The Construction Source Australia

Welcome to the latest issue of Construction Source Australia, the magazine that highlights the best in building and building products across the country. For this edition, we have shown our spotlight on Trescon, an industryleading builder of commercial, industrial, and multi-residential projects in New South Wales. From their home base in Rosebery, they have built a reputation for delivering projects on time, within budget, and to the highest standards. We spoke to several of their leaders about that reputation, including Michael Kounellis, founder and commercial director and David Luxton, business development director. We also talked about some of their recent outstanding projects, including Redan Lane, an apartment project in Mosman where one unit has already broken a sales record for the municipality. Also in this issue is Extend a Home, another New South Wales leader, in their case in the design and construction of high-quality ground and first floor residential extensions. Based in Sydney, they are a company renowned for their ‘Smooth Sailing Guarantee’ – wherein they basically guarantee their clients that “their project will be smooth sailing from start to finish,” according to Tony O’Neill, director. If that doesn’t happen, clients receive a $1,000 gift card to use for something like a relaxing weekend. Tony says they’ve only had to provide that gift card once since offering the guarantee. Looking beyond New South Wales, and at another facet of the construction industry, this edition also features Another Level Patching, a concrete patching and restoration company that provides top-quality solutions for the mining, civil, and high-rise construction industries. To tell their story, we caught up with founder and director Aaron Larmond – and also with Kristen Askew, the company’s health and safety advisor. Together, they highlighted the company’s comprehensive approach to combating the issue of silicosis. Between the research they do, the top-of-the-line protective fear they provide staff, and the training they provide, they believe they are an industry leader on that issue. They explained to us how they got there. For those stories – and a whole lot more like them, in this edition and future editions – just keep reading. All the best, The Editorial Team We will keep adding business units that enhance our offering and separate us from our competition. “ ” Editor From The Dear Reader,

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The Construction Source Australia With a readership exceeding 136,000 senior executives, The Construction Source Australia takes immense pride in providing an enticing platform to amplify your message to the most pivotal audience – your valued customers. Whether your aim is to promote an exciting new condo development, attract crucial financial investments for upcoming projects, or establish a commanding brand presence, we’re here to assist you every step of the way. To explore opportunities for featuring your company or showcasing your latest project in The Construction Source Australia, please reach out to our Group Publisher. Jermaine Poulsen e:info@theconstructionsource.com.au The Construction Source Australia Suite 11.01, Level 11, 175 Castlereagh Street, Sydney, NSW 2000, Australia info@theconstructionsource.com.au ABN: 42 976 059 923 Executive Publisher Jermaine Poulsen COO Alexandra Box Editor in Chief Zach Janes Director of Operations Scott Carter Jacqueline Van Belois Business Development Managers Rondal Gardner Director of Production Vicki Lee Digital Strategist Pranim Thapa Administration Manager Belyn Quijance-Dorero

APRIL 2024 Industry INNOVATIONS Product of the Month The Kights Scanner TRESCON Brings Collaboration and Transparency to High-Quality Construction Projects EXTEND A HOME Offers ‘Smooth Sailing’ to Clients Looking for Residential Extensions ANOTHER LEVEL PATCHING Provides Exceptional Concrete Patching and Restoration Services HANSSEN Stanidn the test of time REEF COAST CONSTRUCTIONS Builds Custom Homes that Reflect Clients’ Lifestyles IN THIS ISSUE APRIL 2024 TRESCON ANOTHER LEVEL PATCHING EXTEND A HOME

APRIL 2024 Aluminum expected to accelerate worldwide adoption of electric and self-driving vehicles Material takes on an ever-widening role in tomorrow’s vehicles For more than a decade, concerns about fuel efficiency have been encouraging OEMS to replace steel with aluminum on vehicle bodies, doors, trunks, hoods, bumpers, crash boxes, brakes, cables and wheels. With the advent of electric and autonomous vehicles, OEMs worldwide are discovering new uses for aluminum. The need for battery casings and heat exchangers in electric vehicles, combined with autonomous vehicles’ demands for high visibility and structural integrity, is expected to exponentially increase the use of sheet aluminum in tomorrow’s cars, trucks and buses. Supporting the transition to battery-powered vehicles Four major design challenges confront OEMs in their transition to electric vehicles. Extending vehicle range Improving battery and passenger safety Increasing passenger comfort Optimizing cooling systems for lithium-ion batteries The substitution of sheet aluminum for steel helps resolve OEM concerns. Industry INNOVATIONS

