All Charged Up - REDARC Newsletter Summer 2022

2022 felt like a return to normality for many people and businesses, after a turbulent few years. For REDARC, 2022 was a year of milestone anniversaries, new product releases and growth, both physical and in workforce.

After purchasing the business in 1997, 2022 marked 25 years of ownership for Anthony and Michele Kittel. The entire REDARC head office team were excited to surprise Anthony and Michele on this milestone anniversary. Since purchasing the business, they’ve taken the original team of eight staff to over 350 people spread across Australia, NZ, the USA and Europe.

With an increasing workforce came a need for REDARC to establish office space on the eastern seaboard. Located in Mulgrave, east of Melbourne, this new office space allows us to be close to key customers and markets as well as onboard a variety of Melbourne based engineering and management staff.

With regular new product releases throughout the year, 2022 was a continuation of REDARC’s dedication to innovation. The BCDC Core represented a new iteration of our trusted BCDC charging technology, designed for in-cabin and canopy installations. We also released a new and improved range of solar blankets as well as expanded our range of wiring kits and brackets to aid in product installation.

2022 saw a return to both national and international travel for REDARC, with staff attending trade shows across Australia and around the world. A major highlight of this show calendar was being back at the SEMA show in Las Vegas and Automechanika in Frankfurt.

After the launch of REDARC Defence Systems Pty Ltd in 2019, 2022 saw the need for expansion and growth in the defence sector. With a new brand identity, REDARC Defence & Space allows us to add new capabilities and service offerings to the rapidly -evolving space sector. REDARC Defence & Space was also thrilled to be awarded a $23 million contract to supply LED lights for the first batch of three Hunter class warships.

Speaking on 2022 as a whole, REDARC’s Managing Director, Anthony Kittel, said, “The outstanding support of our customers, the talent of our team and their contribution to REDARC’s growth in 2022 has been amazing.”

On behalf of REDARC Group, we wish you and your staff a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

REDARC was honoured to receive the Award for Manufacturing and Advanced Materials at the 2022 Australian Export Awards, held on the 24th of November.

REDARC WINS 2022 AUSTRALIAN EXPORT AWARD.

REDARC was honoured to receive the Award for the Manufacturing and Advanced Materials Category at the 2022 Australian Export Awards. The Awards were co-presented by the Australian Trade and Investment Commission (Austrade) and the Australian Chamber of Commerce (ACCI).

The Manufacturing and Advanced Materials Award represents outstanding international success in manufacturing, engineering and advanced materials development, with REDARC up against category winners from each state.

This award win comes after REDARC previously received the Manufacturing and Advanced Materials, E-Commerce, and Exporter of the Year awards at the 2022 South Australian Premier’s Export Awards.

Managing Director, Anthony Kittel said, “This award is a great opportunity for all of REDARC’s staff to reflect on what we have achieved in regards to exporting our ruggedised portable power solutions globally.

“Being able to replicate our domestic success in export markets is so rewarding for us. Our export journey has taken great strides in the last few years and receiving recognition for that on a global stage is a wonderful achievement.”

Held at Parliament House in Canberra on the 24th of November, the Australian Export Awards were attended by REDARC’s Managing Director, Anthony Kittel, and General Manager Sales – International, Craig Herriot.

“Being named the winner of the Manufacturing and Advanced Materials category is such wonderful recognition of the strategy, team effort and determination for success demonstrated by the entire team,” said Craig Herriot.

Congratulations to all of the finalists and winners, particularly to Australian Exporter of The Year, Bubs Australia, one of Australia’s most successful and in-demand exporters of infant nutrition products. We would also like to congratulate fellow South Australian winners, in the Advanced Technologies Category, Fivecast, and the Emerging Exporter, MyVenue.

2022 marks the 60th year of the Australian Export Awards, Australia’s most prestigious and longest-running export awards program. The award program celebrates the achievement of Australian businesses exporting home-grown innovation to the world.

For more information about the awards, other nominees and winners visit exportawards.gov.au

REDARC Defence Systems have unveiled their new brand identity – REDARC Defence & Space – warranted by the company’s growth in defence and adding new capabilities and service offerings in the rapidly growing space sector.

REDARC DEFENCE SYSTEMS IS NOW REDARC DEFENCE

In 2019, REDARC launched REDARC Defence Systems, a dedicated business to meet the growing needs of the Australian Defence market and foster the development of intellectual property in Australia.

