SPECIALISED TEXTILES ASSOCIATION INC. Vol 12 No 6 November • December 2012 • January 2013 STA MEMBER NEWS | INDUSTRY EVENTS | MEMBERS IN THE SPOTLIGHT | RTOs All manner of BANNERS Large market for GEOMEMBRANES Tomorrow’s industry leaders UNITE TODAY FABRIC STRUCTURES COMMITTEE sets the standard www.hvgfabrics.com.au Blend in with your environment using the Pilbara Canvas outback range Aussie Tough, Aussie Value, Aussie Made! Aussie Tough, Aussie Value, Aussie Made! For more information on the Pilbara Canvas range see page 44.
This document is posted to help you gain knowledge. Please leave a comment to let me know what you think about it! Share it to your friends and learn new things together.
Transcript
SPECIALISED TEXTILES ASSOCIATION INC. Vol 12 No 6November • December 2012 • January 2013
STA member newS | induSTry eVenTS | memberS in The SpoTlighT | rTos
All manner ofbaNNers
large market for geomembraNes
Tomorrow’s industry leaders
uNite today
Fabric structures committee sets the standard
www.hvgfabrics.com.au
Blend in with your environment using the Pilbara Canvas outback range
Aussie Tough, Aussie Value,Aussie Made!
Aussie Tough, Aussie Value,Aussie Made!
For more information
on the Pilbara Canvas range see page 44.
NOVEMBER • DECEMBER 2012 • JANUARY 2013 · 1
CONNECTIONS magazine is published on behalf of the Specialised Textiles Association Inc. by CommStrat Limited.
Disclaimer: Except where specifically stated, the opinions and material published in the magazine are not necessarily those of the publisher or the STA Council.
contents
A S S O C I A T I O N
association Matters2 Report by STA President 4 STA office update16 Young Leaders Conference Priming the next generation of industry
leaders 33 Fabric Structures Committee
report by Beatrice Moonen 42 STA welcomes new members
neWs corner8 Members' news
suPerb structures18 Novel and unique structures Showcasing member talent
sPecial Features12 Gargantuan geomembranes The size of the market continues to
expand
26 All manners of banners All that matters: the right ink, print and
timely delivery30 Using geosynthetics to
stabilise soils In a remote Pacific location34 Innovation Roger la Salle uncovers the ‘third eye’ 36 Truck cover and tarp markets
pick up speed Banners on the move
sPotlight on MeMbers44 Members’ products and services
training and eVents48 Industry events and RTOs subscriPtions
to subscribe to Connections for just $75 inc gst annually contact ruth spiegel [email protected]
16
1210
4226
2 · CONNECTIONS
a few words from the President
STAMATTERS
Thank you to
all who put up their hand to be involved in a committee and
thank you to those already working
hard in the already well established
Fabric Structures Committee.”
Another couple of months have flown past since my last
missive in this magazine. A lot has been happening in
STA land and much of it has already been mentioned in
various newsletters from the office or from me.
The most notable event of course was the recent
Young Leaders Conference held in Melbourne during
the middle weekend of October. Nineteen young
leaders attended the event, which was hailed by all who
attended as a great success. This event is fast becoming
a feature of our calendar, an envied one at that.
Recently I was travelling overseas on business and our
Young Leaders Conference and subsequent challenge
was known to my overseas contact (via our STA
e-newsletters) and very favourably commented upon to
me and all I was with.
One comment was along the lines: ‘I wish we had
something like this here.’ It is rare to find any industry
association that does what we do in this regard.
Congratulations and thank you to all who attended,
Young leaders, Legends and members of COM. None
of it would have been possible without all of the work
and organisation of our hardworking and long-suffering
association Manager Ana Drougas. Thank you Ana for
another winner.
Sell out successWhile we are talking of highs, the Super Expo 2013 on
the Gold Coast is selling out fast. Recently an additional
hall was hired to allow for additional exhibitors. We now
have four halls at the Gold Coast Exhibition Centre. At
the time of printing, I understand 85% of the booth space
has been sold. I also understand that all, or at least
all but the sponsorship on offer, has been taken up. It
certainly appears that the industry at large is very keen
on the idea of the combined expo.
Training agreementOther good work has been done (quietly and in the
background) by Kent Williamson in relation to the
agreement with NSW TAFE and their input and training
delivery of the Certificate 2, Installation of Blinds and
Awnings Course. STA has received NWDF funding.
The process took a little longer than expected but with
the agreement in the bag we should be in a position to
commence the first lot of training in February 2013.
Fabric structuresOur Fabric Structures Committee has also been working
busily and now the consumer checklist document has
been finalised it will soon be circulated to members,
along with the licensing document. In addition a letter
to the Queensland Coroner has been prepared and sent
offering technical and expert assistance for the coronial
inquiry into the recent tragic fatality at Lismore involving
a shade structure.
The Young Leaders’ Conference
Much of the work done by the STA is not as high profile
as the expo/convention or the Young Leaders Program
but it does not mean it is any less important or valuable.
We are very fortunate to have a very dedicated
Manager and COM, who work hard to make the
organisation something of value, something to be proud
to be involved with.
We are getting better all the time and much work is
continuing, such as the accreditation program, setting
up of various committees, for example the editorial
committee to give direction and ideas to the editor
who produces the association magazine; and also the
awards committee which is tasked to look at the awards,
categories, judging criterion etc.
Thank you to all who put their hand up to be
involved in a committee and thank you to those
already working hard in the already well established
Fabric Structures Committee.
Remember you only get out of any organisation what
you put into it. Get involved, have your say and reap the
rewards of membership of STA.
N AT I O N A L D I ST R I B U TO R S O F I N D U ST R I A L & CO M M E R C I A L T E X T I L E S
on the moveStructureflex recently packed its bags and is now in a new location.Details as follows:7/7 Lakewood Boulevard, Carrum Downs, Vic 3201Phone: 03 8796 5400Fax: 03 9708 2797www.structureflex.com.au Alan Stewart’s email remains unchanged at [email protected]
TexConnex/Hiraoka has also upped stumps and relocated to
2/37 Rimfire Drive, Hallam, Vic 3803
Phone: 8795 7322 or 9702 3778
Until recently the premises was occupied by Australian Solar manufacturers
– which promotes itself as the only manufacturer of solar panels. Bob
secured the site as it is bigger and better placed as a base for his expanding
operations (see Bob's insights in the Geomembranes feature).
5-7 June 2013 Gold Coast Convention & Exhibition CentreShowcase your business at Australia’s largest trade exhibition for the window furnishings and specialised textiles industries.
Inspira t ion in design & tex t i les!EXPOSUPER 2013
A S S O C I A T I O NBLIND MANUFACTURERS’
ASSOCIATION OF AUSTRALIA
Presented by
superexpo2013.com.au
HURRY
LIMITED SPACE!
Ensure your company is on show by booking your space today.contact Brett Greene on 07 3262 3114 or email [email protected]
Window Furnishings Specialised Textiles Shade Produc ts Machiner y
Equipment Components Accessories Ser vices
10 · CONNECTIONS
southside Memorial PoolMakMax Australia proudly announced its contribution to the
redevelopment of Rockhampton’s landmark Southside Memorial Pool.
The $17 million Federal, State and Regional Council funded project
will feature a 4000 square metre tensile membrane roof over the main
50 metre pool manufactured and installed by Brisbane based MakMax.
Partnering with Brisbane’s Liquid Blu Architects and Rockhampton
builder JM Kelly (Project Builders) Pty Ltd, MakMax will manufacture
the Architectural Membrane roof in Serge Ferrari® PVC (Poly-Vinyl
Chloride) fabrics , providing both shade and rain protection over
the 50m pool and 650 seat grandstand. Fabrication of the membrane
is scheduled to take place at MakMax’s Brisbane facility later this
year with installation of steelwork scheduled for January 2013 and
membrane to follow.
The new state of the art facilities will service Central Queensland as
the only facility of its kind in the region equipped to handle State and
National swimming events. The Liquid Blu designed pool will comply
with the highest FINA rating “Olympic and Championship Standard”.
International swim teams are expected to be seen at the site during
the Commonwealth Games on the Gold Coast.
MakMax Australia’s Director of Sales Daniel Cook says “We are
extremely pleased and excited to be awarded this contract; it was very
much a team effort. The knowledge that our project team demonstrated
throughout the tender and post-tender process was second to none and
converted into a successful outcome. Now the real work begins”.
The project team is currently detailing workshop drawings for
manufacture of the steelwork, membrane and hardware. The structure is
scheduled for completion March 2013.
MakMax makes a splash …
MeMber neWs
new lambton bowls club gets sun smartEarly in November MakMax Australia started work at New Lambton
(Wests) Bowls Club in Newcastle, New South Wales. As part of a
complete redevelopment of the club house and facilities MakMax will
supply more than 2600 square meters of tensile membrane roofing in a
variety of applications.
Partnering with Graph Building and Altis Architecture, MakMax will
provide three separate structures on site. The key feature to this project
will be the main roof structure over green number one - a 1,600 square
metre leaning arch/bowstring arrangement.
NOVEMBER • DECEMBER 2012 • JANUARY 2013 · 11
In addition to the large PTFE membrane structure over green number
one, the site will feature an inverted, semi-conical, double cantilevered
PVC walkway structure surrounding green number two, additional
cantilevered PVC awnings which interface with the main roof structure,
and a custom designed PVC membrane structure to provide coverage
to the outdoor BBQ area adjacent to the clubhouse. It is anticipated that
the project will be complete by mid January 2013.
For more information visit www.makmax.com.au
Connections correction On page 42 of the September/October
issue of Connections we ran a piece about
MakMax’s creative installation at Cairns
airport car park.
It turns out that the fabric was supplied by
Serge Ferrari, not Mehler.
Ruwini Perera who is Marketing Services
Manager with Innova International said MakMax
has acknowledged and apologised for the mix-up.
Wire balustrade regulations stay putMiami Stainless has advised that the Australian Building Codes Board
(ABCB) recently announced it will no longer be supporting proposed
changes to wire balustrade provisions in the National Construction
Code (NCC) for 2013. This means the wire balustrade regulations will
again remain unchanged.
The proposed changes detailed in NCC 2013 draft included
provisions that would see the implementation of an offset rail design
for horizontal wire balustrades between two to four metres above the
surface beneath.
The ABCB has acknowledged there were significant stakeholder
concerns with the new regulations including deficiencies in injury data,
assumptions used in the RIS, the potential negative impact on industry,
lack of targeted consultation, underestimation of the cost impacts, and
problems associated with the proposed balustrade solutions.
