Connection: Spring/Summer 2019

CONNECTIONS

S P E C I A L I S E D T E X T I L E S A S S O C I AT I O N I N C .

SPRING/SUMMER 2019

SPRING/SUMMER 2019

DESIGN | TECHNOLOGY | INDUSTRY TRAINING | BUSINESS | MEMBERS

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2019 AWARDS FOR EXCELLENCE ALL THE WINNERS

Tension structures – popular designs Meet the STA’s new life members SuperExpo2019 photo gallery

TRADE EXHIBITION & CONFERENCE

30 MAY – 1 JUNE n

D o lt o n e H o u s e , D a r l i n g i s l a n D , syDney, new soutH wales

Discover new & innovative products Learn from the experts Network with industry leaders n

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For sponsorship and trade exhibition enquiries contact ana on 03 9521 2114 or email office@specialisedtextiles.com.au

Join us to celebrate our

80th Jubilee Anniversary

MAM9449 - Photo credit : Destination NSW

hip s r o s on able p s & ion es avail t i b i h ex rtuniti ! oppo yours now book

03 CONTENTS

Editorial Contributions by the STA Editorial committee EXECUTIVE OFFICER Ana Drougas MANAGING EDITOR Madeleine Swain madeleine.swain@niche.com.au Advertising Shaaron Martin shaaron.martin@niche.com.au 03 9948 4954

19 06

Design DESIGN & DIGITAL PRE-PRESS Karl Dyer

STA NEWS

PRODUCTION MANAGER Stephanie Yang stephanie.yang@niche.com.au

04 Report from STA president, James Kelman 04 STA Report 06 New members

07 NEWS

07 Gale Pacific reveals new

Publishing CHAIRMAN Nicholas Dower

extrusion coating/laminating line New developments at HVG 08 Aeronaut’s repeat business The Novatex/Option Marine story

MANAGING DIRECTOR Paul Lidgerwood

10 FEATURE

Tension structures are the architectural fabrics of the future…

15

MARINE FABRICATION

15 MFD report from Shane Beashel 16 Tips and tricks of marine fabrication 17 Marketing essentials for marine fabrication

19 SUPEREXPO2019

19 Round-up and photo gallery 22 Awards for Excellence winners 30 Young Achiever and Apprentices of the Year

GROUP COMMERCIAL DIRECTOR Joanne Davies

30

FINANCIAL CONTROLLER Sonia Jurista

32

LIFE MEMBER PROFILES

Allan Wormald, Alan Long and Chris Nolan join an elite crew

34 EVENTS

Upcoming events for the specialised

textiles industry, locally and internationally

34

ADVERTISING DIRECTORY

Connections magazine is published on behalf of the Specialised Textiles Association Inc by Niche Media Pty Ltd ABN 13 064 613 529 Suite 2.02 Level 2, 3 Bowen Crescent, Melbourne VIC 3004 Tel: 03 9948 4900 / Fax 03 9948 4999 Printing Southern Colour Cover Image Versatile Structures’ Ride Tower

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NEXT ISSUE OF CONNECTIONS Remember this is your magazine, about your industry. And we always love to hear your feedback or ideas for the direction of the magazine.

If you have any suggestions for articles or features that you think may be appropriate, please don’t hesitate to contact the editor directly at madeleine.swain@ niche.com.au or Ana Drougas in the STA office at ana@specialisedtextiles.com.au or on 03 9521 2114.

www.specialisedtextiles.com.au

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Specialised Textiles Association 102/22 St Kilda Rd, St Kilda Vic 3182 Tel: 03 9521 2114 / Fax: 03 9521 2116 Email: office@specialisedtextiles.com.au www.specialisedtextiles.com.au All unsolicited material should be addressed to the attention of the editor at the address above. Material will only be returned if a postage prepaid self-addressed envelope is supplied. Niche Media Pty Ltd accepts no liability for loss or damage of unsolicited material.

Connections is a publication of Niche Media Pty Ltd, ABN 13 064 613 529, Suite 2.02, Level 2, 3 Bowen Crescent Melbourne Vic 3004 Australia, tel +613 9948 4900, fax +613 9948 4999. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, internet, or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the publishers. While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information in this publication, the publishers accept no responsibility or liability for any errors, omissions or resultant consequences including any loss or damage arising from reliance on information in this publication. The opinions and material published in this publication are not necessarily endorsed by the Spring/Summer editor, publisher or Niche2019 Media CONNECTIONS Pty Ltd, unless where specifically stated.

04 PRESIDENT’S REPORT

President’s report

I

t’s certainly challenging times within the Australian economy at the moment with most fabricators finding new work tough to secure, the Aussie dollar now weakening against a stronger US dollar, forcing prices higher, and the drought also hitting the agricultural sector harder than ever, and still with a hot dry summer ahead. They are just three of the big picture issues affecting trade conditions.

On STA matters, the Association has just closed off on the most successful Expo/ Convention in its 80-year history. The SuperExpo2019 on the Gold Coast attracted 3994 visitors. We aim to continue building on our allied relationship with BMAA, and are already working on securing the Gold Coast Exhibition Centre for SuperExpo2022.

The newly elected STA Council of Management is progressing well on the future

STA report During this year’s Annual General Meeting of the Specialised Textiles Association, two councillors were farewelled and two new ones were voted in and welcomed on to the Council of Management (CoM).

Thanks to Harold Nankervis, HNS Canvas and David Hamilton, Morley Canvas for their support and contributions to the Association while serving on the CoM for the last three years. Welcome on board to:

directions outlined at the recent AGM. We have initiated our two new councilors, Steven Bath of Gale Pacific in Victoria, and Mick Guinea of Shade and Sail in Queensland. We have also appointed our new part-time marketing coordinator Leanne Simon to join Ana in the office.

Leanne’s focus will be on STA’s numerous marketing projects for 2019/20.

As a reminder to our fabricator members, please continue to support the following directions: • engage new apprentices when next looking for staff recruitment • encourage existing apprentices to enter the Apprentice of the Year competition • enter your business in the industry fabrication awards • provide three profile photos for your business profile on the new consumer focused website, and • grow your businesses if possible – consume more fabrics, install the latest cutting/sewing/welding technology, and suppliers will be ready to back you with whatever products/services required.

In regards to the STA’s future programs, we intend to conduct the following activity over the next 12 months: The 80th Jubilee Anniversary of STA as an Australian industry association should be a cracker celebration in Sydney during SpecTex20 next May. The sponsorship and exhibition opportunities for SpecTex20 have been released, and we are confident of

hosting another great event with plenty of informative and relevant business sessions, a vibrant trade expo, great entertainment with a location right on the foreshore of Sydney Harbour and, of course, celebrating our great Australian textile fabrication industry projects and apprentices.

We will also be presenting the results from our marketing projects including: • the new consumer-based website – traffic trends, visitor numbers, most popular sections etc • the launch of our digital marketing campaign to increase awareness of the existence of our Australian textile fabrication industry to Australian consumers, to ensure they’re aware that not all textile products are made offshore, and • building on increasing the awareness to school leavers of our apprenticeship and career offerings and the program we launched in 2018/19.

On behalf of the Council of Management team and the STA office, we wish you well for a great spring/summer season ahead and look forward to catching up around the trade. Thanks to everyone who participated at SuperExpo and please save the date for the 80th anniversary special as the last weekend in May 2020.

Steven Bath, Gale Pacific, Braeside Vic Steven has been with Gale Pacific for over five years and managing the Commercial business for the last two years. In that time, he has learned a lot about the industry, its history and the challenges faced by businesses to ensure sustainable growth and business profitability.

Steven has completed his Masters in Business Management through Monash University while working full-time. He is a Fellow of the Institute of Managers and Leaders and is currently undertaking a certification program to become a Chartered Manager of the Institute.

His mission in joining the CoM is to increase relevance, and provide support in relation to such issues as staff recruitment, training and retention, fire retardancy regulations, and plastic waste ending up in our oceans.

Mick Guinea, Shade and Sail, Townsville Qld Michael is the managing director of Shade and Sail Group Pty Ltd and has been in the industry since 2004, originally as the manager and partner of Sail Structures Townsville. In 2016 he purchased the business and began trading as Shade and Sail. He attended his first ACASPA (now STA) expo in 2005 and realised the importance of participating in the expo, but also the importance of the role the Association plays within the industry and wider community by providing support to its members and promotion of the industry and members. Five years ago, he completed his Apprenticeship in Textile Fabrication, and is aware of the strong work the STA is doing to encourage more apprentices within the industry.