In the three years since its establishment REDARC Defence Systems, now REDARC Defence & Space, has seen year on year growth in an industry where winning work can take years of bidding and meticulous preparation.

Speaking on REDARC Defence & Space’s rapid growth, General Manager of SalesDefence, Mike Hartas, said, “Our growth across the defence and space sector is a testament to the increasing belief that Australia requires sovereign capability. We

& SPACE

are now not only supplying that on a global scale but also engaged in the space sector to provide advanced electronics, proving that our claim of building things tough remains critical to our success.”

REDARC Defence & Space has seen success in a variety of projects since launching in 2019 including LAND 116, LAND 121, Land 19 Ph7B, and Thermal Signature Enhancement Kits (RTSEK) as part of Multi Aspect Threat Emulation Systems (MATES), whilst servicing the global defence market through export sales. Anthony Kittel said, “Being able to deliver the latest sovereign electronic systems for defence is a credit to the positive

industry reputation built over 45+ years by REDARC Electronics.”

“Our growth into the space sector continues to demonstrate our products are built to survive in extreme conditions”

Anthony went on to say “As an Australian SME defence company, the decision to include space in the brand’s identity demonstrates our commitment to providing the best capabilities to our customers in Australia and overseas. The future looks very promising for us and the Australian defence and space industry.”

To find out more about REDARC Defence & Space and its new mission, visit redarc.com.au/defence

4th of November.

REDARC ATTENDS THE 2022 SEMA

SHOW.

REDARC’s booth and representatives were exhibiting in the West Hall for the entire four day event. We were excited to have a whole team in attendance at the event including Anthony Kittel, as well as members of our US Sales, Marketing, Product Management and Technical Teams.

“With so many opportunities in the US, we’re excited to be exhibiting at SEMA,” said Anthony Kittel, “It’s a great opportunity to showcase our award-winning, Australian made power and towing products. We’re looking forward to the educational seminars, product demonstrations and networking opportunities SEMA provides.”

We had our comprehensive line-up of award-winning power management and towing products such as the Tow-Pro and BCDC battery charging range on display. “We are excited to attend SEMA with vehicles from our North American fleet,” said Jason Groom, REDARC’s North American Sales Director. “With our truck on the show floor, we can point to real-life installations and capabilities made possible with our products.”

The REDARC stand featured our state-of-the-art Toyota Tacoma. The Tacoma holds two dual battery systems and is equipped with REDARC’s wide range of smart chargers, battery monitors, battery isolators, Tow-Pro electronic brake controllers and more.

The SEMA Show is the premier automotive specialty products trade event in the world, attracting over 2,400 exhibiters. It is said to draw the industry’s brightest minds and hottest products to one place.

Learn more about the SEMA Show at semashow.com

REDARC were excited to be once again exhibiting at the Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) Show in Las Vegas from the 1st to

In October, REDARC were excited to welcome fifty of our RedNetwork members from around Australia and New Zealand to our Lonsdale manufacturing facility for the inaugural RedNetwork conference.

The conference spanned two days and allowed our RedNetwork members to not only meet and network with REDARC staff and other members, but see the process behind our product manufacturing, research and development.

The conference included a factory tour, presentations from REDARC’s department managers, a rundown of what the future looks like for REDARC, and dinner and Q&A with Managing Director, Anthony Kittel.

Speaking on his experience at the conference, Tim Byrne from Belair Road Auto said, “As tradesmen, we talk about features that we’d like to have in the current product range and we’ve seen that those features are going to happen in the REDARC product range, which is exciting.”

The RedNetwork are a group of professional auto electrical businesses located throughout Australia and New Zealand who have been certified by REDARC to install REDARC products. These installers

are some of the most experienced, trusted and qualified in the industry, able to provide quality installation, service and workmanship.

We’d like to thank all of the RedNetwork members who came to Adelaide for the conference and look forward to welcoming them back to REDARC in the future.

Learn more about how your business can register its interest in joining the RedNetwork at redarc.com.au/rednetwork

For this edition’s REDNetwork Member Spotlight, we had a chat to Brent Nunn from Mont Eltham Auto Electrics in Briar Hill, Victoria, for a bit of insight into their business.

How long have you been an auto electrician and what’s your role within the business?

I started in the auto electrical field over 17 years ago and am currently the owner and manager of Mont Eltham Auto Electrics.

Tell us about your business. Mont Eltham Auto Electrics opened back in 1989. We’re currently located in Briar Hill in the northern suburbs of Melbourne and have ten staff within the business. How long have you been installing REDARC products?