The ABCB has indicated there is a need for further analysis and
careful review of the concerns raised in the public consultation process
before any changes can be introduced.
“Although this is great news for the industry there will still be the
need for further involvement in the consultation process … and Miami
Stainless has and will continue to work closely with the ABCB through
future consultation and decision-making processes,” Matt Gisler said.
Mark of Miami Stainless would like to receive any feedback or
opinions as well as hear from anyone who may be interested in the
ABCB’s public consultation process. He can be contacted on 1800 022
Spurred by increasingly stringent environment regulations in mining, agriculture and landfill, the market for geomembranes is enjoying a stellar trajectory. By all accounts the market looks set to remain healthy, and some savvy businesses are reaping the rewards of moving into the sector.
By Nicola Card
Life in the fast lane
The shape of the world has shifted considerably during the past four
years. A black man was sworn in as US president, waves of recession
reverberated across the globe, a nuclear plant was uprooted in Japan,
Greece went bankrupt, several dictators were toppled, and the world
population hit seven billion.
And in that same time frame, the geomembrane market has moved
apace. In the words of Dr John Scheirs, Principal Consultant of
ExcelPlas “The geomembrane market is very much the hot topic …
things have moved swiftly due to the mining boom, coal seam gas and
landfill … for example the Victorian EPA mandated double linings for
landfill following the Cranbourne disaster.”
Remember that debacle? Built decades ago, the large landfill was
devoid of any form of polymer lining. “They just used sand and as
the weight decomposed the methane generated migrated through
the sand and accumulated in underfloor cavities of new houses in the
nearby community,” Scheirs explained. “It was a costly process – the
fire brigade took gas samples and found that lower explosive limits
were exceeded which meant houses were at risk of blowing up if there
was an ignition source, so residents had to be evacuated.”
The EPA which lacked data bases relating to older landfills then had
to establish a register and double liners for landfills was mandated;
predominantly high density polymeric material separated by a leak
detection system. This has increased demand for quality membranes.
Soon after, Best Practice Environment Management was published,
setting rigorous standards and higher reliance on conformance
(pre-installation testing). Also Construction QA placed demands on
welds, leak testing, holes and tears. Other states have taken note of the
tightening of controls.
Testing times
That snapshot helps illustrate why the ExcelPlas Laboratory is
constantly conformance testing plastics, polymer and geomembranes
(HDPE, LLDPE, fPP, PVC, EIA-R, EPDM) for properties such as tensile
Why the need? Given that many materials are manufactured in hot,
humid non air-conditioned plants in the tropics (including Thailand
and Malaysia) it is not always possible to maintain consistencies and
that affects the properties of the material which invariably come with a
design life of 50-100 years.
“There’s a saying by engineers that ‘It is always the two dollar
component that lets down the million dollar project’. Not unlike the ‘o’
ring on the space shuttle,” Scheirs said.
Much is at stake, given the magnitude and function of geomembrane
applications: water management/irrigation, coal seam gas and
associated water/containment ponds; acid leaching of base and precious
metals and other mining applications, as well as landfill plus energy or
biogas capture from landfill and sewerage treatment plants. While each
sector is booming, coal seam gas is steaming ahead.
Streaming gases During the past four years Queensland has seen “unprecedented
levels of activity” in coal seam gas (CSG), with Max Brady of Darling
Downs Tarpaulins stating the geomembrane industry is “still very
much driven by the coal seam gas sector.”
captivating business
NOVEMBER • DECEMBER 2012 • JANUARY 2013 · 13
Along with extraction of gas from wells comes salty sub-terranean
water from aquifers. The toxic hypersodic or hypersaline water
destroys matter in contact, hence enactment of legislation for water
containment and treatment via large container dams and brine ponds,
with desalinated and potable water then pumped back into the aquifer.
Thus the strong demand for polyethylene liners.
The tally of Australian CSG wells is believed to be around 2000
but within 15 years the number is likely to swell to 20,000, creating
enormous demand for water management – and subsequently, a strong
flow of orders for geomembranes.
Scheirs explained the processes surrounding leachate collection
process for iron ore enrichment which involves containing and
separating acids from the environment through a series of processing
ponds. Suffice to say huge areas – hectares – are involved, spawning
enormous demand for leach pads.
Lisa Doolan of Tex Connex stated that the mining industry, from base
metals to nickel, copper, gold and all in between, has to be particularly
careful to avoid negative publicity in a world far more conscious of
environmental damage.
“Mining companies are increasing their demands; these days two
or three layers of geomembrane systems are being installed, instead
of one or two,” said the trained civil engineer. “They may have a leak
protection layer such as a geonet and another liner to detect damage
with methods of picking up leaks in a liner.”
Wet or dry, a flood of work Strong demand also stems from the shift in weather patterns from
drought to floods, with Scheirs saying “In the past irrigation channels
were collecting precious water, but in times of excess rain they manage
the flow of water as well as erosion.”
Whatever the weather, it’s a win-win for the lining industry with a
flurry of activity surrounding channel upgrades or remediation of
existing infrastructure involving millions of square metres of liners.
Reflections on a watershed The past four years have been a watershed with many activities
underpinning the use of geomembranes, hence pressing demand for
ExcelPlas services in Construction QA and testing fusion welding, load
testing and more.
Keeping a keen eye on all local and global developments, John
captures and collates notable events through his monthly newsletter
GSN geosynthetic news (visit www.excelplas.com). One avid reader is
newcomer Graham Brown of Garden City Geotech.
Very proudly Australian made Australian family business Garden City Plastics invested millions developing
Garden City Geotech manufacturing facilities in Heatherton, Victoria.
Business Development Manager Graham Brown explained the
business was reviewing avenues for diversification and up popped
geomembranes on the radar; a market surveyed on behalf of the think-
tank Industry Capability Network (ICN) Victoria.
“We considered which types of membranes would be best for the
market, and settled on the flat T-die dual extrusion calendared process
…only two places in the world make the calendared sheet lines; the
machinery is massive, each of our three rollers weighs 25 tonnes, is
nine metres wide and one meter in diameter enabling widths of up to
eight metres,” Brown explained.
“There’s a saying by engineers. ‘It is always the two dollar component that lets down the … million dollar project.’ Not unlike the ‘o’ ring on the space shuttle.”
Dr John Scheirs of ExcelPlas
“There is lots of competition but the risk of low-cost producing countries is short-cuts taken with raw ingredients … it is important to use high grade resins in the design of geomembrane applications otherwise product will not last long enough to give satisfactory performance in the field.”
Bob Cahill of Tex Connex
14 · CONNECTIONS
Equipped with a Honeywell gauge control system and Zumbach
pinhole detector, materials are mixed in Moretti gravimetric
weigh scale blenders to ensure even dispersion of stabilisers and
carbon black. The advantages of flat sheet extrusion process for
geomembrane is gauge control to within +/- 3% compared to the
blown film process thickness variations of up to 10%.
Tech specs: Garden City Geotech sources Chevron Phillips K307
natural resin for the GRI GM13 HDPE geomembrane, due to its
“excellent stabiliser package and outstanding stress crack resistance”
and the company claims the broad fusion range results in more
consistent welds than with most other materials.
“The standard is the Geosynthetic Research Institute’s GM 13 and we
easily exceed that benchmark which is used in mining and by landfill
and authorities for water channel lining and other applications,” Brown
told Connections.
Australian made carbon black masterbatch (M248) – with its very fine
milled particle size which provides long term UV resistance – is used in
the black geomembrane.
“This is quite thick material; it is flexible to a degree but basically strong
material … previously this type of material was all imported,” he said.
Heavy transport Shipping containers or contract carriers criss-cross the continent
transporting Geotech rolls, each weighing one and a half tonnes.
Representing around 60% of business, traditional mining and coal seam
gas form the bulk of Geotech’s three markets.
“Landfill is significant too, with municipal tips requiring a double
lining to help prevent toxins seeping out; also dams are big business
… but our first break was in the northern Victoria irrigation program in
the sandy channels from rivers to the Murray Darling food bowls area,”
Brown, a chemical engineer, explained. “They were losing lots of water
as the river flats are sandy and we won the tender to line the channels.”
The family company has invested several million dollars in machinery
and upgrades. “Had we bought via the United States we may have secured
slightly higher quality equipment but timing was a consideration, it would
have taken two years to arrive and we wanted to move more quickly to
secure our position as the first in Australia to produce this line.”
It did not take long for Garden City Geotech to gain a foothold in the
geomembrane market whose import statistics clock in at 60,000 tonnes
annually. The company has the capacity to produce 20,000 tonnes a
year and their operations “Have the benefit of removing dependence
on imported material which reduces uncertainty associated with
imported supply and shipping delays,” Brown said
Few would disagree that in a nation whose manufacturing base is fast
shrinking it is refreshing learning about a quality, home-grown start-up
that has quickly forged a significant presence.
on a rollAbout the time Geotech first flicked the switch on its giant rollers,
newcomer Tex Connex was rolling up its sleeves for business, with
Bob Cahill appointed agent for world renowned geomembrane
manufacturer Layfield Environmental in mid 2011.
SPECIALFEATURE
“The geomembrane industry is still very much driven by the coal seam gas sector and mining generally.”
Max Brady of Darling Downs Tarpaulins
NOVEMBER • DECEMBER 2012 • JANUARY 2013 · 15
With his qualifications in Agricultural Science, experience with a
polypropylene company and years spent dealing with fabricators,
Cahill was a natural for the role and in common with Geotech found a
ready market helped by the three-decade strong reputation built by
Layfield which is regarded as a leader in the field, supplying top quality
products from superior grades of parent resins.
“The risk of low-cost producing countries is short-cuts taken with raw
ingredients, it is important to use high grade resins in the design of
geomembrane applications otherwise product will not last long enough
to give satisfactory performance in the field,” Cahill told Connections.
“Ours is a mix of HDPE and LLDP which has slightly different
properties so it can be moulded and prefabricated. That is our market
niche, we can supply material that can be fabricated in the workshop
which gives the fabricator greater control of the welding conditions,
but realistically some work has to be done on site. Our materials just
provide more flexibility,” said the man who until last year had limited
involvement in geomembranes.
“It’s not too far a stretch from tank liners to dam liners,” quipped Cahill
who is now immersed in effluent and waste control at piggeries and
dairies, dam liners and floating covers for water storage/reservoirs
(which reduce evaporation and maintain water quality and keep blue
green algae at bay through reduced sunlight) and in mining and
coal seam gas applications for salt water containment. Also liners for
molasses and other crops.