The Construction Source Australia The lighter the vehicle, the longer its range. According to Ducker Worldwide, aluminum is expected to contribute more than half of the anticipated vehicle mass reduction demanded by electric vehicles (EVs) to extend range. Ducker reports that in North America alone, aluminum content in EVs will increase to nearly 565 pounds (256 kilgrams) per vehicle by 2028. The larger the vehicle, the heavier the battery and casing required to optimize the EV’s range. It is the larger EVs, i.e., sedans, SUVs, taxis, trucks and buses, that will realize the greatest benefits from a steel-to-aluminum conversion. In the U.S., a vehicle’s gross weight determines which class of commercial driver’s license (CDL) will be required. Without lightweighting, some EVs could demand a higher-class license or additional endorsements due to the added weight of the battery. In older European cities like Brussels or London, some bridges and tunnels only allow vehicles up to 3.5 tons in weight, a target that is very difficult to meet for larger EVs without lightweighting. For heavier material transport EVs such as trucks, weight reduction enables an increased payload, providing a significant monetary benefit. Generally, the larger the vehicle, the higher the payback. Particularly relevant for larger human transport EVs such as buses and taxis, the weight reduction made possible through aluminum provides the added benefit of reduced CO2 emissions and improved air quality, of value not only to vehicle operators, but to the communities they serve. The thermal and anti-corrosion properties of aluminum make it ideal for battery frames. Sea-water resistant, highly formable, highly surfaced aluminum alloys provide the strength necessary to pass side-impact crashworthiness testing, protecting passengers and the battery should impact occur. Casing floor plates made out of aluminum are not only strong, but also capable of resisting corrosion related to weather exposure. These characteristics enable aluminum battery casings to resist weather-related deterioration and impact from road debris, minimizing the risk of related fires and further securing passenger safety. Optimizing battery and human safety Extending range Dispersing heat The batteries used in EVs produce energy while charging and decharging, requiring the use of heat exchangers to dissipate heat. But the types of heat exchangers used in vehicle air conditioning systems are inadequate to meet this new challenge. Aluminum clad brazing (which connects multiple layers of aluminum together to disperse heat) requires heating in a controlled atmosphere (e.g., a vacuum) to achieve optimum joining. Aluminum heat exchangers designed specifically to meet the challenges presented by electric vehicles can use as many as five types of aluminum sandwiched together, with the layers providing gradient properties to optimize cooling. These specialized processes and materials address OEM concerns, ensuring adequate dissipation of the heat generated by battery-powered vehicles. An experienced aluminum processing partner can help OEMs specify the right process and alloys to meet specific vehicle temperature thresholds, ideally working side by side with OEM engineers early in the design process to maximize the performance of electric vehicles. IT IS THE LARGER EVS, I.E, SEDANS, SUVS, TAXIS, TRUCKS AND BUSES, THAT WILL REALIZE THE GREATEST BENEFITS FROM A STEEL -TO-ALUMINUM CONVERSION .

APRIL 2024 The luxury sedan market will likely be the first to transition to self-driving electric vehicles. Passenger comfort and safety, and an expansive view of the surrounding environment, are expected to be top priorities for this market. The hefty B pillars used in conventional vehicles to meet structural requirements for crashworthiness are undesirable in a self-driving scenario. To enable large windows and an unobstructed view without sacrificing passenger safety, lightweight aluminum will be the strong material of choice. Supporting the eventual transition to autonomous vehicles In addition to the design challenges presented by EVs, society’s demand for sustainable solutions will likely continue to be a driver in the transition to aluminum-lightweighted vehicles. A Forschungsgesellschaft Kraftfahrwesen mbH Aachen (fka) study, using a Volkswagen Golf as its reference vehicle, determined that an electric aluminum-based vehicle could meet the same safety standards as its steelbased equivalent, while emitting 1.5 tons less greenhouse gases over its lifecycle, taking into consideration production, a total driving distance of more than 93,000 miles (150,000 kilometers) and eventual recycling. Ongoing environmental concerns Conclusion Aluminum alloys are ideally suited to the design challenges presented by electric and autonomous vehicles. By aligning with aluminum partners deeply experienced in developing processes and alloys to meet demanding performance requirements, transportation vehicle OEMs are accelerating the pace of EV and self-driving vehicle adoption throughout North America. .

The Construction Source Australia

APRIL 2024 Business World Australia

The Construction Source Australia Business Worl d Australia

Brings Collaboration and Transparency to High-Quality Construction Projects

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Trescon is dedicated to delivering high-quality work across a variety of construction sectors from commercial, residential, and industrial to hospitality, health, and education. Based in Rosebery, New South Wales, the company is committed to collaboration and transparency in all of their projects. “One of the common phrases that we’re getting in terms of feedback from our clients on the last four or five projects is our transparency,” states David Luxton, Business Development Director. “I think that’s one of our strengths. Clients are appreciating the fact that we are transparent from the get-go.” This transparency is evident in their budget, documentation, and process. David goes on to explain that a positive customer experience also helps set Trescon apart in the industry. “We’re not always the cheapest. We’re not always the most expensive. But our process, our methodology, the customer experience in general makes the difference. “We’re fortunate to have a very experienced team behind all of those projects and that helps offer that experience. Every step of the way from tender to the programming to construction and handover we’ve taken the time to think about the customer’s experience. “That’s not a one-size fits all approach, but rather a bespoke experience based on the needs of the individual client. They all need different things at different times and it’s important for us to be agile enough to meet those needs day to day. And, even though that process isn’t always perfect, the focus is squarely on improving that process and the by-product of that and it trickles down into improving the individual processes that feed that customer experience so ultimately that improves the business as a whole.” “It’s our passion not to let people down and our passion to build a project as if it’s our own project,” states Michael Kounellis, Commercial Director. “There’s a lot of passion and heart that goes into our projects. THE CONSTRUCTION SOURCE AUSTRALIA

