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. In this edition, we’ve highlighted a broad spectrum of contributors to Australia’s building and development industries, companies whose areas of operation span from coast to coast. Ecoliv, for example, does projects all over the southeast of the country. They are a designer and builder of prefabricated eco-friendly modular homes meant for the Australian landscape and lifestyle, and their work takes them anywhere from two hours west of Sydney and three hours north of Melbourne. They typically work in spaces that a lot of other builders don’t, including remote spaces where availability of trades is limited and metropolitan spaces that are difficultto-access. We talked to company founder and owner Ashley Beaumont about that versatility. We also discussed how their homes are able to marry eco-consciousness with both luxury and functionality – and how that sets them apart from a lot of the other modular providers in their market. Other companies featured in this edition include Tonic Projects and Hancock Homes, both Queensland-based businesses. Tonic Projects operates out of Brisbane and has been providing custom building solutions to a diverse array of clients in the commercial sector for almost 15 years. Hancock Homes, meanwhile, works mainly in Ipswich and Springfield, and specialises in residential homes in the “mom-and-pop starter homes market.” We caught up with the leaders of both companies – Sean Chapman from Tonic Projects, and father-son team Mark Hancock and Jarred Hancock from Hancock Homes. We talked about some of their companies’ recent projects, the relationships they have built with their subcontractors and suppliers, and their different visions for the future. We also talked about how personally both companies take quality, and how both believe that is what has powered their success. 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,

SEPTEMBER 2024

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 Douglas Thomson Production Manager Brennan Midghall Digital Strategist Pranim Thapa Administration Manager Belyn Quijance-Dorero

SEPTEMBER 2024 Industry INNOVATIONS Product of the Month The Kights Scanner ECOLIV Building a sustainable future, one modular home at a time BLUESTAR PROPERTY GROUP Construction is all about the THRIL factor for Bluestar Property Group HANCOCK HOMES Hancock Homes are built on quality, integrity, and professionalism TONIC PROJECTS Tonic Projects stands on quality EMPIRE BRIK PRODUCTS 40 years of brick solutions MACU KITCHENS MILDURA PTY LTD. Creating bespoke kitchens since 2003 IN THIS ISSUE SEPTEMBER 2024 BLUESTAR PROPERTY GROUP HANCOCK HOMES

SEPTEMBER 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 .

SEPTEMBER 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

SEPTEMBER 2024 Business World Australia

The Construction Source Australia Business Worl d Australia

Building a sustainable future, one modular home at a time

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Ecoliv designs and constructs prefabricated modular homes for the Australian landscape and lifestyle, with a deep commitment to social and environmental responsibility. Founded 15 years ago on this very principle, Ecoliv has grown into a leading force in sustainable homebuilding. Ecoliv’s success lies in the exceptional quality of their product. Their homes are not only ecofriendly, but also beautiful, functional, and incredibly comfortable. “We create sustainably designed and built modular homes that minimize environmental impact while maximizing comfort and wellbeing,” says Ashley Beaumont, Ecoliv’s founder. “Crafted with precision from responsibly sourced, time-tested natural materials, our homes offer a unique blend of beauty and utility with a modern, understated aesthetic.” Ashley brings a wealth of experience to the table, having spent 30 years in the domestic building design industry. “Fifteen years ago,” he explains, “my wife and I saw a market for compact, sustainable homes. We explored modular construction options, confident that we could be more creative with design and construction while prioritizing sustainability.” Ecoliv’s modular products offer a wide range of possibilities. “We design and construct everything from cozy cabins and bed and breakfast studios to spacious homes,” Ashley says. “Our designs cater to diverse needs, from two-storey four-bedroom homes comprising five or six modules to compact B&B studios for ecotourism.” Ecoliv’s homes shine in remote locations where traditional builders are scarce. “We’ve completed projects two hours west of Sydney and others two to three hours north of Melbourne, in areas with limited access to tradespeople,” says Ashley. A recent project on the Mornington Peninsula exemplifies Ecoliv’s dedication. “We completely THE CONSTRUCTION SOURCE AUSTRALIA