CSG Advisory Committee An Independent Scientific Committee on Coal Seam Gas and Large Coal Mining Developments was recently developed to equip governments with “the best scientific advice available” when making decisions about coal seam gas and coal mining projects, and to scope and advise on bio-regional assessments with sci-entific analysis of the ecology, hydrology and geology to assess the potential risks to water resources as a result of the direct and indirect impacts of coal seam gas development
For more information visit www.environment.gov.au/coal-seam-gas-mining
Cahill notes a bank’s recent upbeat advisory on agribusiness, with
demand for farm commodities anticipated to bolster the economy for
several years, and good long-term opportunities stemming from healthy
crops after years of drought. The welcome term “bumper harvest” is
being bandied around.
The crew at Tex Connex have certainly jumped on the bandwagon at
a timely moment and are set to enjoy the journey.
“It’s a diverse market and there is lots of competition. But whether it’s
mining or molasses each project is treated on an individual basis and
we carry out a detailed assessment of what the material is trying to
contain, for example certain chemicals may be aggressive toward the
liners and shorten their life, otherwise a normal lifespan would be up to
25 years.”
> CONTINUES PAgE 23
Left: Lights flash when a silo runs empty, alerting operators to change the pipe-work to a full silo.
Top: geomembrane stock ready to be exported.
16 · CONNECTIONS
YOUNGLEADERS II
Get ready, get set … the seeds have been sown for the next Young Leaders Challenge with younger members of the association going head to head - brainstorming a structure that will be crafted over several months and on display at next year’s appropriately titled SuperExpo.
In mid-October during yet another weekend of mixed Melbourne
weather an eager group assembled to be presented with a ‘top secret’
mission. The precise nature of the challenge will remain under wraps until
the unveiling in early June next year, however Jamie Howard provided an
insight by saying “Overall the challenge this year is about giving back to
the localised community and re-igniting the true Australian spirit.”
Despite his relative youth, Jamie Howard has fast developed a name in
STA circles. Last year he led one of the Young Leaders teams and now he
is project instigator and mentor, saying “The challenge this year is a little
different from last … and it focuses on innovation, creativity and effectiveness.
“Details of this year’s challenge were revealed to the new Young
Leader teams at the Novotel St Kilda, during a fun filled, educational and
very rewarding Young Leaders Conference,” Jamie said.
“All of the young leaders were cordoned into the conference room,
where an in-depth brief of the potential project was presented. This
brief went through aspects such as engineering, design, marketing,
fabrication, installation, sponsorship and project management. Bearing
in mind all of these aspects, or only some, might be required. Judging
criteria was presented, along with rules and guidelines to ensure a fair
and equal approach to the challenge. A maximum budget was set and
will be revealed when appropriate.
“The Young Leaders will be tested and will need to step up to the
plate to truly impress those that will be judging ... You!”
Young leaders challenge 2012/2013
The Young Leaders were divided into their respective teams to discuss
an approach they would take and to designate a team structure.
Team A: The Green Textiles Team
Alberto Del Arco MakMax
Sam Duggan MakMax
Damien McDonald Darling Downs Tarpaulins
Dwane Ricard Shann Australia
Ben Thorburn Thorline Products
Brendan Saunders Buz Software
Amanda Saunders Buz Software
Michael Young Nolan.UDA
Team B:
Justin Esdaile Triax
Max Hayman Pattons
Michael Guinea Sail Structures Townsville
Scott Bartlett C E Bartletts
Chris Smith Campbell & Heeps
Brad Clark Sail City
Linda Bester Nolan.UDA
Brendan Allen Ricky Richards
David Splatt HVG Fabrics
In this context, the names Ben Thorburn, Justin Esdaile, Michael
Guinea and Chris Smith will be familiar as they were heavily involved
in last year’s challenge. Each has pledged more time to lend their
expertise to this year’s challenge, and will be playing a pivotal role in
the success of their team.
Conference photographer and mastermind of last year’s challenge,
Bob Cahill told Connections that the two teams “have chosen very
different tacks”.
Young leaders rise to the challenge
NOVEMBER • DECEMBER 2012 • JANUARY 2013 · 17
Kick off
The weekend kicked off with a working lunch at which STA
representatives presented a trend update, detailing the association's
busy agenda over the past 12 months, an update that set the set the
scene for the weekend’s workshop.
After lunch all participated in a ‘Mingle for success’ session,
described by someone as “a bit like speed dating only handing out
business cards instead of personal numbers”. This was followed up by
‘Creatively marketing your image to clients and the media’ delivered
by Craig Brewster who is a Business Coach with high-profile outfit
Action Coaching.
The focus of his session was on maximising company exposure
through the press and other means, and complemented his next dynamic
presentation which covered the ins and outs of digital media; the fine
balance between tapping into the right mix in achieving the most from all
prongs of digital media, illustrated by several successful case studies.
a new day, a fresh approach
Sunday’s presenter was Scott Mackay of ‘Mischief, Motivation,
Attitude’ who addressed the ‘Go Zone’, recommending workers boost
productivity by divvying up the work week into 1) A ‘go zone’ 2) a ‘slow
zone’ and 3) a ‘no zone’ ... essentially recognising that different things
can be slotted into different times.
Following this method, workers can strike a better balance between
productivity and expectations while remaining fresh and in the sales
context “make your faith stronger than your fears”.
dining with Masters
Duplicating last year’s successful format, industry ‘legends’ addressed
the younger set over dinner. Well known to most in the industry, John
Bartlett, Max Brady, Bob Cahill and Des Tebb were those masters, and
John commented that the Young Leaders' Challenge was a welcome
and overdue initiative that he wished had been around in his heyday.
“Harnessing a passion for the industry into a successful – and
enjoyable - career is the overriding theme,” says Bob Cahill, “It is only
when you step out of your everyday comfort zone that you develop
and grow.
“It is very timely to focus on the younger members of the association
as many of the baby boomers are looking at retiring and fresh talent
needs to be nurtured to fill the voids that will inevitably occur in the
highly specialised and skilled field of fabrication.”
Young leader
Jamie Howard advised that the conference was the second held so
far and by all accounts, it lived up to the hype. “Working on last year’s
project was a rewarding experience for me. In the beginning you are
working with a team that you don’t know very well, or at all. By the end
you are speaking regularly, joking with one and other and growing
together in areas that will enhance your current career path.
“From this challenge the Young Leaders will learn and become
stronger in their career. Confidence and ability will grow in areas
such as teamwork, problem solving, strategic thinking, manufacturing,
communication and management, to name just a few.”
Left: STA Leaders – young and not quite so...
Right: Ana Drougas on the trumpet
Far right:The green Textiles team.
Left: Meet and greet
Far left: Team B
Bottom left: Scott Mackay in the 'go Zone'
Below: Mastermind Jamie Howard
“It is only when you step out of your everyday comfort zone that you develop and grow.”
STRUCTURESSUPERB
Here we look at some of the more diverse entries to the 2012 STA Awards for Excellence.
unique projects and productsLandmark garden shelterCompany: Toowoomba Shade and CanvasProject Title: True Blue Garden Centre Location: Toowoomba QldFabric: Monotec Designer CollectionSupplier: Ricky Richards (Sales) Pty Ltd
This project was undertaken for a local specialised nursery which
provides quality grown plants to the domestic and commercial markets.
After more than 20 years of operating from small premises without
adequate space and protection for their stock and customers, the
clients decided to purpose build a facility to allow for the expansion of
their business.
The client approached us before the land was purchased to help
with the overall planning of the site for the local council planning
submission. They knew little about shade sails other than they wanted
them to be a landmark in the local area to help with the relocation
marketing as well as the protection of plant stock and customers.
Our staff spent close on 100 hours working with the client on different
designs and colours to ensure the costs were within their budget but
still maintained regular sun and shade variations throughout the day
and seasons.
Hail netting was to be used in a conjunction with shadecloth on a 50/50
ratio, but the client didn’t want steel framing to detract from the overall
streetscape and needed as much light as possible to specific locations
within the plant area, while maintaining protection. Direct rain water was
also an important factor for the client. They required as much rain to fall
directly onto the plants without damaging the potted soils.
Our team put forward a proposal to use 100% round monofilament
shadecloth to slow the rain water with a fair portion still servicing
the plants, while offering good shade protection during the summer
months to the more delicate stock. It was proposed to design the
hail netting to blend with the shade sails for the overall appearance
which proved to be the complex component of the project due to
the characteristics of point loading the hail netting. We did various
trials on the floor with respect to stretches and joining of the hail
netting and this paid off with the hail net being install first time
without modification.
The finished result has exceeded the client ‘s expectations because
we meet the initial brief even after all the design changes throughout
the planning stage. We have delivered exceptional sun protection for
both the stock as well as our client ‘s customers, maintained natural
rain water for quality of the stock, 50/50 coverage, shade cloth 222m2
to hail netting 225m2 and it has proven to be a landmark for the local
area which has allowed our client to enjoy a lot more walk in traffic than
they were previously experiencing.
The client's thank you letter reads as follows:
“Thank-you for your involvement in constructing our beautiful but
functional ˜lime fizz ‘ shade sails and hail net area to help us realise
our dream of expansion and purpose built premises for the relocation
of our garden centre … It is obvious you have an excellent team and
procedures in your business which create workmanship and customer
service second to none. While most businesses aim to be exceptional
not many actually achieve levels to the extent you have.”
18 · CONNECTIONS
unique projects and products RADFlex is a PVC fabric developed using the highest quality resins, UV Stabilizers,fire retardant inhibitors and finished with high gloss acrylic laquer on both sides.
Available now from Radins in a range of colours and weights from 550gsm to 900gsm.
Transport side curtains, roll top tarps, container covers, tarpaulins & all heavy duty applications.
Weight: 900gsm / Width: 320cm
General purpose outdoor/ indoor applications such as awning & blind trim, banners, tarpaulins, general covers, swag bases, tent floors, campervans & tool bags.
Weight: 550gsm / Width: 204cm
Ideal for grain covers, tarpaulins, camper trailers, sports equipment, swags, promotional tents, container curtains & most outdoor and indoor cover applications.
Our client, a communications supplier approached us to design a series of
padded canvas bags to act as protection to their sensitive mobile satellites
used for providing communications to remote areas including sporting
events and during times of disaster.