Best Regards James Kelman President

Ana Drougas Executive Officer STA CONNECTIONS Spring/Summer 2019

www.specialisedtextiles.com.au

When a Chinese customer placed an order for a second Aeronaut cutter earlier this year, he proudly said that his first cutter was the largest in the world and that it had cut fabric for over a million square metres of tension and shade structures.

A number we’re really proud of is that over the last few years, a third of the cutters sold by Aeronaut have been to existing customers. Not to replace old cutters but to work alongside them to increase the cutting capacity of their growing businesses.

While it’s true to say that both the old and the new cutters were big at 5 metres wide and 20 & 30 metres cut length, Aeronaut has actually made much wider and longer machines.

Aeronaut is well known for making the largest cutting tables but we make small machines too, down to lab-scale cutters less than a metre square. In fact every machine is made to the cut width and length a customer needs.

1,000,000 square metres of tension structures is a number to be proud of too, but we realised that many Aeronaut customers cut about half that area of fabric every year from each Aeronaut cutter they own.

If you are thinking of automating your cutting, and want a reliable, hard working and reasonably priced cutter, give Aeronaut a call and get a machine you can be proud to own.

Aeronaut Automated Cutting Systems - Designed and manufactured in Australia A ERON AUT A UT OM AT ION ~ 4 - 6 T E P K O R O A D T E R R E Y H I L L S N S W 2 0 8 4 A U S T R A L I A P H O N E ( 61 - 2 ) 9 4 5 0 0 8 0 0 . W W W . A E R O N A U T . O R G E M A I L S A L E S @ A E R O N A U T . O R G

Another million square metres…

06 NEW MEMBERS

NEW MEMBERS The STA is delighted to welcome the following new members to the Association..

IMPACT TRIM

GOLDBERG ABERLINE STUDIO

CREW PRODUCTS

3/46 Owen Road, Kelmscott WA 6111 Tel: +614 0499 5110 Web: impacttrim.com Contact: Tim Prior Focus: tents, liners/covers, transport, tarps

64 Pine Street, Chippendale NSW 2008 Tel: +614 0846 3809 Web: goldbergaberlinestudio.com Contact: Matthew Aberline Focus: inflatable art

Factory 9, 123 Chesterville Road, Highett Vic 3190 Tel: +613 9532 0058 Web: crewproducts.com.au Contact: Wayne Viner Focus: shade

ABSTRACT SOLUTIONS CO

PO Box 2300, Carlingford NSW 2118 Tel: +614 2296 6339 Web: facebook.com/nautilustrimming Contact: Nikki Foster Focus: marine, motor

PO Box 101, Wooroolin Qld 4608 Tel: +614 9708 7184 Web: abstractsolutions.com Contact: Ben Mair Focus: awnings, blinds, marine, shade

BURNETT MOTOR TRIMMERS

NAUTILUS TRIMMING

CHATOYER ENVIRONMENTAL

11 Chain Street, East Mackay Qld 4740 Tel: +617 4957 6873 Web: burnettmotortrimmers.com.au Contact: Gene Burnett Focus: marine, auto

351 Wentworth Avenue, Pendle Hill NSW 2145 Tel: +612 9631 1200 Web: chatoyerenvironmental.com.au Contact: Paul Twynham Focus: liners, covers, marine

AUSSIE COOL SHADES

HERVEY BAY CANVAS

U2, 53 Biscayne Way, Jandakot WA 6164 Tel: +618 9417 7700 Web: shadesailsinperth.com.au Contact: Lynn and Kobie Smith Focus: B&A, shade, sailmaking, outdoor/ recreational

5 Owen Crescent Hervey Bay Qld 4655 Tel: +614 0202 6702 Web: herveybaycanvas.com.au Contact: John McIntosh Focus: shade, tents

HARRO’S LOFT 232 Front Street, Hamilton Qld 4803 Tel: +614 7754 8800 Web: harrosloft.com Contact: Josh Harrington Focus: awnings, blinds, marine, shade, liners

2574 Gold Coast Highway, Mermaid Beach Qld 4218 Tel: +617 5578 6991 Web: 3beaches.com.au Contact: Niamh Brennan Focus: curtains, marine, outdoor fabrics, upholstery

ORSUM UPHOLSTERY

42 SOUTH MARINE

16 Joanne Street, Deeragun Qld 4818 Tel: +617 4751 5345 Contact: Steve Whiting Focus: marine, auto

273 Kennedy Drive, Cambridge Tas 7170 Tel: +614 5913 8656 Web: 42southmarine.com Contact: Stewart Gray Focus: marine, B&A, shade

CONNECTIONS Spring/Summer 2019

3BEACHES

MEGA TRIM 21 Cheltenham Road, Dandenong Vic 3175 Tel: +613 9792 9952 Web: megatrim.com.au Contact: Kevin Nolan Focus: marine, transport

SELBYS CANVAS AND SHADE 2/4 Morialta Road, Cranbourne West Vic 3977 Tel: +613 9708 6842 Web: selbyscanvasandshade.com.au Contact: Tracy Jardim Focus: shade, flags, banners

KUSTOM CANVAS AND VINYL PRODUCTS 60 Long Road, Tamborine Mountain Qld 4272 Tel: +614 8730 9282 Web: facebook.com/ kustomcanvasandvinyl Contact: Miklosh Vagvolgyi Focus: marine

NORTHERN BOAT COVERS Unit 18/155 Newell Street, Bungalow Qld 4870 Tel: +614 0070 3009 Contact: Andrew Stevens Focus: marine, awnings, shade, liners/ covers, transport

www.specialisedtextiles.com.au

NEWS 07

GALE PACIFIC REVEALS NEW SYSTEM Supplied by SML in Austria, Gale Pacific’s brand new extrusion coating/laminating line was commissioned recently and is now in production. SML is widely recognised as a leader in the extrusion coating industry and Gale Pacific has welcomed the opportunity to double its production capacity through the acquisition.

The new line has complementary capability to Gale Pacific’s existing line, meaning product can be matched to the most suitable production line.

SML’s equipment consists of a shaftless unwind system, driven turret splicing, semi-automated rewind functionality and a sophisticated operating system.

As a further boost to the industry, Gale Pacific notes that the new line represents an $8 million investment in local manufacturing and leverages the company’s Melbournebased technical and operating knowledge to service customers better than ever.

CHANGES AT HVG The long-established supplier HVG has announced two significant changes – the first is the departure of Daniel Gollan, who is moving on after leading the HVG Fabrics division for the last 10 years, and overseeing a period of significant growth in both sales and product during his tenure. “His departure is a loss, but he leaves with our blessing and best wishes,” says HVG CEO Bruce Rayment. Gollan’s replacement will be Paul Hunt, a familiar face in the industry after 30-plus years in performance textiles.

HVG has also revealed a new partnership with Mehler Technologies, with the HVG Fabrics division appointed as the exclusive Australian distributor of Mehler’s range of coated textiles. With customers in over 60 countries and manufacturing facilities in Europe, North America, the Middle East and China, Mehler Technologies is a global brand producing a wide range of yarns, fibres, industrial textiles and coated fabrics, www.specialisedtextiles.com.au

Outgoing GM of HVG Fabrics Daniel Gollan with HVG CEO Bruce Rayment and incoming GM of HVG Fabrics Paul Hunt

as well as composite materials – for numerous applications, from stadium roofs to pool covers, flexible containers and truck tarpaulins. Rayment says, “Mehler Texnologies and their premium brands are a great fit for HVG – quality products, a great brand, a good extension of our existing fabrics product portfolio and complementary to the rest of our business.”

“We are delighted to partner with HVG as our new distribution partner… we look forward to building and enhancing our portfolio of products as the brands of choice in the performance textile market in the region,” adds Dwayne Rickard, commercial manager Australasia for Mehler Texnologies.

Spring/Summer 2019 CONNECTIONS

08 NEWS

SAME AGAIN, PLEASE! There’s a saying that there’s only one thing better than a cup of tea and that’s a second cup. It’s a bit like that being a manufacturer. Repeat orders and recommendations are the best indicator that you’re doing something right.

So this is the type of email we love to get… “We are looking to add a third cutter, another laser, to our factory later this year. We would like to continue using the Aeronaut cutters as they have been very reliable over the last nine years and we would like to keep our operators using consistent machines.”

