there is also overlap between the two. “For residential building, there are multiple situations where Selleys or Admil would be suitable,” says John Shelton, Selleys national sales manager. “In that trade space, Selleys is a clear market leader with products such as Liquid Nails, but there are other areas such as glazing and multiresidential elements where Admil is a far stronger brand.”
HOME GROWN
Admil founder Adrian Brocken started the company 22 years ago. He aimed at creating products for the professional market that were manufactured locally. “I had seen so much manufacturing
moved offshore that I was determined to keep jobs in Australia,” says Brocken. “Admil was completely based in Melbourne and did very well. We grew from nothing to turning over around $30 million. Since the acquisition, our plan is for Admil to be as popular in the professional space as Selleys is in the DIY area. The two companies working together are going to be a lot more than the sum of their parts.” A big advantage of the merger is that Admil has a substantial facility in the Melbourne suburb of Mulgrave. Selleys/Admil are able to utilise the factory to produce and package products in Australia while also having access to two R&D departments to research and test more products. It’s a CSS F.A.T. MAG 25
SUPPLIER PROFILE
Klingspor has many new products in the pipeline.
win for both companies and a win for Australia.
that 98 per cent of consumers can recall the Selleys brand.”
BRAND RECOGNITION
FILLING A GAP
Selleys products are used extensively throughout Australia, and it exports to world markets in New Zealand, SouthEast Asia, and Europe. With well-known brands such as No More Gaps, Liquid Nails and Spakfilla, it’s the trusted ‘goto’ brand for DIYers all across Australia. When Martin Selley founded the company in 1939, he sold broadly to a variety of glazing, metal and aluminium companies. In the following decades, the rapid expansion of the company saw it dominate the DIY market but now, with the new Admil range, Selleys is returning to its roots. “Selleys is such a popular brand due to its understanding of the consumer,” says Shelton. It’s that deep understanding of the market and the quality of Selleys products that has seen high-brand recognition and satisfaction from consumers. “We live by our slogan, ‘If it’s Selleys, it works’,” he says. “We employ rigorous quality control protocols to maintain our integrity and reliability. This has led to market research revealing 26 CSS F.A.T. MAG
The Selleys story begins at the start of World War II when Martin Selley fled Germany. He arrived in Australia with his wife, son, 100 pounds and a patented formula for putty. At that time, there was a shortage of aluminium to make kitchen utensils so Selley stepped in to fill a hole in the market. Setting up his factory in a rented terrace in Sydney’s Surry Hills, he created a metallic cement for mending pots and pans, and a heat-resistant putty for stoves. Selleys Metallic Cement and Selleys Unifix were produced entirely in Australia and were instantly popular with consumers. The company expanded rapidly, manufacturing products for all home handyman categories. Today, Selleys is a major supplier of high-quality products for DIYers everywhere.
QUALITY CONTROL
Selleys doesn’t just import products from overseas, repackage them and sell it to local consumers. All its products are tested or developed in Australia for Australian conditions.
The high quality of Selleys products is largely due to its research and development centres. “Australia’s UV conditions are some of the harshest in the world and that attacks poor quality products,” says Shelton. “While there are cheaper alternatives to Selleys products from overseas, we find they often fall apart within 18 months.”
KEEP IT SUSTAINABLE
Selleys and Admil both embrace sustainability, currently developing greener products that use no solvents. “Products such as Selleys Fireblock XT and Admil’s Supaseal are safer than the current polyurethane alternatives,” says Brocken. “They’re manufactured for the local environment and have substantially better UV resistance so they last much longer.” Over the next five years, the Selleys Admil story will focus on growth. The company will use Australia as its manufacturing place of excellence. Its range of products will be launched even further into the global market. “We’re envisioning a substantially larger company headquarters in Australia,” says Shelton. “And we’ll be supplying the world.”
“Australia’s UV conditions are some of the harshest in the world and that attacks poor quality products. While there are cheaper alternatives to Selleys products from overseas, we find they often fall apart within 18 months.” John Shelton, national sales manager, Selleys
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CSS F.A.T. MAG 27
BUSINESS
There’s more to switching from employee to subcontractor than rocking up on site with an ABN. Here’s what you need to do to become a successful subbie. By Angela Tufvesson
S
o you’ve decided to become a subcontractor. Perhaps you’re ready to take the plunge after completing an apprenticeship and clocking up a few years of experience working for someone else. Maybe you’re after greater freedom and the opportunity to work on a wider variety of jobs. Whatever your reasons, know this: making the switch is not as easy as turning up on site under your own name. You’ll need to register your business, organise insurance and get your books and safety paperwork in order to successfully— and legally—make the transition from employee to subbie.