When these satellites are mobile, they are split up into approximately
80 pieces and the client was not satisfied with their current form of
transportation … wooden crates. Which not only made the transport of
these satellites bulky, heavy and difficult to manoeuvre, it also wasn’t
the ideal protection for their fragile components. So it was our mission
to design a more practical method of protecting and transporting these
components with custom canvas travel bags.
The client requested a series of protective bags to allow the
unassembled components of the satellite to fit into the back of a 4WD and
also be able to be used as check in luggage on board an air craft.
The custom made canvas bags were manufactured to enable our client and
their mobile satellites to safely reach more remote locations across Australia.
The work was measured off site and manufactured in our factory from
drawings and measurements taken. All with the exception of the satellite
dish which involved manufacturing a mould to ensure the curved satellite
panels were supported evenly.
A unique opportunity arose as we had to learn how to assemble and
dismantle the satellite to be able to determine the most efficient way to
pack the satellite bags into the back of the 4WD. We needed to have an
understanding of what parts went where and what they were referred to,
so that the bags could be correctly labelled and constructed.
This project was quite complex due to the satellite being composed of
many different parts in multiple size and shape. There were 50 different
bags made up in total in 11 different designs. Some of which housed more
than one component. This is also where the knowledge of assembling the
satellite became a useful tool.
The most complex of the bags that we designed were the individual dish
quarters as they had a concave curved shape that were not even quarters.
In order for the bags to fit like a glove as well as protect the dish we had to
make up moulds of the actual dish to work off.
The selection of padding material was unique as we had to choose
something that was dense enough to protect the item but not too ridged
that the bags had no give in them, potentially causing damage to
surrounding items, such as the car interior and windows if they became
dislodged whilst in transit.
The client requested a series of bags to house all of the components
including painted quarters of the satellite dish, various bags for the
powder coated stands, cables, receiver’s power supply units, computers
tie down gear and more. The challenge was when designing the bags, all
of these components had to be made as snug as possible to each item
ensuring that the space of each bag was utilised as efficiently as possible
and at the same time offering as much protection to the components.
The satellites dish broke down into four unequal quarters which had a
challenging concave curve to it. In order to achieve the correct shape of
the bag we had to make moulds up so we could shape the foam padding
to enable the bag to house such a heavy item. To minimise space during
transportation we were able to get two of the similar shaped quarters
into each bag.
Another challenging task of the project was that once the bags were
manufactured, they all had to fit perfectly in the back of a 4WD Nissan
Patrol. We had to organise the bags in a ‘Tetris’ fashion to make sure that
everything fit, whilst still keeping the items in some sort of logical order for
quick and easy assembly.
Another important part of the design criteria was to make sure all the
bags were within certain weight and size restrictions to ensure the bags
could be used as checked in baggage aboard a commercial flight. This
was all achieved by careful planning on commencement of production.
Some innovative techniques were utilised in the production of some of
these bags such as PVC storm water pipe. The pipe was fitted with a
snug canvas cover used to keep items like aerials and fragile measuring
instruments secure.
We approached this job one bag at a time then tried to limit the amount
of different size and styles of bags to make it more economical for the
client and more efficient whilst in production. In the end there was 50 bags
consisting of 11 different shapes, styles and sizes, all consisting of different
material and components including two different grades of canvas, PVC
fabric trimmings, foam, soft felt, thin plywood and PVC storm water pipe.
Our client is extremely happy that we were able to solve their mobile
satellite transportation issue with a series of high quality padded
canvas bags.
Remote destinations that were merely impossible for their satellite to
reach in the past are now attainable due to the bags that we designed and
manufactured for them. They have even had multiple successful trips to the
Simpson Desert!
Satellite cushioning …Company: E H Brett & Sons Pty LtdProject Title: Satellite Canvas Bags Location: MobileFabric: DX12Supplier: Wax Converters Textiles
STRUCTURESSUPERB
NOVEMBER • DECEMBER 2012 • JANUARY 2013 · 23
SPECIALFEATURE
Tex Connex Colleague Lisa Doolan who boasts years of experience
in geomembranes and geosynthetics added that when solvents or
oil based products are involved great care needs to be applied in
matching lining to product and that “When anything is questionable
we get testing done before getting approval. Either Layfield or
independent testing lab such as ExcelPlas, who are gurus in testing.”
The years aheadWhat sort of a future awaits? Cahill believes the tighter regulatory
controls in livestock management coupled with a strong agribusiness
sector and need to tighten up waste collection practices paint a relatively
rosy picture.
“With our 15 years of drought followed by two good years of rain it has
looked like a boom, but that will drop off with drier weather [anticipated]
over the next two years. However lots of momentum is being generated
around Australia becoming a major food supplier to the Asia Pacific
region, hence the strong signs of agricultural investment.”
For his part, Graham Brown of Geotech “Cannot foresee a stalling
in the mining market and China is still growing at an enormous rate,
growth may be steadier rather than frantic, but lots of orders are still
coming through the pipeline.”
Max Brady of DDT says “Despite the negativity that assails us through
the mainstream media these days I’m a little surprised and impressed
by the apparent resilience and strength of the mining and energy
sector.” He reckons there is still “plenty of ongoing investment by
the mining and energy sector – which includes coal, CSG, and base
metals,” and observes only a minor downturn in mining margins.
Dr Scheirs concurs, saying “There is now a little softening of demand
in base metals but not in the area of CSG with gas exported to India,
China and elsewhere for use in domestic heating or cooking rather
than manufacturing. And environmental safeguards for bio-gas are very
strong so it is still a good time for membranes.
“It is like a perfect storm – and that puts demand on supply. Hence
the development of new manufacturing plants here and overseas. More
plants will continue to be built, until we reach oversupply.”
For more information:
www.gardencityplastics.com
www.gseworld.com
www.layfieldenvironmental.com
www.excelplas.com
www.ddt.com.au
< CONTINUED FROM PAgE 15
NEW Durkopp Adler model: H867Unbeatable high performance heavy duty sewing with Durkopp Adler M-TYPE technology
with the very best in after sales support via, product application knowledge, unequaled spare part deliveries and factory trained service technicians is the benchmark in the industry. Isn’t it time you took a closer look?
| PO Box 130 | 3 Gunya Street Regents Park NSW 2143
• The large clearance (700 x 157mm) facilitates the handling of large area work pieces
• bottom feed, needle feed and alternating walking feet
•
•
•
•
Up to 12mm long stitches
Extremely high sewing foot lift of 25mm
The sewing foot stroke up to 9mm allows
material piles
New needle system of 328
• New hook system with 3XL bobbin for thread sizes up to nm 8/3
• Sewing speed up to 2,000 stitches/min
• Robust thread trimmer guarantees a safe and clean cutting of extreme thick sewing threads
26 · CONNECTIONS
FLAGS & BANNERS SPECIAL FEATURE
all manner of bannersBanners are very much part of the surrounding landscape. Ranging from small to massive and all in between, they broadcast a series of messages and images. But how have processes evolved and what does the future hold? We talk to some prominent STA members to gain insight and perspective.
Wandering around Berlin a couple of decades ago, a large imposing
Georgian building on a prominent street corner caught my eye. But a
gust of wind kicked up and something didn’t look right – the building
appeared to wobble. It turned out the façade was not structural but
vinyl, sporting a life sized image of the building’s original splendour.
Residents and visitors to Sydney over the next few months will
experience a similar surreal moment, with the iconic sandstone clock
tower on the Town Hall (pictured) undergoing a multi-million dollar
restoration project.
Many thousands of metres of mesh membrane were used in the
project, and Ricky Richards was the supplier. Print Media Sales Manager
Matt Evans told Connections that the ‘Crest Mesh’ product has been in
demand for large scale wrap jobs for the past ten years, from the Sydney
Olympics, to the ‘Cathy Freeman job’, the ANZ building and more.
“Crest mesh is a proven product; at 350 grams per square metre
it is heavier in weight than other materials, and it has fire retardant
characteristics, These two key features set it apart … the material has
never failed in any job, the product is very consistent.”
The name Ricky Richards is all but synonymous with digital print
media which today comprises around 25% of business. Not bad
given their digital print operations commenced just 12 years ago.
“We got into it more by chance than by plan … the industrial
textiles we supplied could be printed on so it landed in our lap,”
Matt said.
“Most of the digital print media has been done on PVC but there is
a greater trend toward rigid materials, that is printing straight onto
boards like core flute and expanded PVC, and also a move to more
natural environmentally friendly textiles like polyester which does not
By Nicola Card
NOVEMBER • DECEMBER 2012 • JANUARY 2013 · 27
contain so many noxious chemicals like lead and VOCs. It is lighter
and easier to transport and install.
Jason Rewse who is National Specifications Manager with HVG Graphics
Media concurs, saying “The world is becoming more PVC conscious; it is
not seen as the most eco-friendly product. I think eventually we will move
away from PVC … it will take a long time but any steps in that direction will
certainly help the industry and the environment. [Alternative] polyethylene
can be recycled, reworked, reused.
Halifax Vogel Group – which currently imports anything from lower widths
of 1.3 to 2.5 metres for the general banner market and everyday signs, right
up to five metre widths for billboards and large structural banners or meshes
– was consulted over Sydney’s clock tower restoration. Jason Rewse said the
mesh façade of the clock tower was printed by Cactus Imaging, which is
reputedly just one of a few wide format digital printers in Australia.
Left and below: Stonemasons were recently seen abseiling the 55-metre Sydney Town Hall clock tower to wrap it in a special photograph mesh featuring the landmark clock face.
Wide format printing
According to Andrew Wells who is Shann Product Manager for digital
print media, demand for wide format printing is fast moving at present,
driven by demand for large mesh banners in the building sector as well
as in housing and mines. “These banners help prevent dust building up
and provide privacy while promoting company names and logos. Most
of the mesh is polyester and PVC coating open weave which comes
with a lifespan of several years, by which time the images which are
solvent-based fade but the resolution is getting better now
Printing process Print dynamics is the forte of Jason Rewse who is a screen-printer by
trade. “Initially it was all solvent based … in simple terms solvent ink
that almost imitates paint. Wide format digital printers are like a big
oversized ink jet printer; the sort of technology where they fire dots of
cyan, magenta, yellow and black. Effectively it’s a bit like newspaper
printing or what a color photocopier does with segments of dots which
is not unlike offset printing,” he explained.
“Different technologies have come into play, most of the newer
platforms have moved to UV dryable inks whereby the inks are put
through UV lamps which cures them rather than relying on heat to dry
the solvent. This has made a big pitch of late and many of the large
format printers are using just UV or a combination of both.”