“I suppose our number one priority is not to let the client down and to deliver the highest value project and the highest quality project that we can deliver. Every time that we do a project, we get praises from the clients. That praise is passed through the industry to others,” he says. Trescon is known in the industry and to their clients for completing projects on time and on budget. That track record trickles down to future clients and to the subcontractors they work with on their projects. Michael, along with Nick Rodopoulos, who is also a director of the company, started Trescon in 2017. The two had worked together in another business prior to teaming up to launch their own company. While Trescon is young, the experience of the leadership team is mature. Both Michael and Nick bring 30-plus years of experience each to their work with Trescon. “They are well connected within the construction community, and they’ve been able to win projects that probably wouldn’t be won by a company as young as us had they not had that exposure and that prior experience,” states Yanni Ganas, Marketing Director. “We’re about to kick over to seven years. While we are quite young, we’re really hitting our stride now this year. It’s kind of flagged to be our biggest win year ever and we can project that because of the projects that we’ve won in the last four months are coming to fruition this year and we’ll start construction on a lot of things this year.” The team is especially excited about Redan Lane, a residential project in Mosman, which is setting APRIL 2024

records within the industry. Already, three of these exceptional apartments have sold for $19.5 million each making this the largest amount for an off-project ever in Australian history. Double Bay Sail, headquarters of Ray White Double Bay, is another outstanding project for Trescon. The building will offer premium commercial space and is set to become a defining feature of Double Bay. A unique architectural approach has gone into the design which takes inspiration from the sails of yachts in the bay. “I feel like the company is really maturing at this stage,” Yanni says. “It’s a young company comprised of mature experience. We’ve been very fortunate to have the team that we’ve got. Everyone’s come with a lot of experience and that’s really helped us with our processes because they already know what they are doing. As a brand, the logo might be young, but these guys really know their stuff and so the experience our clients get is not that of an immature company. “The individual team members and leadership have longstanding relationships within the industry. That client network that we are able to pull on is really advantageous,” Yanni says. THE CONSTRUCTION SOURCE AUSTRALIA

Michael discusses his vision for the company’s future in terms of the team’s size, location of their market, and scope of projects. While he anticipates growth ahead, he also appreciates the current dynamic of the company as it relates to employees. “We’re a group of almost 80 employees and that’s employees directly employed by us,” he explains. “We’re going into another phase of growth at the moment moving toward 200-plus men this year. We’re looking at growing that to maybe 300 or 400 but trying to hit 500 as a target in the next five years.” “The group dynamic at the moment is really great,” Michael says. “Everyone’s collaborative. It’s a team environment. The teams aren’t competing with the other teams. Each team helps each other in a moment of need.” Young, vibrant, dynamic APRIL 2024

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“We understand that growing further and developing the team to 90 or 100 or 100-plus, the group dynamic does change. Our focus is to try and maintain that group dynamic that we have now in the short-term and maybe in the longterm.” He says that moving into the Tier 1 market is not on the horizon at present and that they would like to stay within Tier 3 and maybe move into Tier 2 at some point. They are also definitely open to going into the Melbourne and Brisbane markets in the coming years. “We’re a young, vibrant, dynamic builder in the market,” David says. “We bring about a high level of experience with the top management that we’ve got here, but we’ve got some young, really enthusiastic builders in the company that I think will flourish in terms of the work and projections that we’ve got moving forward. It’s an exciting time for Trescon in this market.” APRIL 2024

To learn more about Trescon and the services they offer – and to contact Michael, David, and the rest of their team – visit https://www.trescon.com.au THE CONSTRUCTION SOURCE AUSTRALIA

Offers ‘Smooth Sailing’ to Clients Looking for Residential Extensions

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Extend a Home is a top industry leader in the design and construction of high-quality ground and first floor residential extensions. Based in Sydney, the company is known for delivering an exceptional product thanks to their commitment to professional systems, planning, and communication. “We have a good reputation, we build a good standard, and we always follow up,” states Tony O’Neill, Managing Director. The company has been in business since 1974. When the original owner passed away, Tony and four other individuals purchased it from the surviving spouse in 1991. Today, Tony and his business partner, Peter Wisniewski, are two of those original directors still with Extend a Home. They have a combined 80 years of experience in the construction industry. Tony started working in construction straight out of high school in 1977 as an apprentice carpenter and joiner. He has experience in both commercial and residential construction. He began supervising new home construction in 1987 leading him to his career with Extend a Home. “I was 17 when I started in the industry and 33 when I started here,” he says. THE CONSTRUCTION SOURCE AUSTRALIA