CHOOSE A STRUCTURE When you become a subbie, you’re no longer employed by a company. Instead, you become self-employed— you are your own boss. The first step is to choose a business structure. Most
subbies set up as sole traders and run their business with an ABN (Australian Business Number). You can also be a subcontractor working in your own company, partnership or trust. It depends on your long-term goals as to which business structure is best, explains accountant Kirsty Fox from Tradies Accounting Toolshed. “If you’re going to be a subbie to a couple of builders, then it’s probably just as easy to be a sole trader than it is to move into a company,” she says. “Part of the reason you’d move into a company or a trust structure is for taxplanning purposes and if you’re planning to grow the business and employ staff. It really comes down to how much money you’re going to make.” Nicole Cox, a co-founder of business consultancy Tradies in Business, says this is an ideal time to engage the services of an accountant who can help you launch and manage your
subcontracting business. “Find a good accountant who understands where you’re at right now and where you’d like to move the business towards in the next 12 months or two years, and they can help you make the right decisions around business structure and what’s going to work best for you,” she says. SET UP THE BACK END As a business owner, a subbie is responsible for insurance. Experts say there are three essential types of insurance you’ll need to protect yourself and your business: public liability, which covers any property damage and personal injury you cause, income protection for periods you’re unable to work due to illness or injury, and tool and vehicle insurance in the event of theft or damage. Cox recommends using an insurance
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PHOTOGRAPHY: LEFT: PUVASIT - 123RF, TOP RIGHT - SHUTTERSTOCK/ VIRRAGE IMAGES
Go your own way
“If you’re going to be a subbie to a couple of builders, then it’s probably just as easy to be a sole trader than it is to move into a company.” Kirsty Fox, accountant, Tradies Accounting Toolshed
broker to help you wade through the options. “To get the right insurance that suits where you’re at right now, speaking with a broker is the best option because things are changing very quickly, particularly in our current climate.” As for super, you’re not legally obliged to pay into your retirement savings, but it’s certainly a sensible idea—especially if you’re planning to subcontract for the long term. “If you’re younger, you have a great opportunity to build up some wealth through what essentially is forced savings,” says Warrick Bidwell, Cox’s business partner at Tradies in Business. Some super funds also include provision for life and income protection insurance. Bidwell also recommends having safety paperwork like Safe Work Method Statements (SWMS), standard operating procedures and safety management plans ready to
go as most builders will request this documentation before starting a job. “There are some good apps and cloudbased platforms that can help with ongoing management of the safety side of things,” he says. DECIDE YOUR RATE Of all the decisions you make as a subbie, setting your hourly rate is one of the most important. Bidwell says it’s crucial to factor your new business expenses—including insurance, accountancy fees, vehicle and tool costs, and subscriptions to digital platforms—into your rate. “It’s not enough to use the same hourly rate as what you were getting paid as an employee,” he says. Businesses that turn over $75,000 or more annually must register for GST. Fox recommends registering early on and including GST in the rate
you quote builders rather than waiting until you reach the threshold to avoid awkward conversations. “Say you agree to $77 per hour, then you change to being registered for GST,” she says. “The rate should then go up to $84.70 per hour, but the rate you agreed upon was $77. That means you have gone from making $77 per hour to $70 per hour, as the rate is now GST inclusive.” To avoid unexpected tax bills, Fox suggests putting 20 per cent of your earnings into a separate account as soon as you get paid to cover GST and other taxes. Software programs like Xero and MYOB can help you keep track of taxes as well as manage cashflow and keep track of debtors. “Ultimately, it really comes down to one thing: cashflow is king,” Fox says. “You have to get your invoices out and you have to get paid.” CSS F.A.T. MAG 29
TECH TALK
The digital switch
Technology is no longer just an issue of working more efficiently; your competitive edge now very much depends on the extent to which you embrace it. By Meg Crawford
I
n the construction industry, it’s still common for small businesses to operate manually or rely on paper. While this was once the norm, recent reports indicate that such companies are heading in the direction of dinosaurs, while tech-savvy competitors will thrive. This isn’t just digital propaganda. The results are demonstrable. For instance, in the Deloitte Access Economics 2017 report, digitally advanced small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) were found to be 50 per cent more likely to grow revenue and earn 60 per cent more revenue per employee—a major incentive for contractors and sole traders to invest in digital tools. For those focused on business expansion, the report also determined that digitised SMEs were eight times more likely to create jobs and 14 times more likely to offer new products or services. In short, businesses lift when they focus on digital technology. Jason Loft, managing director of Protrade United, a consultancy for trade and construction businesses, agrees. “Paper-based may have been okay five years ago, but those businesses won’t last,” he says. “If businesses aren’t prepared to embrace technology, they’re going to get left behind because properly tech-equipped businesses can produce an outcome in a much shorter time frame and provide a more userfriendly experience for the client. That’s destined to be more profitable.”