We have been fitting REDARC products since the very beginning of Mont Eltham Auto Electrics.

What’s the best thing about going to work each day?

The best thing is being able to come in each day, work with our awesome staff and chat to our customers about their setups.

What is your greatest business achievement to date?

Still being in business after 33 years is definitely our greatest achievement. Out of all your staff who is…

The practical joker? Andrew

The all-rounder? Jaak

The calm under pressure? Jordan The diehard 4x4er? Jarad

The life of the party? Kian

The perfectionist? Kyle

If you could have a superpower, what would you like it be?

I’d like to be able to predict the future and change the outcomes before they happen, of course.

If you could share a meal with any four famous people, who would they be?

I’m not too sure, I’d probably rather have a fun dinner with my team instead!

REDARC

Run primarily by volunteers for over 60 years, the SA Sea Rescue Squadron is stationed at West Beach and regularly patrols between Grange and Port Willunga every weekend and public holiday. In the event of an incident, patrol boats are dispatched for rescues.

The SA Sea Rescue Squadron also facilitate Marine and Coast Radio and ashes at sea services.

As a major sponsor, REDARC are contributing funds towards the building of a new marine safety sign situated at the Squadron’s Operations Centre.

This new marine safety sign will be a groundbreaking initiative for the Squadron and provide vital information for South Australian water users including weather warnings, weather forecasts and tide information.

REDARC Managing Director, Anthony Kittel, was excited to announce the sponsorship at the SA Sea Rescue Squadron’s monthly general meeting on the 8th of August.

Speaking on the announcement, “When we were approached earlier in the year with an opportunity to sponsor the squadron, with many boaties in the team, it was a resounding yes.

“REDARC has a proud history of supporting community initiatives, particularly those local to our HQ and factory in Lonsdale.”

Often considered the world’s largest island, with most of our population based on the coast, the Sea Rescue Squadron play a vital role in keeping Australian boaties and coastline safe.

South Australia alone has over 54,000 registered marine vessels, and with so many beautiful beaches it’s critical that our coastlines stay protected as more people travel locally and spend time on the water.

REDARC are passionate about supporting the community and work to support other local organisations such as Orange Sky, Hutt St Centre, Junction Australia, Catherine House and the Royal Society for the Blind’s OPK9 program.

Learn more about the South Australian Sea Rescue Squadron at sasearescue.org.au

REDARC SUPPORTS THE SA SEA RESCUE SQUADRON.

are proud to be supporting the South Australian Sea Rescue Squadron in their mission to keep our local coastlines safe.

IN THE COMMUNITY

As the weather starts to warm up, the REDARC team is excited to get out and about to events and shows around the country.

REDARC AROUND THE COUNTRY.

Christmas is right around the corner and while we will be taking a short break over the holiday period, we’ll be at events around the country throughout summer.

DECEMBER

30 (November) – 3 - Fieldays, Mystery Creek, NZ

23 – 16 (January) - REDARC’s Christmas Closure

FEBRUARY

15 – 19 - Let’s Go Caravan & Camping Show, Adelaide

22 – 26 - Victorian Caravan, Camping & Touring Supershow

CHRISTMAS CLOSURE

REDARC will be closed from midday on Thursday December 22nd until Monday January 16th, 2023.

If you have any questions regarding this shutdown or your orders please feel free to contact REDARC at salesadmin@redarc.com.au or Hummingbird Electronics at admin@hmbe.com.au

We will have a skeleton staff available from Monday January 9th 2023 should you require urgent assistance.

In the case of an emergency during the shutdown, please contact your local Area Sales Manager:

SA/NT Kahlan Cester 0409 718 878

WA Gary Weir 0428 908 650

QLD Joel Maizey 0437 962 513

FNQ Brendon Edmonds 0427 286 781 NSW Graham McFarland 0439 856 265

VIC/TAS Ian Madanis 0418 156 036

NZ Kyle Chetty +64 21 192 6043

VISIT REDARC.COM.AU TODAY

Free Tech Advice - 1300REDARC (1300 733 272)

REDARC Electronics

ABN 77 136 785 092

power@redarc.com.au

Australia

Phone (08) 8322 4848 Fax (08) 8387 2889 International Phone +61 8 8322 4848 Fax +61 8 8387 2889

23 Brodie Road (North) Lonsdale, South Australia Australia 5160 221209-7485