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CLIPCOM/22984© 2011 Schneider Electric. All Rights Reserved. Trademarks are owned by Schneider Electric Industries SAS or its affiliated companies

Catalogue No Description

754HL1/140/150150W Security Floodlight with 140° PIR Motion Detector, 12m Range

754HS1/140/6060W Security Spotlight with 140° PIR Motion Detector, 12m Range

754HS2/140/6060W Security Twinspot with 140° PIR Motion Detector, 12m Range

754HF1/180/150150W Security Floodlight with 180° PIR Motion Detector, 12m Range

754HF1/180/300300W Security Floodlight with 180° PIR Motion Detector, 12m Range

754HB1/180/6060W Security Spotlight with 180° PIR Motion Detector, 12m Range

754HB2/180/6060W Security Twinspot with 180° PIR Motion Detector, 12m Range

754RFKITWireless Audible Alert Chime for use with 754 Series Infrascan Range

Clipsal’s new Outdoor Infrascan range won’t leave you in the dark because they now offer a sensor light to suit every application. Enjoy the convenience and security of a sensor light that will deter intruders and welcome guests, while offering innovative features and benefits that are unique to the Clipsal Outdoor Infrascan range. Besides the stylish new look and design, some of the fantastic features include:

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754 SERIES

CONTEN TS 04 Out and about

06 Branching out — Wetherill Park

08 Data experts to help the industrial experts

12 Life in the fast lane

16 Product cut

22 Good, great — what's the difference?

24 Branching out — Bunbury

28 Lightning protection — on the move

34 It's a gas with total supply solutions

Published By

L&H GroupA.B.N. 19730 781 473456 Lower Heidelberg Road, Heidelberg VIC 3084 AustraliaPh: +61 3 9243 3555www.auslec.com.au

EditorPaul StathisPh: +61 3 9381 2952pstathis@westwick-farrow.com.au

Art Director/Production ManagerJulie WrightPh: +61 2 9487 2700jwright@westwick-farrow.com.au

Associate PublisherGavin Karthaus Ph: +61 3 9381 2952gkarthaus@westwick-farrow.com.au

Produced on behalf of L&H Group by

A division of Westwick-Farrow Media.

A.B.N. 29 001 621 861

Cnr. Fox Valley Road & Kiogle Street,(Locked Bag 1289) Wahroonga NSW 2076 AustraliaPh: +61 2 9487 2700

ISSN 1837-8021

All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or part without the permission of the publisher is strictly prohibited. Copyright L&H Group. Opinions expressed are those of individuals and are not necessarily those of the publisher. All information is believed to be correct at time of publication. All reasonable efforts have been made to contact copyright holders.

All material published in this magazine is published in good faith and every care is taken to accurately relay information provided to us. Readers are advised by the publishers to ensure that all necessary safety devices and precautions are installed and safe working proce-dures adopted before the use of any equipment found or purchased through the information we provide. Further, all performance criteria was provided by the representative company concerned and any dispute should be referred to them.

Welcome.

You probably noticed the front cover

of this issue of Auslec Solutions —

hard not to take notice of a fully

kitted race car driver.

And what about the young man

himself; he seems pretty happy

with things? Well, if you had his

job, you’d be pretty happy with yourself too. His

name is Michael Caruso and Auslec Solutions spent

a day with him on track at the recent Clipsal 500 in

Adelaide. Flick to page 12 to find out what a day in

the life of a V8 Supercar driver is really like.

As I’m sure you all know, businesses must evolve

and set new standards if they are to retain and then

grow their market share. A recent evolution here at

Auslec has been the development of our new and vastly

improved website. As well as being a great source of

industry information, including some very useful links

for customers, we will be using our website to com-

municate ongoing news and events. So make sure you

are a regular visitor to www.auslec.com.au — in fact,

why not check it out when you’ve finished reading this

issue of Auslec Solutions?

Our ‘Total protection from lightning strikes’ article

in our previous issue certainly hit the spot with many

of you, based on the feedback we received. So in

this issue, we continue this theme and take a look

at the remote aspects of lightning protection — en-

lightening stuff!

As usual, you’ll find an array of new and interesting

products throughout this issue. We are also giving

away two Apple iPads to two lucky readers just for

giving us some feedback. Go to www.auslec.com.au/

contact-us/survey for your chance to win. Winners will

get a mention (and maybe their picture) in the next

issue of Auslec Solutions — enjoy the read.

All the best,

Robin Norris

Chief Executive Officer

L&H Group

If you have any feedback for us on anything you’ve seen or would like to see in Auslec Solutions, just email us at solutionsmagazine@auslec.com.au

cover photo: © Ross Gibb Photography

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and about

*outAnd the winner is …Congratulations to Brett Chapman of Auslec

Bunbury for winning the inaugural 2010

Branch Manager of the Year. Along with the

prestige of being the first winner of this award,

Brett has walked away with two tickets to

the annual CEO overseas trip in June and his

choice of a new company car.

The L&H Branch Manager of the Year

Awards Gala Night was held on Friday

25 February at Zinc, Federation Square,

Melbourne. The awards dinner recognised

the success of 52 branch managers from

both Lawrence & Hanson and Auslec

branches across Australia. Thirteen managers

were recognised each quarter throughout

2010, based on their results across 11 key

performance indicators. Brett’s success

was built around fantastic customer service,

understanding the needs of his customer base

and working closely with those customers to

build their businesses.

Other award winners from Auslec included:

Tanya Godden of Auslec Parkes, NSW, who

joined the business in August 2006. She has

made a name for herself in a male-dominated

market and won the Best Small Branch

Award. Best Large Branch was taken out by

Auslec Wollongong, managed by Graeme

Sneddon.

Regional winners included: Max Leadbetter

of Auslec Toowoomba, who won QLD Region

1; WA Region 1 winner was Brett Chapman

of Auslec Bunbury; Peter Barkowski of Auslec

Newcastle won NSW/ACT Region 2; and WA

Region 2 winner was Richie Bredenkamp of

Auslec Port Hedland. Richie now has a grand

plan for an Auslec branch in the Pilbara – he’s

clearly loving life up north!

Energy Week — what a bright idea!All Auslec branches recently took part in

a fantastic week-long, worldwide initiative

called the Global Energy Saving Week, run

by parent company Sonepar.

The environmental and sustainability

program, called BlueWay, encourages

individuals and organisations to make

sustainable use of resources a reality by

being a focal point for engagement and

action.

As a leading supplier of industrial and

electrical products, Auslec is in a strong

position to encourage the sustainable use

of electricity by harnessing and delivering

energy-efficient products and solutions in

conjunction with its supplier partners.

During Energy Saving Week, branches

Australia wide held various events and

promotions that encouraged the use of

energy-efficient products, energy-efficient

services, energy-efficient solutions and

energy-production products.

Martin Dench, Group Marketing Manager

for L&H Group, said: “With factors such as

rising energy costs and the demand from

consumers for more sustainable environmental

methods, contractors need to be looking to

supplier partners like Auslec for products and

knowledge that will help position them at the

forefront of energy-efficient solutions. Our

Global Energy Saving Week was a great way

for us to communicate these opportunities

en masse to our contractor customers.”

Special promotions on energy-efficient

and energy-saving products during Global

Energy Saving Week ensured Auslec

customers received great value as well as

great information.

Martin added: “We had all our staff,

Australia wide, decked out in BlueWay

t-shirts for the week, which meant our

customers couldn’t help but ask us what

it was all about. It was also a fantastic way

for our staff and business to fully embrace

the sustainability message, which we see

as a driving factor in our industry.”

Why not visit www.lh.com.au/blueway

to find out more, including useful links to

help you become a sustainability-savvy

energy expert!

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and about

Moving on after the floods

Improved ‘new-look’ website Do you want to quickly find the location of an Auslec branch near you? Try

the improved branch locator feature on the new website www.auslec.com.

au which is now integrated with a Google Maps facility. All you have to do

is type in the postcode and a list of the closest branches will be displayed

along with a map.

The new website also features easier navigation and loads more information.

From traditional business-to-business transaction processing, emailed reports

and secure transaction cards through to online integration with e-procurement

systems, Auslec has e-commerce offerings to suit customers of all types and

sizes. Categorised product information, links to supplier publications, linecards

and even electronic copies of Auslec Solutions are all now available.

Red-hot specials are listed each month so it’s well worth a look at

www.auslec.com.au.

Michael Chaplin with his wife Michaela and daughters, two-year-old Daisy and newborn Annie.

In our last issue, we heard how L&H

Toowoomba Sales Representative Michael

Chaplin tackled the devastating floods

that ravaged Toowoomba earlier this year.

