Auslec Solutions 04

ISSUE 4SPRING 2010

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CONTEN TS 04 Out and about

06 Contract implementation

08 Branching out

10 Improving energy efficiency

14 Just another day on the 'tools'

18 Product cut

22 Being green

24 Branching out

28 Do you love your sunburnt country?

34 Sourcing safety information

Published By

L&H GroupA.B.N. 19730 781 473456 Lower Heidelberg Road, Heidelberg VIC 3084 AustraliaPh: +61 3 9243 3555www.auslec.com.au

EditorPaul StathisPh: +61 3 9381 [email protected]

ArtJulie WrightPh: +61 2 9487 [email protected]

Associate PublisherGavin Karthaus Ph: +61 3 9381 [email protected]

Production ManagerJulie WrightPh: +61 2 9487 [email protected]

Produced on behalf of L&H Group by

A division of Westwick-Farrow Media.

A.B.N. 29 001 621 861

Cnr. Fox Valley Road & Kiogle Street,(Locked Bag 1289) Wahroonga NSW 2076 AustraliaPh: +61 2 9487 2700

ISSN 1837-8021

All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or part without the permission of the publisher is strictly prohibited. Copyright L&H Group. Opinions expressed are those of individuals and are not necessarily those of the publisher. All information is believed to be correct at time of publication. All reasonable efforts have been made to contact copyright holders.

All material published in this magazine is published in good faith and every care is taken to accurately relay information provided to us. Readers are advised by the publishers to ensure that all necessary safety devices and precautions are installed and safe working proce-dures adopted before the use of any equipment found or purchased through the information we provide. Further, all performance criteria was provided by the representative company concerned and any dispute should be referred to them.

Welcome.

Welcome one and all to another issue

of Auslec Solutions — our magazine

for you, our customer, that aims to

inform, educate and entertain. We

hope you enjoy the read and continue

to let us know by emailing us at

[email protected].

Our team has been hard at work preparing for the

2010 Traders 500 trade show that will visit Perth,

Adelaide, Melbourne, Brisbane and Sydney this year.

Traders 500 has become a ‘must-attend’ event for all

serious electrical and industrial personnel — have a

look at Out & About starting on page 4 for more info

on how you can attend and be in the running for some

sensational prizes.

As we head towards the end of winter and our minds

and bodies start wishing for warmer weather, some of

us will invariably start thinking about ways to enjoy the

great outdoors again. This being the case, you may

want to take a 5-minute holiday by reading our fantastic

article on game fishing in North Queensland starting

on page 14 — it won’t be hard to picture yourself in

this scenario!

Here at Auslec, we are continually looking at ways

to expand our product offering and help our custom-

ers gain the knowledge and expertise to improve their

profitability. If you haven’t already done so, now is the

time to add Solar capabilities to your business. Whether

it’s from an energy-efficiency perspective for your own

business or adding another stream to your electrical

and data offering, you literally can’t afford to miss our

insight into Solar on page 28.

Like to see something particular in Auslec Solutions?

If so, why not let us know. In fact, just tackle an Auslec

staff member at your local Traders 500 event and tell

them — and have a small wager with them on the footy

finals while you’re at it!

All the best,

Robin Norris

Chief Executive Officer

L&H Group

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and about

*out The Purple Boots Brigade

What goes around comes aroundTranspacific Cleanaway has been a long-

standing customer of Auslec, so it was with great

enthusiasm that Auslec and L&H Group are

trialling an initiative of Transpacific Cleanaway.

Introducing the Harvest Recycling Program

to the group, Transpacific Cleanaway is well

on the way to providing a waste management

solution to all 180 L&H Group sites throughout

Australia.

L&H 500: a roaring success

Auslec customer Minerals and Metals

Group (MM Group) has put its best foot

forward by implementing the Purple Boots

Brigade program at its Century mine in

Queensland.

The Purple Boots Brigade program is an

initiative of the Western Australian Breast

Cancer Foundation and involves mining

and other companies purchasing purple

boots for their employees. With each boot

purchase, $20 is donated to support the

Foundation’s breast cancer awareness and

education programs around Australia.

Jillian D’urso, Communications Advisor

for MM Group, said: “Century has a long

history of supporting charities so the

women at our site immediately wanted to

be involved in this program. Most women

are now proudly wearing their boots around

our Lawn Hill mining and processing and

Karumba Port operations.”

More than 80 pairs of Steel Blue purple

boots have been purchased through Auslec

branches by MM Group.

Jillian continued: “By joining the Purple

Boot Brigade and wearing the boots, it

shows that our staff and organisation are

serious about this cause and take pride in

our efforts in helping with breast cancer

awareness and education.”

With the risk of breast cancer increasing

with age, it is alarming to note that one in

nine women will be diagnosed with breast

cancer before the age of 85.

For more information on breast cancer

awareness and details on how you can

join the Purple Boot Brigade, visit www.

purpleboots.com.au.

The Harvest Recycling Program is a best-

practice recycling program that recycles

packaging waste, including cardboard,

polystyrene and clear plastic.

The nature of L&H Group’s business is such

that vast amounts of plastic, cardboard and

packaging waste is acquired and the challenge

is how to manage this effectively. As 90% of

this waste is recyclable, the Harvest Recycling

Program is designed to capture and manage

this waste in one bin, recycle it and — most

importantly — divert it from ending up in

landfill.

“By introducing the Harvest program, we now

have one point of origin at all of our sites for all

cardboard, plastic shrink wrap and polystyrene

waste,” said Auslec National Sales Manager —

Mining Greg Miller. “We look for efficiencies in all

areas of our business and advise our customers

to do the same, so it makes complete sense for

us to embrace a program like Harvest.”

Waste reduction in the first instance and

recycling in the second is now a clear focus for

all L&H Group staff who have welcomed the

opportunity to ‘go green’, while at the same

time supporting a long-standing customer. It

just proves that what goes around, comes

around.

Philip Island cemented its reputation as the

best racing circuit in Australia earlier this

month when it hosted another fantastic

round of V8 Supercars — the L&H 500.

A 500 km test of man and machine

around one of the world’s greatest motor

racing circuits provided fans with an edge-

of-their-seat experience.

Running over an action-packed three

days, the pace was as fast and furious off

the track as it was on it. Auslec customers

enjoyed the whole experience including

participating in pit lane and garage

tours conducted by Ford Performance

Racing.

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*out

and about

Smarter Clothing … smart thinkingSmarter Clothing is a specialist business within

L&H Group, focused on creating customised

value-added uniform solutions for customers.

Smarter Clothing has been supplying uniforms

to some of Australia’s leading companies since

1995.

First developed in 2002, Smarter Clothing’s

free online Apparel Management Solution (AMS)

gives the customer complete control over what

their company purchases, who purchases the

clothing and how much is purchased.

The world’s biggest branch!

QME hots up …“A roaring success” is how Greg Miller,

Auslec National Sales Manager — Mining,

described the recent QME Expo in

Mackay.

With leading products and services on

display from Energy Contracts, Supply

Pro, 300K Enterprises, Smarter Clothing,

Pacific Datacom and Rittal, there was great

interest from the 10,000-plus visitors over

the three-day event.

Miller added: “Now we’ve got our work cut out for us over the next few weeks following

up the interest shown by many of our existing and ‘soon to be’ customers!”

Perth Convention & Exhibition Centre 17 September

Adelaide AEEC – Showground 24 September

Melbourne Convention & Exhibition Centre 21, 22 October

Brisbane RNA Showground 11, 12 November

Sydney Convention & Exhibition Centre 2, 3 December

It’s on again! L&H Group is proud to present

the 2010 Traders 500 trade show. Exclusively

for individuals and groups in the electrical and

industrial sectors, Traders 500 boasts 40+

leading suppliers showcasing the latest in

world’s-best products and technologies.

Attendees wi l l learn from expert

demonstrations, be able to discuss their

upcoming projects and requirements, ‘test

drive’ the latest and greatest new product

developments and network with industry

colleagues.

And if that’s not enough, everyone who

attends has the opportunity of winning the

L&H FPV Ford GTP!

All you have to do is attend Traders 500

in your state, pick up a key booklet at the

registration desk and get it stamped by each

supplier. Once completed, hand your key

booklet to an L&H staff member to claim your

key and attempt to unlock the padlock. If you

have the opening key, you’ll be flown to the

Homebush round of V8 Supercars in Sydney

with other state winners where the ultimate

winner of this fantastic car will be drawn on

4 December 2010.

Don’t miss out on Traders 500 — you owe

it to yourself and your customers.

Visit www.connectionsoz.com.au for

further information.

From quite humble beginnings, AMS has

undergone significant enhancements and now

boasts features that take the hassle out of

uniform management. It includes things such

as an online customer-approved and -controlled

Uniform Catalogue (Garment Basket), an

animated fitting and measuring guide, along

with a comprehensive suite of management

reports to ensure trackable and accurate uniform

purchasing.

Smarter Clothing understands and appreciates

that each customer’s uniform requirements are

unique and, as such, prepares a customised

Solution Blueprint for each client that details

how their specific clothing requirements will be

met. A Solution Blueprint includes uniform tax

advice, OHS guidelines, an implementation plan

and, of course, pricing options.

