Top Australian electrical firms named at excellence awards
25 November 2010
Top Australian electrical firms named at excellence awards
Nine companies across ten categories picked up the top electrical award in Australia for projects across the nation at the annual electrical industry Excellence Awards hosted by peak electrical industry body the National Electrical and Communications Association (NECA) on Thursday night 25 November 2010.
Some of the winning projects included the installation of solar panels on the heritage listed roof of Sydney Town Hall, the Boddington Gold Mine expansion in WA, the new headquarters for ANZ in Melbourne and the panda enclosure at Adelaide Zoo.
The Australian companies received their awards in front over 500 industry representatives including electrical contractors, educators and government representatives. Leader of the Opposition in the Senate and Shadow Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations Eric Abetz was also present at the annual showcase of the electrical and communications industry at Star City in Sydney.
NECA’s Chief executive officer, Mr James Tinslay, said the winning companies were chosen because of their commitment to excellence, significant engineering achievements, integration of multiple systems and importantly finishing the complex job to the satisfaction of their client.
“The winning projects were just phenomenal. Many of them required the integration of different systems like electrical, data, security and emergency warnings. The finished jobs are a credit to the companies involved and the Australian electrical and communications industry,” Mr Tinslay said.
“The national judging panel considered everything from the initial design aspects through to the engineering, installation and workmanship. The winning companies should be proud of their achievements as the projects were simply outstanding.”
The Australian electrical and communications industry is leading the developed world with energy efficient designs and cutting edge engineering. The
“As the electrotechnology industry continues to grow and tackle new technological challenges, it is encouraging to see electrical and communication contractors in Australia leading the world in energy efficiency, the design and wiring of smart homes and big commercial and industrial projects,” Mr Tinslay said.
The winning companies and their projects are below:
Category – Domestic Residence
A single residence project in the domestic sector where the applicant’s contract value is less than $1 million.
Winner: Automated Innovation
Project: Private residence in Dudley NSW.
Why: Automated Innovation were contracted to provide the electrical services into this impressive domestic residence. The brief was to create a system that would allow the home to be completely self-sufficient plus energy and water independent if required. It also required all electrical, power, lighting, audio visual, data and security systems be integrated into a user friendly control system. This required a massive 52 panel solar PV system. The final outcome is an exceptional installation and a credit to the team at Automated Innovation.
Category – Small Contracting Business
A small contractor, employing less than 10 technical employees, demonstrating a wide range of skills.
Winner: TN Electrical
Project: SMC Pneumatics
Why: TN Electrical have been contracted since 2001 by SMC Pneumatics to carry out electrical services for their Australian headquarters. Sections of the site operate rotating 24 hour shifts, seven days a week, so it is imperative that power outages due to component failures are kept to an absolute minimum, therefore on-going maintenance and monitoring of the electrical installation is critical to ensuring fail safe operations. The company plan 12 months in advance, thus laying the foundations for the future requirements of SMC.
Category – Environment and Energy Efficiency
A project where the design, product selection, lighting, processes or technologies are considered to preserve a site’s natural environment and/or to create an energy efficient and sustainable installation.
Winner: Stowe Australia
Project: Sydney Town Hall Solar Installation
Why: The City of Sydney leads by example with its Sustainable Sydney 2030 vision, and as part of this initiative, the Sydney Town Hall sought a solution to improve its environmental and energy efficiency footprint. Stowe Australia was awarded the contract to install 240 x 200 watt solar panels. By utilising the latest technology, Stowe was able to offer an increase in power capacity to 48 kilowatts at their peak. A key factor in winning the project was Stowe’s solution for an appropriate mounting system on the buildings heritage roof.
Category – Occupational Health and Safety
A business, individual or project that has demonstrated commitment to achieving an optimal occupational health and safety environment.
Winner: Nilsen (Vic) Pty Ltd
Project: Development of OH&S Policy
Why: Senior management of Nilsen were keen to improve the safety performance of the company and ensure the active participation of employees from all levels of the organisation in the process. To achieve this goal the company embarked on a program to achieve a sustainable OHS cultural change.
Category – Industrial Project
An industrial project which may include, but is not limited to, undertakings of a civil, mining, high voltage, manufacturing or process nature.