In fact, there are often persuasive arguments to upgrade or replace a very old machine. These start with the electronics and software, which eventually become obsolete and impossible to replace at a device level. The only viable solution is large-scale replacement of computer and control systems or perhaps retrofitting a new cutter on an existing vacuum table.

Newly developed technologies are almost always aimed at improving productivity; an example of this is inkjet printheads. These enable marking and labelling of materials at a much faster rate than is possible with a pen. Another useful development is machine vision systems, while advanced autonesting can be a huge benefit with new cutting systems. The time and fabric

Managing director, Ross Wilkie

THE NOVATEX/ OPTION MARINE STORY

Celebrating 15 years in business this year, Ross Wilkie established Novatex in 2004 after many years in the industry – kicking off with a motor trimming apprenticeship in the 80s and following that with a period spent running his own trim shop. And it’s those formative years that give Novatex its

savings from good autonesting alone (from 10 minutes to 10 seconds in some cases) can easily pay for a cutting system.

From a distance, Aeronaut’s cutters may not appear to have changed much over the years but, in detail, there’s been a process of continual improvement and, if something doesn’t work well enough, we make it better… that’s the Aeronaut way. edge. As a former trimmer himself, Wilkie has a great understanding for what motor trimmers are looking for by way of quality and workability of materials. When you add them all together, his staff have over 100 years of experience in the field.

Three years ago Wilkie came across an opportunity too good to pass up – buying Option Marine from its original owners Paul and Phil Baker. The Bakers had built the company after visiting the US and being inspired by the marine fabrication industry there. Option Marine was a way for them to share the high cost of the MOQ (minimum order quantity) items they wanted to access with other trimmers and fabricators.

Today, with keen boat enthusiast and angler Wilkie at the helm, Option Marine is constantly adding new products and improving existing ones. The company invests in new tooling, while manufacturing many of its own fittings and PVC sail track.

Brands carried include Sunbrella, Sattler, WeatherMax, StrataGlass, Lenzip, StayPut and more. With a brand new website, Wilkie is inviting mailing list sign-ups.

Visit www.optionmarine.com.au to find out more.

Australian Made Canvas for Australian Conditions.

Don’t settle for anything less.

www.waxcon.com.au /dynaproofed World’s Best Practice Program

Internationally Recognised Defence Quality

10 FEATURE

POPULAR DESIGNS – FABRIC STRUCTURES IN THE MAINSTREAM Fabric structures are a superior choice in many different types of applications. They are being used in all segments of society: from private to commercial, agricultural, industrial and recreational.

Conical umbrellas by Creative Canvas Pty Ltd

T

ensile structure specialist and architect Nicholas Goldsmith FAIA, in his new book Mass to Membrane, argues persuasively for the importance of lighter, stronger, more flexible buildings. “Today we are at the cusp of developing even lighter building technologies, including structural membranes composed of woven fabrics, mesh materials and foils… these materials have lifespans that compete with glass products and will only become more prevalent over the next generation.”

I have often made the sustainable argument for architectural fabrics as an equal material choice among traditional

CONNECTIONS Spring/Summer 2019

materials such as wood, steel and glass. Nonetheless, it’s worth repeating here, as energy conservation and improved sustainability in building design and construction remain paramount issues today – more so as we document record polar ice melting and extreme weather events.

Firmitatis, utilitatis, venustatis The Roman architect Vitruvius outlined his simple criteria for architecture: firmitatis, utilitatis, venustatis – that is, stability, utility, beauty. Today’s architectural fabrics are highly durable as well as useful. They are structurally strong with high-strength

fibres such as polyester, glass fibre, Nomex or Kevlar. These architectural fabrics have high strength-to-weight ratios, meaning they can span great distances and maintain very low actual weights, which in turn reduce the mass and costs of any structural system. With new molecular engineered coatings, these fabrics also perform additional functions, such as the breakdown of pollution (TiO2), UV-resistance (PVC, PVDF), fade resistant colours (solution-dyed fibres) and longevity.

The infinite form-making possibilities of these fabrics also means they lend themselves intuitively to beautiful architecture. Architectural fabric can www.specialisedtextiles.com.au

dramatically reshape the appearance of a building, through colour, 3D digitallyfabricated forms and integrated LED lighting or laminated thin-film photovoltaics.

Reducing heat gain Finally, one of the most important qualities of architectural fabrics is their ability to shade buildings, whether in the form of awnings and canopies, large-scale shade structures, or building wraps that envelop entire façades. Scientific studies have proven that stopping solar rays from entering a building is the most effective

and cost-effective means of reducing building energy heat gain, thus reducing HVAC energy loads.

“Looking back over the last 4000 years of architecture,” says Goldsmith, “one can see a clear evolution from the mass of the pyramids to the membranes of tomorrow. If the transition of mass to membrane represents our human architectural journey,” what will be “the next phase of structural and material development? Can this linear progression become one of the keys of a more sustainable tomorrow?

This is an excerpt of an article by Bruce N Wright AIA, first published in Fabric Architecture. Bruce is a former editor of Fabric Architecture, senior instructor of architecture and construction management at Dunwoody College of Technology, and a frequent contributor to Specialty Fabrics Review and online journal Advanced Textiles Source.

Cantilever structure by Abacus Shade Structures

www.specialisedtextiles.com.au

Spring/Summer 2019 CONNECTIONS

TYPES OF FABRIC STRUCTURES LARGE SCALE Air-inflated – uses air-pressurised membrane beams, arches or other elements to enclose space. Occupants of such a structure do not occupy the pressurised area used to support the structure.

Air-supported – in which the structure’s shape is attained by air pressure.

Occupants of the structure are within the elevated pressure area.

Cable net – uses a single-layered anticlastic surface made of two sets of closely spaced cables that are orthogonal (or nearly so) to one another. The net usually supports a fabric or pliable material.

Frame-supported – composed of a frame or frames that form a load bearing structure without the aid of any fabric or pliable material; however, the membrane may contribute towards stability.

Geodesic dome – is spherical with singleor double-layered shells made up of hexagons and pentagons.

CONNECTIONS Spring/Summer 2019

Grid shell – features a curvilinear surface (synclastic or anticlastic) composed of linear elements configured to form squares, triangles and/or parallelograms.

It may be single- or double-layered and sometimes employs in-plane cables for stability and shear resistance.

Tensegrity – (cable and strut) planar or curvilinear, and is composed of short discontinuous compression elements (struts) connected by tensile members (cables) to form a coherent configuration.

Tensile – characterised by a tensioning of the fabric or pliable material system, typically with wire or cable, to provide critical structural support to the structure.

SMALL TO MEDIUM SCALE Hip and roof structures – shading system structures that are functional and strong, with a PVC or shadecloth roof membrane tensioned over the frame.

Hypar shade sails – where the fabric is firmly tensioned and supported between posts with no other framework used.

Catenary curved sides are an essential part of the design for tensioning and to create the striking appearance.

‘Hypar’ describes the three-dimensional shape and the design is characterised by alternating high/low posts giving a

distinctive twist in the sail. Hypar sails are connected to four or more posts or may be fixed to a building. Due to their shape triangular hypars are often discouraged due to their inefficient shading capabilities after curves have been cut.

Cantilevered shade structures – distinguished by a post being located to one side of the structure giving clear access around the other three sides. They are constructed using a steel framework with a PVC/shadecloth roof textile membrane tensioned firmly over the frame. They are practical and popular for car park structures.

Barrel vault structures – capable of spanning large areas and featuring vertical posts, overhead rafters and ridge beams. PVC or shadecloth roof membrane fabric is tensioned over the steel frame.

Umbrellas – waterproof or shade cloth fabrics are tensioned over a sturdy steel frame. The fabric may be patterned into a curved shape as in a conic design.

The top of the umbrella will be capped.

Umbrellas can be a single unit or linked as multiple conic umbrellas. The converse is an inverted conic umbrella where the central area funnels water into a central drain. The single mast design of umbrellas

is popular for its minimal ground intrusion but strong framework.

STANDARD AWNINGS Concave – typically used over windows or doors and characterised by inward curvature of front panel.

Dome – often found over small entryways and windows but can be used in archways.

Elongated dome – works best for long windows or entryways that require a dome awning.

Lateral arm/retractable – typically used over patios and decks. Can be extended and retracted to provide shelter via a manual or electronic control system.

Traditional – comprises a down slanting front panel with or without two side panels or ends.