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Extend a Home offers their clients a ‘Smooth Sailing Guarantee’, and Tony says this is something that puts them ahead of the competition. “Basically, we guarantee that their project will be smooth sailing from start to finish.” In the event there’s a glitch in the process, Tony says the clients will get a $1,000 gift card to use for something like going away for a relaxing weekend to make up for the inconvenience. He thinks they’ve only had to do this once since they started offering the guarantee. “Generally speaking, clients are very happy we us. We probably get 95 percent of our work by word of mouth,” he says. Growing up in one of their homes and experiencing the value and quality of their work – and their special take on customer service – first-hand is how members of one particular Smooth Sailing Guarantee THE CONSTRUCTION SOURCE AUSTRALIA

family became Extend a Home clients. “We even have second and third generation clients. We’ve got a couple of clients at the moment, a couple of ladies who we built for their parents back in the 90s when they were young girls and now we’re building for them,” Tony says. He goes on to explain in more detail how the Smooth Sailing Guarantee works and how this special process keeps projects on track and their clients happy. “We take the job from an initial inquiry; we then send the design consultant out to see the inquiry. They speak to the people and find out their needs and their budget. We come up with a design for them and then if they wish to proceed, we go ahead and get all of the council development applications conditions met, we do the whole application basically in-house. We follow that through and then, once it’s all approved, we build the job for them. We guarantee smooth sailing all the way through.” APRIL 2024

Tony says that while they are proud of quite a few of their projects, there are a couple of recent ones of which they are especially proud. One is a $1.2 million project at Lane Cove, and another is an extension on an old Victorian house in Burwood that also came in at around $1.2 million. Both of these projects, he says, have provided an “impressive and outstanding result” and are good examples of the style and finish they maintain on their projects. “They were a little bit out of the ordinary style of home and pretty big for an extension,” he says. “We’ve got client testimonial videos on our website and we’re pretty proud of those homes, too.” Special Projects THE CONSTRUCTION SOURCE AUSTRALIA

Extend a Home maintains strong relationships across their stakeholder community from clients and subcontractors to the employees that make up their team. Their commitment to being approachable and available to their clients is key to their relationship building. “I’ve been told we seem more like a family than a company,” Tony says. “We get more directly involved with the people than a larger company might do. We’re very approachable.” “Our clients are dealing with the owners of the company where in some of the bigger companies they really don’t get to see the owners. I run the sales team and most of the clients I deal with right from the start, from the initial inquiry. Peter is the construction manager and clients see him frequently during the build because he is often on site.” Relationships with Stakeholders APRIL 2024

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The family atmosphere that Extend a Home’s clients enjoy reaches to their employees as well and is an important part of their company culture. “Everyone’s like a family,” Tony says. “Everyone knows everyone. Our spouses are included in social functions and parties. We’ve seen each other’s children grow up over the years.” As for their trades and subcontractors, they’ve been working with the majority of them for 1520 years. “We have a core of subcontractors and trades that we use on most of our jobs, so we get continuity of quality and performance across our projects.” Extend a Home also has ties to other professionals in the industry through membership in the Housing Industry Association and the Master Builders Association. Tony says the company has been an active member of MBA for 40 years. Turning to the future, Tony says they are comfortable with the size and scope of the company and don’t anticipate any major expansion. “We don’t want to get too big,” he says. “We’re pretty much in our niche.” With that being said he explains they are seeing an increase in the price tag of their projects. “The value of our average job has doubled in the last couple of years. Where our average was $350,000-$400,000 a few years ago, it’s now $700,000 with the biggest ones that we’ve done coming in at $1.2 to 1.3 million.” Tony says that while he and Peter are both still actively working in the business, they are looking at “bringing in some younger, fresher people.” “We’re training some younger members of our team to take Extend a Home into the future,” he says. APRIL 2024

For more on Extend a Home, their services, their capabilities, and more on Tony, Peter, and their dedicated and experienced team– and to get in touch with that team today – call them on (02) 9736-3344 or visit their website at www.extendahome.com.au THE CONSTRUCTION SOURCE AUSTRALIA

Provides Exceptional Concrete Patching and Restoration Services

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Another Level Patching is a concrete patching and restoration company providing top-quality solutions for the mining, civil, and high-rise construction industries. Combining the latest techniques and high-quality materials, their skilled team delivers exceptional results for their clients. Based in Queensland, their work extends throughout Australia and into New Zealand. Director Aaron Larmond found his inspiration for Another Level Patching while working on construction sites in Brisbane and Gold Coast. He saw a niche in the building market that needed to be filled as he observed the make-up of concrete restoration teams. “I realized they could do better if they brought in younger workers, basically, more skilled patchers than the employees doing the job.” Capitalizing on what he saw, Aaron and his partner Sjadei Kiwi started ALP five years ago with a focus youth, innovation, and energy. “That’s what we’re looking for, young and vibrant,” he says. The concept worked and ALP has seen continued growth securing its place as a leader in their specialty. Now, they are the largest concrete restoration company in Queensland. “We are the largest and we are growing fast,” Aaron says. Receiving an enterprise bargaining agreement (EBA) has also helped elevate their reputation within the industry and ramped up the caliber of projects that they are able to take on. Aaron explains more. “We are the first union concrete restoration company to ever get an EBA,” he says. “The last THE CONSTRUCTION SOURCE AUSTRALIA

few years, we were only working on Tier 2 and Tier 3 sites, however, now that we’ve got the EBA, all the Tier 1 jobs are open and, it’s just straight Tier 1 jobs.” He says they are currently looking at jobs exceeding $1 billion and $2 billion. “These are the jobs that I’m aiming for. Any Tier 1 projects, that’s on our mindset this year.” ALP has been involved in top projects across Australia including work on tunnels, dams, high rises, and hospitals, including, recently, The Brisbane Cross River Rail Upgrade. Aaron says they are especially proud of their contributions to the Cross River Rail project and are involved in three different sector upgrades.. This extensive infrastructure undertaking in Brisbane is a significant component in the region’s public transportation. APRIL 2024