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demolished an old beach house and replaced it with a brand new, 7-star-plus energy-rated home,” says Ashley. “Our clients went on vacation while we completed the project, they returned and in just 14 days the installation was completed.” Ecoliv’s upcoming EcoGeneration display home is another point of pride. Ashley calls it “the pinnacle of inspired modular home design and sustainable living.” This climate-responsive and operationally carbon-neutral home will boast an impressive array of eco-friendly features, including a 5.55-kilowatt grid-connected solar power system, a 10,000-liter water tank, and a 250-liter energyefficient hot water system. Ecoliv values the support they receive from design associations and the Housing Industry Association (HIA), of which they’ve been members for 20 years. Their achievements include winning the national GreenSmart Professional of the Year and the HIA Business Management Award in 2023. Being part of an industry association like the HIA keeps Ecoliv informed about the latest innovations in building technology, which is crucial as they strive to remain at the forefront of sustainability. “We strive to be ahead of the game with everything we do,” Ashley says. “Our new display home showcases innovative home automation technology that tracks energy usage, water tank levels, and solar battery levels. We’re also constantly exploring new insulation products and potential energy sources.” While passionate about sustainability, Ecoliv THE CONSTRUCTION SOURCE AUSTRALIA

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understands the importance of cost-effectiveness. “We aim to build homes that are as eco-friendly as possible without exceeding our clients’ budgets,” Ashley explains. “We find creative solutions that deliver value and minimize environmental impact.” A strong, reliable supply chain is crucial for Ecoliv. “It’s the cornerstone of our business,” says Ashley. “We prioritize collaboration with Climate Active and B Corp certified Australian companies that share our commitment to sustainability. We’ve actively transitioned away from products with long supply chains, and we source locally whenever possible – from plumbing supplies to timber and hardware.” Ecoliv fosters a positive and rewarding work environment for its 25-person team, which includes an in-house building team and trusted subcontractors for plumbing and electrical work. “We offer a variety of projects that keep our crew engaged,” Ashley says. “We maintain a clean and safe worksite, provide excellent facilities for our employees, offer development programs for career advancement, and prioritize employee well-being.” Sustainability is woven into the very fabric of Ecoliv. “It’s my personal passion,” Ashley emphasizes. “I’ve been pushing for sustainable design for over 20 years, demonstrating that ecofriendly options don’t have to break the bank.” “We’ve always strived for a seven-star energy rating for our homes,” says Ashley. “Now that this has become a standard requirement for many, we’re determined to go even further. We want to be a driving force for positive change in the industry, ensuring every home we build is not just sustainable, but truly futureproof.” SEPTEMBER 2024

For more on Ecoliv Modular Homes, their approach, their process, and their range of designs – and to contact Ashley and his expert team today – visit https://ecoliv.com.au/ THE CONSTRUCTION SOURCE AUSTRALIA

Construction is all about the THRIL factor for Bluestar Property Group

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The thrill of working in the custom home industry is a big part of what drives Bluestar Property Group. “Our motto is the THRIL factor,” says Adam Bulic, Director and Development Manager. “Trustworthy, Honesty, Reliability, Integrity and Loyalty. Those are the core values we’ve had for the past 16 years. Those values apply across the board, whether we’re dealing with with suppliers, contractors, clients, or staff.” Adam grew up in the building industry. “My father immigrated to Australia from Croatia. He was in construction and his father was as well,” he says. “My school holidays were on the building site with the broom and the shovel. I don’t regret that time spent for a minute. It provided good grounding and a good work ethic.” During his early years in construction, Adam worked with all the different trades, from bricklayers, plasterers, and painters, to carpenters. “I already had the hands-on experience when I finished high school, so I went on and completed an associated diploma in Applied Science in Building and Construction and immediately applied for a building license.” Circumstances beyond his control at the time forced Adam to take a different direction. The insurance companies that looked after the building warranties in Australia were in a crisis. A builder couldn’t take out what we know now as Home Owners Warranty Insurance. “If you took on a project you had to put up a $50,000 to $100,000 deposit in the event you didn’t finish the project or went bankrupt,” says Adam. “I didn’t have that when I was young so I did other work in the industry, but it wasn’t what I wanted to do. I went to larger building companies and learned systems and processes of the larger firms for a couple years.” Adam ended up with Australia’s largest builder with a plan to stay with them for a year or two THE CONSTRUCTION SOURCE AUSTRALIA