Uniforms are integral to how a business is

perceived by others and Smarter Clothing can

help create a truly unique uniform to enhance

brand recognition and set a company apart

with their Made to Order (M2O) service. Style

consultants work closely with customers to

guarantee the look that each brand deserves,

while expert teams guide customers from

sketch stage to final style selection to create an

outstanding custom uniform. Several levels of

customisation are available to accommodate

budget and time requirements.

For more info, visit www.smarterclothing.

com.au.

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Proper implementation of supply contracts

is all about understanding and exceeding

customers’ expectations and ensuring

suppliers get it right. The first few weeks

of any new contract are critical, as this is

the time that suppliers are normally put to

the test by customers.

Auslec’s Contract Implementation pro-

gram aims to exceed customers’ expecta-

tions by pre-empting issues and thereby

reducing potential errors. It’s centred on

everyone understanding Auslec’s com-

mitment to its customers, the customers’

expectations of Auslec (at site and national

levels), and then supporting the business

during initial set-up. This is done through a

standard, formalised process that ensures

that Auslec is fully prepared and able to

meet customers’ service and key perform-

ance expectations from the first order being

received and beyond.

It also helps the branches. By identifying

all the tasks for a successful implementa-

tion and ensuring the people within the

responsible business actually complete

the tasks before first orders are received,

branches are less likely to experience

major issues.

Stage 1: Customer Head Office Process

Review gains a complete understanding of

customers’ business processes, expecta-

tions and needs from the national-office

perspective to best position Auslec to

deliver on the intent of the contractual

commitments and to create the overall

implementation rollout and timeline. This

is accomplished by meeting with customer

head-office personnel responsible for the

contract to complete the review docu-

ment, addressing the scope of agreement,

cataloguing, purchasing, compliance and

accounts-payable processes.

Stage 2: Site Process Review ensures

the local Auslec personnel responsible for

managing the customers’ requirements on

a day-to-day basis are fully aware of and

equipped to meet customers’ expectations,

and all steps are taken to reduce errors in

supply. The focus is:

For site-champion/procurement repre- ·

sentatives — local purchasing/inventory

management, delivery/receipting, invoicing/

payment and compliance processes; and

For engineering, maintenance and OHS ·

representatives — brand standardisation,

shutdowns, catalogue libraries, supplier

analysis and training.

Stage 3: Branch Process Review ensures

personnel responsible for managing custom-

ers’ requirements on a day-to-day basis

are fully aware of and equipped to meet

expectations, and all steps are taken to

reduce errors. Key points reviewed are:

Branch understands customer site- ·

ordering and receiving processes, hours

of operation and key personnel;

Internal account manager (IAM) completes ·

‘Managing Industrial Business’ training;

IAM has access and training on sav- ·

ings identification and Value Plus proposal

program; and

Branch stock profile in place to sup- ·

port contact and supply chain for specific

products.

Demonstrating how the Contract Im-

plementation program is successfully put

into practice is the recent agreement with

Tasmanian Ports Corporation (Tasports) to

supply industrial clothing and PPE.

Tasports operates nine facilities across

Tasmania, providing port services, pilotage,

towage and slipway operations, infrastruc-

ture, property management, security and

cold-store management.

Tasports’ commitment to ‘zero harm’

workplaces meant Auslec had to provide

high levels of safety performance, as well

as meeting the added challenges of variable

and sometimes harsh climate conditions.

Auslec’s Mike Jones, Garth Geeves,

Jennine Higgs and relevant branch staff,

together with Tasports’ Scott Hannaford,

visited several sites across Tasmania to

assess special requirements and supply

conditions. Providing a standardised product

across the Tasports group was particularly

challenging, requiring special assessment

and discussion with key facility staff.

The nine ports will be serviced and sup-

plied by Auslec through its Hobart, Launce-

ston, Devonport and Burnie branches.

“Our group has coverage, service and

a range second to none,” says Jones.

“Plus, to match Tasports’ special needs,

we increased stock levels and product mix

to ensure we deliver the right product on

time, every time.

“Auslec is geared to assist companies like

Tasports to achieve their core objectives;

and our service underpins our belief in what

we do for our valued customers.”

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IMPLEMENTATION

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The city of Newcastle, to the north of

Sydney, is synonymous with heavy indus-

try. Most of us would immediately think

of coal, steel mills and shipping.

It was only a couple of years ago

that all of Australia’s attention was

focused on the Japanese freighter MV

Pasha Bulker, which ran aground on

Nobbys Beach, outside the entrance

to the port of Newcastle, in a violent

storm. The freighter was moored just

offshore with another 55 ships, waiting

to load 58,000 tonnes of coal, when

the storm hit.

Reading about that incident was an

education for many of us about just how

substantial Newcastle’s freight handling

is, and how important the city is for

Australia’s economy.

Auslec Newcastle branch man-

ager Peter Barkowski is acutely

aware of how significant Newcastle is

to Australia’s commercial landscape

and works hard to support the

industries that support Newcastle’s

operations.

“Our niche is our diverse product

offering,” says Barkowski. “While most

of the staff at our branch have come

from an L&H electrical background,

we have forged a unique service of-

fering in our area. While the electrical

side of the business will always be

our strength, we have also built a

strong business in the safety, industrial

and heavy-engineering markets. It’s within

these markets that we think we can con-

tinue to grow by offering our customers

a greater value proposition.

“Our typical customer mix consists

of industrial manufacturing, railway in-

frastructure, food processing, aluminium

smelting and mining operations, as well

as electrical construction and general

construction contractors, dredging,

rail, ports, hospitals, TAFE colleges

and utilities. So, as you can see, we

service customers from a wide range

of industry sectors, all with specific

needs. Our team has developed strong

relationships with our customers, so we

understand and tailor our services and

products to meet their needs.”

The branch has 11 staff and is ex-

tremely proud of their achievements —

collectively, they have over 130 years’

experience between them.

Barkowski outlines their impressive

record in more detail: “Three of our

staff have been inducted into the 25

years+ ‘Wall of fame’ at NSU, another

two guys have received their 15-year

service awards, two more have over

10 years, one’s at five years, another

is at two years and we have two

relatively new starters. But these two

only recently replaced another couple

of long-termers, who have transferred

to the new Integrated Supply branch

at Donaldson Coal. Our customers like

the fact that they see and speak to

people they know.”

The branch is in its fourth year of

operation, residing in a purpose-built

facility that has over 1000 m2 of office,

showroom, warehouse space and a

spacious conference/training facility.

The branch primarily services the

needs of local industry, with the ma-

jority of its customer base situated

within a 15 km radius of Newcastle.

It also services the Hunter Valley

Coal Area.

Newcastle, New South WalesBranch Manager — Peter BarkowskiBranch/warehouse floor space — approx 1000 m2

Number of staff — 11

P: (02) 4961 2022E: [email protected]: 3 Revelation Close, Tighes Hill, NSW 2297

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IMPROVING EnErGy EfficiEncy IN INDUSTRIAL FACILITIES

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Industrial facilities are renowned for consum-

ing more energy than most other facilities,

so it makes good sense to look for ways

to make the buildings in all of these facili-

ties more energy efficient. But where do

you start?

For many existing industrial sites, the

obvious place to start is electrical con-

sumption. Heavy machineries like welders,

compressors, conveyors and cranes use

lots of electricity. Lighting large spaces for

long periods of time is commonplace and

also consumes considerable amounts of

electricity. Likewise, electric heating can

be an inefficient choice for heating large

volumes of workspace.

There are other places to improve the

energy efficiency of an industrial building,

like improving the building’s design or its

thermal insulation, but these are often too

complex, too impractical or too expensive

to be worth doing to an existing building to

realise the potential gains. Whereas, there

are many ways to improve the efficiencies

of electrical services in an existing building

without having to incur too much cost or

make major structural alterations to the

buildings. And these can be done without

compromising the operations or the comfort

of workers.

increasing energy efficiency in

existing buildings

When it comes to the electrical services of

existing industrial buildings, power factor

correction is an excellent place to start.

The presence of numerous inductive and

capacitive loads can significantly reduce

power factor, silently rendering a facility very

inefficient. And because industrial operations

are dynamic environments, with equip-

ment and plant frequently being changed,

power factor must be regularly checked

and corrected.

A large Melbourne-based printing com-

pany recently installed a power factor correc-

tion system to smooth current to its printing

machines, and this resulted in a significant

improvement to the plant’s efficiency and

several thousands of dollars a year saved

from lower electricity bills. With a payback

on the equipment of less than three years,

it was an obvious decision for the owners

of that business to make.

Energy-efficient lighting can also make

a big difference to electricity consumption.

T5 fluoros with high-efficiency reflectors

are the norm in many offices these days,

so it makes sense to deploy them where

appropriate in industrial facilities as well.

In large spaces, replacing sodium-vapour

high-bay lamps with metal-halide lamps

also yields significant energy savings. And

don’t forget to look into the various forms

of light fittings that use LEDs to not only

reduce energy consumption, but also

lengthen lamp life that, in turn, minimises

maintenance requirements.