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WHERE DO YOU START? The breadth of options and the functionality now available for digital technology is mind-blowing. For example, take the raft of apps that can scan invoices and receipts from your phone, extracting line items, processing attachments and integrating data directly with accounting software. With the sheer volume of options and new technologies becoming available almost daily, it can be difficult to get your head around what a digitally-advanced business in a construction context looks like. What tech is available, what do you need and where do you start? The task can seem overwhelming. MYOB’s head of Marketing and Digital Sales, Jane Betschel, breaks it down. “Our data shows growth and sustained success comes from digitising six core business processes: supplier management, staff management, revenue generation, work-inprogress management, cashflow and compliance,” she explains. “These are the areas where digital support is shown to benefit SMEs most. It can seem daunting at the start. But with all good things, taking time out to get started is the key. My advice is to start small. You’ll be much more effective if you take on one thing and fully understand it than you would be taking on half a dozen tools at once, with only top line understanding. Her next suggestion is to nail down
new technologies before moving on. “Whether you choose to take up social media, digitise your compliance requirements or invoice online, use that tool until you feel confident and at that point, your next step on the digital journey will undoubtedly become clear. Our research shows that the time taken to set up digital tools is a barrier for one in five of small businesses. However, the data demonstrates that one of the clear benefits to digitising is saving time. So carving out a bit of time now for bigger time savings down the track is not something you will regret.” ASK AROUND Loft agrees. “As with any major change, implementing new technology is difficult to start, messy in the middle, and beautiful at the end. So it’s being able to go, ‘Okay, what’s the outcome I want to create?’, having the patience and investing the time.”
PHOTO: RIDO - 123RF
“[Clients] are getting smarter and their expectations are a lot higher. With those expectations come demands for better reporting and improved transparency on projects. Software advances can assist with most of those things.” Hugh Campbell, national sales director, Nexvia However, he goes one step further and encourages businesses to speak to peers to gain intel. “It’s sensible to reach out to other business owners who have used the software you’re considering,” he explains. “That way you get some practical insights before undertaking a major investment. People are often very willing to share that information.” Betschel has another tip. “There are so many options, so make sure you do your research to source the best solution for you and your business,” she notes. “And make sure you explore the business platform providers offering trials so you can try before you buy.”
THINK ABOUT THE BIG PICTURE Hugh Campbell comes at it from a slightly different angle. When it comes to considering purchasing and implementing new systems, the national sales director of Nexvia (a specialist cloud-based construction management software company, that focuses on end-to-end solutions), considers that software unification is key. “I was guilty of this when I ran my own construction company for many years. I’d see a product and think, ‘Great, that solves the problem directly in front of me’. But ultimately, I was just adding to my pool of software, and solving individual problems but not integrating. It creates inefficiencies.”
IF NOTHING ELSE, YOUR CLIENTS EXPECT IT Campbell suggests also that part of the necessity for improved and integrated digital technology is driven by clients. “Your clients are getting smarter and their expectations are a lot higher,” he explains. “With those expectations come demands for better reporting and improved transparency on projects. Software advances can assist with most of those things. By having smarter data that’s shareable and live, it can make a huge difference on any job, whether it’s in relation to budget management, health and safety, delivery or just general communication.” CSS F.A.T. MAG 31
ADVERTORIAL
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RC Industries Australia, a leading manufacturer of specialty products and formulations for maintenance and repair professionals has introduced Weld-Aid, a line of maintenance products serving the welding industry. The Weld-Aid brand, which includes Nozzle-Kleen #2®, the world’s leading anti-spatter, focuses on three main causes of downtime for welders; spatter build-up, equipment maintenance, and wire cleaning and lubrication. Weld-Aid was established in 1958 as a division of the Roy Smith Welding Supply Company and it was soon realised there were opportunities to improve the
efficiency of the wire feed process in the welding marketplace. Today, Weld-Aid’s industry leading products are designed to both clean and lubricate the wire, reducing friction as the wire is fed to the torch. Murray Walbran, Managing Director for CRC Trans-Tasman explains, “Weld-Aid makes novice welders look good and good welders look great by increasing productivity and lowering the cost of welding consumables.” CRC Australia has launched twelve Weld-Aid products under three different product groups. l Nozzle-Kleen® - these products maximize tip, nozzle and diffuser life by preventing spatter build-up.
