ASSOCIATIONS
FTMA launches new website By Kersten Gentle Executive Officer FTMA Australia
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TMA Australia has launched its new website, FTMA News which provides members and visitors to the site with a wide range of new news columns and members resources. The new website columns, which we encourage members to participate in by recommending subjects or by contributing with their own stories, are: The Good, The Bad & The Ugly which gives fabricators and members to highlight what is good, what is bad and what is downright ugly about our industry. The first story for this segment focuses on bad and ugly delivery standards that are unacceptable. We encourage you to send your photos and a short description which will published anonymously. So send your comments and pictures to editor@ftmanews. com.au Biz Buzz provides a platform that can deliver information, ideas and support for our readers. The topics are many and so varied with one thing in common, they will be informative and thought provoking. Machinery for Sale is a great way for FTMA
Members to sell their equipment. We have had a strong track record for selling equipment at no cost to the member. If you have equipment for sale, please send photos and description to editor@ftmanews.com.au Protecting your business with TTIA is a segment which provides important information on Workplace Health & Safety and Industrial Relations that are critical to your businesses survival. If there are subjects you want to be covered in this session please let us know as this is your newsletter. FTMA News, the website, will also provide FTMA Members with additional benefits through the members only section which contains a wide range of fact sheets, credit applications, insurance benefits and policies which we will continue to build. The Preferred Suppliers page on FTMA News will allow users to access a wide range of contacts in areas important to our industry. For example, under Timber Suppliers you will be able to download PDF’s containing contacts for all our timber sponsors which will be followed by a list of all
timber sponsors who are members of FTMA Australia. It is important to provide these benefits for suppliers and as usual FTMA Australia strongly urges members to support those suppliers who support your industry. Too many company’s are happy to ride on the coat tails of others, whilst we think those that support your Association deserve your loyalty. One story that appears on the News page of the website is a Good story celebrating the recognition of Ed Serrano, Managing Director of Vekta Automation, who was selected at the 2018 Business News 40under40 Gala Dinner held at Crown Perth, as a 40under40 winner, finalist for the First Amongst Equals and winner of the Medium Business Category. First established in 2002, the 40under40 awards celebrate the passion, vision and achievements of Western Australia’s young business people and the contribution they are making to the state’s future. The awards received nearly one hundred nominations this year from a diverse range of business people mak-
ing a difference from all over the state. The judges were impressed with the way Ed has grown Vekta Automation. Starting from humble beginnings, the Razer Linear saw had poor market reputation when the intellectual property was first purchased, however, with the redevelopment of the Razer, the addition of supporting products, such as the P3 Printer, and their customer first focus, Vekta is now a leading manufacturer, servicing the truss and frame industry in Australia, New Zealand and North America. Ed was humbled to have received such a prestigious award and attributes his success to the support and encouragement he has received from his wife, Shelena. We know how that feels Ed, as Shelena has shown great support with FTMA. These are the types of stories we want to see. We also want to highlight the bad and the ugly as the only way we can address issues in our industry is by speaking to them. We encourage readers to visit www.ftmanews. com and ensure you have your say on our subjects moving forward.
Small business to be biggest winners from ‘reno’ boom More than 370,000 SME builders and tradies will be big winners as Aussie homeowners spend an expected $44 billion renovating their properties over the next five years. “The vast majority of home renovations are done by the small building businesses which make up 98% of our industry,” said Denita Wawn, CEO of Master Builders Australia. “The latest forecast of building and construction activity predicts that the renovation sector will go from strength to strength and continue to build on the decade high
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$8.3 billion in activity seen in the last financial year,” she said. “Renovations is already a key source of work for small and medium sized building firms. The $8.3 billion in renovation activity achieved last year is only the beginning and small builders and tradies can expect an average $8.8 billion pipeline of work each year,” Denita said. “The sector will be an important source of growth and jobs as the construction of new homes moderates from the historic high levels seen over the past few years,”
she said. “There is great news for builders outside the eastern states and in regional Australia. In fact, we expect growth in renovation work to be strongest outside the Melbourne and Sydney markets - in South Australia, Western Australia, Queensland and regional Australia,” she said. “Young men and women looking for a great career will also be winners as this growth will support more well-paying jobs in the building trades.
AUSTRALASIAN TIMBER APRIL 2018
FTMA Australia is an independent, national organisation representing fabricators of and suppliers to the timber prefabricated truss and wall frame industry in all Australian states & territories providing a unified voice, to protect and advance our mult-billion dollar industry. FTMA Australia thanks our dedicated supporters and encourages you to support those who support your industry GOLD SPONSORS
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Australasia
For a full list of the conditions of membership and a downloadable application form visit:
wwwftmaaustralia.com.au www.timberbiz.com.au