Adding lighting control systems that

incorporate sensors and intelligent software

also adds to the effectiveness of energy-

efficient lamps. The printing company

we mentioned earlier installed a lighting

control system that effectively made its

2000 fluorescent tubes run in economy

mode all the time, without diminishing the

lighting output or quality.

increasing energy efficiency in new

buildings

A great place to start in finding ways to

make a new industrial facility more energy

efficient is the Green Building Council of

Australia (GBCA). To assist companies in

their pursuit of energy efficiency, the GBCA

recently developed a tool for rating industrial

facilities — the Green Star - Industrial v1

rating tool. This tool assesses the envi-

ronmental attributes of new industrial base

buildings and can also be used on refur-

bished buildings. It can be applied at either

the design or the post-construction phase,

although fit-outs and industrial processes

are not included in the assessment.

According to the GBCA, the Industrial

Green Star rating is designed to help own-

ers and operators of industrial buildings

minimise the environmental impact of their

buildings, improve their bottom-line business

performance, improve staff productivity and

wellbeing, create long-term shareholder

value, receive recognition for green leader-

ship and achieve real cost savings.

The rating tool is designed to be used

by owners, developers and consultants

(including architects, engineers, quantity

surveyors, project managers, ESD consult-

ants, etc).

The Green Star - Industrial v1 rating tool

takes into consideration the unique require-

ments and impacts of industrial facilities.

As such, the number of credits within

categories and the category weightings

vary from other Green Star rating tools.

Credits specific to industrial facilities include

energy efficiency, resource conservation, air

distribution systems and small occupied

spaces. It also includes a greenhouse gas

emissions calculator that assesses all indus-

trial buildings equitably, independent of size

or location, on their predicted greenhouse

gas emissions during operation.

The rating tools have been developed

to be equitable across building sectors.

This means a 5-Star Industrial project will

demonstrate a similar level of industry

leadership as 5-Star Office project.

Green Star ratings are awarded as:

4 Star Green Star Certif ied Rating ·

(weighted score of 45–59) signifies ‘best

practice’;


(weighted score of 60–74) signifies ‘Austral-

ian excellence’; and


(weighted score of 75–100) signifies ‘world

leadership’.

A great place to start

finding ways to make a

new industrial facility

more energy efficient

is the Green Building

council of Australia.

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Projects with ratings of 1, 2 or 3 Stars

cannot receive certification, as these ratings

represent minimum, average and good prac-

tice, whereas Green Star aims to recognise

and reward best practice and above.

Commenting on the importance of

attaining an industrial facility achieving

a significant Green Star rating, GBCA’s

Green Star Executive Director, Robin Mel-

lon, said: “Building ‘green’ provides the

greatest, most cost-effective opportunity

to tackle climate change. Importantly,

this action, and its positive impact, can

be taken quickly.

“Green Star evaluates the green attributes

of building projects based on nine criteria.

An assessment of 95 recently certified

Green Star projects around Australia found

that buildings with Green Star certification

achieved an average 36% reduction in green-

house gas emissions when compared with

‘business-as-usual’ building practices.

“There is no ‘one-size-fits-all’ approach

to building green. The Green Star system

offers a range of solutions for develop-

ments to achieve maximum economic and

occupant health benefits, while reducing

their environmental impact.”

An example of a sustainable new de-

velopment is a distribution centre recently

built in Melbourne by a large logistics

company, where they primarily focused

on the electrical services to maximise

energy efficiency.

LED lighting was installed for all outdoor

areas — car parks, perimeter doors and

truck bays — because of its low energy

consumption and instant full brightness.

Bi-level metal-halide lamps were installed in

the warehouse to provide uniform lighting,

while T5 fluorescents in the offices were

set to 200 lux instead of the conventional

400 lux levels, with task lighting motion

sensors used to increase lighting levels

when required. The warehouse lighting

is constantly monitored and optimised

to consume the lowest possible energy,

while still complying with Building Code

of Australia (BCA) lighting levels.

The electrical system was all linked to

Clipsal C-Bus to ensure everything ran ef-

ficiently and staff didn’t have worry about

turning things off to conserve energy. Vari-

able refrigerated volume air conditioning

was also installed and linked to the BMS

to sample air quality and intelligently switch

between air conditioning and ventilation,

further reducing energy consumption.

Learning more about energy

efficiency

The National Electrical and Communica-

tions Association (NECA) has an excellent

program — EcoSmart Electricians — to

enable electricians and electrical contrac-

tors deliver energy-efficiency solutions for

their clients. The program is made up of

training and accreditation.

The training provides a broad understand-

ing of the concepts of energy efficiency

utilising modern technologies and products.

The training covers topics such as energy

management, lighting, solar-generation

systems, pumps, fans, motors and heat-

ing and cooling. The EcoSmart Electricians

training program is run in all states through

the local NECA state chapters.

Once training is complete, participants

are provided with a nationally recognised

certification that enables them to promote

their knowledge and training as a unique

selling point to their customers.

Below are some of the advantages that

EcoSmart Electricians are able to present

to their customers:

Over 50% of an industrial organisation’s ·

energy costs can be in the running of pumps,

fans and motors. EcoSmart Electricians

are trained to assess and offer advice to

improve system reliability and efficiency. This

advice can provide cost savings, higher

profits, lower energy costs and reduced

greenhouse gas emissions.

EcoSmart Electricians will be able to ·

recommend energy-efficient lighting for

specific environments and applications that

can reduce energy use and save operating

expenses.


advise customers on the most efficient and

cost-effective heating and cooling options

for specific needs and building types.

EcoSmart Electricians will be able to as- ·

sess and advise customers on the best solar

solutions for both hot-water and photovoltaic

energy-generation applications.


advise customers on the most suitable

sensors that can be used to turn off and

on lighting and other energy-consuming

appliances as required. ”

“Building ‘green’

p r o v i d e s t h e

greatest, most cost-

effective opportunity

to tackle climate

change. importantly,

this action, and its

positive impact, can

be taken quickly.

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The original Masterpact M chassis is kept (no intervention on the switchboard structure)

Masterpact NW adapted for the "Plug & Play" solution

Masterpact M

30 minutes* to retrofit your air circuit breaker on your main switchboard!Was your air circuit breaker installed before 2003? The "Plug & Play" solution delivered by Schneider Electric enables a fast and simple retrofit of your existing Masterpact M device to the latest technology of Masterpact NW. The existing Masterpact M chassis is retained. Busbar and cable connections are not disturbed, only the circuit concerned needs to be isolated (for as little as 30 minutes*).

* Typical time for simple installations Need more information?Contact your local Auslec or L&H branch

Give your switchboard a new lease on life with "Plug & Play"

Fast and easy implementation

Certified "Plug & Play" solution

Continuity of service guaranteed

www.schneider-electric.com.au Electrical Contractors LicencesSchneider Electric (Australia) Pty Limited is licensed under the relevant state electrical safety acts: QLD: 66116; NSW: 150195C; VIC: 17615; SA: PGE210184; WA: EC008813; NT: C2356

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JUST ANOTHER DAyon tHE ‘tooLs’

Each year, from

september through to

December, the Great

Barrier reef in far north

Queensland becomes

the migratory destination

for the world’s most

elusive and prized game

fish — the black marlin.

Serious big game anglers from around

the world have, for years, been drawn to

this fishing ‘Mecca’ in the hope of land-

ing and tagging a ‘grander’ — a black

marlin that weighs in at over the magical

1000 pounds.

Auslec Solutions recently joined skipper

Wayne ‘Vinyl’ Viney aboard his 40-foot

purpose-built Wet & Wild for a first-hand

look at what makes these fish such a

sought-after catch.

Vinyl has been fishing these waters for

over 20 years and looks forward to early

September each year when large female

black marlin migrate to the breeding ground

between Lizard Island to the north and

Cairns to the south — a distance of some

130 nautical miles (240 km).

Making our way out from Cairns at 8

am, the water ahead of us was like glass,

as Wet & Wild’s twin 450 HP Volvo Penta

engines accelerated us to 30 knots. Turn-

ing to the north, Vinyl eased back on the

throttle and the bow dropped effortlessly

into the water as we achieved our cruising

speed of 24 knots — a speed that would

see us with our lines in the water in a little

over two hours.

Motoring north, we were joined by a small

pod of dolphins majestically surfing our bow

wave as Vinyl explained that it’s generally

accepted that the best fishing occurs from

around 2 pm till the early evening, and that

we would be using yellowfin tuna trolled off

two rods from the outriggers.

Deckhand ‘Robbo’ curses as a hook

pierces his thumb. “you’d think he’d have

the hang of it after six years,” muses Vinyl,

to which Robbo responds with a weath-

ered glare developed over many a marlin

season.

Marlin fishing is universally recognised as

the ‘Formula One’ of game fishing and, like

that sport, has a hefty financial component to

it. Whilst initially a little coy, Vinyl eventually

reveals that his ‘barge’ set him back “a little

north of $800,000”. He quickly adds: “I see

it as a home away from home though — at

least that’s what I tell the missus!”