“The world is becoming more PVC conscious; it is not seen as the most eco-friendly product. I think eventually we will move away from PVC … it will take a long time but any steps in that direction will certainly help the industry and the environment.”
28 · CONNECTIONS
Flying the flagWayne Viner of Crew Products in Cheltenham, Victoria says 20 years ago it was “not so cool” to plant a flag in your front yard but today there is a surge in acceptance and popularity – which as a flagpole maker suits him down to the ground.
“These days you see more flagpoles – flying predominantly Australian flags – in people’s private homes and in holiday homes, also in government departments and corporations, with some aboriginal flags or corporate flags. But some fly Colling-wood flags of all things!” he joked.
Crew Products has built a strong reputation over the years and among other large projects was the name behind the flagpoles carrying large Australian flags seen flapping along Melbourne’s Westgate Bridge. The series of flags which are spaced several me-tres apart are rotated every two months in the bid to even out the wear on fabrics that have to withstand gusts of up to 120 km/h.
“We’ve sewn edges and repaired tracks and put weights in … but making the flag heavier makes the tail flick harder so it has the reverse effect in that it increases the wear,” Wayne said.
The four sets of flags are made by Flags of All Nations in Wool-loongabba, Queensland, which uses a woven synthetic that was
once produced by local manufacturer Bradmill. All materials used today are imported.
Jason went on to say that the UV process is faster and provides an
instant dry whereas solvent based inks take time as the oxides need
to dry.
“If you do not dry the ink it causes lots of issues – the biggest
challenge for any printer is to dry the ink prior to fabricating and rolling
the banner. That is why UV provides the advantage – you can work with
the banner right after printing.
“Wide format digital printing is similar to what happened with screen
printing years ago … similar technological steps are involved.”
For local companies speed to market is a big advantage. “Not that
many [print] jobs are done in China. And we (locally) can act quickly
with short lead times and there are no communications gaps.
“What is keeping the local printing industry alive is fast reaction to
jobs and short lead times,” Jason said.
Fast paced executionMany of Ricky Richard’s clients in the signage industry are working
24/7, seven days a week on all elements from pre-press to fine tuning all
colour files and computers. Matt Brown agrees that speedy turnaround
is high on the agenda.
From shopping centres to corporate promotions, brand launches, conferences, exhibitions, trade shows and awards nights to building sites, beaches and board rooms – all manners of banners and textiles are seen in all walks of life.
FLAGS & BANNERS SPECIAL FEATURE
NOVEMBER • DECEMBER 2012 • JANUARY 2013 · 29
FaçadeA facade is generally one exterior side of a building, quite often the front, hence the use of the french word meaning ‘frontage’ or ‘face’, derived from the Italian facciata, from faccia meaning face.
Figuratively speaking: façade describes the "face" people show others, as opposed to what they really think or do.
Seemee is the high end fabric range used in back-lit signs such as those adorning fast food chain KFC. The fabric is flex faced; stretched over a back-lit box to create a good lookin’ image unencumbered by visible structures. Being a semi-translucent fabric, during daytime the sign appears solid but at night the light shines through to provide an eye-catching, vibrant look.
“Digital print has taken things into the computer age. As a result the
speed of work – of output – is so fast now. And beyond the printing there
is lots of finishing required with fabrication and lamination and other
weird and wonderful things they do afterwards and then it needs to be
installed. The turnaround times are expected to be lots faster,” Matt said
“That is the industry as a whole. Our customers are printers and sign
people whose customers are quite literally anyone in businesses, from
retailers to corporate offices or even members of the public.
“Everything is customised – there is no such thing as a stock product.”
Nerada Martin of Adelaide based Martin Canvas Products says while
there are still many digital printers in Australia she doubts the industry
will grow a lot as “Sign companies can get banners printed and finished
in China and shipped out in a week … and that is where the industry is
headed.”
Quality mattersOther factors come into play. Richard Gill of The Banner Lady describes
the banner industry as “very price competitive” but believes better
quality products will always win out. That means that each of the three
basic ingredients: inks, print and fabric – needs to be high quality.
He commented that South Korea is “going gang-busters” in terms of
material quality improvements, and more widely “there is a shift toward
better quality printing … competition is heavy and people are trying
to find an edge in everything they do because so much changes in
the market place, and very quickly … brands are having to reposition
themselves to ensure they are at the forefront of people’s minds and
businesses wanting to present themselves as high quality are looking
toward higher processes of printing processes and technologies, to
ensure colours are spot on. They need quality printing.”
“What is keeping the printing industry alive [in Australia] is fast reaction to jobs and short lead times.”
Recent history – and how things have changed
Despite the ubiquitous nature of banners, digital printing is a relatively
new phenomenon. In earlier days craftsmen hand-painted words and
images on banners, hence the term ‘sign write’ but this changed once
vinyl cutters hit the scene, about three decades ago.
Brown explained that “Vinyl cutting was an early sign of automation;
self adhesive coloured vinyl was cut into shapes and letters and stuck
on which from a distance looked printed”.
About ten years ago digital printing took over and Matt estimates just
10% of banners today are prepared using vinyl cuts. “But there is still a
place for that speciality; if they market themselves they can still do well
[and] those that are left pride themselves on their work and can even
charge a premium!”
The futureMany in the industry have commented on the next big shift toward
back-lit fabrics/textiles which by all accounts present a rather clean,
smart look. But word on the street is that over time back-lit banners will
be challenged by electronic signage as costs reduce.
“So much happens – we have to be constantly tracking emerging
technologies and maintaining up to date products, some have a very
short shelf life due to technological advances,” Matt said. “I have
difficulty predicting what will happen just in the next six months!
“In time electronics will definitely take over more but there will always
be a place for print as it has unique features and it will continually
adapt.”
Marking timeFast paced change. What a contrast to Sydney’s iconic 2.5-metre-
diameter timepiece whose mechanism was created 120 years ago and
has been has chiming on the hour since 1884. With restoration underway
– and literally under wraps – the clock is taking a well-earned rest.
Had you ‘clocked’ up 120 years of service, you might like to do same!
30 · CONNECTIONS
SPECIAL TECHNICALFEATURE
Erosion control in mining applications By Dhani Narejo, Bruno Hay, and Bryan Wedin
using geosynthetics to stabilise soils in a harsh environment
Mine site erosion problemsOne of the largest nickel mining sites in
the world is located on the island of New
Caledonia in the South Pacific. Due to the
size of the mining project and the terrain of
the site, significant cut-and-fill work for civil
engineering structures was unavoidable.
For such a large site, the challenge of
protecting the structures from erosion can
be enormous. Inaction is not an option due
to the sensitive nature of the structures,
environmental concerns, and a keen desire
by the owners to protect the environment.
A typical example of the erosion at the site
is he slope in Figure 1. Such slopes require
continuous maintenance if the erosion
problem is not addressed. In some cases,
erosion can cause interruption in the mobility
of materials and personnel at the site.
Several erosion-control measures had been
successfully used at the site, including riprap
and concrete. An alternate erosion-control
system was desired by the owner that would
meet the following objectives:
• cost-effective,
• require little or no maintenance,
• use local labor and materials,
• have a design life exceeding 50 years.
Soil, topography, weatherUltrabasic soils
cover about
one-third of New
Caledonia, where
large deposits of
nickel are found.
Periodites and
serpentines—the
parent rocks of
these soils—
formed 1.5–65
million years
ago during the
Tertiary period.
The chemical
weathering of
these rocks over
thousands of
years and subsequent erosion have resulted
in a soil formation of the general nature shown
in Figure 2. Ultrabasic soils are rich in iron and
magnesium—and also contain nickel, cobalt,
and chromium—yet are deficient in nutrients
to support vegetation. These soils are fragile in
structure and easily erodible, especially when
the dense vegetation at the surface is disturbed
by fires, mining, or construction activities.
The topography of the site is generally hilly
and mountainous. Slopes vary continuously
from steep to gentle and from fully vegetated
to barren. There are numerous water runoff
features on the island. There are large areas of
unstable soils and mass movement as shown in
Figure 2. As a result, soil erosion is a challenging
engineering problem in this region.
The weather pattern is cyclonic, with a single
cyclone dumping up to 800mm (31in.) of
rain within 24 hours. Significant rainfall from
at least three major events has affected the
island during the past 50 years. Tropical
Cyclone Anne dropped 714mm (28in.) of
rain within 24 hours in 1988. In 1969, Tropical
Cyclone Colleen recorded 214mm (8in.)
of rain in 4 hours. In January 2011, Tropical
Cyclone Vania brought a rainfall of 50mm
(2in.) per hour for several hours. The rainfall
intensity for a 6-hour, 100-year storm is on
the order of 400mm (16in.) in this region. The
annual number of cyclones can range from
2–10. Table 1 presents the 10 wettest storms
recorded on the island (through 2010).
A photo of general terrain of ultrabasic soil re-gion of the island (www.tranquillity.net). Photo courtesy of the authors.
Figure 1
Figure 2
Table 1
NOVEMBER • DECEMBER 2012 • JANUARY 2013 · 31
The unstable nature of the soils, together
with the hilly terrain and cyclonic weather,
presented unique engineering challenges for
the soil erosion problems.
Sustainable solutionsThe contractor had a long and successful
relationship with the mining company at the
site installing liner systems and was aware of
the challenges of protecting the slopes from
erosion in this environment.
The owner suggested the potential of
geocell applications to develop a conceptual
solution to the erosion problems. The
solution consisted of covering the slopes
with geocells, a 3-D HDPE product designed
to contain and stabilize infill material. The
recommended infill material consisted of a
byproduct waste aggregate from the mining
operation. A nonwoven, needle-punched
(NW-NP) geotextile separation layer was
also recommended. Figures 3 and 4 present
the proposed gravel infill and the geocell,
respectively.
The owner accepted the contractor’s
proposed solution as a more cost-effective
answer than previous methods. The
geosynthetic solution would require little
to no maintenance during the effective
design life and was visually appealing. The
proposed gravel infill was available as a
waste material at no cost. The installation
could be performed by local labor with
little technical support and training by the
manufacturer. However, the owner required
that an independent design engineer prepare
a design for the proposed solution.
The primary design considerations
included:
• minimum thickness of the geocell,
• veneer stability,
• type of the separation geotextile,
• hydraulic response during a storm, and
• infill procedures.