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In recent years, ALP has received a lot of positive attention for work addressing the issue of silicosis within the construction industry. “A lot of people say we’re leading the way,” Aaron says. “In the last two years they’ve changed the legislation for silica dust in regard to increased risk from silicosis,” he explains. He says that with their line of work being dangerous due to the concrete dust workers are exposed to company leadership is taking this “extremely seriously.” ALP provides expensive, top-ofthe-line protective gear for their employees along with silica training opportunities on-site. “The older boys are teaching the next generation,” Aaron says. Kristen Askew, health and safety advisor at Another Level Patching, agrees, saying she hears positive comments about Focus on Health and Safety APRIL 2024

the amount of quality gear they provide. “We use the best quality gear and we’ve got the best professionals as well teaching the younger guys. They’re the leaders of the team.” “We’ve actually grabbed onto the horns and started running,” she says. “We’re looking at suppliers who use less silica content materials, so we’re not just going and using the general or generic materials. We’re doing our research to make sure that we’re using the top-quality materials. We’re making sure our boys are looked after with the PPE masks, fit testing and ongoing training. We do a lot of silica training.” Kristen adds that the comradery that exists within the team adds to the safety net they’ve created for each other. “They’re not only team members, but they’re also friends outside of work. They support each other. They have that mentality that everyone is a team. We’re all looking out for each other, and I think that really creates a safe environment for the team. It’s really encouraging to see on site as well.” All of this focus on health and safety also helps with the company’s staff retention efforts. Kristen, who has a mining/construction background, says that having a good retention rate can be rare in their industry where high turnover is common. “Aaron’s got boys who have been with him from the start, and that’s a good reflection of him as a boss and as a leader. I go onsite and the word is that everyone wants to work for ALP,” she says. THE CONSTRUCTION SOURCE AUSTRALIA

Aaron explains how his team has evolved. “When I set up with my partner, Sjadei, we had five workers, and we were doing all the bookwork. Obviously, we were working extremely hard. About six months later we had 10 workers and now we’ve got bookkeepers in the office that do payroll and everything in between.” While their current team includes 60-65 employees, counting the office staff, ALP is always looking to bring new hires into the business. The company is continually growing and expanding across multiple jobs sites and projects. Numerous training activities are part of the corporate culture, and the ALP team is constantly improving their set of skills with ongoing training and opportunities to further their careers. Along with working directly for ALP, opportunities also abound for subcontractors, and working with ALP on projects as a subcontractor opens up many opportunities and pathways within the industry. APRIL 2024

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As they focus on the future, Aaron and the team are anticipating continued growth and expansion for Another Level Patching. Aaron says he is looking at extending ALP’s footprint into Sydney or Melbourne in the near future and has been researching both locations. “I want to take the company to Sydney or Melbourne, one of the two.” Kristen echoes Aaron’s enthusiasm for expansion. “We are open to endless growth!” she says. Looking Ahead APRIL 2024

For more on Another Level patching, their range of services, their past projects, and to contact Aaron, Kristen and the rest of their team, visit their website at https://anotherlevelpatching.com.au or visit them on Facebook. THE CONSTRUCTION SOURCE AUSTRALIA

Standing the test of time

APRIL 2024 WESTERN AUSTRALIA’S MOST TRUSTED SUPPLIER Plasterboard, Building systems, Wall and Ceiling materials and Quality tools and accessories. WA Direct stocks a vast range of materials which includes BGC’s GTEK™ plasterboard products, Knauf Earthwool Insulation, Studco Metal Building Systems, BGC Fibre Cement, AMF Ceiling Panels and Hume doors. WA Direct Plasterboard is a family owned and operated business specialising in the provision of plasterboard and building materials throughout Western Australia. WA DIRECT IS A MAJOR DISTRIBUTOR FOR THE LOCALLY MANUFACTURED GTEK™ RANGE OF PREMIUM QUALITY PLASTERBOARDS. For more information contact WA Direct at 250 Welshpool Rd, Welshpool WA 6106 (08) 9458 2965 admin@directplasterboard.com.au