Two and a half hours after leaving Cairns

and some 35 nautical miles from shore, we

reached an area of the reef that Vinyl was

comfortable with. His charts, sounder and

20 years of experience suggested that this

is where our search would begin. Robbo

spent most of the time on the way out

ensuring everything was in order — live bait

at the ready, lures chosen and beer on ice

for the return trip.

Vinyl’s depth sounder located a school

of baitfish, so we began trolling at the pe-

destrian pace of five knots along the edge

of a reef. As black marlin are notoriously

opportunistic in their feeding habits, it’s not

unusual for this method to produce a result

as they round up the baitfish.

Vinyl remained observant and vigilant

on the flybridge as he manoeuvred Wet &

Wild along the reef line, contending with

the slight wind that had developed and

the cross current we were encountering.

Robbo, on the other hand, took the op-

portunity to rig up a couple of smaller lines

with the view to landing some reef fish as

we meandered along.

“It’s not really fishing if you don’t catch

anything,” he said, revealing his first smile

since we left Cairns.

Excitement grew on deck as one of the

reels let out a dull scream. It’s obvious from

the lack of interest from the flybridge that

this was not a prized ‘grander’ or even a

black marlin, but that didn’t stop us from

scurrying around removing the rods that

could impede the fight. Within minutes, a

Spanish mackerel was alongside the boat

and Robbo expertly delivered the gaff to its

torso. Weighing in at a healthy 30 lb, the fish

was promptly put on ice and all lines returned

to the water to continue our hunt.

Charter game fishing in these waters is

favoured not only by Australians, but by

people from all over the world. Hollywood

celebrities and sports stars share the same

exuberance as ordinary Australians in hoping

that they land the fish of a lifetime. Boats

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like Wet & Wild, with their hotel-like facili-

ties, ensure that no one wants for comfort,

while skippers like Vinyl are treated like

the school teacher that no one wants to

disappoint — for without them, landing a

black marlin would be about as probable

as Robbo telling a joke.

Since the marlin season had only just

commenced, many of the ‘mother ship’

charters are yet to set off. This form of game

fishing is the ultimate experience, whereby

a mother ship and game fishing boat are

hired together, with anglers returning to the

mother ship each evening to enjoy 5-star

accommodation and service. Mother ships

are positioned within easy reach of the fishing

grounds and allow for an easy pursuit if and

when the skipper declares “game on”.

Back on Wet & Wild, Vinyl decided to try

our luck on a small reef 40 nautical miles

further north. This time lures would be used

to try and entice the elusive marlin.

An hour passed with little to get excited

about when, almost simultaneously, two rods

made a cracking sound in their holders and

the glistening lines were extracted from the

reels at a rate of knots that put our boat

speed to shame.

Seconds later, one line fluttered loosely

in the breeze, suggesting that whatever

was on the other end was now the proud

owner of one of Vinyl’s favourite lures. But

the other line remained taut.

Black marlin are a serious running fish,

so reels are fitted with over 600 m of line

to allow for the marathon fights that can

ensue. Confrontation between man and

fish can sometimes last many hours, with

the marlin alternating between ‘going to

sleep’ and ‘running like its life depends on

it’ — which it invariably does.

Shouting in a calm but direct manner

from the flybridge, the skipper turned the

boat, suggesting that this fish was one

worth fighting for. It was quickly apparent

from the instant flurry of activity that we’d

hooked a black marlin, as the partnership

of Vinyl at the helm and Robbo on deck

swung into action.

No sooner had we cleared a work area

free from rods and bait boards, our prey

made a dramatic jump from its watery

playground. With its entire body seem-

ingly suspended in mid air, all on board

expressed loud and excited ‘wows’ and

‘ohs’ — except for Robbo. He’d seen

this all before and we got the feeling that,

unless it’s a ‘grander’, it’s just another day

in the office for him.

This fish clearly had an enormous will to

survive as it ran and dove in an attempt to

break its restraint. Looking from the back

of the boat, we saw our quest break the

surface a good 150 m away and hold its

ground; seemingly in an attempt to regain

its composure before the next run.

Vinyl estimated the fish weighed some-

where around 440 lb as he continued to posi-

tion Wet & Wild between it and the channel

the marlin was so desperately trying to reach.

With the rod bent back on itself and the line

as tight as a guitar string, the dynamic of

our situation changed instantly.

Clearly, it was not to be our day, as after

15 minutes of fighting, our marlin had twisted

and turned its way to freedom, leaving us

all a little disappointed, yet thrilled with our

encounter with such a stunning creature.

Seeing it dance above the water with a

combination of elegance and brute force

left a picture ingrained in our minds.

With a three-hour journey ahead of us

to get back to port, Vinyl pointed Wet

& Wild in a southerly direction and once

again opened up the throttle to reach our

25-knot cruising speed.

In our ice box were a couple of Span-

ish mackerel, a decent-sized snapper and

a couple of dozen oysters. Okay, so the

oysters were on the boat when we left

Cairns, but they went down a treat with

the beers that Robbo had so expertly iced

on our outward journey.

you could argue that we were unsuc-

cessful and yes, we failed to land a black

marlin, let alone a ‘grander’; but how many

people get to actually see one of these fine

animals up close?

We joined Vinyl in the wheelhouse to

relive our ‘oh-so-close’ experience and

listen to stories of ones that didn’t get

away — stories of record-breakers and

heart-breakers.

At one point, Robbo could be seen with

that same wry smile he let slip earlier in the

day. We got the feeling that today wasn’t

just another day at the office for him; that

in fact he wouldn’t have it any other way

— cold beer in hand at the end of another

day working in paradise.

”

“no sooner had we

cleared a work area

free from rods and

bait boards, our prey

made a dramatic

j u m p f ro m i t s

watery playground.

Wi th i ts ent i re

body seemingly

suspended in mid

air, all on board

expressed loud and

excited ‘wows’ and

‘ohs’.

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Pierlite is a member of the Gerard Lighting Group.

Do you need an energy efficient alternative to a tired and inefficient MR16 dichroic lamp choice? Look no further than the Pierlite Starburst. With a mere 12 watts of lamp power and a powerful optical package, which of course is dimmable and available in a choice of functional colours, we believe the creation of energy efficient, lighting designs just got a little easier! For more information visit www.pierlite.com

50W ELV Dichroic 12W Starburst LED

The Starburst. An eye for LED performance.

70% less power*

*Comparison = standard MR16 50w 530lm dichroic lamp.

Pierlite is a member of the Gerard Lighting Group.

We won’t need to twist your arm when you see how

simple it is to turn T8 into T5 technology.

Converts old technology to new.

Have you a tired, conventional interior fluorescent luminaire that needs a strong dose of energy efficiency? Then look no further than the Pierlite TWIST. This exciting new design converts conventional T8 fluorescent circuits into highly efficient T5 circuits at a simple twist*, delivering improved lighting performance and energy savings. For more information visit www.pierlite.com

*Based upon LPF circuits. Subject to local regulative power factor limits, existing HPF luminaires may require circuit adjustment, see installation guidelines for verification.

Greater than 15%

energy savings

Reflector option

available

Safety fuse included.

*productcutEco-friEnDLy sorBEntsRe-Form sorbents are an eco-friendly range

of high-performance absorbency products

designed for industrial applications. The

range is constructed from a minimum of

70% recycled waste, making them ‘green’

to produce, thereby contributing to eco-

sustainability. The products are claimed to

provide up to 25–50% more absorbency

than other sorbents and meet NFPA Class

A Fire Retardancy standards. Re-Form

is available in two varieties — General

Purpose and Oil Only. Re-Form Plus and

Oil Only sorbents add a cover-stock and

perforations to dispense only what is

needed. Pads, Rolls and Soc configurations

are also available.

Av a i l a b l e f r o m & r e c o m m e n d e d b y Auslec . U s e t h e locator at www.auslec.com.au to f ind your nearest branch.

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scrEEn cLEAnErThe CRC Screen Clean is a special cleaner for use on all LCD,

LED and TFT screens that are found in common business machines

today such as laptops, notebooks, GPSs, PCs, mobile phones,

scanners and camcorders. Screen Clean is a water-based, stable,

active-foam cleaner that cleans without the use of solvents,

alcohol, benzene, white spirits or ammonia. It is non-flammable

and does not run off, allowing it to be wiped off without coming

into contact with the inner parts. The cleaner is supplied in 200 g

aerosol cans.

EnErGy-sAvinG soLutionsClipsal’s energy-saving solutions extend to energy consumption

monitors, timers, ceiling sweep fans and smart automation systems.

Key elements included within this growing range are professional

energy auditing tools, intelligent motion sensors that automatically

switch lights on and off, a vast range of energy-efficient lighting

products, exhaust fans with back-draft shutters, a purpose-built CFL

dimmer and a growing range of light dimmers that includes an IR

dimmer. Coupled with Clipsal’s overall focus on energy efficiency,

the range can help reduce the costs to deploy energy-efficient

electrical solutions.