At the time, his eight months-pregnant wife

and daughter Daisy had to be rescued by an

evacuation team before their home became

completely surrounded by the flooded Lockyer

Creek. Since then, things have certainly

improved for Michael. “The family’s great

and we’re moving to Tweed Heads,” he says.

Not only is he now the proud dad of a new

baby girl, Annie Catherine, who arrived right

on time, he was offered the job of Manager

at the Tweed Heads branch. Of course he

snapped it up and all the family has now

moved to Tweed Heads. “It’s going to be

quite a change,” he says.

It’s all happened quite quickly and so far

everything has fallen into place. His wife,

Michaela, is happy about the move as she

will be close to a number of relatives who

live in the area and Michael is delighted that

they will now reside on a normal-sized house

block. “This will make a change from fixing

fencing all night.”

He leaves Toowoomba with the city looking

green and lush but still in need of some repair.

“Some insurance companies have been slow

and pathetic,” he says. As a result, some

businesses are having difficulties or have

closed down and other companies have

moved in. Michael said that things were pretty

quiet in Toowoomba when he left. He now has

his hands full not only with a new baby, but

he’s also very busy settling into his new role as

Branch Manager, L&H Tweed Heads.

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Located in Sydney’s west, the Wetherill

Park Auslec branch is managed by

Steve ‘Woody’ Woodiwiss. Woody and

his 10 experienced staff are thrilled to

be now working in their new premises

consisting of the 1400 m2 warehouse

and 30 m2 showroom which is used

for displays from their top suppliers.

“We carry $1 million in stock with just

on 7500 lines,” says Steve.

The new branch in Victoria Street is

fitted out with 100% LED lighting — in

the front entry are the Alfalux downlights

in the Clipsal room, the main showroom

has 75 twin LED fluoros and the ware-

house is illuminated by 21 LED 150 W

high bays. This lighting is not only good

for the environment and a cost saving,

it also provides the branch with a great

opportunity to showcase the products

and encourage their customers to

use these greener options.

“Our capture area is greater

Sydney, which is around 2500 km2,”

says Steve. “From Wetherill Park

to Kurnell is 65 km and our most

western customer is 35 km away.

We pride ourselves on getting the

goods to the customer no matter

where they are.

“Our branch supplies Silcar, which

is a plant asset management and

maintenance services organisation.

Their scope is pretty broad and cov-

ers services to the energy, mining,

manufacturing and even telecom-

munications sectors. As such, we

are often required to ship some

items at a moment’s notice. We also

have contractor customers working in

some pretty remote locations of NSW.”

One of the branch’s newly devel-

oped strengths is its involvement in

the Shipping–Marine industry. “Ships

are floating islands,” says Steve. “You

need to be able to understand just what

your customer wants, when they want

it and deliver it before the ship sails,

otherwise you lose the business next

time. We pride ourselves in developing

a true working relationship with the

customer, getting the product to them

when they need it.”

The branch’s customers come from a

diverse mix of industries including: pet-

rochemical, chemical, pharmaceutical,

food, beverage, hot water heater manu-

facturer, plaster board manufacturer,

shipping, paper recycling and councils,

to name a few. “We sell anything that

is not nailed down,” says Steve. The

branch also imports items from all over

the world when required, with some of

the more unusual requests including

cappuccino machines, refrigerators,

specialty valves, washroom products,

janitorial products, pesticides and

herbicides.

The high-voltage electricity com-

pany Transgrid awarded the branch a

three-year contract to supply a range

of specialty chemicals, poisons and

petroleum products, and the branch

has now partnered with an accredited

company to store and supply the goods

for the client.

With a diversified but predominately

(90%) industrial customer base with

10% in the contractor and installer

(C&I) sector, the team is now looking

forward to expanding further into the

C&I business.

Auslec Wetherill Park, New South WalesBranch Manager — Steve WoodiwissBranch/warehouse floor space — 1430 m2

Number of staff — 10

P: (02) 9604 7811E: auswetherillpark@auslec.com.auA: Unit 1, 468–470 Victoria Street, Wetherill Park, NSW 2164

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DAtA ExPErts to HELP THE INDuSTRIAL ExPERTS

When was the last time an industrial project you were

working on could be considered ‘simple’, consisting

of just some motors, belts, electrical wiring and

mechanical switches? Probably a long time ago.

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Industrial systems are anything but simple

these days — they pull together electrical,

mechanical, safety and data elements to

make up an entire complex system; and

working on them requires a whole lot more

than just some electrical and mechanical

skills. They usually require a lot of specialist

knowledge, as well as access to specialist

equipment, to do it properly.

Auslec is a specialist industrial supplier

that provides a wide range of mechanical,

electrical and safety equipment to numerous

industries it services around the country. As

we regularly highlight in the Branch Profiles

of each issue of Auslec Solutions, the com-

bined years of experience of staff at each

branch is considerable in servicing these

industries. But the data market is a different

matter altogether. It’s a highly specialised

field in the IT domain that includes ethernet

switches and routers, optical fibre, copper

data cabling and specialised test instru-

ments. In spite of their extensive industrial

experience, the Auslec branch staff won’t

lay claim to expertise in the IT field.

So how does Auslec service this growing

and critical element to industrial projects

and work sites?

You may be aware of Auslec’s sister

company Pacific Datacom, the specialist

data communications distribution division

of L&H Group. This stand-alone business

unit primarily services the IT and data ca-

bling market, working closely with IT end

users, consultants and cabling contractors

with best-of-breed cabling and associated

products. Auslec frequently draws on the

specialised skills and product portfolio of

Pacific Datacom to deliver total industrial

solutions to its customers.

Pacific Datacom was established 12 years

ago through the acquisition of a number of

small, privately owned data cabling distribu-

tion companies located in capital cities in

Australia. Each of these companies had a

reputation for impeccable service, industry

knowledge and quality suppliers. However,

they were small businesses and limited in

their market reach and what they could to

service industry needs. The consolidation of

these companies resulted in a single entity

that had nationwide reach, consolidated

buying power and access to funding from

a large parent company that could facilitate

growth and an expansion of services.

And grow they did — all of the branches

moved to larger and more centrally located

facilities, put on more staff and substantially

increased their stock levels within the first

year of the acquisition. That, in turn, re-

sulted in better service to customers and

the industry at large.

L&H Group’s Specialist Business units

General Manager, Ian Haddon, states that

Pacific Datacom forms an integral part of

the L&H Group’s strategic vision: “We’ve

recognised over the years since forming

Pacific Datacom that Australia’s industrial

and commercial contracting markets can’t be

properly serviced by electrical and industrial

wholesaling operations alone. It requires

specific expertise and stock holdings that

can only be delivered to the market through

a stand-alone specialised business unit.”

Pacific Datacom around the country

Pacific Datacom currently has six branches

across Australia — Brisbane, Sydney, Canber-

ra, Melbourne, Adelaide and Perth. However,

with the growing demand in regional areas,

especially where there is a high concentration

of mining and heavy industry, Pacific Datacom

has established satellite operations in some

of the local L&H and Auslec branches. Data

cabling products are stocked in some of

these branches and the Pacific Datacom

sales staff regularly travel to these regions to

work with the local branches to service the

local market’s data requirements.

Pacific Datacom’s National Business

Development Manager, Warren Sainsbury,

advises that this arrangement is about to

be taken to the next level.

“For several years, one of our Brisbane-

based sales guys, Dean Roberts, has regularly

travelled up to Townsville to assist the local

L & H branch with data projects, typically

in the big mining projects,” states Warren.

“We’ve kept stock in the branch to support

local demand, but in the last few months,

we’ve decided to set up a satellite Pacific

Datacom office there that Dean will continue

to support and regularly visit.”

Most of the Pacific Datacom branches

have specialist sales engineers who add

significant value to their customers. They

have expertise in commercial and industrial

data applications, enabling them to assist

customers with developing cabling design,

writing specifications and selecting the most

appropriate products for their applications.

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On this point, Warren adds: “One of

the key values to customers is our vendor

independence. Our ‘modus operandi’ is to

find the most appropriate system for each

specific situation from our wide portfolio of

products to ensure we provide the best

solution.

Pacific Datacom has four key values that

it endeavours to provide to its customers

and the broader data and industrial mar-

kets, including vendor independence that

Sainsbury touched on. These are:

· Breadth of products, qualified as best-

of-breed from the extensive selection of

data cabling products available in the

Australian marketplace. This includes

copper and fibre network cabling,

wireless systems, enclosures, indus-

trial ethernet active equipment, critical

power systems, test equipment and

other materials that support LAN/WAN

voice, video and data networks as well

as access control, process control and

telemetry systems.