l Weld-Kleen® - these coatings minimize the need for grinding by preventing spatter build-up on parts and fixtures. These are a ready-to-use, waterbased product engineered to protect parts, clamps, tooling, and fixtures. l Lube-Matic® - pads designed to lubricate and clean and increase tip and liner life up to 300%. “The addition of the Weld-Aid brands and products will complement CRC’s existing product range and enhance our ability to meet and exceed our global mission to be the brand of first choice to our many customers within the MRO maintenance, auto repair and professional user base,” says Murray.
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and ergonomic design, the CM35 Mini Clipper fits seamlessly into the construction site, industrial environment or small workshop. The CM35 Mini Clipper masonry saw is a sturdy and efficient machine that provides clean and precise cutting for a wide variety of building materials such as bricks, block paving and roof tiles. For best results, use with Norton Clipper diamond blades. The CM35 has a maximum blade capacity Ø350mm x 25,4mm with a maximum cutting depth 125mm and length of 340mm with a maximum material height of 180mm l Pendular cutting head that allows
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efficient step cutting and longer blade life l Adjustable legs provides greater stability and improved comfort l Makes cutting building materials easier and more efficient, operators no longer have to stand or hold heavy cut-off saws for prolonged periods The CM35 also has additional optional accessories available such as a wheels & handles kit and water tray & pump. As a brand of Saint-Gobain, a world leader in sustainable habitat, Norton with over 130 years of expertise offers the widest portfolio of grinding, cutting, blending, finishing and polishing solutions for all markets.
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ADVERTORIAL
WHY USE A TITANIUM NITRIDE COATED GOLD SERIES DRILL?
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his is a commonly asked question, and the short answer is, they last longer. However, there is a longer story. The gold coating on the Alpha Gold Series drills is a Titanium Nitride (TiN) coating, that is applied using an advanced process called Physical Vapour Deposition (PVD) in a vacuum heat treatment plant. This process involves placing the ground and cleaned drills into a vacuum heat treatment chamber and creating a thin film coating using a low voltage electron beam with arc and magnatron sputtering.
The coating is extremely hard – approximately 85 HRC (Rockwell C scale) compared to about 55-60 HRC for the hardness of a drill body and has a very low friction co-efficient. Coatings can be applied in different thicknesses. Thin coatings are for rust resistance and appearance; thicker coatings are applied to industrial cutting tools such as jobber drills to significantly increase their life and durability. The secret to cutting tool life in any jobber drill lies in the quality of the raw materials that are used, the hardness and tempering process used on the
HSS material, and finally the design and grinding of the cutting edges. Once the coating is worn off, the underlying qualities of the drills are unchanged, and tools can still be reground or resharpened to extend life. Drills supplied by leading brands such as the Alpha Gold Series drills use an industrial thickness coating which significantly increases the life of the drill. Extensive independent testing has demonstrated that these drills provide over 30% more life and cutting durability than uncoated drills – making Alpha Gold Series Drills, Quality you can Trust!