Quarter round/convex – similar to traditional awning but with curved front panel.

Rounded entrance canopy – supported by at least one connection on the outer as well as the building to which it’s attached.

www.specialisedtextiles.com.au

ADVERTORIAL 13

The Ricky Marine Collection

Docril – 100 percent solution dyed acrylic, Docril fabrics can be used for awnings, umbrellas, marine projects and outdoor upholstery. The solution dyed process ensures long lasting colour. Docril fabrics are coated with Dupont Teflon and have exceptional resistance to water, high temperatures, chemical reaction, corrosion and stress cracking.

F

ollowing the recent announcement that Ricky now offers a complete range of marine fabrics, there is no better time than to offer these options to your customers. All of these fabrics have been carefully created to ensure long lasting projects.

Darren Best, Ricky Richards national sales manager in Textiles, was asked what the best feature is when it comes to the Marine Collection.

“To be honest, I can’t name just one feature that sets us apart from other suppliers, but I can name multiple features,” he says, cheekily. He goes on to talk about the types of fabrics and what features the fabrics have that will benefit your customers.

Below you will see the options that Ricky has available. www.specialisedtextiles.com.au

Jetty – 100 percent solution dyed polyester is waterproof, UV stabilised, antifungal and is ideal for outdoor umbrellas and all marine projects. Supported by a five-year warranty and available in 10 colours, you can be sure there is an option right for everyone.

Docril Nautica – With all the same features as Docril, Docril Nautica offers a waterproof solution dyed acrylic option for all marine projects. Nautica’s excellent water-based polyurethane coating presents as a much cleaner alternative to most other waterproof acrylics and polyesters, which use more traditional solvent based polyurethane coatings.

Jetty Plus – This is a brand-new marine fabric launching in September. Jetty Plus has a non-woven backing applied to Jetty, which gives that added protection to your pride and joy. Ideal for boat covers, car covers and general cover applications, Jetty Plus is available in Navy Blue, Charcoal and Black.

Docril Binding – With 18 colours to choose from, this binding tape is used for aesthetic purposes in creating a finished edge on the fabric used for marine projects.

Darren concludes, “A selection of Docril fabrics is also available in a 250-centimetre width, not just the standard 200. I do believe that is pretty special in the marine market.”

Thanks for all of the information Darren.

Glacier – This is a clear PVC ideal for applications that require light transmission, weather protection and clear visibility.

If you would like to know more, contact the Ricky Technical Textiles experts on 029735 3333 or go to: www.rickyrichards.com.au.

Spring/Summer 2019 CONNECTIONS

CONNECTIONS Spring/Summer 2019

www.specialisedtextiles.com.au

MARINE 15

MARINE FABRICATORS DIVISION REPORT Shane Beashel, chair of the MFD of STA

T

he Marine Fabricators Division (MFD) of the Specialised Textiles Association (STA) has seen some changes within its committee in 2019 with a long-time supporter moving on and another stepping aside.

Dave Elliott, from Dave’s Custom Trimming, has stepped down from his role on the committee and is working with the IFAI (Industrial Fabrics Association International) for the good of the industry with a more global vision.

Neil Hancock, from Aussie Boat Covers, has also stepped down from his role as chairperson and handed the reins over to me as he has taken on a new role with The Nolan Group.

It can’t be stated enough that, thanks to the foundation Dave and Neil laid for the momentum of the MFD, together with a robust and diverse committee, the future of the marine trimming industry is looking bright. In January, a total of 17

www.specialisedtextiles.com.au

Australian marine fabricator members attended the Marine Fabricators Association (MFA) Conference in Long Beach, California.

Our presence in Long Beach did not go unnoticed. We contributed to two presentations, one by Dave Elliott and another by Azz and Kym Stroud-Smith.

Networking opportunities were abundant and Australian members of the MFD again walked away with a swag of awards.

This year’s workshop at SuperExpo2019 on the Gold Coast was well attended with huge support from suppliers and a dedicated committee to produce an educational and informative experience for all that attended.

Looking ahead Moving forward, MFD is working towards creating a time standards manual and a master craftsman certificate. There is

also a goal to expand through increasing membership and promoting more participation in awards entries.

The marine fabricator workshop in Fremantle last year was very successful in attracting new faces from the local area, one of whom is now a new committee member – welcome Ki Sulkowski from K1 Marine Trimming.

Over the next 12 months the MFD is working on delivering a two-day workshop in Sydney during SpecTex20 as well as two half-day ‘mini’ workshops in two different locations to enable all marine fabricators to have the opportunity to get involved.

If you’re a marine fabricator and interested in participating in the workshops or just touching base to find out more, please contact us at the STA office via email: office@ specialisedtextiles.com.au or phone +613 9521 2114.

Spring/Summer 2019 CONNECTIONS

16 MARINE

MARINE FABRICATION TIPS AND TRICKS Here, a couple of Australia’s top marine fabricators share some secrets of the trade.

TIP #1 Eyelet Puller When struggling to attach eyelets on to T-Toggles (due to them being too tight), we have a small webbing loop with a hook and some 1.5mm Dyneema sewn to it as in the photo right.

By passing the loop through the eyelet and then looping it onto the hook, you can get good pulling power.

Once the eyelet is placed onto the T-Toggle and the toggle is closed, you can then unloop from the hook and pull the tail back through by giving it a good tug (some silicon spray on the rope at regular intervals can help a lot).

TIP #2 Patchwork Rulers We use patchwork rulers for marking out all different kinds of shapes and sizes from curves for our U-zips to accurate circles for boat cover wear points and straight lines for our upholstery pleats. These kinds of tools speed up production without compromising on accuracy.

Kent Rowbotham of Stitch Trim Auto and Marine Upholstery

Ki-Raphael Sulkowski of K1 Marine Trimming

316 MARINE GRADE STAINLESS HARDWARE EN CERTIFICATION TENSILE HARDWARE CABLE PRE-TENSIONING AVAILABLE SHADE, ARCHITECTURAL & MARINE HARDWARE 1800 022 122 | miamistainless.com.au | info@miamistainless.com.au CONNECTIONS Spring/Summer 2019

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MARKETING ESSENTIALS FOR YOUR MARINE FABRICATION BUSINESS Alex Hamilton

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Should you use social media?

Social media is a great way to promote your business and promote engagement with your brand. However, it can also become another time-consuming task, with users expecting almost immediate responses to comments and enquiries.

Social media is also a highly visual medium, so pictures of your products and day-to-day workings (being marine fabricators) will likely catch the eyes of users. If you have time to keep your social profiles updated and relevant, initially focus on one or two platforms before expanding.

123RF’s gstockstudio 123RF.com

M

arketing is crucial; whether you’re a one-man band, employ a few staff or have a multi-location marine fabricator business, without at least basic marketing for your business, you’ll find it hard to succeed.

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Starting with the essentials Creating an eye-catching and professional brand will create a great foundation for future growth. This includes your logo, business cards, in-store design, vehicle branding, uniforms, invoicing and more.

Ensure that your branding and business image stays consistent across all marketing channels.

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Get found online Your website is the backbone of your business’ success online. It’s also a timeconsuming and complex task to create a website. Speak to a developer and have them create a website that holds true to your business and services. www.specialisedtextiles.com.au

Promote your services with images – the best part of being a marine fabricator is you’re working on luxury products, and often visiting very scenic locations. Always take pictures of your services and work locations to promote on your online marketing channels (website, Facebook, Google My Business etc).

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Index your website – adding your website to Google Search Console (search.google.com) will notify Google that you want it indexed in its search engine – allowing your website to show in searches related to marine fabrication.

Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) – optimise your website by creating pages to promote your service offerings (one page per service) and fill these pages with relevant content and images to push users to convert.

Get found locally – create a free Google My Business (business.google.com) listing to provide users with accurate and up-todate information about your business.

Create industry leading content – show your customers (and competitors) that you are the industry leader in your field. Write informative content about your business or industry news and promote it on your website and social channels.

Manage enquiries effectively Now that you have a solid foundation for your business, it’s important to understand your customers. People have short attention spans online, so making them wait for more than an hour (or more than a few minutes on social media!) can be the difference between a sale and a lost opportunity.

To assist with managing your online marketing channels, platforms such as Podium (www.podium.com) bring all your marketing channels into one space, so you can respond with your clients instantly while on the go.