· Staff with extensive expertise gained from

many years in the data cabling industry

and from regular and comprehensive

education received from technical experts

in the supplier companies. This experi-

ence, depth of technical knowledge and

awareness of industry developments

enables them to provide independent and

up-to-date support. Client investments

in applications software, hardware and

business process re-engineering benefit

significantly from this. All Pacific Datacom

staff are constantly trained — from the

warehouse staff and customer service

reps to the sales engineers and branch

managers — to ensure every aspect of

dealing with the company is of value to

customers.

· Extensive stock holdings of core,

high-demand products and fittings

to ensure customers’ needs are met

without delays.

· Vendor independence to offer the most

suitable solution is provided to suit

each individual situation.

These key values are further enhanced

through frequent initiatives by Pacific Data-

com to ‘go the extra distance’ in response

to clients’ logistically challenging situations

with innovative solutions that not only help

reduce costs, but also mitigate the various

risks to their clients.

A couple of years ago, Pacific Datacom

supplied a large quantity of cabling, cabinets

and associated connecting hardware to an

installation company for a large project in

Western Australia that was to be deployed

in a remote mining site in the state’s north.

In spite of the sheer size of the project, the

installer was under contract with the mining

company to have the project completed

within a very short time frame. Facing

heavy liquidated damages if they were

late in completing the project, the installer

needed to seriously fast-track the project.

When they learned of this challenge, the

Pacific Datacom team in Perth worked with

the installer and the local Auslec branch

to come up with a time-efficient solution.

Rather than shipping all of the equipment

direct to the mining facility for it all to be

installed on site, Pacific Datacom rented

a warehouse in Perth for a month and set

it up as an assembly facility where the

cabinets could be fully populated in a safe,

cost-effective and controlled environment.

Two Pacific Datacom staff worked in the

warehouse for the entire month to assist the

cabling installer by managing the equipment

coming in and the completed cabinets be-

ing shipped out to site. The installer could

then assign his team to cable up all the

cabinets and fully test them so that, when

the cabinets arrived at the mining facility,

it was simply a matter of ‘plug and play’

to deploy the entire data network. To the

relief of the installer, the project was not

only completed on time to avoid those nasty

liquidated damages, but it was completed

on budget as well, thanks largely to Pacific

Datacom’s innovative solution.

More recently, in a major communications

infrastructure project for the Queensland

Government, the Brisbane Pacific Datacom

team provided a ‘staging’ service for the

client, where they held and released cabling

and power equipment as it was required to

ensure there were no delays in the project

rollout. Importantly, in this staging area,

all of the uPS and power supplies were

fully tested to ensure there would be no

failures when the system was deployed.

In another recent Queensland project,

the Brisbane Pacific Datacom team found

a vacant warehouse that was right next to

the construction site on the Gold Coast and

stocked it with the equipment required for

the project, again to ensure the client was

able to get his equipment as and when

required to meet the installation schedule.

Ian concludes that Pacific Datacom

will continue to build on its ‘can-do’ ap-

proach to servicing industry, stating: “The

commitment of our resources in servicing

the needs of the data market is ongoing.

We’re going to invest in more branches,

more people, newer technologies and

greater inventory to ensure we care for

both our core data cabling business from

the commercial sector, as well as the

emerging data cabling demand from the

industrial sector.”

Pacific Datacom has four key values

that it endeavours to provide to its

customers and the broader data

and industrial markets. ”“

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Going to work for Michael Caruso typically

means donning a fire-resistant suit, getting

strapped into a tricked-up Holden Com-

modore and hurtling around a racetrack

at frightening speeds. But that’s just a day

‘on the tools’ for Michael, who takes the

danger, the exhilaration and the glamour

all in his stride.

Michael is sponsored by Auslec, and he

recently agreed to have Auslec Solutions

spend a full day with him and his team —

Fujitsu Racing Garry Rogers Motorsport

(GRM) — in the pits at the Clipsal 500 in

Adelaide to experience life in the fast lane,

up close and personal.

Amongst the crowds at the Clipsal 500,

there’s a decidedly carnival atmosphere —

LIFE IN THE fAst LAnEMichael Caruso belongs to one of those rare

groups of people who really love their jobs. He gets

out of bed with a spring in his step every day he

has to go to ‘work’. And why wouldn’t he — he’s a

V8 supercar driver.

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“Some drivers take it very seriously, but

we can’t — it still has to be fun. We try

not to overcomplicate things. We have the

utmost confidence in our team. They’re

fully prepped for the race and we’re in

constant radio contact with them when

we’re on the track.

“There are always heated moments when

we’re racing, but we deal with them later on

and move on to our core objective — racing.”

Michael admits, though, that when he’s

out on the track, it’s very different: “When

you’re racing, your stress levels get very

high concentrating on the track, your com-

petitors, your car, and listening to the crew.

Drivers typically burn up 8–9000 calories

in a day from all that heat and mental and

physical stress.

“Adelaide is one of the most demanding

V8 Supercar courses because it’s a ‘stop/

go’ road circuit. It’s pretty tough driving 250

km/h down a narrow strip between concrete

barriers in what’s effectively a steel cage.

With that closed-in environment and tight

bends, it’s pretty hard to anticipate what’s

around the next corner. Even though most

drivers have raced here many times before,

we still need to gradually get a feel for the

track during the practice runs. I’m ranked

in the top 15, so I only get two 30-minute

practice runs, whereas the other drivers

get three practice runs. Conditions are

always different year to year. It helps us

build confidence with the track and our

cars, so we can go at it 100% during the

final time runs and on race day.

“It’s different to purpose-built circuits

like Phillip Island, which are designed for

cars to flow more though the circuit, and

the barriers are further back so you can

see more space in front of you. That style

results in a faster circuit — Phillip Island

has an average speed of 130 km/h. ”

As we were speaking, the pit crew col-

lectively shouted and groaned. They had just

seen Michael’s teammate, Lee Holdsworth,

spin out in his time run and slam the rear

of the car into a concrete barrier. The pits

are fitted with several TV monitors showing

all different views of the circuit, and together

with all the telemetry monitoring each car

and driver, nothing escapes the pit crew.

“Lee was just complaining to me about

his tyres earlier this morning after his first

practice session,” notes Michael. “It just

goes to show the hazards of racing in a

street circuit lined on both sides with con-

crete barriers.

“I’m sure it’s no big deal — Lee’s me-

chanics will pull out the wrecked boot and

bumper, straighten out the chassis and put

on replacement boot and bumper. It will be

all fixed well before race day.”

Michael’s confidence in their crews comes

from personal experience. At the 2008 Clipsal

500, he was pushed into the wall at Turn 3

during a time run, crushing the entire rear of

his car, all the way to the back window. His

crew worked on the car till 3 am that night

and had it ready for the race the next day.

In the pits

While Michael was prepping himself for

his second time run for the day, we took

a moment to study the atmosphere in the

Fujitsu Racing GRM pits. The centre of the

area is a black tower, known as the ‘heli-

pad’, which houses TV screens, computer

monitors and telemetry equipment. It derives

its name from the practice of giving a cap

with propellers on it to the engineers who

work on the tower. According to Michael,

these guys are real propeller heads, so its

name is quite appropriate. This is the nerve

centre for the pit crew for the entire four-

day event. All the information from Michael’s

and Lee’s cars comes into this ‘box’ via

radio telemetry, and from here, many key

decisions about the cars, drivers and race

strategies are made.

There are people working on PCs, fuel

drums and new tyres being moved into

position, people in discussion over graphs,

others writing notes while watching the TV

screens, a guy grabbing a quick sandwich

before he grabs the tyre ratchet in readi-

even before any action starts on the track.

In the pits, it’s a different story — techni-

cians, engineers and mechanics are sharply

focused on preparing to get Michael and

his teammate, Lee Holdsworth, out on the

track in their cars.

When Auslec Solutions caught up with

Michael first thing Friday morning, he was

surprisingly calm. He was out the back of

the pits, chatting with a few fans, having

his picture taken with them and saying

“G’day” to passers-by (although he was

cool to those wearing Ford Racing shirts).

Asked about his casual demeanour,

Michael — whose nickname is ‘Robbo’

(some connection between his surname and

Robinson Crusoe, we’re told) — responds:

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ness for the next pit stop and a couple

of guys tidying up. Everyone is busy, but

the pit is immaculately clean. Safety and

readiness to act are everything to the crew.

With the cars on the track, the pit crew

are in readiness for a pit stop, and they

all wear PPE — safety shoes, gloves and

heat-resistant arm protectors.

Michael’s head engineer talks to him

constantly through the time runs and race,

with short, sharp information about the

track, car and other conditions via two-way

radio. The car itself has little instrumenta-

tion in it — speedo, tacho, oil pressure

and temperature, along with a few warning

lights. Most of the feedback on the car

comes via the voice of the head engineer.