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at the most. “It turned into 10 before I decided it was time to move on. That’s where Bluestar Living started,” he says. In 2008 he took on his brother-in-law Laurie to become a co-director and Construction Manager, and they began building multi-unit developments and some detached homes, which led them to become specialist in the multi-unit field. Sixteen years down the track, the company recently underwent a rebranding. “Our ultimate outcome is to develop and do your own work, which has been increasing over the years,” says Adam. They have established Bluestar Living under the Bluestar Property Group and built a display home for clients who wish to knock down and rebuild with a design that suits most 600-to800-square-metre sites. Adam is now pushing Bluestar Property Group as a premium brand developer in the affluent suburbs of Melbourne. The group has also established Bluestar Vision, which will specialize in building its Display designs for clients that are looking to knock down and rebuild. THE CONSTRUCTION SOURCE AUSTRALIA

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According to Adam, much of the credit for Bluestar’s premium quality belongs to their subcontractors, with whom they have built longstanding relationships. He cites as examples their tiler who they’ve had for 20 years, and their framer for 25 years. “They provide consistency, and we know they will meet all our expectations,” he says. “Australia had a lot of good tradespeople who immigrated from Europe who are now retired, and not many of their children are taking on the trade. Our pool of trades in Australia is shrinking and young people are not seeing trades as a priority, but these people are extremely important. They are the ones putting everything together and building it. There has to be a shift in attitude as to how important that is.” “The government is constantly talking about building more homes, affordability, providing grants, et cetera – but at the end of the day, Quality relationships, quality building THE CONSTRUCTION SOURCE AUSTRALIA

regardless of policies to boost this, we need skilled trades people.” Bluestar’s long term relationships with their tradesmen have resulted in many industry awards over the 16 years they have been members of the Master Builders of Australia (MBA) and the Australian Housing Industry Association (HIA). “We enjoy being part of their awards program, which recognizes the best in the business,” says Adam. Bluestar’s most recent accolades include: • 2022 Master Builders Victoria Excellence in Housing Awards Winner Best Kitchen over $40,000 • 2022 HIA-CSR Victorian Housing and Kitchen & Bathroom Awards Finalist New Bathroom up to $30,000 • 2021 HIA Victorian Awards Finalist New Bathroom up to $30,000 Adam highly values being a part of associations like the MBA and HIA, and not just because of the awards. Even more importantly, he says those memberships have been helpful in keeping us up to date on what’s happening in the industry. He also recognizes the immense pressure that was put on the associations and their members during COVID, and he appreciates the role those associations played in helping navigate those challenges. “Prices went up overall by 30%. Some materials rocketed to 200-300%! A lot of builders in Melbourne went into liquidation, as did the developers, suppliers and trades. It was an absolute mess. We’re extremely fortunate to have made it through that. No one was prepared for how to manage that crisis,” he says. For Bluestar, he says the key to survival postCOVID is the strong relationships they have with their trades, suppliers, consultants and clients. “That is everything,” says Adam. “The quality of the business’s life is the quality of the relationships it has. That quality goes not only to your direct SEPTEMBER 2024