About the author Alex Hamilton works at White Chalk Road (www.whitechalkroad.com.au), a specialist online marketing company based in Perth, Western Australia. Alex helps small- to medium-sized business get found online, with industry leading Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) and holistic online strategy.

Spring/Summer 2019 CONNECTIONS

18 ADVERTORIAL

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dventures on the water require a vessel well-equipped to handle nature’s elements.

Among Sunbrella’s extensive marine fabric offerings, Sunbrella SeaMark® brings innovative performance, weather-resistant and design-forward material to marine environments.

Sunbrella SeaMark is a top-rated, marine-grade fabric that defends against extreme precipitation and moisture. This proven fabric provides a weather-resistant and design-forward solution for even the harshest of Australasian marine environments.

Optimal durability, waterproof protection and more As one of the most waterproof fabrics on the market, SeaMark is engineered with durable Sunbrella fabric and 100 Spring/Summer 2019 CONNECTIONS

percent impervious waterproof backing.

Its unique combination of Sunbrella fabric and textured marine grade vinyl provides pliancy, while the vinyl provides durability.

The legendary performance of Sunbrella fabrics is engineered into the core of every fibre, resulting in powerful protection against fading, mould, mildew and constant exposure to sun, salt and chlorine. Sunbrella SeaMark is also easy to care for and can be cleaned with mild soap or a bleach solution without losing colour or performance.

will suit anyone’s taste. Additionally, Sunbrella Seamark is available in 60-inch (152.4-centimetre) widths.

Boating in style Sunbrella SeaMark is available in a wide range of fresh styles and colours for marine applications, such as biminis, dodgers and cockpit enclosures. With solid and tweed textures, and a range of colour options, Sunbrella Seamark fabrics

For more information, reach out to local Sunbrella distributors – Goodearl and Bailey (www.goodearlandbailey.com. au), Nolan Group (www.nolans.com.au), Bainbridge (www.bainbridgeint.com.au), and Topfab (www.topfab.co.nz) – and your local marine trimmer.

Fabric versatility Excellent weather resistance also makes Sunbrella SeaMark the first choice for shade material in environments that see heavy weather, such as awnings and canopies. It is also great for automotive covers and equipment covers. At sea or on land, Sunbrella SeaMark guarantees the ultimate protection against Mother Nature.

www.specialisedtextiles.com.au

SUPEREXPO2019 19

SUPEREXPO2019 WRAP-UP

T

he largest Australian trade exhibition for the specialised textiles, and blinds and awnings industry took place over three days at the Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre in mid June 2019.

SuperExpo2019 was the third joint venture between the Specialised Textiles Association (STA) and the Blind Manufacturers’ Association of Australia (BMAA) and, without doubt, was the most successful so far with an increase of 17 percent in visitor numbers.

SuperExpo stats: • four days to build • 112 exhibitors set up displays • total of 6861 square metres of exhibition space • open to visitors over three days, and • 3994 visitors walked through the doors.

SuperExpo2019 was not only about business. Several events were held in order to provide opportunity for networking.

www.specialisedtextiles.com.au

Spring/Summer 2019 CONNECTIONS

20 SUPEREXPO2019

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Welcome Reception – held outside the Convention Centre on a beautiful Queensland balmy evening. Chris Nolan, chair of the SuperExpo2019 Organising Committee, declared the SuperExpo open and welcomed all guests, providing a great start to an even greater expo the next day.

Golf Tournament – what would any expo/conference be without a golf tournament? This time around players gathered at the Royal Pines Resort to show off their skills.

STA’s Awards for Excellence Dinner – this took place in the ballroom at The Star. The MC, Bob Cahill from Tex Connex, entertained the crowd and ensured proceedings ran on time.

The highlight was the Apprentice of the Year Award, having all entrants present on the night, plus being entertained by Killer Queen!

Marine Fabricator Workshop – ran over two days and included hands-on learning, plus case studies and general business presentations. Once again, the Marine Fabricator Division of STA delivered an outstanding workshop while ensuring that all attendees met each other, shared ideas and walked away with something that could benefit their business immediately.

Well done, team!

LET US HANDLE THE BIG JOBS BULK WELDING IS OUR SPECIALTY

Why not stick to what you do best and leave the bulk sewing and welding (hot air, hot wedge, RF welding) to DDT. At our wholesale prices, you can improve your bottom line.

Contact Max or Michael for a quotation

DARLING DOWNS TARPAULINS INDUSTRIAL AVENUE PO Box 6267, Toowoomba West, QLD 4350 Phone: 07 4634 2166 Fax: 07 4634 7725 Email: ddt@ddt.com.au CONNECTIONS Spring/Summer 2019 Web: www.ddt.com.au

SIZE IS NO PROBLEM

Darling Downs Tarpaulins are geared to cope with those very large jobs like green houses, shade houses, shade sails, dam liners and bulk storage covers.

www.specialisedtextiles.com.au

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22 SUPEREXPO2019

2019 AUSTRALIAN TEXTILE FABRICATION INDUSTRY AWARD WINNERS The Australian Textile Fabrication Industry Awards, presented by the Specialised Textiles Association, showcase technical skill, design excellence and innovation. This year’s winning projects, in a range of categories – spanning marine trimming to shade sails and tensions structures and beyond – were announced and celebrated on the Gold Coast during SuperExpo2019. On the next few pages we feature images and descriptions of all the category winners. To have your project considered for next year’s awards, visit specialisedtextiles.com.au.

CONNECTIONS Spring/Summer 2019

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CATEGORY MARINE TRIMMING EXTERIOR WINNER ENTRANT: Stitch Trim PROJECT NAME: Awesome Tinny Bimini PROJECT LOCATION: Queensland FABRICATION: In-house FABRIC USED: Sunbrella Plus FABRIC SUPPLIED BY: Nolan Group COMPONENTS SUPPLIED BY: Alspec Aluminium, Solafix Nolans The client delivered to us his pride and joy and asked for an ‘awesome tinny bimini’. He wanted a bimini that delivered a lot of shade, had no straps to allow for ample fishing room and could fully collapse so he could fit it in his garage. The bimini was designed to meet the client’s expectations – to provide plenty of shade, but not to obstruct fishing room and also to fold down for storage and travel. This is a project we worked on with our aluminium fabricator to design the base structure.

The powder-coated aluminium targa was designed to be strong, stable, allow for our bimini to be attached and fold down onto the back bait board of the boat for storage. Careful calculations and measurements to deliver the final product were a challenge in this top. We were able to deliver exactly what the client requested. The customer was ‘stoked’ and could not actually believe we did it. This was a challenging, but rewarding project with a great outcome.

CATEGORY MARINE TRIMMING INTERIOR WINNER ENTRANT: Stitch Trim PROJECT NAME: Ski Boat ‘Cop This’ PROJECT LOCATION: Queensland FABRICATION: In-house FABRIC USED: Pacifica FABRIC SUPPLIED BY: Hamlins COMPONENTS SUPPLIED BY: Dunlop Foams, Solafix Nolans The clients are a retired couple that were giving their whole boat a revamp after enjoying many years of waterskiing themselves and with their children. They wanted the grandkids to experience the same amount of joy that they did. A full new interior was the last thing to tick off before getting the boat back on the water.

The boat had been very well used and the interior was stained and falling apart when it arrived in our shop. New seat bases and backs were required and all new foams, which were moulded to suit the design of the seats. The driver’s and observer’s seats were redesigned to modernise them. The customers requested a ‘swirly’ design with the use of three colours. Previously the boat’s interior was white with blue highlights to reflect the exterior of the boat.

The result was that our clients could not believe it was their boat, as it looked completely different once done. They were especially impressed with the colour choice and design of the pattern. They left incredibly happy with their ‘new’ boat.

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Spring/Summer 2019 CONNECTIONS

24 SUPEREXPO2019

CATEGORY AUTOMOTIVE/MOTOR TRIMMING WINNER ENTRANT: North Queensland Trimming PROJECT NAME: 37 Ford 5 Window Coupé PROJECT LOCATION: Australia FABRICATION: In-house FABRIC USED: CUO10 and Autumn Leaf Polyprop Carpet FABRIC SUPPLIED BY: Brent Parker Hides & Classic European COMPONENTS SUPPLIED BY: Sewing Trade Equipment (Townsville) and Daley’s Auto Marine and Upholstery Supplies (Brisbane) The purpose of this project was to put the icing on the cake of an extremely long-term project that the customer had been planning for over 45 years: complete restoration of interior trimming in a 1937 Ford five-window coupé. Panel and paint restoration had been carried out to an extremely high standard and our interior had to complement and enhance the very high standards expected by the owners and builder of the car. The customer’s request was to match exactly the original trim and raise the standard of workmanship from factory to concourse.