That way, Michael can concentrate on the

race and use his senses — touch, sight

and hearing — to deal with all of the fac-

ets of the race, instead of mainly relying

on sight. According to Michael: “The car

has to feel like an extension of my body,

so I can concentrate on getting familiar

with the track and gradually crank up the

speeds. By the end of the last time run, I

need to know the nuances of the car and

track 100%.”

Michael goes to great lengths to highlight

the importance of the entire pit crew: “The

attention to every little detail by the team

can make a huge difference. Every tenth

of a second we shave off the lap times is

critical. In last year’s Clipsal 500, there was

only 1.5 seconds difference in qualifying lap

times between pole position (first) and 29th

(last). That tells you how important it is for

everyone to be sharp to do their bit and for

the flow of information between the driver

and the engineer.”

the ‘buzz’

Auslec Solutions asked Michael what went

through his head during the race.

“It’s hard to communicate the feeling that

you have to people who don’t race,” he

muses. “Sometimes you don’t realise just how

fast you’re going because you’re comfortable

with your car and in the race environment.

“I first competed in go-kart racing when

I was 12, so I grew up racing cars — it’s

natural for me. My dad built race cars and

he was a mechanic for Kevin Bartlett when

he was racing. Kevin was my mentor when

I was younger, so that made car racing even

more natural for me.

“

”

sometimes you don’t

realise just how fast

you’re going because

you’re comfortable

with your car and in

the race environment.

© R

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“When you’re in the car, you don’t think

too far into the future because the race

demands so much of your attention. It’s a

complicated sport, so you focus on what

needs to be done in front of you at the time.

You find yourself ‘sensing’ the car and the

track — are the tyres gripping right, do the

springs need adjusting, is the car responding

to the track?

“Getting on the podium or even finishing

in a good position is a real buzz for smaller

teams like ours. Sadly, in professional mot-

orsport, big bucks usually mean top results,

so it’s the big-budget teams that often get

the better results. But beating them with a

smaller budget is often what drives us. That

goes through your mind when you’re doing

well in the race.”

And what about when he’s not at the

track — what does Michael do to relax?

“Being Italian, family and friends are a big

part of my life,” Michael says with a big grin.

“But since motor racing is so demanding, I

don’t get to be with them as much as I’d

like. So, when the chance arises, I like to

take off ‘Michael Caruso the driver’ and put

on ‘Michael Caruso the normal guy’ like

everyone else.”

*productcutAv a i l a b l e f r o m & r e c o m m e n d e d b y Auslec . U s e t h e locator at www.auslec.com.au to f ind your nearest branch.

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DEtACHABLE jAW CLAMP MEtErThe Fluke 365 is a rugged true-RMS AC/DC clamp meter

suitable for jobs where access to wires is difficult. The

instrument’s thin, small jaw is detachable with a flexible

lead, which makes gaining access to wires and viewing the

display easy. The instrument features 200 A AC/DC current

measurement, 600 V AC/DC voltage measurement, CAT III

600 V safety rating, large easy-to-read backlight display that

automatically sets the correct measurement range and a

built-in torch that helps illuminate work areas.

20-PIECE soCkEt sEtWattmaster’s 20-piece 1000 V insulated socket set includes both an insulated ratchet and

T-Handle for those hard-to-reach areas. The locking mechanism on both the ratchet and

T-Handle prevents any socket from falling into those live bus bars or circuit breakers. The

sturdy plastic carry case holds sockets sizes from 10-32 mm and hex sockets sized 4-10

mm. Two extension bars with soft cushion grip handles for additional comfort are included

in the socket set but can also be purchased separately.

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LACE-uP AnkLE BootsThe Beaver Charge workboots, from Mack, are fully lined

and very comfortable, lace-up ankle boots. They feature a

padded ankle and tongue, antistatic TPu outsole that is heat

resistant to 160°C and polyurethane midsole with bump-cap

and steelcap toe. The boots are made from high-quality KIP

leathers finished in nubuck suede. They are available in sizes

4-13 and half-sizes 6.5-10.5; colours include black, ‘rocky

brown’ and ‘honey’.

sAfEty GLAssEsThe uniSafe Savanah safety glasses offer medium impact

protection in a lightweight wraparound style providing front and

side eye protection for workers in general industries including

fabrication, manufacturing, mining and laboratory work. The

glasses feature: a lightweight, polycarbonate frame in wraparound

style; flexible side arms and temple grips; 100% uV protection

for use outdoors; antiscratch, medium-impact lenses that are

available in clear (antifog), smoke and brown finish.

HoIst for HEAVy LoADsThe My-T-Lift from Pacific Hoists is the perfect solution for the safe handling

of heavy loads, up to 300 kg. This 360° telescopic jib crane is designed for

single-handed operation and can be mounted on trucks, trailers, pontoons

and similar structures. It has the option of a manual winch which includes a

6 m rope or a 12 or 24 V electric winch, featuring a rope length of 12 m.

The unit is capable of accurate placement of heavy loads, even in confined

spaces, and is made from high-quality durable steel. It has the option to fold

down when not in use.

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Director LED Emergency Exit now with 50,000 hours life.

Pierlite is a member of the Gerard Lighting Group.

For more information visit www.pierlite.com

LED Technology

Energy Efficient

Ideal for internal commercial and retail services, shopping centres, hospitals and hospitality designs.

Energy efficient LED Exit sign, 50,000 hours life.

Viewing distance 24M.

Convenient ‘one box’ solution, ceiling or wall mount options complete with diffuser and all picto inserts.

*productcutAvailable from & recommended by Auslec. Use the locator at www.auslec.com.au to find your nearest branch.

PoWEr rEsEttInG DEVICEThe Stop & Go is an intelligent and secure

automatic resetting device designed to

protect circuits in homes and commercial

properties by automatically restarting the

power supply after an electrical fault.

Checking that there is no permanent fault

before closing the electrical circuit safely, the

device instinctively re-establishes the power

supply to avoid the unwanted consequences

of permanently losing power to equipment

or a building. When a permanent fault is

detected, the device sets off both a visual

and audio alarm. It is compatible with

RCDs, 2P — 2 modules; RCBOs, 2P — 2

modules; RCBOs, 2P — 4 modules; and

MCBs, 2P <63 A — 2 modules.

tWo-CHAnnEL CABLE ProtECtorsThe durable moulded-rubber Two-Channel Cable Protector is designed

for the temporary protection of assets from damage and pedestrians

from tripping hazards. The bodies are manufactured from a combination

of new and recycled rubber, while the hinged lids are tough, flexible

rubber/plastic composite in hi-vis safety yellow. It is 1000 mm long x

250 mm wide x 50 mm high and weighs 7.25 kg/m. The two channels

have internal dimensions of 30 x 30 mm.

EArtH LEAkAGE DEVICEsNHP complements its mining application

offering with a range of earth leakage

mining relays, purposefully designed to

adhere to the stringent requirements of

AS/NZS 2081.3:2002. This mining-specific

standard covers earth leakage devices for

coal and shale mines, which further sets this

versatile product apart from other market

models. The device’s comprehensive list

of features includes latching trip-contact,

failsafe positive security (as standard) and

the ability to test the integrity of the complete

circuit as well as the operating relay.

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LIGHtWEIGHt WIPEsWYPALL x80 Wipers are purpose-designed

wipers that weigh five times less than

standard rags and take up less space,

which means less waste and lower costs.

Research shows that 27% less space

is occupied by WYPALL x80 Wipers in

landfill compared to waste rags. This helps

minimise the financial and environmental

costs associated with transportation and

disposal of rags into landfill.

*productcutAvailable from & recommended by Auslec. Use the locator at www.auslec.com.au to find your nearest branch.

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ProtECtIVE WorkWEArHuski Workwear has developed Flashtex, its

new-generation fully washable, waterproof,

flame-retardant, antistatic fabric. Designing

garments which set new standards in

protective wear for industries using live

power, or anywhere arc-flash protection

is a key consideration, the company has

made improvements with this latest release

for workers in the electrical utilities, gas,

petrochemical and mining industries, and

outdoors. Fully compliant with industrial

safety standards, the workwear (Blaze

Jacket, Item 918156, Flame Pants Item

918157) incorporates high day-night visibility

and features important factors for worker

heat and stress reduction: breathability,

seam-sealing, multiple functional pockets.

DoWnLIGHtsWhen it comes to lighting, low-voltage

downl ights can create comfort and

ambience. Clipsal’s new 35 W high-

efficiency IRC halogen lamps are designed

as a replacement downlight for 50 W lamps

that are generally considered less efficient.

Saving end users money by reducing

energy consumption by up to 30% without

compromising light levels, the lamps provide

the same lighting output as regular, higher

energy using 50 W halogen lamps.