team, but that expands out to the subcontractors and suppliers. You could be an absolute star and very good at what you do but if you don’t have the right suppliers or team around you, you’re only as good as the people you surround yourself with.” Bluestar has suppliers they’ve used since day one, says Adam. “They’re loyal, timely and provide good value for money.” At the same time, Adam isn’t afraid to bring new blood into the mix. “Once in a while you have to introduce another trade or supplier to cross reference quality and pricing,” he says. “You’ve always got to be seeking, looking and searching to be better. I live the ‘one per cent rule.’ Every day, ask yourself, ‘how can we be one per cent better today?’ Question everything. If you think you’ve got it all set and done that’s when you start going backwards. Our daily target is ‘How do we become one per cent better than we were yesterday?’ And do the same thing day after day, whether it’s with a process, trade, attitude, detail, design, system, whatever that may be, you have to be constantly sharpening the sword.” One thing Adam looks for in a subcontractor and in his staff is their adherence to his THRIL factor. “Action speaks louder than words,” he says. “I love the small family culture. We try to use family run suppliers and trades because I can see the shift is moving. As all these corporations get bigger, they start to gobble up everything else. We have less and less choice of what we want.” Adam likens massive corporate growth to shopping in the supermarket. “I like being able to go to a local butcher and get that meat from him or go to a local fruit and veg guy and get fresher produce. Without that you start to lose options. If our family business doesn’t support other family businesses then that will die off and all there will be are cookie cutter factories that produce preset designs with less choice. Once this starts, it then becomes all about margin, profit and THE CONSTRUCTION SOURCE AUSTRALIA

numbers. Don’t get me wrong, these companies have an important part to play in our economy. We all need each other. Whenever possible we support local businesses based in Melbourne and Australian made products from Australian owned businesses.” While Bluestar Property Group has experienced growth, Adam says he prefers to stay small and specialized. “What we want to do is be recognized as premium developer of residential homes in Melbourne and limit it to six homes per year so each design is original, exclusive and not massproduced. We want to work in well-located and desirable locations and design exceptional homes specifically for our market, their lifestyle, block size and orientation. We never build the same home twice. Even Clyde, our very successful display in Surrey Hills, is always slightly modified to suit the clients’ needs, the block size, or its orientation or neighboring influences.” 28 Metrolink Circuit Campbellfield VIC 3061 T. 8364 6500 W. www.zontagroup.com.au Specialize in Concrete Slabs, Basements, Excavation, and all types of Commercial Concrete Work. SEPTEMBER 2024

For more information on Bluestar Property Group’s latest developments, or if you’re looking to build, contact Adam and his team at https://bluestarpropertygroup.com.au/, or call 9857 8055 THE CONSTRUCTION SOURCE AUSTRALIA

Hancock Homes are built on quality, integrity, and professionalism

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He may have started his professional life as a plumber, but Hancock Homes founder Mark Hancock has created a homebuilding legacy with his family. “It all started when I was working for a local builder, and I found I liked what he was doing more than what I was doing as a plumber,” Mark recalls. He and his wife Karen then started a construction business in 1991. Their son Joel did his carpentry apprenticeship with the company, joining 14 years ago and working his way up to supervising and project management. Their other son Jarred started with the family business in 2024 after gaining experience in commercial and residential building elsewhere. As the years have gone on, Hancock Homes has grown steadily in size and renown as company, but the scope of their homes has remained relatively steady. These days, the average size of a Hancock build is around $600,000. “It’s the momand-pop starter homes market,” Mark explains. “We get a lot of repeat clients and most of our business is word of mouth.” The company takes on a few speculation homes, and they are soon to be starting a $1.1 million project. “Everything’s more costly now.” “We definitely have the capability to step into the $1 million plus range as contract jobs,” says Jarred. Geographically, he says they do most of their builds in the Springfield and Ipswich area where the company started out, but they will step out further. “We take each job on its own merit.” “We’re branching out more into larger acreage as well,” says Mark. “Some clients have larger plots of land that are further out from home base, but it is much more rewarding building these bigger homes on large blocks of land.” Some of Hancock’s recent builds have been recognised with industry awards for their quality and design excellence. For example, Joel cites a project called the Stradbroke, which won the ‘Individual Home from $350,000 to $500,000’ THE CONSTRUCTION SOURCE AUSTRALIA