The uniqueness of this project is all OEM matching materials were sourced in Australia to fully replicate the original materials used in the factory. At the start of the project the owner handed us a roll of English wool headlining felt that he purchased in 1972 for this project. The outside of the roll was rotten and had been attacked by silver fish or moths, so half a metre of fabric was lost.

The challenge was to have enough material to do the headlining and sun visors out of the customer’s material. The mission was achieved, but only just scraped in. It was fantastic to see the joy when the customer saw his headlining material actually in his car. After many years of love and dedication on this beautiful restoration the owners will be enjoying many more years with their much loved project, before they pass on the family heirloom.

CATEGORY BLINDS AND AWNINGS (INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL) – DOMESTIC WINNER ENTRANT: Blinds by Peter Meyer PROJECT NAME: Tilt PROJECT LOCATION: Australia FABRICATION: Weinor FABRIC USED: Weinor My Collection FABRIC SUPPLIED BY: Weinor COMPONENTS SUPPLIED BY: Weinor The commission was to install a folding arm awning on the top balcony of an apartment block five floors up. The awning was 5350 by 3000 and had to be motorised. The client was looking to shade their balcony entertainment area, which faced the harbour.

They needed shade, but also a strong and robust awning to cope with windy conditions. Tilt engineering was commissioned to build actuators strong enough to cope with the weight of the awning and also raise it up by 600 milimetres to allow for clearance height of the awning when in use. When not in use, the actuators would lower the awning back down to meet the neighbours’ requirements of not blocking their view. The awning was installed onto the actuators, and the client’s and surrounding neighbours’ expectations were met and exceeded.

CONNECTIONS Spring/Summer 2019

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CATEGORY BLINDS AND AWNINGS (INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL) – COMMERCIAL WINNER ENTRANT: Versatile Structures PROJECT NAME: Coffee Club Capalaba PROJECT LOCATION: Queensland FABRICATION: In-house FABRIC USED: Visiontex Plus – Carbon Black FABRIC SUPPLIED BY: HVG Fabrics COMPONENTS SUPPLIED BY: EziLux/Peter Meyer The client required an outdoor blind solution to fix existing umbrellas. Corporate branding was required on the new umbrella skins and blinds. The café was losing a lot of business during storm season. As part of this café refurbishment, the client wondered if there was a way to maintain their patrons in bad weather. Our scope included a reskin of their existing commercial umbrellas, new internal roller blinds and a custom outdoor blinds solution, which included new framework to fit within the bounds of the existing umbrellas. The challenge we had to overcome was in designing a half-enclosed dining area, which already housed two commercial umbrellas. Our solution had to integrate two systems: the umbrellas and the blinds. The biggest challenge was to enclose the area without jeopardising the structural integrity of the umbrellas. Due to the nature of integrating the extra umbrella fabric with the blinds’ frame, there were many elements that required detailed attention, and we had to be sure they would cooperate without causing any faults or inadequacies in the final outcome. The final product looks fantastic. All the fabrics and membranes are perfectly tensioned and the branded custom blinds solution fits perfectly with the existing umbrellas to create a unique outdoor dining area for the Coffee Club’s customers.

CATEGORY SHADE SAILS OR STRUCTURES (KNITTED SHADE CLOTH) – DOMESTIC WINNER ENTRANT: Cheyne Shades and Canvas PROJECT NAME: Alice River Shade Sail Project PROJECT LOCATION: Australia FABRICATION: In-house FABRIC USED: Z16 Rainbow Shade Cloth FABRIC SUPPLIED BY: Rainbow Shade COMPONENTS SUPPLIED BY: Miami Stainless We custom mounted two fabricated roof posts, and erected a tall centre post opposite these and two lower posts at either end of the pool. The brief was to provide maximum shade coverage, using a single shade sail, to multiple outdoor areas while partly shading the pool. The complexity lay in fabricating and mounting a single shade sail, high and over the roof, while not spoiling the rural views looking outside from inside the home. The end result was an outstanding visual appeal to the outdoor entertaining area and maximum shade coverage achieved using black shade cloth, installed in an extremely hot climate in a rural setting. Mounting the sail up high allows the heat to escape and cool breezes to be captured. A big visual impact with uninterrupted views from inside the home to the outdoor areas was achieved. It is now a cooler and more comfortable area of the home at any time of the day, offering excellent shade coverage and cool breezes.

www.specialisedtextiles.com.au

Spring/Summer 2019 CONNECTIONS

26 SUPEREXPO2019

CATEGORY TENSION STRUCTURES (COATED FABRICS) – LESS THAN 250SQM WINNER ENTRANT: Abacus Shade Structures PROJECT NAME: Ryde Outdoor Youth Space PROJECT LOCATION: Australia FABRICATION: In-house FABRIC USED: FR700 Mehatop N FABRIC SUPPLIED BY: Shann Accessories COMPONENTS SUPPLIED BY: Steelforce

CATEGORY SHADE SAILS OR STRUCTURES (KNITTED SHADE CLOTH) – COMMERCIAL WINNER ENTRANT: Pattons PROJECT NAME: Temporary Shade Structure for Australian Open Tennis Festival PROJECT LOCATION: Australia FABRICATION: In-house FABRIC USED: Poly FX and Monotec 210 FABRIC SUPPLIED BY: Nolan Group and Ricky Richards COMPONENTS SUPPLIED BY: Arcus Wire

The project was to design and install three 38-square metre shade structures in Ryde Sydney, to provide rain protection, functionality, aesthetics and shade coverage over a new outdoor playground and seating/barbecue area. The client presented a conceptual ‘mud map’ design, which our company interpreted into a unique design, fabrication and installation. The brief included an irregular hexagonal roof frame to match a ground pattern layout of the playground, waterproofing, a minimal pitch of seven degrees and anti-graffiti paint treatment. The challenges included shaping the rafters and posts, tensioning the PVDF over the irregular hexagonal rim and using high-quality materials and processes. We chose a PVDF with a 20-year warranty. Hot dipped galvanising of steel inside and out was used for long-term rust protection.

The paint treatment that was then applied over the galvanising included anti-graffiti additives. From a photo of a simple design and a mud map, we worked with the client to arrive at a much more evolved and stylised design that looks fabulous and still fitted into their budget.

The purpose of this project was to shade and cover an area of 2500 square metres and to cover up to 5000 people watching tennis on the big screens, listening to live bands and enjoying the AO tennis tournament each year. It had to be designed, engineered, fabricated and installed within an 11-week time-frame, installed in one week, stay in constant use for two weeks, and be removed at the end of the tournament within four days.

We had to find a balance between large structural steel members and quick installation methods. We developed a very fast installation mechanism utilising truss and pin connections. We also designed a cable grid system around the perimeter of the sails to reduce infrastructure and to save installation time.

The result was a huge, flamboyant temporary shade structure that really wowed the Melbourne crowds and brought fabulous colour to the city’s skyline. It provided excellent coverage for the extreme heat and increased the public numbers watching the event. The staging style truss design also gave the client a solution that could generate additional income for them to recoup additional return on their investment. Since the event, the client has been approached by several other event producers to rent the structure for alternative events.

CONNECTIONS Spring/Summer 2019

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CATEGORY TENSION STRUCTURES (COATED FABRICS) – GREATER THAN 2000SQM WINNER ENTRANT: WeatherSafe WA PROJECT NAME: Car Giant Cockburn PROJECT LOCATION: Australia FABRIC USED: Précontraint 782 S2 FABRIC SUPPLIED BY: HVG Fabrics COMPONENTS SUPPLIED BY: Various

CATEGORY TENSION STRUCTURES (COATED FABRICS) – 250SQM TO 2000SQM WINNER ENTRANT: Fabritecture PROJECT NAME: Currumbin Sanctuary PROJECT LOCATION: Australia FABRIC USED: Serge Ferrari 832s2 PVC FABRIC SUPPLIED BY: Serge Ferrari

Our client, a prominent new and second-hand car retailer had recently purchased a large block of land onto which they intended to move most of their operations and stock. They wanted to stand out from their competition by being the largest outdoor undercover car yard in the state, while having a safe place to store their stock of new cars and saving money on insurance due to the protection provided from possible hail storms. This was a massive project – the lot was approximately 200 metres long and between 60 and 90 metres wide. The difficulty was that the block sloped both east/west and north/south and the architect wanted the tops to be level. With the land sloping both ways we had a situation where one side of the rafter was lower to the ground, so we had to take into account the clearance height on the high side. The result is a magnificent car sales lot of epic proportions.