PLIErsThe Tongue & Groove pliers have a jaw that adjusts open with the push

of a button and features a ratchet mechanism that enables rapid slide

adjustment to suit the work piece. These features enable fast jaw sizing

to suit a variety of jobs. The pliers are available with an all-purpose jaw

(for gripping round, hex and square work pieces) or a straight jaw (for

griping flat, hex and square work pieces) and come in 200, 250, 300,

400 and 500 mm sizes, as well as a 2-piece (200 and 250 mm) set.

LoAD-BrEAk sWItCHThe NHP Socomec load-break switch,

SIRCO M, is suitable for a wide range

of applications such as heating and

air-conditioning isolation, mains power

changeover switching and general isolation.

The switch is available in 16 to 125 A

configurations, AC23 rated as standard,

with front or side operation up to 125 A.

The product features a direct or external

operation handle, DIN profile, pad lockability,

manual changeover options using clip-on

accessories and 4-, 6- and 8-pole options

using clip-on accessories.

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GOOD, GrEAt —

Everybody wants to work for a great company and be

proud of telling others who they work for. Likewise,

every employer would like to think they have the

credentials to attract and keep good personnel.

While everybody’s idea of a dream job varies, there

are some fundamental issues that are common to all

great workplaces.

WHAT’S THE DIffErEnCE?Search for ‘best employer’ or ‘great

workplaces’ on Google and you’ll find

dozens of websites listing globally iconic

organisations and words to describe good

companies to work for, like ‘culture’,

‘respect’, ‘credibility’, ‘employee benefits’

and ‘work environment’.

In considering this universal topic, Au-

slec Solutions looked inside Auslec and

explored how it rated as an employer.

Auslec is the Industrial business unit

of the L&H Group, which is owned by

Sonepar, the world’s leading electrical

distribution wholesaler.

We spent several hours with L&H Group

HR Manager Simone Desmond and Auslec

National Sales Manager John Collyer to

get some insight into the company and

its people-values.

Simone has been in HR with L&H Group

for many years and seen it with various

corporate owners including Pacific Dunlop,

Hagemeyer and Sonepar.

“We’re essentially a sales and service

organisation,” states Simone. “And we

recognise that people are integral to selling

and service. L&H Group has been suc-

cessful for well over 125 years because

it recognised long ago that people buy

from people. We’ve developed a ‘culture

of people’ — get that right and I think

business success comes along with it.”

John joined Auslec earlier this year, so

he helps us see this ‘culture of people’

from first impressions and from an all-

important external perspective.

“Part of the reason I joined L&H was

because of its organisational culture and

values,” John remarks. “I‘ve known the

organisation for many years and seen the

‘our people make the difference’ slogan on

their business cards. That’s a big claim but

ultimately it must mean something tangible

to the market — a good reputation isn’t

just essential to securing customers; it’s

equally important in securing and retaining

good employees.

“I do believe L&H Group’s claim of

difference is genuinely manifest to the

market through its people. This isn’t just

a ‘corporate mantra’ — they really do

‘walk the talk’. L&H Group is more about

people than process. Sure, there are

excellent business processes in place —

another reason for its success — but the

executive management team understands

that people contribute substantially to its

success and they focus on attracting and

retaining the best people in all facets of

the business.”

Simone offers support to the ‘culture

of people’ focus by pointing out some

very long-term tenures within L&H Group.

“We’ve got a couple of guys with close

to 50 years of service in Auslec; and

plenty of people with 20+ and 30+ years

of service. People don’t spend their entire

working life at one company unless they’re

really happy there, and these and other

L&H Group employees really do feel at

home here. Importantly, what they do for

the company is highly valued, so that

makes them want to give more. It’s a

real win-win situation.

“When we recruit new employees, we

always look to employ people with the

right attitude to match our culture. Whilst

some people might have the skills and

knowledge to do the job, we recognise

that the right attitude is paramount to

success. Before joining Auslec, John spent

30 years in senior management roles in

MRO, safety and electrical distribution

businesses, so he has in-depth knowledge

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I do believe L&H

G r o u p ’ s c l a i m

of d i fference is

genuinely manifest

to the market through

its people.

”

“

23

of what it takes to service markets and

the calibre of people required to do it well.

“It’s my personal belief that the culture

within a business largely determines its

degree of success, providing a source of

competitive advantage that is hard to copy

by competitors.” He continues, “This is

particularly important in markets like ours

— so regulated and mature that there’s

frequently little difference in product, pricing

or geographical coverage to differentiate

the brands. Often it comes down to the

cultural framework and people in the busi-

nesses making the difference.

“Businesses prefer to deal with like-

minded businesses, especially those with

strong ethical values. It’s not just about

negotiating price. Both parties must work

towards mutually beneficial outcomes. We

want customers who look for value, and

when they experience doing business with

us, they realise that we ‘walk the talk’

when it comes to service. Relationships are

paramount to this business and we want

staff with the same regard for relationships.

“I explored several career opportunities

before deciding to come to Auslec, but I

felt that L&H Group’s values aligned best

with my own. Part of the attraction was

the fact that the L&H Group executive

team was in the process of renewal, to

ensure the company is refreshed to deal

with future ‘global megatrends’. There is

an entrepreneurial buzz in the business

and the excitement of heading into new

markets and developing new service of-

ferings excited me. In this environment,

I can nurture and share my values with

like-minded colleagues.

“In my first Auslec sales meeting, we

discussed the company’s strategic vision

and values and our part in delivering it.

We didn’t review the past; we looked to

the future instead. We addressed the com-

pany’s brand as a ‘vehicle to market’; and

I stressed that the brand is communicated

to the market primarily through its people.

“The bottom line is: ‘we (the employees)

are the brand’, and I want to reinforce that

we all have a specific job to do to maintain

our brand of service. Everyone from the

branch sales staff, storeman, executive

manager, accounts receivables and payables

and everyone in between is involved in that

service process and, if the system breaks

down in any one of those links, then the

customer experience of service fails. We are

all links in that service chain and we’re all

equally accountable in delivering our part of

the customer’s service experience. I want to

continue promotion of the ‘L&H way’ — to

represent ourselves to customers, industry

and the community at large.”

Simone adds that this ‘people culture’

is synergistic with the parent company in

France: “Sonepar is a family-owned com-

pany and has genuine commitment to its

people. Auslec provides an extensive range

of employee benefits to assist our employ-

ees at all stages of their working lives. For

example, some of our benefits include a Fit-

ness to Live program to increase employee

health and wellbeing, financial planning

to assist staff in achieving their personal

financial goals and an employee assistance

program to assist staff and direct family

members in times of difficulty. All of these

services support our team to be the best

they can be.” John succinctly summarises

what he considers to be L&H Group’s value

proposition to all stakeholders: “We want

to be our customers’ supplier-of-choice,

our suppliers’ customer-of-choice and our

employees’ employer-of-choice.”

John Collyer — National Sales Manager

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Bunbury is situated south of Perth in

the heart of the Geographe Region of

Western Australia which extends from

Harvey to Busselton and inland to Don-

nybrook. The port city of Bunbury is

around 140 km south of Perth and is

reported to be the third-largest city in

the state. Renowned for the wild but

friendly bottlenose dolphins that live in

Koombana Bay, the region also has a

strong reputation for the production

of fine wine. Chardonnay, semillon,

shiraz, merlot and cabernet sauvignon

are the most widely planted varieties.

Not only is this region famous for

its award-winning reds and whites, it’s

also home to the award-winning Auslec

Bunbury Branch Manager, Brett

Chapman. Brett holds the honour

of being the inaugural winner of

L&H Group’s Branch Manager of

the Year 2010 award and the

entire branch is exceptionally

proud of this achievement (read

more about Brett’s accomplish-

ments in Out & About on page

4 of this issue).

From Coll ie to Capel and

north to Mandurah, the Auslec

Bunbury branch is geographi-

cally well positioned to service

this area of Western Australia.

With a strong contractor, installer

and industrial customer base,

Brett and his nine staff with a

collective 40 years of experi-

ence certainly know how to look

after their customers well. This

customer service focus really

comes in handy when some

‘out of the ordinary’ product

inquiries are made.

“From breathalysers to marquees

and internal blinds, we need to be

flexible in acquiring items for our

customers and purchase anything to

meet [a] client’s request,” says Brett.

In conjunction with manufacturers

and suppliers, the branch also pro-

vides inhouse promotions and training

sessions for customers. These training

sessions are a great way for branch

staff and customers to keep up to

date with the latest technologies and

product developments. Brett explains

that, along with the usual electrical and

industrial products, the branch also

has a dedicated safety and personal

protection equipment (PPE) section.

With a high volume of safety and

PPE sales and contracts, the branch,

with its two warehouses, also provides

a walk-in service for some clients.

“We also organise client visits to our

premises,” says Brett. “One major

customer sends his employees to be

fitted and supplied with a standard

pack of PPE and clothing.”