category at all levels at the 2023 Master Builders Awards. “The split-level home in Spring Mountain was a different design for us,” Mark says. “We have been doing Hamptons style homes a lot but for this one we branched out into a modern, square façade with bolder colors and different textures. It won us a regional, state and finally a national 2023 award.” The Hancock family is entering another project for next year’s awards, from the same area. Jarred describes that project as having a more modern Hamptons style. “We tried some different textures with cladding and Venetian plaster for a Boho twist,” he says. “There’s also a swimming pool and outdoor living area. The lot was double the size of the norm for that area so we took advantage of the yard.” Joel believes the Master Builders are a useful organization to be part of, as it helps the company to make connections and get their name out there – especially now that they’ve won awards and they can use their logo on their advertising. “They have a lot of good resources we can lean on if we have questions about contracts or building practices,” he says. “We do all our contracts through Master Builders and they’ve been a really good point of contact, especially through all the recent law changes we’ve had in building. We can lean on them and ask questions.” As a traditional builder, Hancock Homes maintains strong ties with their suppliers. “I used Corinthian for my first house back in 1991,” says Mark. “I’ve never used another company for interior fittings since. A lot of our subcontractors are second generation. Their dads worked for me.” Discover expert design advice and inspiration tailored to your unique needs. We offer personalized service and an extensive selection of luxury tiles, tapware, and vanities. Whether you’re working on large-scale projects or bespoke builds, we supply everything you need to bring your vision to life. Phone: 38923525 Visit us at: 2/1311 Ipswich Rd, Rocklea, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia 4106. www.concepttilesbrisbane.com | www.instagram.com/concepttiles_moorooka SEPTEMBER 2024

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“We try not to chop and change between suppliers as much as possible,” adds Joel. “We’ve built a personal connection with them.” Jarred says the familiarity they have with suppliers and subcontractors has other benefits as well – for example, it enables them to be confident in their pricing and to tender jobs accurately the first time without mistakes. “We don’t re-tender a job once we get it. We tender the job to the pricing we already have in our system,” says Mark. “If we win the job, our subcontractors are guaranteed to win the job as well. We use the same team all the time.” That team includes their designer – according to Mark, they have used the same one for 25 years. “We have a personal connection with him. That’s the first person we put our clients in touch with.” Those relationships with extended team members are vital to Hancock Homes’ success, as their immediate family of four is the entire full-time staff. “We’re pretty much old school, but recently we’ve started using an estimating program called Build Exact,” says Joel. “It allows us to do in-depth estimating and quoting on our new jobs and gives us a really good template for providing quotes. And for tracking finances while on the job. “Whenever we say a job is ready, it’s ready,” says Mark. “We personally supervise everything. I was talking to a carpenter yesterday – not one of our jobs – and he sent a worker to the job site and it wasn’t even to the stage it was supposed to be at. If we want a tiler on site, the tiles are there THE CONSTRUCTION SOURCE AUSTRALIA

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and ready to go. We’re not sitting in an office or playing golf doing nothing and telling people things are ready when they are not. I enjoy when things are ready.” Part of the Hancocks commitment to their subcontractors is keeping things clean and safe. “We have an emphasis on having a clean and tidy site,” says Joel. “We make sure everything is well kept with no mess around. Our subcontractors enjoy working on our sites because it’s safe and there’s not a lot of mess or rubbish lying about. We’re also looking after the environment by preventing rubbish blowing around or silt and waste going down the drains.” Mark agrees. “A clean site is a site the subcontractors can make money on because they’re not tripping over rubbish. The cleaner it is, the better condition it is in the end as well,” he says. Being hands-on is another perk for Hancock Homes’ subcontractors. “Having the majority of the projects all handy - some next door to each other – means we can duck around to the site ourselves and check on the status of things,” says Jarred. “We can have a finger on the pulse of the build and our subcontractors’ needs at all times rather than checking in once a week.” This means that someone from Hancock is always available, says Joel. “You’re always dealing with one of us three. You’re not dealing with anyone else working for us. It’s always someone named Hancock. Without it being a race, we have a timeline to keep the job rolling at a good steady pace instead of having people wait until each step THE CONSTRUCTION SOURCE AUSTRALIA