THE CONSTRUCTION SOURCE AUSTRALIA GTEK™ Wall is an interior wall lining system for residential and commercial applications. GTEK™ Curve is a thin flexible plasterboard that can be used to create curves on interior walls and ceilings. GTEK™ Ceiling is a 10mm plasterboard sheet designed specifically for ceiling use. GTEK™ Cornice adds exciting finishing touches to interior wall and ceiling joints. GTEK™ Fire is used in fire-rated systems, consisting of single or multiple board layers. GTEK™ Fire & Wet Area is used in wet areas governed by fire resistance limitations (FRLs). GTEK™ Wet Area is a water-resistant plasterboard for walls in wet areas. GTEK™ Sound is high-density plasterboard specifically designed to reduce unwanted noise. GTEK™ Impact is ideal for high-traffic areas where walls are subjected to regular stress. GTEK™ Total Plus offers market-leading fire, water, sound and impact resistance. All GTEK™ plasterboards are manufactured with an advanced fire-resistant core, which can significantly slow down the spread of flames and reduce the amount of smoke produced during a fire. WA Direct proudly supplied the full range of GTEK™ plasterboards and accessories to these more recent Hanssen projects: AT238, Civic Heart and the Aurora. gtekplasterboard.com.au (08) 9374 2900 For more information contact GTEK™ Plasterboard at 290 Bushmead Road, Hazelmere, WA 6055 GTEK™ Plasterboard range:

Established over 70 years ago, WA Direct is proud to have grown to become one of Western Australia’s most trusted suppliers of plasterboard, building systems, wall and ceiling materials and quality tools and accessories. From their humble beginnings in 1950, they have evolved to employ over 40 staff with branches in Welshpool and Kalgoorlie. Their dedicated team ensures that every customer receives the very best service and advice. And with a fleet of 15 trucks at their disposal, they are also able to deliver goods anywhere, anytime. For over three decades, WA Direct has been a major distributor for the locally-manufactured GTEK™ range of premium quality plasterboards. GTEK™ plasterboards are recognised for their strength and versatility that can be tailored to meet the specific needs for both commercial and residential projects. Over the years, WA Direct and GTEK™ Plasterboard have cultivated a steadfast partnership rooted in professionalism, reliability, industry expertise, and staff proactiveness. This collaborative spirit, coupled with exceptional communication, mutual respect, and unwavering support, has paved the way for outstanding customer outcomes. Overall, WA Direct is a valued partner of BGC Plasterboard, and both companies benefit from their strong relationship. As the largest plasterboard manufacturer in WA, BGC Plasterboard ensures a consistent and reliable supply of plasterboard products, meeting WA Direct's demanding needs and minimizing stockouts. This means that WA Direct can always count on having the plasterboard they need in stock, even during peak demand periods. BGC Plasterboard stock holding capacity provides distributors with a competitive edge, allowing them to always offer their customers high-quality, reliable, and sustainable building solutions. APRIL 2024

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Hanssen is Western Australia’s largest apartment builder specialising in high-rise buildings. Since forming in Perth over 30 years ago, they have completed more than 6,000 apartments, they have grown into a 56,000-squaremetre head office and yard facility, and they have come to employ approximately 600 highly-trained, multi-skilled team members. Under the continued leadership and vision of Gerry Hanssen, company founder and executive director, the company is still growing to this day – and as they grow, they are committed to improving. Their goal is to stay ahead of their developers through the development and implementation of unique working and training models, to continue training the next generation of tradies, workers, and builders, and to continue building the most economical and efficient highrise residential apartment developments in the state. “For more than three decades, Hanssen has worked diligently to become specialists in the management and construction of large-scale building developments,” says Darren Linton, Managing Director. “This is achieved with effective co-ordination and co-operation, working together for the best outcome of the project.” “Over the years, our company has been instrumental in shaping the WA landscape through our unique, highquality developments, which has helped cement our reputation as Perth’s building company of choice.” That industry reputation, Darren explains, has been hard-earned, and the team at Hanssen doesn’t take it for granted. When Gerry Hanssen set up the company 30 years ago, he spoke to a construction lawyer who advised him that only five per cent of registered builders last 20 years in the industry. In the years since, the industry has only gotten more challenging, which makes Hanssen’s longevity “a great achievement.” THE CONSTRUCTION SOURCE AUSTRALIA

“We’ve stood the test of time,” Darren says. “We’re still here today and we still have so much more room to improve.” When Hanssen started, the company comprised three people working out of a small office in South Perth. As the years progressed, they expanded first into Burswood, and later to Belmont, where they started doing their fabrication and manufacturing. In 2013, they finally moved to their current 56,000-squaremetre facility in Hazelmere, where they still operate from today. They now primarily build in the Perth inner city area, but they have completed projects from Mandurah, to Hazelmere, to the northwest in Karratha. Over the years, as Hanssen has grown in size, they have also grown in terms of their service offering and capabilities. Today, they are “a true builder,” Darren says, “in the sense that we own a large amount of material, plant, machinery, scaffolding, and even tower cranes.” Today, Hanssen is equipped with their own precast and BubbleDeck factory (more on that later), window factory, steel fabrication, and in-house mechanics to service and maintain all their plant and equipment. They also have their own design team, which includes architects, engineers, and drafters – and that team works closely with Hanssen’s site teams and the teams in their factories. Speaking of site teams, Hanssen also employs a roster of service teams – with plumbing, electrical, communications, mechanical, and HVAC capabilities, all under one roof. Again, those teams work closely with the company’s design team, which enables early design collaboration, which often results in more optimized solutions and cost-savings for their solutions. “Although it is more responsibility, having all these areas in house enables us to have more control,” Darren explains. “Rather than working individually or against each other, we co-operate and resolve issues quickly which in turn allows us to build more efficiently.” APRIL 2024