With a manager’s ‘never say no’ at-

titude and the branch’s single-minded

approach to customer service, it’s no

surprise that Brett Chapman, Auslec

Bunbury and their customers are all

winners.

Auslec Bunbury, Western AustraliaBranch Manager — Brett ChapmanBranch/warehouse floor space — 1050 m2

Number of staff — 9

P: (08) 9791 2944E: ausbunbury@auslec.com.auA: Unit 2/17 Denning Road, Bunbury, WA 6236

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LADDEr stABILIsErsThe Capital Safety Rojak ladder stability

range converts step ladders into safe

ladder systems, making them suitable for

numerous industries and applications. The

Stopper antislip ladder stabiliser consists of

an aluminium ‘T-piece’ with a vulcanised-

rubber covering, preventing ladders from

flipping and stiles from rotating. Extender

fits to the bottom of ladders as a stabiliser,

allowing it to be levelled on hills and slopes.

Spyder is a top-ladder stabiliser that can be

fitted securely to any industrial ladder with

its clamping system. It offers safe, stabilised

contact/access to flat and pitched roof

surfaces, stable contact when working

on inward and outward

facing corners, safe

working at arm’s length

that reduces the risk

of falling backwards

and prevents contact

with fragile surfaces

and gutters.

HAnDHELD rf MEtErThe Matchmaster 12MM-H45Compact handheld RF meter with

dual screen is fully compatible with all DVB formats (DVB-T,

DVB-C, DVB-S and DVB-S2). The instrument works as a

universal band analyser which scans and measures any signal

in spectrum within the 5 to 2500 MHz range. It has a large

margin to analyse low background-noise interference, while

the zoom spectrum feature allows simultaneous analysis of the

impact of adjacent channels or to narrow the span.

WEAtHErProof EnCLosurEsHPM Legrand has released the Plexo³ range

of weatherproof enclosures to help protect

equipment from wet or humid weather and

harsh sunlight, making them suitable for

wet or damp spaces such as photovoltaic

systems and pool areas. With a reversible

door, wiring can be run from either the

top or bottom, reducing the constricted

space and providing installers with a more

comfortable working area. Features include

a removable chassis and faceplates from

2-row models and up, pre-fitted ISO cable

membrane glands that are IP65 compliant

and IP2x Earth and Neutral terminal blocks

that can be repositioned either at the top

or bottom of the box.

BEArInG PuLLErThe Tridon 246300 Split collet slide hammer

is an internal bearing puller that is designed

for use in situations where access to bearings

exists, but in the centre of the bearing. The

device features an expanding split collet

that tightens to grip on the underside of

a bearing. It is supplied in a convenient

carry case, complete with eight sizes of

collets to suit a wide range of applications.

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*productcutAvailable from & recommended by Auslec. Use the locator at www.auslec.com.au to find your nearest branch.

sAfEty sPECtACLEsThe uvex racer SPs are cost-effective industrial

safety spectacles. With optimal coverage and a

modern design, the spectacles are lightweight

and robust. Features include a wraparound,

optical class 1, polycarbonate lens for high

peripheral vision, and AS/NZS 1337 medium

impact approval. The uvex coating systems

of the lens means that the spectacles can be

used in many activities and environments, while

the soft, flexible nosepiece provides comfort.

They are available in HC3000 antiscratch and

THS antifog lens coatings.

LEVEL sEnsorThe ifm efector LMT level sensor reliably provides full or empty

signals of tanks and ensures dry-run protection of pumps,

while ignoring foam and build-up. Its compact sensor tip allows

integration even in small DN25 pipes. The sensor features

factory settings for different media types, negating adjustment.

The hygienic-point level sensor features maintenance-free

sealing and stainless steel housing. Its orientation-independent

installation means it is easy to mount. The food-grade sensor

with its high-quality housing materials, such as high-grade

stainless steel (316L/1.4404) and PEEK, meets all requirements

for hygienic areas. A laser-type label provides durable legibility.

With the highest protection rating IP68/IP69K, the sensor is

suitable for CIP washdown environments.

HACksAW BLADEsThe Starrett unique bimetal hand hacksaw blades comprise two

strips of high-speed steel wire joined to the backing material in

a solid phase. Traditional bimetal blades feature one high-speed

wire electron beam welded to the backing material, whereas the

unique blades feature two high-speed wires joined laterally to the

backing steel, providing 170% more weld contact area. After initial

use, the soft backing material in the centre of the blade will wear

away forming a groove which acts as a natural chip breaker and

provides the blade with multiple cutting edges. The product offers

approximately 35% longer blade life, with a lower cost ‘per cut’ with

smoother and faster cutting.

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jACkEt AnD VEst CoMBInAtIonThe DNC ‘6-in-1’ jacket and vest combination provides rain

protection, warmth and versatility. The jacket has a 200D Poly/

PVC, seam-sealed, waterproof outer shell, mesh lining and a hidden

zip access to combine with a detachable vest. The reversible

vest also has a 200D Poly/PVC, seam-sealed, waterproof outer

shell but the reverse side is polar fleece, as are the removable

sleeves, providing warmth during those cold winter days. The

heavy-duty jacket comes in a number of colour and reflective

tape combinations and sizes are available in S to 6xL.

MotIon sEnsor rAnGEClipsal’s 754 Series Outdoor Infrascan range is an exciting

addition to the Infrascan family, offering a brand new look

that is not only unique, but also oozes style and quality.

Each motion sensor unit comes complete with integrated

lamps and is available in spotlight, twinspot or floodlight

configurations. In addition, the range is packed with an

impressive array of features including IP44 weatherproof

rating, 12 m detection range, integral override facility, courtesy

light/dimmer facility, built-in sunset switching function and

adjustable beam focus.

LACE-uP HIkEr BootsThe Beaver Dingo lace-up hiker boots, from Mack, are fully

lined workboots that feature a padded collar and tongue,

a nitrile rubber outsole that is resistant to 300°C heat, a

lightweight mid-sole and ‘airport-friendly’ composite toecap.

The boots are constructed from water-resistant uppers and a

shock-absorbing polyurethane foot-bed, complete with a gel

insert heel cushioning zone and in-built arch stabiliser for all-

day comfort. The boots are available in sizes 6-13 including

half-sizes 7.5-10.5 and black and ‘rocky brown’ colours.

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LIGHtnInG ProtECtIon — ON THE MOVE

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We received many comments from Auslec Solutions readers about the helpful

information contained in the lightning protection article featured in our last

issue. Along with those comments, we also received some feedback pointing

out that we only covered fixed lightning protection. In fact, one reader pointed

out that anyone involved in mining is just as interested in mobile lightning

protection as he is in fixed lightning protection.

In response to comments about fixed light-

ning protection, we decided to revisit the

topic of lightning protection and conduct

more research that would help us address

the topic of mobile lightning protection.

The first things we discovered were

the bleeding obvious — many mining and

heavy industrial sites are typically in the

middle of nowhere and often in high storm-

activity areas. The next thing we realised

is that when you are out in the middle

of nowhere, shelter from a storm is often

hard to find and it’s a long way to go to

escape storms when they threaten. Finally,

while fixed lightning protection might protect

you in a building, it’s pretty useless when

you are in a vehicle or out in the open.

After those discoveries, it became very

apparent that we needed to start from

scratch with regards to mobile or remote

lightning protection.

Thankfully, we came across storm ex-

pert Brett Vilnis, Director of environmental

monitoring specialist company Boztek

Solutions. Brett has been involved in

environmental monitoring and warning

systems for around 20 years and has

provided personnel and asset solutions to

mining and other industries for many years.

“If you hear thunder, forget about count-

ing to see how far away the lightning

is,” he warns. “It’s already too late! You

are already in range of a lightning strike.

“Lightning has often been measured as

striking 10 to 16 km away from the lead-

ing edge of a storm. Reports out of the

uS have shown that 30% of people who

are struck by lightning are struck when

they are under blue skies, well before the

storm actually arrives, and a significant

number are struck under blue skies after

the storms have passed.”

According to the report ‘Lightning

Injury Facts’, each year in the uS, up to

150 people are reported as being killed

by lightning and significantly more are

injured. But it also suggests that, due

to inaccuracies in the medical reporting

process of lightning-related incidents,

it’s estimated that the actual number of

lightning-related deaths and injuries may

be as high as 5000 per year.

So, how can workers who are out in the

open be protected against the dangers of

lightning when a storm approaches them?

According to Brett, being forewarned is

the best protection: “Most thunderstorms

will produce the highest number of lightning

strikes at the leading and trailing edges

of the storm cell. Very often, the strokes

produced at the leading edge of the storm

are thrown forward into areas that might

not even be under cloud cover. This is

the reason that up to 70% of all people

injured or killed by lightning are struck

with blue sky overhead.