is in place.” “With us, the supervisor is the builder,” says Mark. “You’re not dealing with supervisors who the owners may never meet. We get round to the job sites all the time.” “We do the colour and tile selections personally with our clients,” says Jarred. “We’re there every step of the way from design selection and building to cleaning and landscaping.” “We’re super thankful to our subcontractors and our clients that trust us with their builds,” says Mark. “We appreciate that. A lot of this business is word of mouth. That comes from good business and good relationships.” Now that both of Mark’s sons are on board, he says he’s going to take a step back so they can continue their journey. “We’re looking to make a bit of a push,” he says. “Not grow so big that we lose the personal touch, but enough that we have more workflow and make more of a name for ourselves and grow into larger custom homes with Jarred’s experience building larger custom homes.” Jarred agrees with his father, saying their award recognition from the Master Builders will bring more projects and a better workflow so they can grow and step into some of those higher end projects. He believes the company’s longstanding history and reputation in the region will also help them to take the next steps. He says the foundation is already built – they just need to add to it. “We’ve built several homes for the second generation – children of people who we built for 25 years ago,” says Joel. “Once we do one job for a client, word of mouth brings us projects for their other family members.” SEPTEMBER 2024

For more on Hancock Homes, their services, their past projects, and to hear from their past clients – and to get in touch with Mark, Jarred, Joel, and the rest of their team – visit their website https://hancockhomes.com.au/ THE CONSTRUCTION SOURCE AUSTRALIA

Tonic Projects stands on quality

A word from the owner “As a third generation glazier, I am proud to lead an Australian business with over 25 years’ of experience in the industry. Our proven track record and exceptional team have enabled us to complete over 850 projects in just over three years in business, showcasing our commitment to delivering high-quality results. This impressive achievement underscores our ability to develop unique solutions tailored to our clients’ needs, reinforcing our reputation as a trusted and reliable partner. Looking ahead, we are excited about the future and anticipate significant business growth. Our vision includes being part of larger projects across Australia, further establishing Virtue Glass and Construction as a leader in the field.” Ryan Murphy Director Virtue Glass & Construction; Leading with Innovation. Virtue Glass and Construction is one of Australia’s leading commercial fabrication and installation of windows, glass, doors, and mirrors across Australia. As an industry leader, we are trusted by builders, developers, and architectural and engineering firms for our unwavering commitment to quality, reliability, and on-time, on-budget delivery. “We have built a strong reputation by consistently meeting and exceeding our clients’ expectations. Our dedicated team’s innovative approach and attention to detail have been crucial in our success, allowing us to tackle a diverse range of projects.” Our projects serve a wide array of sectors, including childcare centres, retail and shop fronts, hotels, hospitals, real estate developments, and office fit-outs. From the initial consultation to the final installation, our skilled team will ensure every detail is executed to the highest standards and turn vision into reality with precision and efficiency. Virtue Glass & Construction • www.virtueglass.com.au • (07) 3133 3579 • admin@virtueglass.com.au SEPTEMBER 2024

Tonic Projects is a Queensland-based construction and fitout company that has been providing custom building solutions to the commercial and residential sectors for almost 15 years. In that time, they have worked with a diverse range of clients, including architects, retailers, commercial, and private clients. No matter the client and no matter their project, however, their goal has always been the same – to raise the standards of construction and to be flexible and customize the project to suit the individual needs of the client to suit the project goals. “We enjoy the challenge of custom and boutique projects,” says Sean Chapman, the company’s founder and director. “We’re not a volume builder. We’re not a cookie cutter builder. We don’t do 100 projects a year. We take one-off projects that we like and that presents a bit of a challenge.” These days, Tonic Projects typically does a lot of hospitality venues such as restaurants, bars and hotels, with values usually ranging from $500,000 to $5 million range. In the recent past, they have also done some drive-thrus, service stations, and childcare centres. They also complete custom / architectural residential builds – often times for clients they know and have had previous building relationships with. Geographically, most of Tonic’s projects are in Brisbane and South East Queensland region. “We’ve done works in Sydney and Melbourne for existing clients, however in recent times the building industry in the southeast has been strong and this is where all of our current projects are,” says Sean. Recently, Tonic Projects completed work on the THE CONSTRUCTION SOURCE AUSTRALIA