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NEW KNIPEX TWINGRIP– MORE THAN EXCELLENT PLIERS
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anufacturing exclusively in Germany for more than 130 years, Knipex specialises in the development and production of high quality pliers and is Europe’s leading manufacturer of these products. With over a thousand separate styles and sizes, Knipex offers a complete range of pliers for many applications. Knipex pliers are designed to deliver high load bearing capacity and long service life. The new and exclusive Knipex TwinGrip Slip Joint Pliers are the all-purpose solution for stuck workpieces such as bolts and screws. These very slim pliers let you work even in confined installation
spaces with a narrow turning zone for fast results. They offer a unique combination— front grip and side grip function, box joint and push button adjustment. The high-grip front jaw with robust teeth offers a high gear ratio at the tip of the mouth. Knipex has also added another member to its pliers wrench range, the Pliers Wrench XS. With a length of only 100 millimetres, this versatile tool with a width across flats of up to 21 millimetres can tighten and loosen screws gently and much, much more. It has a continuous gripping capacity for all common widths, both metric and imperial. The high lever transmission joint means that workpieces can be securely gripped, held, pressed
or bent. Thanks to its compact design and very slim head, the Pliers Wrench XS is also perfect for working in the most confined spaces. The tool can be easily fine adjusted with one hand and has ten adjustment positions for different workpiece sizes by simply pushing. The sturdy slip joint offers great stability and long-term resilience, while a pinch stop prevents crush injuries. The high quality and vast range of Knipex pliers is assured by constant innovation in the function, performance and ergonomic features of each plier right through from design stage to production. Explore the exceptional Knipex plier range at CSS.
Our KNIPEX pliers wrench family
NEW Pliers Wrench XS
100 millimetre pure gripping strength Small. Handy. Versatile.
NEW
86 04 100
86 03 125
86 03 150
86 03 180
86 03 250
Although measuring only 100mm, the width across flats is 21mm! Tighten and loosen screws gently; workpieces can be reliably
86 03 300
held, pressed and bent Handy for many applications: precision engineering, plumbing, an essential part of any bicycle or motorcycle toolkit,
86 03 400
EDC (Every Day Carry), model making
CSS F.A.T. MAG 37
PROUDLY AUSTRALIAN SINCE 1917
38 CSS CSS F.A.T. Apr-Jun'22_Half MAG Fat Specials Page AD.indd
1
2/2/22 2:19 pm
ADVERTORIAL
WHY TAPS ARE MY FAVOURITE TOOL
R
ob Sutton explains his belief that there are two distinct kinds of people in the world and confesses his lifelong love affair with taps.
ONCE UPON A TIME…
My love affair with taps began at a physical level in my school days while working at the factory during the summer holidays. That passion continues to this day, based on the philosophical concept of value add. I am a confirmed Tap Person. To the uninitiated, a tap is a simple tool for cutting a thread into a drilled hole. This notion belies the subtlety of these tools and their profound effect on civilisation as we know it. In fact, you can cite the invention of a standardised 55-degree thread form by Joseph Whitworth in 1841 as a defining moment in world history.
HOW DO I LOVE THEE? LET ME COUNT THE WAYS…
It’s pretty safe to say that we would not be flying to London (or anywhere else) without tap thread technology for fastening parts. We might not even be sailing there in a metal ship… Look around at any mechanical device with any degree of sophistication, and you’ll find it is fastened with threads.
FORM AND FUNCTION
From a catalogue range perspective, the manufacture of a tap range is a logistical miracle in itself. The range of differently dimensioned blanks cover a variety of sizes and standards around the world.
Perversely, each corner of the world seems to have deliberately developed its own dimensions – commonly identified as ISO, DIN, JIS and ANSI. Each of these blanks have a 10mm tap, but with completely different dimensions. It’s actually not unlike Australia’s old railway gauge widths, where a train from one state couldn’t travel over the border – so passengers had to pile out and change trains. The taps will make a 10 mm thread, but the tap won’t fit in the holder of the collet! Compounding this, taps have multiple thread forms with multiple geometries over four basic design types – which makes for a truly staggering possible combination of tools.
Rob Sutton Commercial Director at Sutton Tools
PRECISION
It’s hard not to love a tool with a basic theoretical diameter tolerance of 10 microns that requires a gauge to assess the outcome in use. Diameter is really just a stepping off point; the tap thread form geometry is compounded by a wonderful confluence of flute helix angles, rake angles derived from multi radii flute shapes, raw material section and heat treatment and finally coatings and surface finishes.
APPLICATION
From its most basic form as a hand tool through to micron-perfect balanced production tools capable of producing volume threads in exotic alloys, tap manufacture dose border on a Black Art. (Hence Sutton Tools’ Black Magic range). The sublime subtlety of tapping leaves all other applications eating dust, as far as I’m concerned!