Winner: Downer EDI Engineering Power
Project: Boddington Gold Mine Expansion – Wet Area
Why: Downer EDI Engineering Power was awarded the contract for complete electrical and instrumentation installation for the Boddington Gold Mine Expansion project. A significant challenge was that all construction disciplines were expected to work concurrently and work fronts were only opened as they became available, meaning rapid response to manning level requirements.
Another challenge was managing client variations. This was efficiently done using Downer’s RATPAC tool to analyse and track all contract originals and variations. By completion Downer had installed approximately 503,000 metres of high and low voltage cabling and recorded over 1million man hours. An outstanding result delivered on time, on budget and with nil defects.
Category – Voice/Data – Small Project
A voice or data project where the applicant’s contract value is less than $500,000.
Winner: Multisystem Communications Pty Ltd
Project: Canberra Data Centres POD 9
Why: Canberra Data Centres is a Next Gen Data Centre facility. In June 2009 a sensitive government agency commissioned a POD to be constructed within this facility.
Multisystem Communications’ experience as a leading communications cabling specialist won them the contract for this high security project.
The works were completed in an exceptionally short time frame – just three weeks from start to finish - to investigate, source and complete the installation.
To achieve the deadline Multisystem worked closely with supplier Panduit International and devoted much time to pre-planning before commencing works on site.
The project was completed on time, and the client is delighted with the installation.
Category – Voice/Data – Large Project
A voice or data project where the applicant’s contract value is greater than $500,000.
Winner: Stowe Australia Pty Ltd
Project: ANZ Headquarters
Why: Stowe took on the supply, installation, testing and commissioning of the entire communications infrastructure for voice, data and audio visual cabling for the new ANZ Bank Headquarters in Melbourne’s Docklands. In just 21 months, Stowe laid over 3 million meters of systimax category 6A cable to some 38,000 datapoints including 7000 for Audio Visual.
Category – Commercial – Small Project
A commercial project where the applicant’s contract value is less than $500,000.
Winner: Jones and Jones Electrical Services
Project: Adelaide Entertainment Centre – The Orb
Why: The Orb” – is the Adelaide Entertainment Centre’s unique “entrance feature”.
Jones & Jones Electrical Services won the contract for installation of all the LED lighting in this impressive domed structure.
The scope included installation of over 800 fittings, lighting control, electrical and data backbone, and cable routes for both power and data. This was a challenging project that required working at heights of upto 21m and dealing with minimal access points due to the building’s shape and structure.
Pre-project analysis and planning ensured a faultless installation with no call backs or maintenance issues.
The client is delighted with the final result, which has already received international acclaim.
Category – Commercial – Medium Project
A commercial project where the applicant’s contract value is more than $500,000 and less than $2 million.
Winner: Niramar
Project: Adelaide Zoo Panda and Entrance Precinct
Why: Niramar secured the tender for the Adelaide Zoo Panda and Entrance Precinct.
The scope included all electrical, communications and fire systems as well as extensive garden and paving lighting and the unique “living green wall” lighting.
Working in such an historical site had an array of difficulties including heritage listed trees and buildings, animals and working in a fully
operational Zoo with daily public access.
Being a high profile project, with intense press scrutiny and public interest in the arrival of the Pandas, there was no room for error.
The end result was delivered on time and budget and has earned high praise for the Niramar team.
Category – Commercial – Large Project
A commercial project where the applicant’s contract value is greater than $2 million.
Winner: PSG Russell Smith
Project: Medical Sciences 1
Why: A complex installation due to the visual constraints and need for innovative wiring methods. Overcoming some mid-project variations required re-planning with a rigorous design process. The contract included work and installation of low voltage services, substation, CCTV, standby generator, voice and data cabling, security, fire detection, emergency warning systems and AV cabling.
-ENDS-
For images of the project or interviews please contact Dominic Feenan on 0457 767 328.
NECA is the peak industry body representing the interests of electrical and communications contractors Australia-wide. For further information go to http://www.neca.asn.au.
Media Enquiries:
Dominic Feenan Media and Communications Manager 02 9439 8523 / 0457 767 328