Due to length constraints for this article,
only the thickness and veneer stability are
discussed here. Important design conditions
for the site related to thickness and veneer
stability included:
• maximum slope angle of 45 degrees,
• 6-hour probable maximum precipitation of
39mm (1.5in.),
• maximum slope length of 20m (65.5ft), and
• clay soils.
The geocell thickness was the most
challenging factor during the design phase
because of the long slope lengths and steep
angles. As the thickness of the geocell
increased, the driving force due to the
infill weight increased, which led to higher
anchorage requirements.
Alternatively, as the geocell thickness was
decreased, more water could penetrate the
clay soil, which could potentially jeopardize
the effectiveness of the geocell system.
After a detailed analysis, a geocell thickness
of 100mm (4in.) was selected to provide
effective coverage and minimize anchorage
requirements.
The anchorage requirements are explained
with this veneer stability equation:
cu=fc CBRsgWhere FS = factor of safety against veneer
instability, Cr = required anchorage (kPa),
h = thickness of the geocell (m), β = slope
angle (degrees), δ = geotextile-subgrade
friction angle (degrees).
A factor of safety of 1.4 was used, which
is typical for slope stability analysis. The
friction angle between the geotextile and
underlying site clay was based on GRI
Report #30 (Koerner and Narejo, 2005).
Figures 3 & 4
32 · CONNECTIONS
Figure 5 provides the relevant figure from
this eport. A friction angle of 28 degrees was
used in the calculations. Density of gravel, γ, was 20 kN/m3. Slope angle, β, varied from
26–45 degrees. The required anchorage, Cr,
depends on the slope angle β for the known
or assumed values of FS, h, δ and γ. For a β
value of 45 degrees, the required anchorage
is 1.2 kN/m2.
For geocell installations, two anchorage
methods that include stakes and tendons
are typically evaluated. In the design phase,
galvanized No. 4 rebar provided the most
cost-effective solution. The rebar spacing was
determined based on actual site load tests.
Fifteen locations were identified for the field
load tests.
The rebar intended for use was hammered
into the slope and a downward pull load was
applied parallel to the slope. The load was
increased until either maximum load capacity
was reached or the rebar broke or pulled
out of the ground. Testing determined that
a maximum anchorage of 100kg or 0.98kN
could be used for a single rebar anchor.
From this value, the spacing of the stakes was
determined.
InstallationThe contractor recontoured the slopes where
there was significant damage caused by
erosion. A 6oz. NW-NP geotextile was installed
on the slope as a separation layer between the
existing subgrade layer and the gravel infill
material. Cellular confinement sections were
installed over the geotextile.
Starting from the top of the slope, the sections
were expanded down the slope and filled with
waste aggregate (Figure 6). The installation
was completed within the target time.
PerformanceIn 2011, just weeks after the completion of the
first phase of the project, Tropical Cyclone Vania
dropped a total of more than 600mm (24in.) of
rain within a 24-hour period. The site was further
affected when, within 24 hours of Vania’s impact,
a magnitude-7 earthquake hit a nearby island.
This was a real-life test for a geocell installation
on steep slopes, some up to 45 degrees.
The slope coverage performed as designed,
with little or no erosion even on the steepest
of the slopes as shown in Figure 7. These
successes were in keeping with previous
results experienced by the manufacturer’s
customers around the Pacific Rim—that the
cellular confinement performs consistently
under wet and seismic conditions.
Project summaryFor difficult and complex site conditions, cellular
confinement applications can provide powerful
protection against soil erosion.
The concept is simple and is based on the
soil-containment function of the geocell and
the separation function of the geotextile. A thin
layer of overburden soil contained within the
cell is enough to protect unstable slopes. This
protection is possible even on steep slopes if
proper engineering procedures are followed
and, most critically, provided that engineering
design solutions are used only for the specific
material and manufacturing characteristics of a
cellular confinement material.
The engineer’s experience with the proposed
design solution, that of the contractor with the
site, and that of the manufacturer with previous
projects in the region all contributed to the
project’s success. The decision to use waste
material as the infill during the design phase
was crucial and limited project costs.
The materials installed on the initial phases of
the slopes have already experienced dozens
of heavy rainfalls and at least one earthquake.
This case history shows how geosynthetics can
be engineered to solve complex problems at
a significantly lower cost when compared to
traditional solutions.
This article is reproduced from Geosynthetics
of February 2012 by permission of IFAI
Dhani Narejo, principal at Caro Engineering LLC in Conroe, Texas, is a member of Geosynthetics magazine’s Editorial Advisory Committee. Bruno Hay, is business manager at FLI Pacifique SNC in New Caledonia. Bryan Wedin is chief design engineer with Presto Geosystems in Appleton, Wis.
George Koerner and Dhani Narejo, “Direct Shear Database of Geosynthetic-to-Geosynthetic and Geosynthetic-to-Soil Interfaces,” Geosynthetic Research Institute, GRI Report #30, June 14, 2005.
Figure 5
Figure 6
Figure 7
SPECIAL TECHNICALFEATURE
NOVEMBER • DECEMBER 2012 • JANUARY 2013 · 33
Maintenance is not a dirty wordIn this report Beatrice Moonen who chairs the Fabric Structures Committee spells out the importance of upkeep as a means of averting problems down the track.
The Fabric Structures Committee of the
STA believes maintenance is a big deal for
providers of fabric structures. Maintenance
will become so much more important as older
structures start to show signs of wear.
The committee comprises senior people within
the fabric structure industry and a representative
from the Cancer Council. Members of the FSC
strive to raise standards and promote the fabric
structure industry with guidelines, advocacy and
resources so that members can offer the best
service and a high quality product and in turn be
rewarded by opportunities available.
Installers promoting maintenance as part
of their service will benefit from new work
opportunities, customers responsive to after
sales service and long term quality of products.
This collectively reflects well on the industry.
Flexibility of design, price, aesthetics and
shade comfort have made fabric structures
popular over the years. While there are many
instances of solid shade structures 10 or 20
years on, regular maintenance allows more
shade structures to stand the test of time.
so why maintain a shade structure?
1. Weather will affect a shade structure
Wind, rain, hail and sun can damage a
structure no matter how well it has been made.
Nature can be destructive quickly or slowly.
2. Good practice will minimise risk
A well maintained fabric structure is safer. A
loose thread, a broken fitting or a small rip
should be fixed or before becoming bigger
and riskier. Consider community public
places such as playgrounds where safety and
enjoyment must work together.
3. Warranties are limited
Warranties on fabrics are five years and
more. Once the roof fabric on a structure has
exceeded its warranty period maintenance is
overdue, even if the structure appears fine on
the surface.
4. Vandalism and unauthorised access
In conjunction with installing locking gates,
anti climbing plates etc, where there is a risk
of vandalism such as in schools, inspections
and maintenance can ensure the structure
remains sound.
5. An expert may identify problems
which a layperson may not
As experts in the field, installers are more likely
to identify maintenance problems. Installers
know what to look for and understand how
components of a structure behave. Repairs can
be made quickly and effectively. Offering a
maintenance service is the start.
Your comments on this article or the safety and maintenance of structures are always welcome on [email protected]
If you have a product that needs to be welded, we have the complete range of standard and automated custom models to meet your needs.
VERSATILITY AND RELIABILITY, THAT’S WHY MILLER WELDMASTER IS THE FIRST CHOICE!
Elizabeth Machines are the authorised Australian distributors for Miller Weldmaster equipment.
FABRIC REPORT
34 · CONNECTIONS
INNOVATION
Roger La Salle takes a closer look at the all-too-familiar face of the workforce and says step back to take a closer look at every day practices.
too close to see the business
Often those of us involved in business are simply too close to
daily issues to see the potential for real value adding innovations
and opportunities or indeed to appreciate some of the things our
businesses and people do really well.
Even in the case of business plans, which seldom play-out as
forecast, the so called independent “third eye” to review the plan
before it is finalised is always a good idea.
The transfer “catalyst” of the “Opportunity Matrix” thinking platform
asks us to see if we can transfer this so called “third eye” used on
business plans to other aspects of our business.
Following this idea we may implement a formal “third eye” across
the business on a periodic basis.
the third “eye” innovation initiative
Network with a group of your peers and invite them on a tour of your
facility to view in their own minds what you are doing and how you go
about your business.
This does not have to be limited to just the physical or operational
aspects of your business but can include your telephone answering
technique, your staff presentation and manner, your business card
presentation, your signage and even the overall presentation of your
facility.
Here’s a thought: would you prefer to visit a dental surgery or a
restaurant whose premises were beautifully maintained with lovely
gardens as you enter, or instead one where the gardens were a
mangled mess with absolutely no interest in presentation at all being
shown by the business operator?
Obviously, the clean and beautiful presented premise inspires
confidence.
With your network now briefed conduct a tour of your business and
ask each person to take a note pad with them and write down three
things that they individually observe that you do really well.
Also ask them to write down three things that they believe are
lacking or need attention and can be done better.
Thus we now have three plus three innovation initiatives we can
explore in an endeavour to innovate or improve our business.
the cost is nothing
A “Third Eye” tour need only take a few minutes and will provide
invaluable third party or “independent third eye” insights. More
importantly it will assist in identifying your strengths and weaknesses.
This simple third eye can be a real innovation eye opener and can be
done at no cost at all.
the third “eye”
NOVEMBER • DECEMBER 2012 • JANUARY 2013 · 35
solve your employees’ no.1 cause of stress!
the changing paradigm
Any reader who is familiar with the TV series hit
The Office (English version, please) would notice
people crouched over computer screens doing
who knows what, but all very engaged.
In fact if you walk into almost any office today,
the places where city commuters most often
work, you will find precisely the same scene.
People privately engaged in their work while
crouched over a computer. So prevalent is this
activity that we are being warned about the perils
of continuous close focused vision, keyboard RSI
and lack of exercise just to mention a few.
Given this is working life for so many these
days, let’s turn that into an opportunity.
"innovate" your workplace to reap multiple benefits
Many “birds can be killed” with this one stone
if we embrace change:
1. Productivity improvement
2. Traffic congestion and the huge expense
of building new road infrastructure
3. A real use for the NBN – more than just
home movies
4. Green house emission reductions, and
5. Cost of living in travel time and cost
Can you foresee these huge gains if most
people did not have to travel to an office
everyday to do their jobs?
do we need to have staff present?
Social interaction in the workplace has huge
benefits, both for the well-being of workers,
the cross pollination of ideas and the building
of a team environment.
However, in most cases there is absolutely
no need for people to attend an office every
day. Perhaps one day each week would be
sufficient to allow for social interaction and
general catch up.