The client is happy and sales figures are up... whether this is because of the structures is unknown, but they did reveal their insurance premiums have decreased significantly because they have dropped the hail damage premium. We have implemented a maintenance program for the next 10 years so they have a worryfree car yard.

The area consists of an outdoor amphitheatre that had recently undergone a significant redevelopment to cater to the evergrowing popularity of the bird show. Part of this redevelopment included upgrading the existing structure to a much larger structure that could cater to this increasing audience of the free flight bird show, Wildskies. One of the most important aspects of the structure’s design was the arch at the front, which was suspended on columns. This allowed the appropriate clearances for the birds to fly under the structure and over the crowd. It was hard to get the geometry right for the ponding of the canopy considering the slope of the terrain in which it was installed.

Therefore, particular time was spent on the geometry of the structure to make sure it didn’t pond.

The client has let us know that the birds love it! The structure is a much improved upgrade to the amphitheatre that guests, employees and birds can enjoy! As you can imagine, the client is very happy with this and the large crowds can enjoy the bird show in superior comfort. www.specialisedtextiles.com.au

Spring/Summer 2019 CONNECTIONS

28 SUPEREXPO2019

CATEGORY GENERAL – BANNERS, FLAGS, INFLATABLES, FABRIC ART ETC WINNER ENTRANT: Goldberg Aberline Studio PROJECT NAME: Microcosm PROJECT LOCATION: Australia FABRICATION: In-house FABRIC USED: Samba, Ricky Richards PVC, 201 and 420 Denier Nylon FABRIC SUPPLIED BY: Ricky Richards COMPONENTS SUPPLIED BY: Ricky Richards Microcosm was a large-scale inflatable artwork installed at Tamarama Beach for Sculpture by the Sea. It was a colourful and highly patterned artistic oral reef. Approximately 17 metres long, five metres wide and 4.5 metres high, it was installed onto one of the Tamarama Life Saving Club kiosks on the beach. It was designed to withstand the harsh seaside conditions, through its unique engineering and its ability to bend and move in the wind instead of resisting, much like how coral responds to waves. The work has cleverly used a range of engineering and manufacturing techniques to create a work that is very lightweight, yet extremely strong. Due to the large and complex nature of the fabrication, weight and bulk became a real issue. To overcome this, the work was divided into a main vessel into which air was continuously pumped (about 2000 cubic feet per minute) and a series of about 20 detachable feature art pieces. By day, the work created a dominating silhouette for the bay and, by night, was illuminated with internal LED lighting. Patterns were all custom designed by hand, then digitised and collaged in Photoshop to create unexpectedly vivid and fun patterns from simple scribbles. We created Microcosm because we were proud of our engineering and manufacturing abilities and wanted to put them to the test.

Sculpture by the Sea was the perfect opportunity. Within the first week of installation, there was one of those fabulous Sydney storms with over 700 reported strikes of lightning! Microcosm just rode it out, due to its clever engineering and the ability to respond and move to the conditions around it.

CONNECTIONS Spring/Summer 2019

CATEGORY PRODUCT INNOVATION WINNER ENTRANT: ABGAL Liners and Covers PROJECT NAME: PMW PROJECT LOCATION: Australia FABRICATION: N/A FABRIC USED: Aqualux FABRIC SUPPLIED BY: Swimlinings COMPONENTS SUPPLIED BY: ABGAL We have developed a method of measuring 3D complex shaped swimming pools so a PVC membrane can be fabricated to the exact shape including over the pool steps and the shaped curved walls using a smartphone. In the past these complex pool shapes could only be measured with specialised equipment that is too costly for our customers to own. There about 50 to 60 photos taken of the empty swimming pool and from here we develop a 3D model containing over 20 million data points. The model is rendered so it can be rotated 360 degrees and viewed from all angles. Then we draw splines onto the surface of the 3D model and extract these splines to use to create sections that, when put together, recreate a fabric surface of the swimming pool. This surface is then panelled and nested and cut from our PVC to make the vinyl membrane to fit the pool surface exactly. Our first complex pool measured using an iPhone resulted in a successful 3D model, from which we were able to extract the section splines and cut and fabricate a PVC membrane that fitted the pool perfectly, including over the steps and bench. We were absolutely thrilled with this result and have since continued to use this system for a more cost-effective method of measuring complex swimming pools for a new PVC membrane pool finish.

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CATEGORY RECREATIONAL WINNER ENTRY: D&R Group PROJECT NAME: Eco Safari Glamping Tents PROJECT LOCATION: Australia FABRICATION: Copelands & Pickers FABRIC USED: DX12 Waterproof Canvas, Billabong Waterproof Tent Walling, Monotec 370 Shade Cloth, Superscreen Mesh FABRIC SUPPLIED BY: Wax Converters, Pro-Knit COMPONENTS SUPPLIED BY: Trex Decking, YKK Group The brief was to manufacture and install two family-size eco safari tents with decking in a Gold Coast tourist park complete with features to provide a glamping experience. The use of Australian made materials and products was preferred and one of the deckings needed to have wheelchair access. The windows and doors had to have midge mesh screens and internal electricals and plumbing were to be included.

The complexities of the project included the tent having three layers of coverage on the roof section. The top layer is Australian made commercial grade shade cloth and the centre layer is waterproof fabric to provide protection. The tent roofing is Australian made 505gsm waterproof canvas. The project also needed to feature maintenancefree composite decking and be completed in a very tight eight-week time-frame. The outcome was that the customer was very pleased with the end result and is considering further tents in the future.

AUSTRALIA’S PREMIER AWNING CANVAS CLASSIC CANVAS COLLECTION Inspired by Architecture and the Australian Landscape

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exterior awnings & blinds Brella Fabrics is a Division of Bradmill Outdoor Fabrics Pty. Ltd

Spring/Summer 2019 CONNECTIONS

30 AWARDS FOR EXCELLENCE – SPECIAL AWARDS

2019 APPRENTICE OF THE YEAR AWARD WINNER, LEVEL 1 (APPRENTICE FOR UNDER 15 MONTHS) Samantha Kearney, EH Brett Project name: Olive Canvas Duffel Bag Enrolled as an apprentice in: Cert III in Manufactured Textile Products at NSW TAFE I made a camping duffel bag out of 505g/sqm polyester-cotton olive coloured canvas – dimensions 200mm height, 250mm width and 500mm length, making it an ideal size camping bag. I chose blended canvas because it is affiliated with semi-permanent outdoor arrangements. I chose polyestercotton thread as it swells and seals the stitch holes making the bag water-resistant.

The bag has two pieces of black seatbelt webbing to create a balanced load when carried; the webbing is 25mm wide, ideal for hand carrying. The canvas is firm enough to maintain shape and structure, but is flexible enough to be made compact for easier travel. The bag has two size 10 sliders

allowing the bag to ensure load security and the benefit of this canvas is its durability and weatherability. It is internally bound with black herringbone polyester binding for structural stability and to prevent fraying from a raw edge.

The bag was a beneficial challenge as it helped to develop a better understanding of material application to meet job requirements. Further, I expanded and improved my sewing and patterning ability through trial and error. As a result I can more confidently sew zippers, curved edges, corners, and bind.

Adequate layout and marking of the pattern had to be accurate, so I revised my measurements and marking with a carpenter’s square to confirm precision before I cut. I took advantage of the opportunity to practise different methods of zippers until I found one I was satisfied with.

The most difficult thing was sewing the sides of the bag to the main body. Overall I am content with the outcome I have achieved at this point in my career and look forward to seeing how I progress within the industry.

2019 APPRENTICE OF THE YEAR AWARD WINNER, LEVEL 2 (APPRENTICE FOR 15+ MONTHS) Natasha Harper, Covergirl Marine Trimming Project name: Tool Bag Enrolled as an apprentice in: Cert III in Auto & Marine Trimming Technology at NSW TAFE I chose a black rip stop tonneau for my tool bag. This particular tonneau is made to endure the harsh conditions of Australia, waterproof, and is UV and heat stabilised, which allows it to resist deterioration from the sun and elements. If it does get a hole in the fabric it will not tear further. The components are 3mm foam rubber, placed at the bottom of the bag to protect the underneath surface from getting dinged or scratched by tools within.