HAPPILY EVER AFTER…
At Sutton Tools we produce taps, endmills, drills and a very wide variety of cutting tools. Having spent countless hours discussing the subject with other Cutting Tool People, I am completely convinced that our section of the world is ruled by Taps People. Sadly, it’s a club that gets smaller each year as global consolidation strengthens its grip on our industry. But taps will always be our passion – and, with dedication, will always be very much alive wherever innovative, independent companies thrive.
CSS F.A.T. MAG 39
PUZZLES
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© Lovatts Puzzles
Brought to you by
ACROSS 1. Funnier 5. Lighthouse points 9. Pink-fleshed tropical fruit 12. Subtleties of meaning 16. Stockings fibre 17. Peru beast 18. Yogurt flavour 20. Illegally aided 22. Assess 23. Isolated 24. Cherishes 26. Midday sleep 27. Guru 28. Ecological 31. Parish minister 32. Reddish-brown pigment 34. Blood fluid 36. The plebs, ... polloi 37. Nationality 40. Argentina’s ... Peron 42. Seven-day periods 43. Desexes 45. Burden to excess 47. Nettled 49. Trade name 50. Raised (design) 52. Lords 54. Prized black fur 55. Malicious firesetting 56. Slow down! 58. Gains 59. Crustaceans 60. Bog fuel 61. Speech impediment 62. Epic tales 63. Rip violently 64. Actress, ... Kidman 67. In place, in ... 68. Indian bread 69. Hispanic American 72. Positive vote 74. Granting permit to 78. Aerobics centre 79. Ballpoint 80. Approximate hour of arrival (1,1,1) 81. Crisis 82. School (of fish) 85. Tricks 87. Up to (that moment) 88. Of this kind 90. Blind devotion 91. Burn 92. Depose 93. Roof edges 94. Wall recess 95. Having a lot to do 96. Mother’s sister 97. Entangle 100. Respirator, ... lung 102. Jumps high
103. New Testament Messiah 104. Link 106. Consume completely (3,2) 108. Cereal 109. Play on words 110. Scrape by, ... out a living 112. Mirages 116. Prevent from speaking 118. Disruptive weather feature (2,4) 120. Clay lump 121. Riding horse breed 123. Why & wherefore 125. London nightclub zone 126. Edible organs 127. Avert, ... off 128. Powered by battery or mains (1,1/1,1) 129. Agricultural 130. Australian gems 131. Cocktail, ... colada 132. Author, ... Carroll 134. Holy goblet 136. Fix (3-2) 139. Motivates 141. Nocturnal watch 142. Glossy fabric 144. Deficiency disease 146. Guiding beliefs 147. Showed (DVD) again 148. Pseudonym, ... de plume 149. Legalises 151. Assassin, hired ... 152. Undo (envelope) 155. Early sound movie 158. Herbs, bouquet ... 159. Phone line post (9,4) 162. Stadium 164. Filled with twinkling lights 165. Corroded 166. Was victorious 170. Native of Mecca 171. Utilised 172. US cotton state 173. Reside 174. Happen 175. Skilled performer 176. Hillbilly 177. Jugs 178. Trickster DOWN 1. Pack canines 2. Deeply shock 3. Impolitic 4. Rotate
5. Mess hall 6. Chums 7. Click (fingers) 8. Nursing pioneer, ... Nightingale 9. Tiny insect 10. Matured 11. Termite mound 12. Bare-skin enthusiasts 13. Annoyance 14. Idiosyncratic types 15. Souvlaki cooking rod 19. Jeans maker, ... Strauss 21. Coffee seed 25. Party nibbles 26. Enervated 29. Wears the crown 30. Guarantee 33. Unnecessary 35. Writer, Hans Christian ... 36. Duped 38. Largest Turkish city 39. Discounting 41. Plus 42. WWI, World ... One 44. Short text message (1,1,1) 46. Sharpshooter, Annie ... 48. Car shed 49. Cries (of sheep) 51. Bravely 53. Modern man, homo .... 55. Chafes 57. A long time ... 60. Don’t move, stay ...! 65. Not bearded (5-6) 66. Tibetan monks 70. Love affair 71. Trumpets & guitars 73. Earthquake’s midpoint 75. Tablet computer 76. Exposed film 77. Actor, Robert De ... 78. Amassing 83. Pleasant sanctuary 84. Rope circles 85. Fabled giant 86. Attach 89. Head covering 91. T’ai ... 92. Annihilation 96. Colorado ski town 98. Ponder, ... over 99. 13-19 year-old 101. Push 103. Envious 105. Spreads out untidily 107. Rubber plant farm
