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E: nsw@blygold.com.au

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 Prevents corrosion

 Unique products and application

 Triples the lifetime

 Saves up to 30% on energy costs

 All types of air cooled HX

 11,000+ hours in salt spray test

 Factory & field application

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Sustainability

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New Zealand

P: +64 9 948 1560

E: xavier@blygold.nz www.blygold.co.nz

1 Coolest Day Of The Year

The global HVAC&R industry is gearing up to celebrate World Refrigeration Day on June 26. This year the theme is “Next Generation Cooling: The Future is in our hands”, recognising the importance of our future workforce.

“We need to recruit, train and retain people equipped with the knowledge and skills that a modern, forward‑thinking industry requires,” says World Refrigeration Day founder Stephen Gill. “This year’s campaign is an opportunity to showcase what we are doing now to ensure we have the diverse and highly skilled workforce that our sector needs for the future.”

As this issue went to print, there were already a number of events planned in Australia.

AIRAH has organised a series of five webinars covering the fundamentals of refrigeration. The sessions are free to attend and will run from June until November. Register at airah.org.au/webinars

Woolworths is opening its plant rooms to show off cutting edge transcritical CO2 technology. There will be events in six capital cities: Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Hobart, Adelaide and Perth. The event is aimed at young people who may be considering a career in a trade, but all are welcome. For more information and to register, go to tinyurl.com/3m22zwf4

And for those in the Melbourne CBD, RMIT is hosting tours of its Melbourne refrigeration training facility and will be opening a brand new, state‑of‑the art CO2 lab. For more information and to register, go to tinyurl.com/ry2cpdfz ■

2 Tax Time Tips

Not sure what deductions you can claim as a tradesperson? The Australian Taxation Office (ATO) has developed a tailored occupation guide for tradies. For example, on the topic of tools, the ATO notes that if you’ve bought new tools for work this financial year you can claim a deduction, but remember:

If you also use the tools or equipment for private purposes, you can only claim the work related portion

If the tools and equipment cost more than $300, or are part of a set that together cost more than $300, you will need to claim a deduction over a number of years

If the tools or equipment are supplied by your employer, another person, or you’re reimbursed for the cost, you can’t claim a deduction.

The ATO is also promoting the myDeductions tool in the ATO app for a fast and easy way to store receipts and keep track of records. The app allows you to track the progress and outcome of your tax return after you’ve lodged it. Go to ato.gov.au/tradie ■

3

Diamond Dealers Shine

Mitsubishi Electric has announced the winners of its 2023 Diamond Dealer awards. Originally organised to recognise the success of specialist air conditioning dealers across Australia, this year the Dealer Awards Weekend included Auckland for the first time.

There were many winners on the night, along with the prestigious General Manager Award winners, who were:

• RAC: Climat Air Control & Energy Centres

• Mr Slim/Com Pac: iBreeze Air & Solar

• City Multi: Chill Rite Refrigeration and Air Conditioning.

An impressive line up of speakers was engaged to inspire, motivate and thank the dealers for all their hard work in 2022. New Zealand’s Sir Richard Hadlee MBE was the headline speaker, and Kiwi All Blacks legend Ian Jones gave attendees exclusive insights into the culture of the All Blacks.

“It’s been great opportunity to celebrate with our dealers as they have all contributed to another record year for Mitsubishi Electric in Australia,” says LEG National Sales Zane Barron.

The three night program culminated with a black tie gala awards presentation hosted by TV personality Larry Emdur.

Go to www.mitsubishielectric.com.au ■

4 AUSTRALIA’S TOP TRADIE

Australian tradies are set to battle it out for recognition as the best of the best at the inaugural Australian Trades Small Business Champion Awards, to be held at Western Sydney Conference Centre, Penrith in Sydney on Friday September 22, 2023.

There are 44 industry categories – including air conditioning and refrigeration – that trade businesses can be nominated in, as well as individual awards for Apprentice Champion, Trades Entrepreneur, Trades Champion Leader and the Champion Tradie.

“Tradies are the backbone of Australian society and an integral part of the small business sector,” says awards founder and managing director Steve Loe. “A third of Australia’s workforce are in a trade and the awards gives them the opportunity to be publicly acknowledged for their hard work and service.

“A trades career can often mean early starts, long days and exhausting manual labour. It’s a very physically taxing career and those who perform to a high standard deserve to be recognised for their contribution to the community and exceptional customer service.”

Entries are open now, closing on July 27, with finalists to be announced on August 16.

Go to www.tradesbusinesschampions.com.au ■

5 BE A MATE, IT’S WORTH IT

R U OK? is sharing free resources that encourage trainees and apprentices to foster supportive friendships by regularly checking in with their mates and paying attention to life events and any signs that might indicate a mate is struggling. The campaign is titled “Be a mate, it’s worth it”.

The resources include free practical tools and tips that empower trainees and apprentices with the knowledge and confidence to have meaningful R U OK? conversations and foster supportive friendships.

“Research shows being an apprentice or trainee can be challenging for young people who are learning how to transition from classroom to workplace,” says R U OK? CEO Katherine Newton. “This, along with the usual ups and downs of life, can have a cumulative effect and impact their mental health and sense of social connection.