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sAfEty GLovEsThe uvex helix C3 and C5 gloves are manufactured with uvex Profas Bamboo TwinFlex technology

to provide both safety and environmental benefits. Bamboo is a highly sustainable resource

that offers numerous functional advantages for safety gloves. The gloves are both protective

and comfort orientated. Cut-resistant glass fibres and abrasion-resistant polyamide are used

to provide optimum mechanical protection to wearers. Soft, comfortable, bamboo thread is

used to provide a smooth feel, while reducing sweating and providing high breathability and

high moisture absorption.

soLAr PAnEL ProtEction AnD isoLAtionSolar panel installations — both stand-alone and grid connected — are vulnerable to

fault currents and lightning strikes, so they should be protected by fuses, DC isolators

and surge arresters. For current protection, IPD photovoltaic fuses are designed to

ensure system safety. When a fault occurs in a DC system, the absence of natural

‘voltage-zero’ makes interrupting DC faults more difficult than AC and a very arduous

condition. For voltage protection, Surge-Trap is a surge suppressor that’s easy to

install or retrofit, has a small footprint, visual indicator with remote trip-indication and

finger-safe design. IPD products include solar circuit-breakers, fuses, isolators, surge

equipment, indoor/outdoor enclosures, connecting DC cables and solar connectors

for inverters and solar panels.

inDustriAL HAnD cLEAnsErsDeb offers a wide range of industrial hand cleansers for cost-effective and water-saving

benefits. Azure Foam Wash is a fragranced mild-foam soap for general washroom

use. Sunflower Wash is a solvent-free, heavy-duty hand cleanser that contains natural

sunflower oil extract, cornmeal hand scrub and moisturiser to leave the skin supple after

use. Natural Power Wash uses solvent-free, natural sunflower oil extracts in combination

with cornmeal scrub and crushed olive stones to provide deep cleaning on ingrained and

difficult-to-remove industrial soilings. It also contains a moisturiser to help skin hydration.

‘Biocote’ protected dispensers are available in 1, 2 and 4 L sizes for the cleansers.

*productcutAvailable from & recommended by Auslec. Use the locator at www.auslec.com.au to find your nearest branch.

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21coMPrEssED Air sEnsorThe efector metris compressed air sensor monitors air

consumption to detect leakage areas. By monitoring air

usage in plant zones, the sensor identifies leakage areas

and monitors air consumption to detect leakage areas in

two ways — when machines are in operation or when

machines are shut down. It can also monitor leakage per

machine, leakage per plant zone, consumption per machine

cycle, consumption per shift, consumption per plant zone,

verification of leak repair and system improvements. By

optimising compressed air systems, energy efficiencies can

be improved by 20–50%. Significant non-energy benefits are

also realised including reduced downtime, decreased system

moisture and consistent system pressure.

cABLE LuBricAntPolywater’s Lubr icant J is a h igh-

performance cable lubricant that provides

maximum tension reduction for heavy cable

installations. It is especially recommended

for long pulls, multiple-bend pulls and pulls

in a hot environment. The lubricant’s clean,

water-based gel lubricant slowly dries to form

a thin lubricating film that retains its lubricity

for months after use. The specification-

grade lubricant does not promote flame

propagation when used with fire-retardant

cables and systems. It is environmentally

friendly, non-staining and compatible with

all cable jacket materials. A winter-grade

lubricant, Polywater Lubricant WJ, is also

available, which is specially formulated for

use in temperatures as low as -30°C.

cABLE suPPort systEMThe DELTEC cable strapping range is

used in outdoor applications that require

strength, durability and ease of installation.

High-quality weatherable materials are used

in the supports to provide high resistance

to UV light and to maintain good tensile

properties in applications that require much

greater life than standard weatherable ties.

This also makes them suitable for use in

marine environments. The traditional ‘smooth

body’ design is less stress sensitive than

notched cable ties and, with no sharp

edges, the strapping is operator and cable

friendly and easy to install, thereby providing

a strong and long-life method of securing

communication and overhead cables.

vAriABLE sPEEDDrivEsWith three-quarters of all industrial energy

being consumed by motors, variable

speed drives are the natural choice for

reducing energy consumption. Altivar 312

is designed to provide energy savings.

Available in single- (up to 2.2 kW) and

three-phase (up to 15 kW) versions, the

drive is suitable for a range of commercial

and industrial applications including pumps,

packaging machinery, fans and conveying

equipment. To assist users select the

appropriate variable speed drives and

estimate energy savings, Schneider Electric

has developed the Eco2 software, which

can be downloaded free from www.sereply.

com (type in the code 80219T).

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BEING GrEEn –WHAT DOES IT MEAn?

philosophies in recent years that define a

‘triple bottom line’ that allows companies

to trade profitably and sustainably. The

focus is to pursue positive environmental,

financial and social results collectively.

The parent company of both Auslec and

L&H — Sonepar — is one of these innova-

tive companies that has taken a leadership

role in operating sustainably, both in how it

services its customers’ needs and in how

it works with its suppliers. The company

uses the term ‘sustainable development’

to define its philosophy. This term refers

to “development that meets the needs

of the present without compromising the

ability of future generations to meet their

own needs”.

The idea is that development has to

be ecologically viable, socially accept-

able and economically equitable. In other

words, it must deliver that all-important

triple bottom line.

In more practical terms, the concept of

sustainable development requires a com-

mitment from a company to use natural

resources sparingly and to avoid wastage

as much as possible, while at the same

time raising awareness among the many

people who are encountered through the

business process.

In exercising its corporate social responsi-

bility, Sonepar — and by extension the L&H

Group in Australia — practices sustainable

development in a two-pronged approach.

the environmental issue

Through the products that the Sonepar

Group markets, along with the support of

its sales teams, Sonepar aims to make

its customers aware of the business and

environmental benefits that are to be de-

rived from energy-saving products. Sonepar

endeavours to deliver the greatest possible

value in terms of quality, comfort, safety of

people and equipment, installation, logistics

and energy use.

The company also wants to control

the environmental impact of its own busi-

ness. The two areas that are of primary

significance for the Group are transport

and construction. These are both major

producers of greenhouse gases — in fact,

buildings account for 40% of the energy

consumed worldwide, while transport is

reported as generating as much as 28%

of all greenhouse gas emissions. For this

Everyone is talking about the environment

these days. It is being discussed in all parts

of our community, from the boardrooms of

the biggest companies in the world to kids

in the school playground and everyone else

in between. ‘Sustainability’, ‘green’, ‘envi-

ronmentally responsible’ are all the buzz

words getting around our businesses and

communities these days. But is it practi-

cal for businesses to be ‘green’ in view of

today’s commercial realities?

It is well understood by both consumers

and businesses that additional costs are

often incurred in endeavouring to be green.

We all accept that goods manufactured

from recycled or sustainable materials

often have a higher price associated with

them and that ‘green’ electricity costs

more because it is more expensive to

produce. Most companies do want to

be ‘good corporate citizens’ and operate

sustainably, but they’re often challenged

by the conflict of higher costs and the

responsibility to trade profitably. Sadly, as

a consequence, many companies choose

not to operate sustainably.

To deal with this conundrum, innovative

companies have developed new business

innovative companies have developed new business

philosophies in recent years that define a ‘triple

bottom line’ that allows companies to trade

profitably and sustainably. the focus is to pursue

positive environmental, financial and social results

collectively.

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BEING GrEEn –WHAT DOES IT MEAn?

reason, Sonepar measures the impact of

both activities within its business on the

environment and provides its associates

with recommendations and tools to lessen

that impact.

One such tool is the BlueWay sustain-

ability program. This is a 3-year plan that

involves each Sonepar business unit. It

addresses that business unit’s people, its

shareholders and its governance. The pro-

gram’s objectives are to assess the business

unit so as to make improvements, respect

the interests of all of its stakeholders and

major environmental and societal concerns,

develop responsible day-to-day behaviours

that will preserve the environment and foster

shareholder loyalty to the Group.

As a distributor of electrical products and

because of its business scope and size,

Sonepar has significant leverage when it

comes to encouraging its suppliers and

customers to factor new economic, envi-

ronmental and societal concerns into their

activities. One of Sonepar’s key objectives

in this regard is to constantly improve its

product offering so that it can provide its

customers with optimal returns on their

investments, in terms of quality, comfort, the

safety of goods and people, installations,

logistics and energy consumption.

An example of this philosophy that is

applied locally to the Australian electrical

industry is the fact that many L&H branches

are actively promoting solar energy to their

contractor and industrial customers. Spe-

cialist branches are stocking solar panels,

inverters and all associated fixings and select

staff are being trained to guide customers

in effectively deploying solar energy systems

to save energy costs while minimising their

greenhouse gas emissions.

An example of Sonepar’s sustainable

development on a global scale is its Blue-

Way Calculator — a short questionnaire

that calculates the environmental impact

of each Sonepar site and proposes actions

aimed at reducing this impact.

Put simply, the calculator measures and

enhances the environmental performance

of Sonepar. Once the questionnaire has

been completed by each of its business

units, the summary of the environmental

impact for the site shows CO2 emissions

produced by operations, along with their

breakdown by buildings and transport.