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Earlier this year, Hanssen completed work on ‘AT238,’ which is a 32-storey highrise complex with 121 luxury apartment units, located in the heart of East Perth’s historical hub. According to Darren, it was “one of the most challenging projects in our time,” as it commenced during the height of COVID and the start of the associated labour and material issues. “This forced us to change and adapt, looking for alternative products and other means of finding skilled workers,” Darren recalls. “We still managed to finish in less than two years and deliver a project which was a finalist in the ‘High-Rise’ category at the UDIA awards. Considering reported issues with other residential housing projects taking up to three-tofour years to build, this was a great achievement from the management team and all involved.” Building opportunities APRIL 2024

YEARS Following up on the success of that project, Hanssen currently has three more projects under construction, including ‘Civic Heart’ in South Perth, ‘Aurora’ in Applecross, and ‘The Point’ in Rivervale. Civic Heart is going to be the company’s largest project to date and the tallest building in Perth outside the CBD. It comprises two towers with the taller tower rising to 38 storeys, and both towers consisting of 324 combined units. The company expects to complete construction by mid-next-year, and then launch Aurora and The Point shortly after. “So next year will be a big year in completed new apartments, which is clearly a high priority with the Government as the supply of new dwellings is trending downwards,” Darren says. AT238 was developed by Finbar, one of Western Australia’s largest and most trusted apartment developers. Finbar is also the developer behind all three of Hanssen’s ongoing and upcoming projects. The project team on all those jobs also includes S.S. Chang Architects, one of Perth’s leading apartment designers. Hanssen has enjoyed longstanding relationships with both those companies: “We are a unique team that has worked together for over 25 years,” Darren says. “We coordinate, we co-operate, and we’re all driven by a common goal – which is providing better lifestyles and homes for our buyers.” “Working relationships are very important to Hanssen at all levels of our business,” he adds. THE CONSTRUCTION SOURCE AUSTRALIA

APRIL 2024

THE CONSTRUCTION SOURCE AUSTRALIA

“We also have longstanding relationships with trusted suppliers who have performed well for us over the years, and we understand it goes both ways. Post-COVID, during the times of materials shortages, we managed to not be impacted too greatly because we were working with suppliers who we have built trust with.” “We stand by three principles for great business: price, quality, and service,” he says. “When working with various companies, we always keep these three principles in mind.” Darren believes that enduring commitment is a big part of why a partner like Finbar continues the working relationship. He also says that other points of difference include: their meticulously-designed working guide; their history of award recognition; the way they empower and motivate their staff; and their use of the innovative BubbleDeck system in all their projects. Firstly, there’s the company’s working guide, known as the ‘Hanssen Standard Details’ (HSD). Using that guide, the company is able to educate workers with step-by-step instructions containing pictures and words, ensuring that every worker has the knowledge needed to do a job safely and efficiently, no matter their experience level. “Think of it as a complete set of IKEA instructions on how to build a building,” Darren says. “It’s a unique but simple manual that teaches safe and efficient procedures from everything from excavation, to hanging doors, to carpet install and landscaping – all the way to APRIL 2024

THE CONSTRUCTION SOURCE AUSTRALIA

installing and dismantling our tower cranes.” “The HSD is issued to each worker – either as a soft copy on their phone or a hard copy on-site,” he continues. “This ensures tried-and-tested practices and materials are followed, and opinions and arguments are removed. The HSD is also continuously updated as new materials come to market or better methods are agreed upon.” As previously mentioned, that method of quality control has helped Hanssen earn a consistent stream of industry awards and accolades. Most recently, for example, they were a finalist at the 2023 Urban Development Industry of Australia (UDIA) Awards in the ‘High Density’ category for their work on AT238. That’s just one of many awards, commendations, and finalist nods that the company has received from the UDIA over the years. Hanssen has not only been recognized for the quality of their work, however. In 2021, they were also commended by ‘Ngalla Maya Aboriginal Employment Access,’ which is an Aboriginal corporation that seeks to provide education, employment and training services to the Aboriginal people of Western Australia. They recognized Hanssen for their support and employment of Aboriginal men and women. In 2019, Hanssen was also named ‘Host Employer of the Year’ at the Apprentice Employment Network Awards.” “In our time, we have trained over 1,500 apprentices in 30 APRIL 2024

years,” Darren explains. “That’s an average of 50 a year.” Training apprentices at that volume, Darren adds, is a key part of how Hanssen has combated the industry’s ongoing labour shortage: “Hanssen gives everyone an opportunity and our system allows good people to come through. The question I receive the most recently was ‘how are you dealing with the labour shortage?’ Nearing our peak of 700 workers we have had to look outside the square and adapt to market conditions.” “A program which we are still running is giving selected exprisoners an opportunity to work and change their lives,” he adds. “Some of them are now leading hands in their area. We started this in 2018 with a small group. During COVID it really took off but our culture had to be right, our sites had to be drug and alcohol free and the support network had to be in place.” “We also approached a TAFE where Gerry did a presentation and offered engineering students who couldn’t get work an opportunity to work in our factory and design department. Funnily enough, these students couldn’t find work as they lacked experience – something too common in all workplaces.” Currently, Hanssen has close to 100 apprentices across all their sites and yard. Across the board they have a range of ages, from 16 to 85. Their last count of different nationalities was 60, and they also have above average female workers on their sites because they encourage more to join.” Darren admits there is a cost to all the training they do. He says they often hear others in the industry say that cost is prohibitive, that “you can’t afford to train.” Hanssen, however, takes the opposite view – “we say you can’t afford not to train.” THE CONSTRUCTION SOURCE AUSTRALIA

