Leading representatives of Australian heating, ventilation, air conditioning, refrigeration and building services industries have had their achievements recognised in the industry at the ARBS 2012 Industry Awards winners.

The awards event also inducted eight nominees into the ARBS Hall of Fame.

YOUNG ACHIEVER — DANIEL TAN TENG YEOW

Daniel joined Fantech after graduating from university in 2006. His first major project was to assess the potential of impulse technology using JetVent products for the Australian market. This involved extensive research, and Daniel has since written a design guide that details how impulse technology works. He has presented his findings to the Standards Committee for AS1668.2 with the intention of updating a supplementary guide for the Standard. Daniel has contributed to the testing, development and commercialisation not only of the JetVent range of fans, but also the ComLink digital communications between fan units and controllers, and a new range of silencers. He is a member of AIRAH, CIBSE, the Australian Acoustical Society, and the Society of Fire Safety. Outside his professional contributions, he is a regular volunteer with Knox Community care.

OUTSTANDING SERVICE AND MAINTENANCE PROVIDER — HI FLOW INDUSTRIES

Hi Flow Industries was founded by 24 year old Brett Saunders in 2005. At the time, it battled the stigma of being a small business, with a lack of established client base. Today, the company employs 50 full-time people, and has won several prestigious awards, including the BRW Fast 100 Company 2010, and was a finalist in the Telstra Best Medium Business Award category in 2011. Hi Flow’s commitment to outstanding services is apparent in its online job management system, which gives clients easy access to all job reports, quotes, invoices and works performed. It also has a two-hour response time for all service calls. Through numerous initiatives such as the weekly Think Thank management meetings, the company is constantly looking for innovative ways to improve its approach to client relations.

ARBS PRODUCT EXCELLENCE AWARD - FANTECH

Fantech’s impuse technology has revolutionised car park ventilation in Australia. Its fans incorporate brushless DC technology in the EC motor, combined with an integrated speed controller, along with a highly advanced backward curved centrifugal impeller that results in the most powerful impulse car park fan available when operating within a 65dB range. The result is improved energy efficiency and demand controllable car park ventilation.

ARBS PROJECT EXCELLENCE AWARD — JAMES L WILLIAMS, PIXEL BUILDING

James L Williams was responsible for the supply and installation of mechanical services for the Pixel building on the old Carlton Brewery site. It has been awarded the highest ever Green Star rating in Australia, with 100 per cent GreenStar score from the Green Building Council, plus five innovation points. It is carbon neutral, is water balanced, has a Platinum core under the LEED rating system, a gas fired absorption chiller and 100 per cent fresh air. The façade includes smart window technology that automatically opens windows on cool nights to enable the night air into the building for cooling.

REFRIGERATION PROJECT EXCELLENCE

Bitzer Australia, together with Strathbrook Industries Services, have combined to provide F. Mayer Imports with a world-class energy efficient refrigerated space solution. It uses a holistic combination of well insulated walls, rapid roller doors to prevent infiltration, low GWP refrigerants, efficient compressor technology, waste heat recover for floors, and glycol defrosting evaporators. The result is a highly efficient, long-term commercial solution.

OUTSTANDING EDUCATION TRAINING — ACMA

The Air Conditioning and Mechanical Contractors Association’s Managing for Profit course provides in-depth training in project management for the air conditioning, engineering and mechanical services industries. Students complete workplace based assignments during the 13-week, off campus program. They also attend two one-week residential workshops. They are supported throughout the program by industry mentors. The course has been running successfully since 1997.

HALL OF FAME INDUCTEES

Recognised for their significant contributions to the industry were eight inductees to the ARBS Hall of Fame.

Clive Broadbent

Clive is widely recognised for his research work on preventative measures for Legionnaires’ disease hazards, particularly those that may be presented by cooling tower. He has been awarded a Member of the Order of Australia in recognition of his work in helping to understand Legionella. Clive is widely published, presents technical papers at conferences throughout the world, has authored 12 TAFE models on air conditioning systems, and is chairperson for a number of standards setting committees.

Gerard Whittker

Gerard established the Australian maintenance divisions of Haden Engineering, and was appointed CEO in 1994. He played a major role in setting up the project management team for the Sydney Opera House air conditioning and fire systems contracts. He has played an instrumental role in many industry associations, including President of the Air Conditioning and Mechanical Contractors Association, President of the Building Industry Specialist Contractors Association of Australia and President of the Construction Industry Engineering Services Group. He also served as Chairman of a committee for Standards Australia to develop local standards for Controlled Environment. Gerard was also a member of the Construction Industry Development Agency.

Grahame Gibbs

Grahame was the founding committee member of the Australian CIBSE Region, assisted form chapters in all Australian states, and was Chairman of CIBSE from 1991-1992. He was a member and Foundation Honorary Secretary of Australian Contamination Control Society, member of the International Society of Pharmaceutical Engineering, Board Member of AIRAH and a Standards Australia delegate to the ISO Technical Committee 209. He assisted develop a Design Science Program at Sydney University, established the Bachelor of Technology (Building Services and Air Conditioning) at the University of Technology, Sydney, and spent many years as a lecturer at UTS. Grahame continues his involved as ANZ CIBSE Regional Almoner while in virtual retirement.

Kevin O’Shea

Kevin has been in the HVAC&R industry for 45 years. He has been a committee member and President of RACCA NSW, the RACCA representative on Refrigerants Australia, and is currently President of RACCA Australia. He has been a Director of Refrigerant Reclaim Australia, board member of ARBS during its formative years, Chairman of the Australian Refrigeration Council, Member of the Advisory Committee for National Licencing for the industry, Board Member of the Electro Group Training and Chairman of the Electro Skills Centre. Kevin is still active in all aspects of the industry.

Architecture & Design Team

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