The calculator also includes helpful tips

on how to scale back emissions from both

sources and part of the site’s costs such

as those caused by energy loss and fuel

consumption. It also facilitates identification

and sharing of the best practices developed

by each branch.

The BlueWay program represents the way

that products and solutions are promoted by

Sonepar to help customers achieve greater

levels of energy efficiency and to maximise

their comfort. This involves finding the

best possible trade-off between Sonepar’s

position as a consumer of resources and

its concern for the environment and its

customers and suppliers.

the social issue

Through its international committees and

regular opportunities for sharing ideas

amongst its business units across the globe

— including its ‘son@cademy’ educational

program — Sonepar highlights its commit-

ment to mutual respect, open-mindedness

and interpersonal relations. The goal is to

ensure that all company stakeholders can

enjoy lasting growth that reflects both the

fundamentals of Sonepar and the specific

legislation in each country.

“

”

the idea is that

development has

to be ecologically

v i ab le , soc ia l l y

acceptab le and

e c o n o m i c a l l y

equitable, in other

words — the triple

bottom line.

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Tasmania is renowned for its primary

produce, with many of its foods —

cheeses, seafood, vegetables and

wines — considered among the best in

the world. Demand for such produce,

along with timber and minerals, makes

sea freight an important element in the

state’s economy.

Central to Tasmania’s sea-freight

industry is the city of Burnie, located

on the north-west coast. Its port is the

largest general cargo port in the state

and the fifth-largest container port in

Australia, providing an important link

between Tasmania and the mainland

and the rest of the world.

Understandably, most of the busi-

nesses in and around Burnie are either

supported by the port or involved in

supporting it.

Auslec’s Burnie branch is

one of those businesses that

actively supports both the

port and many of the busi-

nesses in the region.

Commenting on their re-

gional activities, Branch Man-

ager Michael Maine (or Mick

as he prefers to be called)

says: “While the branch has

a strong mining and industrial

customer base, the overall

geographic area that we

service is up to 200 km west-

south-west of Burnie. In that large area,

there are lots of diverse businesses and

industries that we service, so we’ve had

to develop a close relationship with our

customers to know what they do, so

we can better support them.

“One of our key points of difference

to keep us ahead of the competition is

our extensive and up-to-date back-order

program. Understanding the nature of

our customers’ businesses, we know

how important it is to keep them up to

date on the delivery of goods they’ve

ordered from us. And if there’s ever a

delay or an overdue order, we’ll flag

the customer immediately about it and

work with them to find alternative op-

tions. Taking a proactive approach to

those issues is really appreciated by

our customers.”

The branch has a staff of four, but

collectively, they have 55 years of total

service in the industry between them.

So once again, customers are well

serviced by the extensive experience

of the branch.

In supporting its diverse customer

base, the branch carries a broad

range of industrial, electrical and safety

products.

“The branch/warehouse is huge,”

elaborates Mick. “It’s much bigger than

any other electrical wholesaler in the

area, and it’s got lots of parking too.

We carry a large range of safety and

PPE gear that would rival any of our

local competitors. That makes us the

region’s one-stop shop for industrial,

electrical and safety gear.”

But it’s not all ‘strictly business’ for

the branch. It has also become a com-

munity hub for the industry, with Mick

and his team spending plenty of their

personal time with customers at events

like the V8 race days at the nearby

Symmons Plains International Raceway.

The branch also hosts a biannual trade

show with over 30 suppliers present,

where customers can see the latest

products and technologies and catch

up over a beer or two.

Burnie, TasmaniaBranch Manager — Michael MaineBranch/warehouse floor space — approx 1500 m2

Number of staff — 4

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P: (03) 6431 4366E: [email protected]: 20 Wellington Street, Burnie South, Tasmania 7320

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AirPort-friEnDLy sAfEty footWEArDingo safety footwear is constructed with

no metallic components, making them

suitable for airport use. The lightweight

and flexible shoes are designed for

high levels of comfort, featuring PU

shock-absorber footbeds with a gel-

insert cushioning zone. Safety attributes

include a gravity phylon dual-density

rubber sole that is heat resistant to

300°C (per AS/NZS 2210.3); triple toe-

protection comprising composite toecap,

rubber bump-cap and extra kick guard;

and non-conductive construction. The

composite cap is claimed to be superior

to steel in both hot and cold conditions,

with better insulation properties. The

footwear is available in ‘Rocky’/‘Brown’

colours, in sizes 6 to 13, with half sizes

from 7.5 to 10.5.

DiGitAL MuLtiMEtErThe T8229 is a 5-in-1 auto-ranging digital

multimeter, complete with a sound and

light alarm function, warning of incorrect

lead insertion. The device is IEC61010-1

CAT II 1000 V/CAT III 600 V compliant

and features maximum-value measurement,

3999-count backlit display, continuity check

with buzzer, diode test, data hold and auto

power-off. Measurement parameters include

AC/DC voltage and current, resistance,

capacitance, frequency, temperature

and humidity. Each unit is supplied with

test leads, thermocouple adapter and

manual. Replacement test leads are also

available.

firE-rAtED MuLtiPAir cABLEsOlex has changed its fire-rated cable brand

name from Pyrolex to Alsecure Premium

and added new cables to the range. The

Alsecure Premium FRP Ceramifiable cables

are rated to WS51W and are claimed to

be the only fire-rated multipair products

available that don’t require glass-mica

tapes. Benefits of using these cables include

reducing the time required to install them

and eliminating the need for respirators

and special gloves.

EnErGy-sAvinG LAMPsThe GU24 lamps from Nelson are energy-

saving alternatives to traditional downlights.

Used in conjunction with Nelson drivers, these

lamps offer maximum light output for standard

MR16/GU10 fixtures. The 15 W lamp has the

brightness of a 50 W GU10 halogen lamp,

while the 20 W lamp is 20% brighter than

a standard 60 W GU10 halogen lamp. The

lamps also feature a claimed average life of

8000 hours. The lamps are available in cool

white, warm white and natural colours.

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MuLtifunctiontEstErsThe Fluke 1650B Series multifunction testers

verify the safety of electrical installations

in domestic, commercial and industrial

applications. Three testers make up the range:

1651B — everyday tester for every electrical

installer; 1652B — tester for professional

troubleshooters; and 1653B — complete

tester for advanced users. The instruments

are faster than conventional loop testers as

they provide two measurements at once on a

dual display. PEFC/PSC and loop impedance

are measured and displayed in parallel, saving

50% of test time. Safety is maintained with

an earth volt touchpad that detects raised

earth voltages >50 V to indicate potentially

dangerous situations.

DriLL sEtThe SM3 Sutton BLU drill set comprises a set

of drill bits that feature a ‘Blue Bullet’ finish.

The finish is a ferric-oxide surface coating

on the drill bits that resists chip build-up on

the cutting edge, thereby reducing frictional

drag and reducing the heat generated from

the process. The coating increases drilling

life and ability, especially in ferrous materials

such as steel, stainless steels, high-tensile

steel, alloy and tool-steel.

WALL-Mount EncLosurEThe AE 1033500 wall-mounted AE enclosure

measures 300 H x 300 W x 210 mm D and

is available constructed from powder-coated

mild steel or stainless steel. The enclosure is

available in several variants with a wide range

of accessories to adapt it to many applications,

including single or double doors, glazed doors

and a variety of operating panels.

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cotton-DriLL WorkWEArThe DNC range of cotton-drill trousers, shirts

and shorts are all crafted from 100% cotton,

making them durable and hard-wearing garments,

well suited as workwear that also provides a

natural, comfortable feel. The garments are

also antistatic and, as most garments have no

metal buttons or zippers, they are suitable for

use in electrical trade situations. Not only do

these garments have proven protection, they

also carry the environmentally friendly ‘Green

Dye’ logo, which means that the dye used in

the production process of the garments is in

line with the relevant provisions of environmental

protection.

HiGH-tEMPErAturE tHrEAD LockErs AnD sEALAntsLoctite thread lockers and sealants can now be applied to high-heat applications and

industries such as industrial ovens, boiler rooms, heat-treat operations, refineries, pulp

and paper, metal fabrication, glass manufacturing and steam-lines. Loctite 2422 and 2620

high-temperature thread lockers lock and seal threaded fasteners in applications that

require continuous temperature resistance of up to 350°C, and are available in an easy-

to-use paste-like format with convenient syringe. Loctite 5770 high-temperature thread

sealant is formulated to seal threaded pipe fittings in applications requiring continuous

heat resistance of up to 280°C.

AnALoG AnD DiGitAL siGnAL strEnGtH MEtErThe 12MM-TDM6 is an analog and digital meter that combines

analog and digital RF signal strength measurement with a spectrum

analyser and data logger all in a compact, handheld unit. The

instrument features MER and C/N measurement, pre- and

post-BER measurement, CTB/CSO measurement, data logging,

spectrum analysis (channel/frequency/tilt), 5–870 MHz frequency

range, 15–120 dBµV measurement range, automatic distinction

of digital and analog channels in spectrum mode, constellation

diagrams, auto-scan for channels, over 250-channel storage

and free downloadable software. The kit is supplied with hard

carry-case, PC interface cable, Ni-MH rechargeable batteries and

adapter lead for in-car charging.