Yet one more factor that sets Hanssen apart from their competitors is their aforementioned use of the BubbleDeck system in all their projects. BubbleDeck is a precast biaxial concrete floor system, which makes floor slabs lighter and stronger by incorporating large, hollow recycled plastic balls in a lattice of steel. Using BubbleDeck can make a building overall 30 per cent lighter – and lighter structures mean limitedto-no beams, larger columns spans, smaller footings or rafts, and the possibility of offsite manufacturing. BubbleDeck’s 100-per-centrecycled plastic air-filled balls also reduce the amount of nonstructural concrete required. For example, on Civic Heart alone it is saving up to 16,000 cubic metres of concrete. That means 2250 fewer concrete trucks heading to site and as a summary saving 4300 tonnes of CO2 emissions. Always improving APRIL 2024

THE CONSTRUCTION SOURCE AUSTRALIA

Hanssen was the first company to introduce and use the BubbleDeck system in Australia and New Zealand. Moving forward, the company’s goal is to continue pursuing those kinds of innovations and to continue playing a leading role in their industry. “Against the odds of the market, we’re going to keep doing what we are doing,” Darren concludes. “Stay in our lane and always look at improving. The COVID years seem like a long dark tunnel but we always believed if we get to the other end, we will be a lot better for it. We are always loyal to Finbar and respect our history but we are not closed to new opportunities, if our goals align.” “We are aware of the number of building companies falling over Australia wide and the industry as a whole needed change,” he adds. “Hanssen is lucky to have a system that Gerry has created from 55 years’ experience in the industry.” “One of our previous goals was to build the tallest apartment building in WA. Now that has happened, it would be an honour to build the tallest building in WA in the future. So new doors are opening and we are excited to see what the future holds.” APRIL 2024

THE CONSTRUCTION SOURCE AUSTRALIA For more on Hanssen, their story, their unique approach and capabilities, their past projects, their award recognition, and a lot more – including how to get in touch with Darren and his team – visit https://www.hanssen.com.au/

Builds Custom Homes that Reflect Clients’ Lifestyles

APRIL 2024

Reef Coast Constructions is an award-winning custom new home building specialist based in Townsville. With an emphasis on quality and practicality, they build specifically to exacting standards. “After many years in the building industry as a carpenter, my desire to build customized homes that were not just houses, but instead a true representation of the homeowner’s selfexpression and lifestyle became my major goal, says Rob Rule, Owner and General Manager of Reef Coast Constructions. “In the 20 years that Reef Coast Constructions has been operating, we’ve never built the same home twice. Every home is unique,” he says. “You can’t just pick it up out of a box and drop it onsite and say, ‘there’s your custom new home.’” Rob was born and raised in Townsville and in 2005 he and his wife, Nicole, started the company there. Cameron McInnes joined the team in 2017 as Rob’s business partner. Both Rob and Cameron are qualified carpenters and licensed builders and together, they bring more than 50 years combined project management and construction experience to each custom build. Rob says that initially the company operated with a couple of apprentices and progressed from there over the years. “Now we have a staff of four internal and our in-house carpenters. We use local subcontractors for our other trades.” THE CONSTRUCTION SOURCE AUSTRALIA

Reef Coast Constructions has made its mark in the industry as a boutique custom designing and building company. They are specialists when it comes to custom home building, and this sets them apart in their niche. “We limit the numbers of builds that we do a year so that we can maintain the service standards that we deliver,” Rob says. “The biggest feedback we get from our clients is that they got the home that they wanted. To us, that’s one of the most important things.” “Because it’s the largest investment they will make, it’s important the journey is more about them than rather than just building a house. They want to be building a home for the benefit of their family and the next stage of their life,” he says. Set Apart as Specialists APRIL 2024

The fact that clients are working directly with the owners at all stages of their project is another important selling point for Reef Coast Constructions. As general manager, Rob says, “I deal with the clients from day one and help guide them through the start of their building journey. Cameron is my construction manager, and he carries out the running of all of the building sites. Our clients are working with the owners at all times, whether it’s in the design phase or the construction phase.” Their more than five decades of experience and the scope of their professional histories is also helps set them apart. “I’ve got a very diverse building background as far as types of projects that I’ve worked on and built in the past,” Rob explains. “Cameron has also worked on a lot of sloping sites, two-story builds as well. I think the knowledge that both of us bring enables us to tackle projects that other builders may be in over their heads with.” THE CONSTRUCTION SOURCE AUSTRALIA

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