Numerous studies have been undertaken
on the subject of home workers, or so called
“telecommuters” and most show the cost
benefits in productivity and reduced cost of
employment in many ways, including office
space, energy, consumables and many other
almost hidden on-costs. For the worker there
are also huge benefits.
A study in the USA* found that the
total number of US telecommuters (one
day per month at home) grew from some
17 million in 2001 to almost 30 million by
2008. It is clear that there is a growing trend
towards this sensible alternative to full office
based work.
*Data by The Dieringer Research Group Inc. February 2009
envisage the future
For sceptics who think this may not work,
just image a computer with a screen that
showed every member of your team as a
screen shot, perhaps an overhead view of the
office environment. To meet or speak with
any member you simply click on the image,
to engage with a group, simply click on the
people required and all come to each other as
virtual 3D interactive images with high quality
audio: a virtual office.
In such a high definition virtual environment
there is little difference from having staff
physically present. In fact to meet or speak
with a team member in such an environment
would be easier and faster than getting up
from your desk and walking to their office
based workstation.
What is required to achieve this utopia?
1. An acceptance of the worker to take on
the liability of providing their own safe
workplace
2. High-speed, two-way internet
connectivity
3. Suitable KPIs that can be used to measure
the performance of home workers
4. IT infrastructure at the office and worker’s
home, and
5. Trust from management for workers to be
accountable
the potential benefits are profound
The benefits are huge and can lead to much
higher productivity and reduced worker
stress in travel to and from work. Indeed when
surveyed in the USA many workers cited the
stress of travelling to and from work as their
biggest concern.
Perhaps it may even be possible to ask
staff to put in an extra 30 to 60 minutes a day
if you remove the normal one to two hours
commuting time, not to mention the cost.
Where to from here?
Perhaps now is the time with traffic snarls
on the increase to the point of frustration,
public transport running at capacity and real
productivity falling?
Embrace this new paradigm and reap the
benefits. Start off slowly and track the results.
Roger La Salle is the creator of the "Matrix Thinking"™ technique and is widely sought after as an international speaker on Innovation, Opportunity and business development. He is the author of four books, Director and former CEO of the Innovation Centre of Victoria and as a number of companies both in Australian and overseas. He has been responsible for a number of successful technology start-ups and in 2004 was a regular panellist on ABC TV’s New Inventors. In 2005 he was appointed to the "Chair of Innovation" at “The Queens University" in Belfast. Matrix Thinking is now used in more than 26 countries and is licensed to Deloitte, one of the world’s largest consulting firms. www.matrixthinking.com
Paradigm shift: staying at home to go to work, by Roger La Salle
36 · CONNECTIONS
TECHNICALFEATURE
truck cover and tarp markets pick up speedIn the United States there is renewed demand for the niche markets of truck covers and tarps which is helping support growth, says Holly O’Dell.
Like many industries, the trucking industry has had to deal with the
effects of the slow economy. American Trucking Association recent
statistics indicate that truck tonnage fell just 0.7 percent in May 2012 after
dropping 1.1 percent in April. The numbers, however, show improvement
over the same period in 2011, and that could spell good news for an
important segment of the roadway freight market: truck covers and tarps.
Fabric suppliers and manufacturers of load covering systems have
weathered the economic storm, responding to renewed demand and
finding niche markets to support growth.
Price pressuresEnd users of truck load covers have been careful with expenditures, which
led to belt-tightening throughout the supply chain. However, BondCote
Corp. of Pulaski, Virginia, a supplier of vinyl-coated polyester for truck
tarps, has seen improvement since late 2011, noting that users had been
repairing their tarps instead of buying new ones through the recession.
“I’m not sure if it’s because the economy is improving that much or the
fact that users finally have to buy new tarps. I think it’s a little of both,”
says Eric Brown, BondCote’s national sales manager. “Also, the change
in EPA emission regulations is driving higher new truck sales before the
effective date, and new trailer sales are following suit.”
Economic challenges have put price pressure on the industry, too. “The
tarp market is very commodity based,” Brown notes. “Everything is all
about price, so all of the fabric suppliers have been forced to cut to the
bone to reduce costs.”
Despite the economic downturn, some tarp suppliers and
manufacturers report improving conditions. Dean Hammond, owner
of Cardinal Canvas Products in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, admits to a
difficult 2009, but the news has been good ever since. “The market
came back in 2010, and 2011 was excellent for us,” he says, adding that
the demand is so great that Cardinal Canvas has a backlog of orders
for load tarps. “It all depends on how busy the truckers are, and they
have been busy.”
As a distributor of tarp fabrics throughout North America, Atizapán,
Mexico-based Grupo Piessa also has noticed a shift among its
customers. “We can see the purchasing volume has decreased, but
customers have been adjusting the orders, buying products with less
weight or changing the specs in order to get better prices,” says Yadira
Moreno, export manager for Grupo Piessa.
Load Covering Solutions Ltd., Burlington, Ontario, Canada, contracts with a print shop to offer customers the value-added
option of delivering a message along with their load with digitally printed soft-sided curtains. Photo: Load Covering Solutions
38 · CONNECTIONS
A decrease in tarp demand has some companies rethinking how they
do business. “Industrywide, when you have these sorts of challenges, it
becomes tougher for some companies to maintain their size,” says Ken
Harp, president of Harp’s Tarps in Tucker, Georgia. “In our case, we
have had to work harder to grow. We are in an extremely competitive
industry, and [a poor economy] forces you to become more efficient
and stronger.”
Another hurdle comes in the form of end users’ expectations. “A lot
of times the end users don’t always see the value in higher quality or
the total cost of ownership over the long run of the product,” Harp adds.
In particular, a slowdown in construction has taken its toll on the truck
cover market.
“We are construction driven because trucks that haul building debris
need tarps,” notes Michael Ciferri Jr, vice president and product
manager for Donovan Enterprises in Stuart, Florida, a manufacturer of
dump truck tarp systems and trailer tarp systems. If the construction
industry experienced another big downturn, Ciferri says they would
certainly feel it, but for Donovan, that scene is fading in the rearview
mirror. “The last couple of years we have seen some rather steady
growth,” he says.
Growth areasTarp and truck cover manufacturers have diversified their offerings—
sometimes in unexpected market areas. Harp’s Tarps, for example,
has completed custom projects unrelated to the freight industry. The
company created a huge tarp bladder that was inserted into a sunken
ship off the coast of Florida, then inflated with air to raise the vessel.
The fabricator also has made octagons and hexagons for mats used
in mixed martial arts fighting.
“When you get these new niche markets, you have higher margins,”
Harp says, “and it is fun doing something different from squares and
rectangles all day.”
Ciferri also recognises the importance of diversification. “When
you have a bunch of time and you aren’t selling a lot of truck tarps,
you have got to find something else to do,” he says, but Donovan
Enterprises did what it had to do to survive, particularly in the
especially lean years of 2007–2009.
“Do I want to go out and sell sandbags today? No. But have I gone out
and sold sandbags for a year? Yes. You are making quarters, but you have
volume, and if you have the time and the distribution, it’s important to
look at such opportunities,” he says.
Donovan Enterprises also has its eyes on worldwide growth.
“International markets have been strong for us,” Ciferri notes. The
company has a division in the United Kingdom and a master distributor
in France, and it has sold product into Mexico, Australia and South Africa.
IFAIFEATURE
NOVEMBER • DECEMBER 2012 • JANUARY 2013 · 39
“Some countries are much more difficult to work in than others
because they have all these requirements, and they think it should be
easy to meet all of them,” he adds. “Then there are some countries that
just want to cover the load and keep rocks from falling out.”
Market impactsAlthough there haven’t been monumental changes in the composition
of tarp fabrics, some suppliers are experimenting with different
components.
“We have been looking for new and better substrates that allow us
to increase the resistance of our materials, like fabrics 14 x 14 1000
D and heavier,” says Piessa’s Moreno. “Also, we have developed with
our suppliers UV-resistance additives and fire-retardant additives to
accomplish the highest levels of quality requested by international
regulations. We have produced some tarps that are phthalate-free to
meet international regulations, too.”
BondCote’s Brown notes, “We can make a superior truck tarp fabric if
the industry would pay for it, but once again, it is all about price. It very
much limits what you can do to provide superior, innovative fabrics
when the market will not pay for them.”
As long as government bodies continue to demand regulations for
truck covering systems, suppliers and end product manufacturers will
always have a place in the freight industry.
“Load covering is becoming a bigger concern to shippers and
transport companies on a regular basis,” says Brian Petelka, president
of Load Covering Solutions Ltd in Burlington, Ontario in Canada, which
also has US offices.
“To be able to cover the loads so that they are weather protected and
doing it all safely at ground level is a growing need,” Petelka says.
Industry representation
The Tarp Association, a division of IFAI, offers industry participants
information, advocacy and support. Visit the association’s website to
learn more about covering laws, safety tips, care and maintenance of
truck covers, new products and special events.
This article is reproduced from IFAI publication Specialty Fabrics
Review of August 2012
Holly O’Dell is a freelance writer based in Pine City, Minnesota.
Well established business for sale in the hunter Valley, nsW
The owners of nAggS CAnVAS (established in 1986) wish to retire from their highly successful business.
The business fabricates a wide range of canvas goods and shade products. it has a very good reputation for high standard of work, and services the local mining industry & interstate branches, local councils & schools, & service industries. it is well known for vehicle canopies and caravan annexes/walls for roll-out awnings. repair and alteration work is constantly requested by the general public.
with a staff of the 2 owners (working manager, secretary), 2 full-time employees and 2 casual workers, the annual turnover of this small business is around 1 million per annum, achieving excellent profit margins. There is much scope for expansion for an enthusiastic person.
The sale includes a large range of stock, machinery, welders, sewing machines & intellectual property (engineering of structures & sails, and templates for the mining industry).
leasing of the current premises is possible.
for More details, Please ContaCt herold GelderMan 02 4930 7394 or PhiliP Johns 02 4993 3333
Specialised Textiles AssociationSuite 201, 22 St Kilda Road, St Kilda Vic 3182
Phone 03 9521 2114 n Fax 03 9521 2116 www.specialisedtextiles.com.au
Learn, share and network with others in the industry who have a similar passion for our industry at national and state based events held throughout the year.
Have your say about the direction of our industry and association through involvement on Council of Management, industry focus groups and special interest groups.
Connect with buyers and suppliers by exhibiting, presenting or attending one of the premier exhibition and conference events in this region.