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DO yOU LovE yOUR ‘sunBurnt country’?

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The iconic patriotic poem ‘My Country’ ac-

curately describes Australia as a “sunburnt

country”. The poem’s author, Dorothea

Mackellar, was a visionary far before

her time, although she didn’t realise the

significance of her statement. Neither did

the millions of Aussies who sang it for the

next hundred years after her, and maybe

you’re one of them too. The sunshine that

constantly bakes our country is an untapped

resource that’s worth more than gold, yet

it has been going to waste for decades.

In fact, because we’ve ignored the sun’s

value as an energy resource, we’ve polluted

our country by burning billions of tonnes

of fossil fuels to produce electricity.

Okay, it’s time to get off the ‘soap box’

and stop making everyone feel guilty about

using electricity. But you have to admit, with

so much sunshine on our entire continent,

the harvesting of solar energy makes perfect

sense in a country like Australia.

There are many solar energy initiatives

that are underway in Australia, although

some are better than others. Let’s have

a look at some of the better initiatives by

government, industry and the community

itself. Some you may be well aware of,

but some you may not. And it might give

you some ideas of how you could promote

solar energy to your clients or within your

own organisation.

Government and community

activities

Naturally, the solar energy industry itself

is doing a lot to promote the uptake of

photovoltaic (PV) technologies; and several

‘green’ groups have been actively lobbying

state and federal governments and com-

munities to adopt greener energy sources,

such as solar energy, as a key means to

curb greenhouse gas emissions from our

mainstream coal-fired electricity plants.

The ACT Government, for example, is

taking a leadership position in promoting

the adoption of solar energy. It was the

first state/territory to legislate ‘gross feed-in

tariffs’ for consumers who installed solar

panels on their properties. At the time of

writing, only NSW and the ACT offer gross

feed-in tariffs. All other states/territories

still only offer ‘net feed-in tariffs’ to solar

energy producers.

What does that all mean? Well, if you

produce up to 30 kW of solar energy in

the ACT, you’ll be paid 45.7 cents for every

kWhour you produce and feed into the grid.

NSW pays a generous 60 cents per kWhour

gross feed-in tariff, but only for systems

up to 10 kW, which encourages domestic

investment in solar PV installations, but

not commercial. There are currently over

2700 solar PV panels on roofs in the ACT,

up from just 520 when the scheme began

18 months ago. And the ACT Government

is also considering expanding the scheme

to installations beyond 30 kW, creating a

big incentive for commercial and industrial

sites to install solar panels.

The ACT Minister for Energy, Simon

Corbell, recently reported a 520% increase

in the number of solar installations on

Canberra roofs since feed-in tariffs began

in March 2009, adding: “The feed-in tariff

is an important way to change the com-

munity’s reliance on coal-fired power, but it

has also created a new ‘clean economy’.

Anecdotal evidence shows that local busi-

nesses have grown and local job trainers

are seeing an increase in the number of

people interested in careers in the renew-

able energy sector.”

A ‘net feed-in tariff’, on the other hand,

is money paid to the solar energy producer

for whatever energy they don’t consume,

which in most cases amounts to very little

compared to gross feed-in tariffs, even

though the cents-per-kWhour rates are

very similar. Sadly, until these other states

legislate gross feed-in tariffs, their current

arrangements provide insufficient incentive

for the community or businesses to invest

in solar PV installations.

The CEO of the Australia New Zealand

Solar Energy Society (ANZSES), John

Grimes, says solar energy has the potential

to become the leading source of ‘green’

energy in Australia: “The worldwide output

of PV systems in 2009 is expected to ex-

ceed 15 GW, so it is no longer a ‘fringe’

energy resource. With its projected growth,

it will become a major source of electrical

jobs in design, installation, supply, com-

missioning and maintenance.

Grimes points out that there are essen-

tially two solar-energy technologies that we

can deploy to generate electricity: solar-

thermal and crystalline/thin-film PVs.

“Solar-thermal involves ‘farms’ of mir-

rors to heat a boiler, generate steam and

turn a turbine, like conventional power

generation,” explains Grimes. “Crystalline

PV systems can ‘upload’ electricity directly

onto the grid. This proven technology is

being extensively utilised overseas, with a

significant commercial by-product of job

creation in the electrical industry. In Ger-

many, for example, an estimated 120,000

new direct and indirect jobs have been

created to install PV systems and grid

connections.”

Thin-film PVs have lower production

costs than crystalline PVs, but are slightly

less efficient; however, new technologies

are closing the gap. At the recent ANZSES

conference, a Swiss/Japanese consortium

announced it would be introducing thin-film

PV systems that could achieve price parity

in generating electricity within a couple of

years, based on today’s energy costs; so

imagine how appealing that will be when

energy costs rise.

the solar energy

industry has established

itself as a key growth

sector. it’s a very

exciting time in the

renewable energy space.

the domestic market is

recording exponential

growth, due largely to

the effective solutions

being produced by

government policy.

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industry activities

The electrical and communications en-

gineering company O’Donnell Griffin has

had a significant commitment to the com-

mercial solar sector over several years

and expects its business to record strong

growth in the coming years.

Commenting on the commercial solar

market, O’Donnell Griffin National Serv-

ice Manager Andrew Cross says: “The

industry has established itself as a key

growth sector. It’s a very exciting time

in the renewable energy space. The do-

mestic market is on fire and recording

exponential growth, which is due really

to the effective solutions being produced

by government policy.

“The commercial solar market is not

yet as active, mainly because incentives

and rebates for larger systems are not yet

as attractive. But I’m looking forward to

the opportunities that are definitely going

to emerge here.

“These opportunities will also move for-

ward when we achieve tariff parity, where

the cost to generate solar power is the

same as buying it from the grid.

“Initiatives such as the Perth Solar City

program are government driven, and that

support is really going to be important for

the industry as well.”

Looking globally at the potential of PVs

that can be integrated into a building’s fab-

ric, a recent report from US-based market

research and analysis firm NanoMarkets

predicts US$8.2 billion in revenues by

2015 from that sector alone.

Having said all that, it should be un-

derstood that identifying the technologies

to produce electricity from sunlight is only

half the task. Of equal importance is the

skill required to install PV systems and

connect them to the grid. And because

it is a relatively new market in Australia,

the number of people skilled in these

areas is very limited.

Addressing this gap in the electrical

industry, the RMIT University School of En-

gineering (TAFE) in Melbourne established

a new solar technology training facility on

the rooftop of one of the high-rise buildings

of the university earlier this year.

At a cost of approximately $730,000,

the facility enables students to experi-

ence ‘real-life’ solar PV installations and

grid connections. Atop the building are

three work areas representative of typical

Australian roofs — pitched cement tile,

pitched corrugated iron and flat ‘clip-

lock’ roofing. The students are taught to

design the orientation and fixings of the

PV panels and their reticulation into the

building. Safety is a significant aspect in

the course, because of the unconventional

nature of PV systems. Electricians are used

to working on installations that either aren’t

live or can be easily turned off. But with

solar PVs, they instantly generate electricity

when there is sunlight on them.

“Once the students fix the solar panels to

the roofs, we have to drape blankets over

the panels to stop them generating elec-

tricity,” explains the Project Manager and

Senior Educator at RMIT, Herbert Weber.

“And from there, we spend a lot of time

instructing the students on how to safely

wire up the inverter and grid connection.

It takes some time for the students to get

out of their traditional electrical mode and

remember that solar installations have two

energy sources — the PV panels and the

grid. Working on an electrical system with

PVs attached means ensuring all power

sources are isolated.”

Each of the systems can be connected

to data cabling, allowing the informa-

tion from the inverter to be transmitted

directly into the classrooms below. This

allows students to monitor conditions

on the roof from the classroom, giving

them first-hand knowledge and practical

experience into the operations of solar

energy systems in real time.

Weber adds: “Practical training in solar

grid installation, monitoring and occupa-

tional health and safety will really benefit

students looking to go into a career in

this area.”

The students attending this course at

present are all qualified electricians, not

apprentices. There are even electrical

inspectors participating in the course.

This is indicative of the significant market

demand that exists for tradespeople skilled

in solar PV system installation, commis-

sioning and regulating.

Solar energy provides us with a real op-

portunity to exploit the advantages of living

in a sunburnt country and, in the process,

help preserve our environment.

”

“the Act Minister

for Energy recently

reported a 520%

increase in the

number of solar

instal lat ions on

canberra roofs since

feed-in tariffs began

in March 2009.

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firE-rAtED sinGLE-corE cABLEsOlex has changed its fire-rated cable brand

name from Pyrolex to Alsecure Premium

and added new cables to the range. The

Alsecure Premium Flex Ceramifiable fire-

rated flexible single-core products are rated

to 0.6/1 kV, 110 V and WS52W. Used in

mains and sub-mains electrical applications,

these cables form the heart of commercial

building power delivery and continue to

work even in the event of a fire.