As a special feature there are three clear plastic boxes with in the lid, with a CONNECTIONS Spring/Summer 2019

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YOUNG ACHIEVER AWARD Miklosh Vagvolgyi – Kustom Canvas and Vinyl Products Miklosh has been plying his trade for 18 years and is currently with Kustom Canvas and Vinyl Products on the Gold Coast/ Tamborine Mountain in Queensland. As the owner/operator he liaises directly with customers to create custom designs for canvas and vinyl products such as: shade sails, caravan annexes, boat and trailer covers, marine clears and coverings, automotive and marine upholstery, repair and restitch work.

Miklosh is a third generation trimmer with a true passion for his trade. He views it not only as his trade, but also as his hobby.

Trimming runs in the blood for Miklosh as he is one of nine motor trimmers in his family, taking after his grandfather whose passion has definitely rubbed off on him.

His most recent goal has been to one day receive an award or recognition for his work – a goal that has now been achieved with the honour bestowed at SpecTex.

Miklosh had a successful canvas and vinyl shop in Townsville for eight years, mostly making annexes, 4x4 canopies and shade sails. He has been subcontracting for a Gold Coast firm for two and a half years, learning the marine industry, and is set to reopen his shop within the next year.

And if you don’t believe just how accomplished he is, check out Kustom’s Facebook page and read the remarks from a swathe of very happy customers. “Amazing job” and “you are one talented upholsterer” and “we honestly couldn’t be any happier and pleased with his quality work” are testament to the efforts of a true craftsman.

But our favourite? The beautifully succinct: “top bloke n top work”.

zip that runs down the centre to allow easy access. The boxes are for the required fittings for the job and are easy to see into to find the exact fitting you require. There are also two mesh pockets on the outside of the bag along with interior pockets that line the walls. There is a perfectly sized pocket designed specifically for a pencil and marker pen.

There are two webbing straps that are appropriate shoulder length for carrying the bag comfortably and two bits of red string tied to the zipper heads, to make it is easy to grab and undo without fiddling for the zip head.

The bag is to give marine and automotive trimmers a simple yet effective way of organising their tools/fittings for their work. The challenges were in trying to make the clear plastic boxes, as they were very stiff and ridged, and it was hard to actually get the needle of the sewing machine close enough to stich them on to the lid of the bag without distorting the plastic. www.specialisedtextiles.com.au

Spring/Summer 2019 CONNECTIONS

32 DESIGN

L-R: Allan Wormald, Alan Long and Chris Nolan

NEW LIFE MEMBERS JOIN THE FOLD Three greatly respected industry veterans joined an elite group this year.

L

ife Membership is an honour of the Specialised Textiles Association (STA) that is provided to only a handful of individuals who make an outstanding contribution to the industry.

Honoured Life Member (HLM) is a designation given to individuals who have shown: • outstanding work accomplishments in the industry or Association • exceptional accomplishments or extraordinary achievement while serving as an officer of the Association, or • active engagement in the specialised textiles industry and have been an end-product manufacturer or supplier member of the Association.

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These badges of recognition are not presented very often and, in fact, only 24 individuals have previously been inducted as Life Members in the 79-year history of STA. Of those 24 current Life Members, four were in attendance at SpecTex2019: Des Tebb, Jim Kelman, Max Brady and Keith Bartlett. The other three living Life Members unable to be there are David Dexter, Bill Menaham and Graham Beaver.

The STA Council received further nominations for Life Membership this year, and is pleased to confirm three new Life Members, who were all in attendance at SpecTex, are receiving this tremendous recognition.

Life Membership is only open to members of the STA and members are able to nominate their co-members for recognition as a Life Member at any time of the year by completing a nomination form.

Allan Wormald Life Member #25 for STA is Allan Wormald from Walco Products in South Australia.

Allan started his career in 1974 when he joined Sutton Industries. In 1982 he purchased Walco and shortly after joined ACASPA (the STA’s former title, Australian Canvas and Synthetic Products Association) in 1984.

In 1985 he was elected onto Council of Management, and then again in 1995 www.specialisedtextiles.com.au

he volunteered to serve a second term on council in the position of Treasurer. He was instrumental in the supplier members attaining full membership status with ACASPA. Allan has been involved with the industry for over 46 years, and has attended all conventions since becoming a member in 1982 – with the exception of the last two, which was due to ill health.

Allan has had an unwavering commitment to the industry, has been a role model for younger members and is a true gentlemen of the industry.

Alan Long Life Member #26 for STA is Alan Long from Abgal Liners & Covers in Queensland. Alan started his career as a production and sales manager in 1972 with Polyweld Vic before moving to Queensland to start his own business at Abgal. He was one of the first to heat weld woven PE fabrics and make full welded large stack covers. He has been an industry leader in hot air welding for

PE & PVC and was the first in the industry to invest in robotic single ply cutting equipment, as well as a fully computerised manufacturing and financial software system back in 1985. Alan has served on Council of Management not once, but twice, and at the same time as Allan Wormald!

He also was instrumental in the move for suppliers to have equal voting rights with ACASPA and has been known to personally make hundreds of calls to other businesses in the industry to encouraging them to join the Association.

Chris Nolan Life Member #27 for STA is Chris Nolan from the Nolan Group. Chris is currently the managing director of the Nolan Group and has been actively involved with the industry for over 30 years and made significant contributions on a number of fronts.

Chris’ support for textile fabrication in Australia is well-known, and he has often provided a welcome ear and been a steadying influence in policy decisions and direction.

Chris has served on STA’s Council of Management and taken on the role of chair for the 2006 Convention and Trade Exhibition organising committee.

He has written numerous articles for this magazine, as well as for technical manuals via Nolan Group publications for a wide range of textile fabrication applications.

Chris has presented at various expos over the years on many technical topics, and his contribution to all industry associations, while not always in an official capacity, is well-known. His vision for a collective and more united approach to the industry from all associations – be it for training, influence or resolution – is well regarded.

Chris has served on the Board of IFAI (Industrial Fabrics Association International) for two terms, and fostered the relationship between the IFAI and STA, and also the one between the STA/BMAA (Blind Manufacturers’ Association of Australia) as the SuperExpo chairman for the last three years.

L-R: Keith Bartlett, Des Tebb, Jim Kelman, Allan Wormald, Alan Long, Mat Brady and Chris Nolan

www.specialisedtextiles.com.au

Spring/Summer 2019 CONNECTIONS

34 EVENTS

Specialised Textiles Association and industry events for 2019/2020 (If you know of or are holding an industry relevant event, please send details to office@specialisedtextiles.com.au – we would be happy to publish it.) For details on all STA events, go to www.specialisedtextiles.com.au/events.

ADVERTISING DIRECTORY

SPECTEX20 02

Aeronaut 05

Wax Coverters Textiles

09

SEWING MACHINE WORKSHOP Tuesday 22 October NSW TAFE, Ultimo For further details and to register, visit: http://specialisedtextiles.com.au/events

Strata Glass 12

MEMBERS ‘CHEERS’ SESSIONS Tuesday 26 November Melbourne, Adelaide, Perth, Sydney and Melbourne Registrations: www.specialisedtextiles.com.au/events

Option Marine

14

Miami Stainless

16

STA MEMBERS’ SESSION Tuesday 25 February Brisbane – details TBC Registrations: www.specialisedtextiles.com.au/events SPECTEX20 Trade Exhibition and Conference 30 May to 1 June 2020 Doltone House, Darling Island, Pyrmont NSW For sponsorship or trade exhibition opportunities, please phone Ana on: Tel: +613 9521 2114

MARINE FABRICATOR WORKSHOP 1 and 2 June 2020 Day one, 1 June, at SpecTex20, Doltone House Day two, 2 June, at NSW TAFE

For sponsorship or trade exhibition opportunities, please phone Ana on: Tel: +613 9521 2114 All events are listed online at www.specialisedtextiles.com.au/events. Remember to log in to the member area before registering for an event and, that way, if there is a cost you will automatically obtain the reduced member rate and your details will automatically populate the registration form, saving you time as well.

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DDT 20

Gale Pacific

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Bradmill Outdoors

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Shann Group

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Ricky Richards

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Spring/Summer 2019 CONNECTIONS

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36 DESIGN

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CONNECTIONS Spring/Summer 2019

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