Be acknowledged for your great work by entering your projects into the Awards for Excellence, an annual competition, designed to recognise excellence and innovation in our industry.
Take advantage of event discounts by enjoying reduced fees on a variety of events such as the annual trade exhibition and advertising in Connections Magazine. Your membership also gives you access to IFAI bookstore at discounted rates.
Educate and inform others using Connections Magazine to communicate to a niche market hungry for knowledge and news about our industry. Members can use Connections to advertise their products and services to their target markets.
Get listed in our comprehensive member and product directory - published in hard copy and searchable online.
Differentiate yourself from non members by making use of the Specialised Textiles Association logo on your stationery and other collateral.
Access expert information and advice by accessing the specialist knowledge and expertise of our member fabricators, installers and suppliers. Specialised Textiles Association is also a member of Australian Industry Group with access to comprehensive range of information and member advices on employee and industrial relations, occupation health and safety issues and much more.
The advantages of becoming a member
Manufacturers, installers and suppliers. Together we cover the world.
A S S O C I A T I O N
Specialised Textiles Association Inc.
Suite 201, 22 St Kilda Road, St Kilda Vic 3182Phone 03 9521 2114 n Local Call 1300 555 787
Fax 03 9521 2116 n [email protected] 83 594 171 330 n Registration Number A0010895W
www.specialisedtextiles.com.au
MAM8919
STA Promo Advert (August12).indd 1 15/08/12 11:06 AM
Specialised Textiles Association Inc. Suite 201, 22 St Kilda Road, St Kilda Vic 3182
Phone 03 9521 2114 n Local Call 1300 555 787 Fax 03 9521 2116 n [email protected]
ABN 83 594 171 330 n Registration Number A0010895Wwww.specialisedtextiles.com.au
Company / Business Name
ABN or ACN # Please supply proof of business registration with this application
Does your business trade under any other name? n Yes n No If yes, what is the other trading name
Address
State Postcode
Telephone ( ) Fax ( ) Mobile
E-mail Web
Name of Business Owner Position held in business
Name of second business contact/representative Position held in business
Has this business or any other business owned by you (either now or previously) ever been reported to the ACCC? n Yes n No (Australian Competition and Consumer Commission) If yes, please provide details to accompany this application
What area of the industry are you involved in? n Blinds and Awnings n Marine n Motor Trimmer n Shade Sails installer n Supplier to the industry (specify)
n Flags and /Banners n Sailmaker n GeoSynthetics n Shade Sail Fabricator n Other
What Products do you manufacture, design or supply?
Full Membership Categoryn FABRICATOR Construction/Manufacture from prepared components n ASSOCIATE Individuals interested in STA objectives
n SuPPLIER Material/Component/Equipment /Services n AFFILIATE Organisations affiliated with STA
Do you belong to any other Industry Association? n Yes n No If Yes, please list
All membership applications are required to be proposed and seconded by 2 existing Specialised Textiles Association Members –
If you do not know of any Members, please contact our Office for further assistance
Proposed by Company Name Telephone
Seconded by Company Name Telephone
I, (name of business owner) agree to abide by the Statement of Purposes and Rules of
the Association and its Code of Ethics. I understand that should at any time any of the information supplied by me is found to be false/
incorrect, my membership will be immediately withdrawn from the Association.
Signature (of business owner) Date
Payment Details Amount $
n EFT - Payments to Westpac BSB # 033047 Account # 549608
n Cheque n Mastercard n Visa
Credit Card Number / / /
Expiry Date /
Name as it appears on card
Signature
Date
Annual Membership Fees Tiered fee structure based on average number of employees (Prices are inclusive of GST)
n 1 to 5 Employees $510
n 6 to 15 Employees $855
n 16 or more employees $1155
n Associate $160
n Affiliate $190
(pro-rata Rate applies July through to March plus $100 processing fee. This will be calculated by STA office)
Current from 1st April 2012 to 31st March 2013Membership Application Form
MA
M87
20
STA Membership Form.indd 1 11/04/12 4:57 PM
42 · CONNECTIONS
NEW MEMBERS
Specialised Textiles Association would like to welcome several new members (and one who is returning) to the fold. Following is a brief description of each.
Shade Australia Unit 7, 86 Heathcote RoadMoorebank NSW 2170Paul DeLucca [email protected] 9601 0883www.shadeaustralia.com.au
The vision statement for this company includes
its stated aim: To be ‘World Leaders of the
Sunshade Age’. Energy exudes from the website.
They state that within a decade, the way
Australians, and eventually the rest of the
world participate in outdoor activities must
significantly change, and the crew at Shade
Australia call this The Sunshade Age®.
The following business has returned to the
association:
Eastman Machine Company Buffalo New York USARobert and Wade Stevenson [email protected]@eastmancuts.comwww.eastmancuts.com
Eastman Machine Company is a cutting
machine manufacturer, providing custom
engineered solutions and innovative
technologies for a variety of industries.
Eastman services customers in almost every
country from its world headquarters in Buffalo,
New York, and through an international network
of sales, support and engineering staff.
Eastman offers the industry's widest
range of classic, hand-held and manually-
operated fabric cutting machines; as well
as a comprehensive line of fully automated,
computerised cutting and plotting systems.
Manufactured with high quality materials,
built to precise specifications, and subject to
rigorous testing, Eastman's cutting systems
have been setting the standard since its origins
over a century ago.
Eyelets Supply Company 11 Newcomen Rd Springvale Vic 3171 Luke Dowsing [email protected] 03 9558 5400www.eyelets.com.au
Did you know? By advertising in Connections you are reaching as many as 10,000 people who are actively involved in the specialised textiles industry.
Featuring the latest and greatest industry developments, Connections is the voice of the specialised textile industry and enables all who are involved in the industry to showcase their business developments, news and views.
Circulated to thousands in all facets of the textile industry, Connections casts a wide net by encompassing the geosynthetic, awning, shade sail, blind maker, and marine and motor trimmer sectors. It does not stop there: also covered are flags and banners, caravan and camping, canvas, cutting equipment, umbrellas, tarpaulins, side curtain and more … distributors of industrial fabrics and all related components suppliers.
Just the ticket for reaching more potential customers …
6
2500
10,000
Number of issues each year
Circulation
Readership estimated at
To ADVERTISE Call Yuri at CommStrat on 03 8534 5008 or 0419 339 865 to secure your place in Connections.
CHoICES Your advert can be a quarter page, half page, full page, front or back page, horizontal or vertical – you call the shots.
Yuri would be happy to email you the Connections Media Kit outlining all specifications and prices.
Located at 8/574 St Kilda Rd, Melbourne Vic 3004, CommStrat is the publisher of Connections on behalf of the Specialised Textiles Association.
“Connections magazine is the key communications tool for a large and diverse range of businesses encompassing the specialised textiles industry”
Distributed in Qld,Vic and WA by PASKALPh: 03 95888 8800E: [email protected] in New Zealand by W. WigginsPh: 9282 2771E: [email protected]
BACK TO BASICSAuTO ArmS
AuTO guIdeSl BrACKeTS
unIverSAl BrACKeTS5 SIded endCApS
pulldOwn rIngSSprIngS
KeywAy TuBehOOdIng
SplIne
STrAIghT drOp BlInd STAInleSS FITTIngS
4.0mt BOTTOm BArSpeCIAl BulK prICe On Any Order
CHANNEL - ITTM
Side Channel Awning System
48 · CONNECTIONS
REGISTERED TRAINING oRGANISATIoNS
NSW, NT, SA & QLDvia Sydney Institute of TAFEPh (02) 9217 4601 Fax (02) 9217 4963Contact: Lawrence De [email protected]/sailmaking
TASMANIATasmania Institute of TAFEPh 1300 655 307 Fax (03) 6233 7830 www.tafe.tas.edu
VICToRIARMIT UniversityPh (03) 9925 9182 Fax (03) 9925 9129Contact: Kent [email protected] 25 Dawson Street Brunswick Vic 3056 www.rmit.edu.au
WESTERN AUSTRALIAPoLYTECH WESTTextile Fabrication TrainingPh: 08 9207 4412Fax: 08 9207 4399Gary McCormickBalga Campus Gate 1 Lockwood Road, Balga WA
EVENTS& RTOs
January 2013Heimtextil Frankfurt 2013January 9–12, 2013Frankfurt am Main, GermanyHeimtextil is promoted as the biggest international trade fair for home and contract textiles. Taking place in Frankfurt, Germany, this event is a “must see, must be there” for all involved in textile manufacturing, retailing and designers.
IFAI Tent Expo 2013January 20–24, 2013Caribe Royale Resort and Conference Center, Orlando, Florida
April 2013 Geosynthetics 2013April 1–4, 2013Long Beach Convention CenterLong Beach, CaliforniaIFAI’s biannual geosynthetics conference is co-locating with the annual Southwest Geotechnical Engineers Conference. The event is sponsored by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and state transportation departments from the southern and western US.
The Geosynthetic Research Institute’s conference will be incorporated as two half-day sessions.
June 2013
Super Expo 2013STA and BMAA have joined forces to
stage one big Super ShowWhen: Wednesday June 5 to Friday June 7
Where: gold coast convention and exhibition centre
this is shaping up to be the biggest and best expo yet … more exhibits, more delegates, more visitors, more variety than ever.
awards for excellence night, social events, the Young leaders’ structures.
lots to see and do!
www.specialisedtextiles.com.au
FOR SALE Demtech ceramic wedge welder Never used. Still in box
$7500 + GST ex AdelaideApprox 20 M galv track included
Enquiries 08 83495633
SP36 Pedestal Digital Graphics Triad
SP36 Side Arm 6 inch Pole Pocket Triad
SP36 Quick Arm Acrylic Triad
Austech Welders are proud to announce being appointed as the Australian distributor for the Smartseal by Seamtek range of hot air welders and seam tapers.
For more information on the new Seamtek call Greg on 0418 771 600.
Seamtek are industry leaders in rotary hot air welding and seam sealing. Their welders/tapers feature Smartseal digital control technology. As the first rotary hot air welder to use a touch screen controlled PLC (a standard feature for over 10 years) the Seamtek welder/taper makes it easy for the operator to control on the fly speed adjustments and differential wheel speeds, repeat complex shape patterns and precisely control production variables.
For ease of use and the ability to change from one type of weld to another quickly and easily nothing beats the SP range of welders. The one welder can be configured with a pedestal, side arm and quick arm. The operator can change between these by simply swinging one out of the way and swinging the new one into place.