EnErGy-sAvinG LED sAtELLitEsThe Legrand LED Satellite is an energy-saving

solution to help buildings achieve Green Star

ratings. Using less than 1 W of power in standby

mode for a single point unit (SPU), the LED

Satellites are suitable for all emergency lighting

applications, including both new and retrofit

installations. With superior D40 classification,

fewer fittings can be installed, thereby saving

costs, because of the greater coverage span

per unit. And the choice of four dish sizes

provides greater flexibility when covering holes,

particularly when updating old light fittings.

LED HiGHBAy LiGHtThe Tigerlight LED Highbay has been

designed and developed to replace

traditional 400 W metal-halide highbay

fixtures for commercial, industrial and other

rugged applications. LED highbays are

engineered to offer maximum energy savings

— up to 60% compared to traditional HID

and metal-halide fittings — and substantially

reduce maintenance costs due to their long

service life (50,000 hours). The lamp features

instant start-up, important in maintaining

site safety and security. The IP54-rated

highbay is lightweight (6.9 kg) and easy to

install. It has a power factor of 0.95 and

a working ambient temperature range of

-25 to 45°C. ProtEctivE covErALLsMicroTech Coveralls comply with European

Standards Type 5 and Type 6 chemical-

protective clothing requirements. They

are manufactured from breathable, high

structural strength material with high

tensile and tear resistance, low linting and

antistatic properties. The coveralls protect

against hazardous fibres and particles,

water-based liquid chemicals, aerosols,

biological hazards, viruses and blood-

borne pathogens. They have elastic hood,

wrists, waist and ankles, and a double

reinforced zipper with cover-flap and peel-

off, self-adhesive tape for added protection.

Generous sizing, reinforced crotch pleats

and double-bound surge seam add to the

garment’s comfort and tear resistance. The

coverall is suitable for asbestos removal,

accident attendance, synthetic mineral-

fibre installation and eradication, food/

pharmaceutical/industrial manufacturing

and maintenance, painting and spraying,

mining, biological hazards and viral/bacteria

protection.


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roLL-out sPEED HuMPThe Hi-Viz Roll-out speed hump is designed to reduce the speed of vehicles in

areas where traffic may cause safety concerns. The product is highly portable,

making it quick and easy to deploy when and where required. It rolls up for

convenient storage and rolls out for quick deployment in any area.

cLotH WiPEsWyPALL* X80 Wipers are purpose-designed wipes that weigh five times

less than standard rags and take up less space, thereby reducing

storage needs. They also occupy less space in transportation and landfill

when being disposed of, compared with conventional waste rags. The

smaller size of the wipes also helps reduce the costs associated with

disposal plus the environmental cost of the landfill itself. The wipes

are available in jumbo rolls or as single sheets.

iP65-rAtED outDoor LiGHtinGThe MaxiMaster range of 250/400 W outdoor light fittings is constructed

from a pressure-die-cast LM6 (low copper) aluminium alloy housing

and face-frame with durable powder-coat finish, high-impact and

thermal-shock-resistant 4 mm thick tempered glass cover. The fittings

feature a silicone twin-sealing system providing IP65-rated weather

protection, galvanised steel mounting bracket with stainless steel

locking bolts, integral control gear rated to 40°C Ta, hinged lens-door

with captive stainless-steel screws or optional tool-free fastening

quick-clips, high-purity anodised-aluminium optical reflectors and

purpose-designed GMRX optics to satisfy the pedestrian crossing

standard. The lights are suitable for loading docks, storage yards,

security lighting and illumination of buildings, structures, industrial

plants and mine sites.

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WEAtHErProof EncLosurEsThe Fibox MCE weatherproof

enc losures a re des igned fo r

photovoltaic applications, including

the protection of DC breakers.

The UV-resistant polycarbonate

enclosures are IP65 rated and

supplied with TPE gaskets to provide

weatherproof seals. The surface-

mounting enclosures are available

in 5- and 9-pole formats (as load

centres with no earth or neutral bar).

Metric-sized knockouts are available

on all sides of the enclosure.

stAinLEss stEEL EncLosurEsThe Eaton XBS range of enclosures has been manufactured from corrosive-

resistant 316 stainless steel with an N4 surface finish, which provides protection

in harsh environments such as mining, wastewater, food and beverage, wharfs,

shipyards, chemical environments and agriculture industries. The enclosures are

available in eight different designs including wall- and flange-mount versions,

sloped-roof versions, terminal boxes and floor-standing cabinets in a range

of sizes. The fully welded enclosures feature a polyurethane gasket to ensure

long-life IP66 rating and simple installation procedures.

criMPinG PLiErsThe 1212057 crimping pliers are intended for use on insulated cable lugs that

have cross-sectional areas ranging from 0.75 to 6.0 mm2. These high-quality

pliers are part of an extensive range of professional hand tools designed for

cutting, stripping, crimping, fixing and testing.

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you all know the frustration and anguish

of trying to find important information

on safety for your business. How often

have you searched for something specific

about safety for your industry or occupa-

tion — something you use regularly and

know what it looks like, but can’t put your

hands on it?

Workplace safety is a daily function of in-

dustrial businesses. Not only is it mandated,

but it’s also the right thing to do. Naturally

you or your designated safety officer keeps

up to date with safety regulations by check-

ing the safety regulators’ websites and the

latest in PPE in safety mags and suppliers’

websites, but it can be a full-time job just

searching for safety information that deals

specifically with your industry. Sometimes,

no matter how hard you search, you can’t

find what you’re looking for.

Sure, you’re very famil iar with the

WorkCover and WorkSafe websites, but

what about sources of more detailed and

industry-specific information? Firstly, you

should subscribe to the e-newsletters of

the safety regulator in your state. They all

publish newsletters, and it’s a great way to

be kept up to date without having to go

out and look for safety information.

Safety is a core aspect of Auslec’s busi-

ness and we’ve done plenty of research into

safety over the years, so we thought we’d

share with you a few of the lesser-known

information resources that have been valu-

able to us. We’ve done the work, so you

won’t have to. you may already know some

of these websites, but please be sure to

check the ones you don’t know, because

we’re confident you’ll find something use-

ful in them. you may also want to file this

page somewhere handy so you can refer

to the websites from time to time.

www.msds.com.au — Hosts several

thousand Material Safety Data Sheets

(MSDS) that can be searched by product

name or company name and then down-

loaded or emailed. It has a modest annual

fee for the service. A US-based website

— www.msds.com — provides a similar

service, although it has over 3.5 million

MSDS and it’s free.

www.fpaa.com.au — Fire Protection

Association of Australia website provides

a wide range of information relating to fire

protection and response, including tech-

nical bulletins, guidelines on emergency

responses and water conservation, a list

of providers of fire safety products and

services, and lists of relevant Australian

and international fire standards.

www.fsc.gov.au — Office of the Federal

Safety Commissioner website, providing

safety guidance for the construction indus-

try. The site includes numerous publica-

tions on construction safety, the Building

Code of Australia and safety accreditation

schemes. The site also features a handy

list of additional safety- and building-related

websites that are categorised by state.

www.safeworkaustralia.gov.au — Web-

site of Australia’s independent statutory

authority for workplace health and safety,

and workers compensation. The site pro-

vides extensive safety guidance specific to

many industries and occupations including

mining, construction, manufacturing and

transportation; and regulatory and legal

information on the soon-to-be-released

Workplace Health and Safety Act. It also

puts out calls to industry for public com-

ment on changes to regulations.

www.aioh.org.au — Website for Australia

Institute of Occupational Hygienists that

promotes workplace hygiene, primarily in

industrial environments. The website has

handy lists of service providers, training

programs and publications dealing with

industrial hygiene.

www.fpma.com.au — Fall Protection

Manufacturers Association of Australia

website contains information on working

safely at height. It lists comprehensive

technical guidance notes on choosing and

using fall protection equipment, inspection

and certification procedures, proper equip-

ment installation and relevant regulations

and standards.

www.saiglobal.com.au — Lists all Aus-

tralian and numerous international stand-

ards, including safety- and industry-specific

standards. A very useful search function

helps find standards by keyword, subject

or publisher. Once a standard is found,

all of the parts of the standard and even

superseded issues are displayed. All of the

documents can be purchased and down-

loaded from the site. In some instances, a

preview can be downloaded free to provide

an overview of the document.

Several law firms that specialise in work-

place safety also produce some valuable

articles that help understand OHS regula-

tions and legislation, as well as report on

important court decisions. Visit sites like

www.nortonrose.com.au, www.middletons.

com.au and www.douglaslpt.com.au to

access a wealth of safety information.

*Accessing SAFETYINFORMATION

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SAFETYINFORMATION

Think LED Lighting, Think Philips

High efficiency sustainable downlight solutionsIn our endeavor to meet the needs of our customers, we are constantly pushing the limits. Our innovation pipeline is delivering new, responsible forms of lighting that improve people’s experience of light. LED lighting offers energy-saving solutions that help us create a sustainable future.

highly energy efficientquality & intense white lightdimmablelong lifetimeminimised maintenance

For more information contact Philips on 1300 304 404 or [email protected]

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