“Waiting to see or hear the first stroke

of lightning means that you’ve been at

risk of a direct lightning strike for 30

minutes or more already. Waiting for 15

to 30 minutes after you think a storm has

passed doesn’t mean you’re safe from

being hit by a lightning strike.

“The best way to be warned of an

imminent storm is to monitor electrical

radiation in the area. Lightning gives off

immense amounts of electromagnetic

radiation that can be reliably detected

with the right kind of instruments. When

it strikes, a huge amount of electrical

current, typically several thousand amps,

flows through the stroke into whatever it

hits on the ground. Lightning detectors,

like our ThunderBolt range, have high-

sensitivity receivers in them that detect

specific frequencies in the electromagnetic

noise produced by these huge flows of

electric current. A built-in microproces-

sor then analyses the signals received

and determines the distance, along with

other important information about the

storm activity. Because the radiation from

lightning is so strong, these detectors

can pick up their radiation from many

kilometres away.

“Our ThunderBolt range is designed to

detect and track all thunderstorm activity

within 120 km of the user’s location. Storms

producing the most lightning activity will

provide the most accurate information

to detect and analyse. Certain types of

very low-level storms, or storms in the

earliest phases of their development, will

take longer to be detected and ranged.

“Our instrument has a ‘Storm is Local’

alert in it, which means that electrical

activity has been detected within, say, 13

km of it. The 13 km warning boundary is

based on the length of the typical lightning

stroke of around 10 to 17 km and the

normal pattern of lightning activity within

a storm cell. The detector is designed to

warn users when the danger of lightning

is imminent, not when it’s there on top

of people, even though they may not

perceive that a threat is imminent because

the skies look clear or unthreatening in

their immediate vicinity.

“Some lightning strikes have been meas-

ured travelling 25 km in a few milliseconds

— much faster than a human can react

to it. Some detectors have selectable

warning distances and users of these

devices should take into consideration

their personal circumstances when setting

their alert distances to ensure they have

sufficient warning wherever they are and

in whatever they are doing to pack up

and leave safely when the alert goes off.

“As the storm is tracked, the displayed

range, speed and ETA are displayed on a

rotating series of text-message screens.

The displayed information is updated as

often as new data is accumulated by the

detector about the storm and its activity.”

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This 13 km alerting distance is important

because, as we stated earlier in this article,

lightning can extend far beyond the front

and back edges of a storm. The time to

get out of the area or to seek shelter is

right then.

It should also be understood that not all

thunderstorms present the risk of injury from

lightning strikes. Lightning in thunderstorms

is normally classified as either cloud-to-cloud

or cloud-to-ground. The latter is the type

to be concerned with, for obvious reasons.

Brett points out that it’s important for a

lightning detector to be able to differentiate

between these two types: “While protecting

workers from any possible danger from a

lightning strike is paramount, the last thing

you want is a work crew in a remote loca-

tion stopping work due to false alarms. By

false alarms, I mean cloud-to-cloud lightning

being detected that poses no threat to the

personnel. You should always choose a

detector that can analyse and differentiate

between these two types and only alert

workers to the dangerous cloud-to-ground

type. It’s also useful in advising workers

when it’s safe to go back to work once the

storm has passed and the threat of injury

from lightning strike is gone. This makes the

workers far more productive, by minimising

the time lost through avoiding the storm.”

Detectors are highly sensitive electronic

instruments and are optimised to sense

minute levels of electromagnetic radiation

from lightning. As such, they must be

handled properly. The ThunderBolt, for

example, is designed to operate either

vertically (hand held or in a wall mount)

or lying flat on a horizontal surface. It will

not perform properly if oriented on its side.

This puts the internal antenna in the wrong

orientation for signal reception.

The detectors can also be affected by

metallic objects shielding the signal and

reducing their sensitivity. While most detec-

tors are designed to work properly inside

buildings, certain types of buildings with

metal walls and roofs might cause a loss of

sensitivity in normal storm detection. Brett

cites a general rule of thumb that his instru-

ment will operate normally in any building

that allows reception of normal radio signals.

He adds that his detectors are also de-

signed to work near or in cars, but there are

some precautions: “Certain types of internal

combustion engines produce electromag-

netic noise across the operating frequency

of the detector. If the unit detects a noise

level high enough to interfere with normal

storm detection, its internal diagnostics

determine that the instrument’s sensitivity

to lightning strikes has been compromised

and will display a ‘high local noise’ warn-

ing and instruct the user to either move

the unit to a different location away from

the motor or switch the motor off to stop

the interference.

“The ThunderBolt also contains software

routines for detecting and minimising false

triggering from non-storm sources. These

routines trigger warning messages if the

level of this background noise is too high

for normal storm detection and ranging.

A background noise sampling routine can

be run at any time from the main menu.”

Expanding on its conventional lightning

detection services, Brett’s company Boztek

has recently been working with Darwin

airport to help alert aircraft refuellers to

lightning strikes. These workers face the

double dilemma of working with highly

volatile fuels in an area with the high-

est incidence of thunderstorm activity in

Australia. Since there’s no intrinsically safe

(IS) lightning detector on the market, the

Boztek technicians set up a ThunderBolt

detector in the chassis of the vehicle and

wired the outputs to the vehicle’s existing

IS strobe and siren, so they can be safely

warned of any imminent lightning dangers,

even on the airport runway.

For more information go to

www.spectrumthunderbolt.com.au/auslec

If you hear thunder,

forget about counting

to see how far away the

lightning is. It is already

too late! you are already

in range of a lightning

strike.

”

“

*productcutAvailable from & recommended by Auslec. Use the locator at www.auslec.com.au to find your nearest branch.

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PoWEr ConsuMPtIon MEtErThe IPD Industrial Products Orbis compact,

single-phase, DIN rail-mountable kilowatt

hour meters are available in single-pole

25 A and 2-pole 65 A current ratings,

with precision Class 1 accuracy and type

S0 interface for connection to energy

management systems. The meter measures

and registers electrical power consumption.

They are designed to help make genuine

energy savings and check for a given period

that the installation has operated normally.

The energy consumption is read directly in

kWh on 5 digits + 1 decimal digit.

40-PIECE soCkEt sEtWattmaster’s new uninsulated and insulated range of socket

sets with 1000 V IEC certification are great for working

on and around any electrical installation and should be

included in any serious electrician’s toolkit. The 40-piece

uninsulated socket set is made from high-quality chrome

vanadium steel and comes packed in a sturdy steel case.

Each socket is stamped for easy identification and includes

both imperial sockets, up to and including 1 inch, and

metric sockets up to and including 32 mm.

HI-VIs softsHELL jACkEt The DNC 300 gsm ‘3-in-1’ Soft-Shell Knit

is the latest innovation in hi-vis jacket

wear. Featuring a polyester-jersey shell

bonded with a shower-proof membrane

and micropolar-fleece lining, not only are

these garments wind and rain proof but

they also come in high-visibility yellow/navy

and orange/navy. There is a ½ Zip Jacket

(3996) with stylish vertical zip chest pocket,

side pockets, reflective piping and adjustable

rubber cuffs. The Full Zip Jacket (3997)

has the same features but also 3M8906

Reflective tape for day/night wear, 2-way

zip front closure and a zip-off hood. Sizes

are available in S to 5xL.

ELECtrICAL AnD InstruMEntAL IntEGrAtED soLutIonsRittal and Phoenix Contact provide a

complementary range of products for

electrical and instrumentation applications

for the diverse world of Austral ian

manufacturing. Pictured here, the Rittal

stainless steel junction box is fully installed

with Phoenix Contact surge protection,

monitoring relays and terminals.

*productcutAvailable from & recommended by Auslec. Use the locator at www.auslec.com.au to find your nearest branch.

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MAstEr BEArInG PuLLEr kItThe Tridon 265000 is comprehensive, heavy-duty master

bearing puller kit that is designed to remove bearings from

50 to 200 mm diameter. The device features a choice

of hydraulic or mechanical configurations; 4-, 6- and

8-inch, two or three leg pullers with a spread capacity

of 50 to 200 mm; a bearing separator capacity of 75 to

150 mm and a 10-tonne hydraulic ram — all supplied in

a convenient carry case. A ram repair kit (part number

265001) is available as an option.

soLAr DC IsoLAtorsThe IPD Industrial Products ZFV32 DC isolator is a

purpose-built DC switch designed for the disconnection

of photovoltaic arrays. With its high operating voltage,

1000 VDC, it is aimed at switching transformer-less

inverters. The isolator uses knife contacts to provide

fast switching, which is critical in extinguishing the

arcs generated by opening DC circuits. The product

is DIN rail mountable, non-polarised and with its DIN

profile and padlockable handle will fit into most outdoor

enclosure systems.