111. Jewish food custom 112. Romanticise 113. Unroll (flag) 114. People from Baghdad 115. September stone 117. Passion 119. International Olympic Committee (1,1,1) 120. Author, Agatha ... 122. Pitcher & batter sport 124. Snow-capped mountain 132. Language study 133. Pint-sized 134. Conferring 135. Extravagant 137. Roman X 138. Obstinately (3-8) 140. Acrobatic feat 141. Salvo 143. Cuddle up 145. Eyrie (5’1,4) 150. In so far (as) 153. Shipping route (3,4) 154. Waste away (of muscle) 156. TV reception poles 157. Holds to ransom 158. Japanese hostess 160. Republic of Ireland 161. Pare 163. Branched horn 166. Cattle parasite 167. Pin-up boy 168. Saying, mad as a March ... 169. Scandinavian
Sudoku
Sudoku
© Lovatts Puzzles
CSS F.A.S.T. MAG 41
SOLUTIONS
Brought to you by
Sudoku
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POLY WOVEN Strapping
the safer alternative to steel strapping IT’s Safer
IT’s Stronger
• Rolls are up to 1/4 the weight of Steel Strapping • No sharp edges to cut your hands on
• Tested and rated to 1100kg breaking strain (steel rates at only 904kg)
Scan the QR code to watch this video
It lasts longer • Buckles and Strapping won’t rust • Strapping is usable even if folded or tied in a knot !
POLY WOVEN STRAPPING A SAFER OPTION TO STEEL
STARTER KIT
POLY WOVEN STRAPPING POLY WOVEN STRAPPING A SAFER OPTION TO STEEL
A SAFER OPTION TO STEEL
STARTER KIT KIT INCLUDES:
• • • • • • RATED TO 1100KG BREAKING STRAIN Code: 10028
1 x 62m x 20mm coil 100 x heavy duty buckles 1 x ratchet tensioner 1 x tool box 1 x manual tensioner Instruction sheet www.constructionsupply.com.au Impact-A brand is owned
and distributed by CSS
STARTER KIT POLY WOVEN STRAPPING A SAFER OPTION TO STEEL
STARTER KIT KIT INCLUDES:
• • • • • • RATED TO 1100KG
1 x 62m x 20mm coil 100 x heavy duty buckles 1 x ratchet tensioner 1 x tool box 1 x manual tensioner Instruction sheet
BREAKING STRAIN
Code: 10028
www.constructionsupply.com.au Impact-A brand is owned
RATED TO 1100KG BREAKING Code: 10028
and distributed by
CSS
STRAIN
KIT INCLUDES:
• • • • • •
1 x 62m x 20mm coil 100 x heavy duty buckles 1 x ratchet tensioner 1 x tool box 1 x manual tensioner Instruction sheet
RATED TO 1100KG BREAKING Code: 10028
STRAIN
KIT INCLUDES:
• • • • • •
1 x 62m x 20mm coil 100 x heavy duty buckles 1 x ratchet tensioner 1 x tool box 1 x manual tensioner Instruction sheet
www.constructionsupply.com.au Impact-A brand is owned and distributed
by CSS
www.constructionsupply.com.au Impact-A brand is owned and distributed
by CSS
Strapping is easily lifting 550kg
Rated to 1100kg breaking strain
Get started with an Impact-A starter kit
42 CSS F.A.T. MAG
Won’t cut hands, and is easily disposed of
FROM SITE PREP TO SURFACE PREP Flextool offers a complete range of quality professional equipment and tools for the concrete and construction industry. With equipment and tools across a variety of categories, from soil compaction to concrete vibration and concrete power finishing, Flextool has the products you need to help complete any job from start to finish.
YOU’LL LIKE WHAT YOU FIND AT FLEXTOOL. Flextool is a registered trade mark of Parchem Construction Supplies Pty Ltd.
flextool.com.au
CSS STORE LOCATIONS CSS member stores are recognised by their ‘Proud Member of CSS sign’ displayed on their building. Be rest assured that the business displaying the sign is a trusted distributor of quality products that are backed by exceptional knowledge, service and support. These stores might all be independent traders, but due to their alliance with the CSS group, they work as a collective and can offer a national distribution opportunity for customers who require it.
If you need a national supply arrangement for your business, contact your nearest CSS member store.
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