“We encourage them to make the time to build strong friendships they can rely on as they move through life to ensure they feel connected and supported. This is about being there for your mates, and them being there for you.”

Go to ruok.org.au ■

6 On The Road Again

SimPRO has locked in four Simprosium Roadshow events in Auckland, Brisbane, Melbourne, and Sydney from September 21 to October 12, 2023. The events will cover all things tools, trades and tech with trade experts, business owners and teams.

The full day event will include live demonstrations of simPRO’s newest features and breakout sessions to allow participants to form new business relationships. More than 100 trade business owners and leaders are expected to attend, sharing their expert insights. It is aimed not only at people working in the HVAC&R arena, but also for those in the electrical, plumbing, security, and fire protection trades.

AIRAH members can save 20 per cent on registration with the code AIRAH20. Go to tinyurl.com/5xr2atyp

In other news at simPRO, Gary Specter has been appointed as the company’s new chief executive officer. He brings more than 30 years of experience to his new role, including leadership roles at Adobe, Magento, NetSuite, IBM and Cart.com.

“I’m extremely excited to join simPRO,” Specter says. “My goal is to build on the strong foundation of the company and lead simPRO to the next level.” ■

7

Riese Rises To Airah Board

Following a vote at the Institute’s annual Convention, Dr Michael Riese, M.AIRAH, has officially joined AIRAH’s national board. Originally from Germany and now based in Adelaide, Riese works for industrial and commercial refrigeration specialist Cold Logic, where he leads the Defence Division and is also responsible for Cold Logic’s R&D effort.

“Michael’s skill set and areas of interest nicely complement those of the existing directors, so we are delighted to welcome him on board,” says AIRAH President Paul Jackson, F.AIRAH. “We also thank Liza Taylor, M.AIRAH, who completes her term at the end of May, for her enthusiasm, strategic insight, and tireless work on the board over the past six years.”

Joining Jackson and Riese as AIRAH board directors are Bryon Price, F.AIRAH; Ura Sarfejoo, M.AIRAH; Mikaila Ganado, M.AIRAH; and Chris Stamatis, M.AIRAH.

“It is a great honour to have gained the trust of my fellow associate directors to garner their vote,” Riese says of his AIRAH board appointment. “I am happy that we will now have a dedicated voice for industrial, natural and large commercial refrigeration back within the steering group of AIRAH.” ■

8

Ellis Air Changes Hands

Sojitz Corporation has announced it will acquire Australian air conditioning and mechanical services company Ellis Air Group.

Sojitz is a Japanese company working across a wide range of sectors including infrastructure, automotive, transportation, and consumer industries. It describes the acquisition of Ellis Air as a step into the energy conservation market in Australia.

It is understood that Ellis Air’s experience in energy‑saving air conditioning design and construction was a key factor in the acquisition. The company is also an approved electricity retailer and National Energy Market (NEM) member, which would support Sojitz and Ellis Air’s expansion into the Energy as a Service (EaaS) field. This includes providing heating and cooling as a service Ellis Air has welcomed the acquisition.

“We look forward to working with Sojitz to help our clients achieve their goals and contribute towards the realisation of a decarbonised society while helping Ellis continue its growth and expansion,” says Ellis Air Managing Director Adam Langford, M.AIRAH.

Go to ellisair.com.au ■

9 Arbs Marks Milestone

The ARBS Foundation – the foundation for industry education and research – is celebrating nearly a decade of support for the HVAC&R industry.

ARBS Executive Officer David Eynon says there are three broad categories into which ARBS funding has been directed: practical research, development and upgrading of training courses and materials, and funding students into training courses.

In terms of practical research, the foundation has been a partner with Team Catalyst on several ventures, including research comparing the performance of active chilled beam systems against two chilled water plant configurations.

The foundation also provided financial support for the development of training programs, such as the Professional Diploma in Sustainable HVAC Design and Operation developed by AIRAH.

And the ARBS Foundation supported the Aboriginal Career Start Program of NSW TAFE and provided grants to graduating students to purchase the tools they need to work in the trade.

ARBS Foundation Chair Ian Hopkins, M.AIRAH says the foundation’s aim is to promote the growth and success of the industry.

“These projects and initiatives are just a few examples of how we are achieving this goal,” he says.

Go to arbsfoundation.com.au ■

Name: Shiva Bagheri

Company: Testo

Occupation: Service engineer

What’s the best thing about working in HVAC&R? You never stop learning.

How long have you worked in the industry?

If someone wanted to find you on the job, they should look for the person who is … Busy on the computer while providing technical assistance over the phone or working on the devices.

Favourite tool: Multimeter.

Best on-the-job advice you ever received: Find a job you enjoy.

Dream car: Lamborghini Aventador.

Dream holiday: Rome, Italy.

Favourite smoko snack: Mixed nuts/dark chocolate.

What did you listen to on the way to work today?

The Happiness Lab podcast on Spotify.

When I’m not working, I’m … Spending time with my family.