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ContACtor rAnGEThe NHP Sprecher + Schuh CA7-97

range of contactors offers auxiliary

and accessory compatibility with the

existing CA7 range and 140 different

combinat ions of devices to suit

applications. The product is 72 mm

wide, which is the same width as the

CA7-60 to 85A, resulting in savings on

panel real estate. The product can also

be incorporated into a two- or three-

combination starter in the advanced

control system and, when combined

with the existing models within the CA7

range, a complete contactor package

can be provided.

rEsPIrAtor kItsThe Profile Readypak respirator kits include a resealable plastic storage container

with the profile half-face respirator in medium, and a pair of pro filters. These are

available with either particulate P2, spray painting A2P2 or chemical A1B1E1K1P2

filters. The product offers ‘ready-to-go’ protection for use in a variety of industries

including smelters, automotive, fibreglass, spray-painting, agricultural and chemical.

The product is easy to clean, inspect and maintain and features a soft, skin-friendly

TPE facepiece, swept-back filters, safety-guarded central grill, pre-filter cover and

is packed in a resealable plastic storage container.

HoLE-sAW kItsDesigned for use by the electrical industry,

Starrett Bi-Metal hole-saw kits are durable

and shatter-resistant, and can cut into metal,

stainless steel, wood and plastic. Dual Pitch

hole-saws are the latest development in

multiuse bimetal hole-saws and feature a

smooth cutting action with the aggressive

metal penetration and swarf clearance. It

will cut equally well on thin and thicker

gauge materials.

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Natural gas exploration and production is

a burgeoning industry which is set to pro-

vide significant growth opportunities in the

future. The Next Generation Gas Australia

Summit, which was recently held on the

Gold Coast, Queensland, focused on the

remarkable growth in both domestic and

export markets of gas resources and the

development of unconventional gas such

as coal seam gas (CSG).

Sometimes called coal bed methane, CSG

is basically methane gas stored within coal

seams which requires innovative technologi-

cal solutions for extraction. As an end-use

product, CSG is the same as natural gas

and can be used in all natural gas appli-

ances and commercial applications. What

makes this type of gas particularly attractive

is that it is claimed to be a cleaner option

in terms of greenhouse gas emissions.

L&H Group attended the NG Gas Aus-

tralia Summit and managed to ‘speed

date’ some of the major players in the

gas industry. Manager of the National

Industrial Projects unit of L&H Group Mike

Bennett said the conference provided a

great opportunity to showcase the breadth

and depth of the company’s Total Supply

Solutions. He and his colleague Jorge

Gonzales had appointments with over

35 key executives from the gas industry

in the so-called ‘speed dating’ sessions

organised at the three-day conference.

“We created great interest with com-

panies of varying sizes with our unique

product offerings,” says Mike. Some of

these product offerings that are of particular

interest to the gas industry include: con-

tainerised temporary power switchboards,

containerised project access turnstiles and

containerised project ice supply facility.

One drawback with an unconventional

gas such as CSG has been the difficulty

in acquiring government approval, but

some projects are now currently underway

in Australia. “Certainly, I think there is a

secured significant growth opportunity

for CSG with one project in Gladstone

already commenced and another two of

three with imminent sign-off,” Mike says.

“With growing interest in Asia, I have no

doubt the size of the opportunity is just

going to increase.

“The summit provided us with a great

opportunity to not only learn more about

this industry but also interact with the major

players.” Mike and his team have already

been closely involved with gas projects in

Darwin, Port Campbell and Bass Strait, as

well as other projects throughout Australia

and Papua New Guinea. This experience

has resulted in the recent addition of new

unique product offerings to the portfolio

for these major project customers.

“Throughout the summit we were able

to share details on how we work together

with major asset owners in the gas industry

for mutual benefit,” says Mike.

“Our Total Supply Solution approach

was seen as adding value in areas that

were not previously considered within the

scope of an electrical distributor.”

The company’s broad product offering

was particularly attractive to a mixture of

both larger and smaller players within the

industry who attended the summit.

“Interacting with asset owners in the

natural gas industry, we could show them

how we can be involved from start of the

project all the way through to operational

support,” says Mike. “When they are ready

to rock’n’roll with running the plant, we

will be all geared up with the knowledge

and supply of products and we will make

sure there are no hiccups in terms of spare

parts in order to make running the plant

as seamless and efficient as possible.”

From set-up, construction, commission-

ing and then to operational maintenance,

L&H Group can supply all the materials

and supply services needed for the gas

industry. This includes: early project in-

frastructure equipment, plant construction

materials, commissioning instruments,

operational maintenance supplies, near-to-

site or on-site support, as well as project

services to help get workers going on the

job. All the way from estimates support

for FEED (front end engineering design),

systems and processes to managing sup-

ply of construction and plant materials,

and assistance at project close-out, L&H

Group delivers value. This Total Supply

Solution was of significant interest to

conference delegates.

*IT’S A gAS with total supply solutions

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*IT’S A gAS

Your World.Our Solutions.

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BRANCH NAME ADDRESS SUBURB STATE POSTCODE PHONE NO.AUSLEC NEWCASTLE 3 REVELATION CLOSE TIGHES HILL NSW 2297 (02) 4961 2022AUSLEC ORANGE UNIT 1&3, 16 ASH STREET ORANGE NSW 2800 (02) 6362 4944AUSLEC PARKES 24-26 DALTON STREET PARKES NSW 2870 (02) 6862 6100AUSLEC WETHERILL PARK UNIT 1, 468-470 VICTORIA STREET WETHERILL PARK NSW 2164 (02) 9604 7811AUSLEC WOLLONGONG 185 BERKELEY ROAD UNANDERRA NSW 2526 (02) 4271 2214AUSLEC BALLARAT UNIT 4, 5 CARAVAN STREET WENDOUREE VIC 3355 (03) 5339 9022AUSLEC CAMPBELLFIELD 366 BARRY ROAD BROADMEADOWS VIC 3047 (03) 9357 7933AUSLEC DOVETON UNIT 3, 37 PRINCES HIGHWAY DOVETON VIC 3177 (03) 9791 7600AUSLEC GEELONG 304 THOMPSONS RD NORTH GEELONG VIC 3215 (03) 5278 1822AUSLEC SUNSHINE WEST UNIT 11-12, 180-198 FAIRBAIRN ROAD SUNSHINE WEST VIC 3020 (03) 9315 1018AUSLEC BURNIE 20 WELLINGTON STREET BURNIE SOUTH TAS 7320 (03) 6431 4366AUSLEC HOBART 6 LAMPTON AVENUE DERWENT PARK TAS 7009 (03) 6272 7244AUSLEC GEEBUNG 410 NEWMAN ROAD GEEBUNG QLD 4034 (07) 3265 4102AUSLEC GLADSTONE 63 LORD STREET GLADSTONE QLD 4680 (07) 4972 3133AUSLEC SALISBURY UNITS 2 & 3,241 EVANS ROAD SALISBURY QLD 4107 (07) 3272 7355AUSLEC DARWIN 7 ALBATROSS STREET WINNELLIE NT 0820 (08) 8984 4077AUSLEC GOVE 96 JOHN FLYNN DRIVE NHULUNBUY NT 0880 (08) 8987 8011AUSLEC ROXBY DOWNS 16 GOSSE STREET ROXBY DOWNS SA 5725 (08) 8671 3111AUSLEC WHYALLA 8 COOK STREET WHYALLA NORRIE SA 5608 (08) 8645 9177AUSLEC WINGFIELD 203 CORMACK ROAD WINGFIELD SA 5013 (08) 8359 5744AUSLEC BOULDER 172 BOULDER ROAD BOULDER WA 6432 (08) 9021 3877AUSLEC BROOME UNIT 1, 15 BLACKMAN STREET BROOME WA 6725 (08) 9192 5599AUSLEC BUNBURY UNIT 2, 17 DENNING ROAD BUNBURY WA 6230 (08) 9791 2944AUSLEC CANNINGVALE 211 BANNISTER ROAD CANNINGVALE WA 6155 (08) 9455 1344AUSLEC GERALDTON 270 PLACE ROAD GERALDTON WA 6530 (08) 9921 2444AUSLEC JOONDALUP UNIT 1, 43 WINTON ROAD JOONDALUP WA 6027 (08) 9301 2978AUSLEC KARRATHA LOT 1415 CRANE CIRCLE KARRATHA WA 6714 (08) 9185 1922AUSLEC PORT HEDLAND LOT 1421 HARDIES STREET PORT HEDLAND WA 6721 (08) 9173 3288AUSLEC WELSHPOOL 28 COLIN JAMIESON DRIVE WELSHPOOL WA 6106 (08) 9451 3433

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