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Kirra Beach Hotel, a luxury hotel development on the Gold Coast. According to Sean, that was one of their most notable projects to date. “This was a landmark development using an iconic location on an iconic beach,” says Sean. “Not too many opportunities you get to build in a great location like that with great clients.” A new build in late 2023, the Kirra Beach Hotel was established in 1956. The hotel won the’ Best Outdoor/Non Enclosed Facility’ award and ‘Best Redeveloped Hotel General Division’ award from the Queensland Hotel Association in June 2024. Additionally, Tonic’s custom building solutions were also key to helping another client, Aria Property Group, to win the award for ‘Best Development.’ “We’re pretty humble ourselves,” says Sean. “We don’t enter competitions, but a lot of projects we’ve been part of have gone on to win awards in their relevant associations and categories. We’re just pleased to have done a great job that works out well for the client. The awards are only ever a nice bonus.” THE CONSTRUCTION SOURCE AUSTRALIA

Over the years, Tonic Projects has worked hard to form strong and lasting relationships with a variety of building suppliers. Building an extensive and varied network has been important, Sean explains, because “due to our boutique custom nature, we don’t use a lot of the same product on each job.” “If we were doing 500 homes a year we’d be using a lot of repeat products on each job, but with a hospitality venue for example there’s a lot of non-standard and custom products and finishes, such as tiles, stone, joinery and other finishes. That means we need to have a broad range of suppliers we lean on. We’re not doing volume orders from any one supplier.” When they find a supplier they like, however, Tonic Projects strives to stick with them for the long haul. According to Sean, they have built some relationships that go back over a decade. He says the Unique but consistent SEPTEMBER 2024

suppliers in that longstanding category tend to be knowledgeable, responsive, and they care about quality as much as the team at Tonic Projects does. Speaking of that direct team, Sean says there are 32 staff within the company, including office and on-site. Having a direct team that size helps them ensure quality and keep a tighter control over timelines. “We employ all our site supervisors, carpenters, and apprentices. That works out really well for us for quality control and gives us the flexibility to add extra staff or move staff around on our projects to meet the project demands,” says Sean. “I give the staff consistency of work and they build a rapport and culture among themselves. They’re not just coming and going. They can build their team and trust each other and work on it.” Sean also believes his people stay with the company because of their diverse range of projects. “The variety keeps it interesting and the mind active. The carpenters aren’t coming in to work every day framing a timber house. Every project is different. They’re learning a lot of new skills all the time, new building techniques, new finishes – they enjoy the challenge.” Just like they do with employees and suppliers, Tonic Projects also forms lasting relationships with customers. According to Sean, almost all of the company’s work these days is generated from past clients, be it referrals or repeat business. “We get a lot of repeat customers and referrals. We stand on the quality of our previous projects. THE CONSTRUCTION SOURCE AUSTRALIA

Sometimes work comes from people walking past or dining in one of our landmark projects in the iconic precincts of Brisbane or on the Gold Coast. They’ve seen and touched a lot of our projects. I believe it gives them comfort that we can deliver what they want. Our work is a testament to what we can do.” Looking forward, Sean’s vision for Tonic Projects is to make sure that testimony remains as strong as possible. He cares a lot more about doing good work than he cares about growth. “Our goal is not to conquer the world,” Sean says. “Our goal is to be consistent in doing fantastic and unique new projects. We want to maintain a stable platform for our team to do that.” Lastly, as a personal goal, Sean also hopes to do some different kinds of projects. In particular, he wants the company to do more small-scale developments of their own. Over the last 18 months, they have already developed four highend architectural homes in Brisbane, and they are now looking at doing that again in the Gold Coast. SEPTEMBER 2024

For more on Tonic Projects, their capabilities, and their past projects – and to get in touch with Sean and his team – visit https://www.tonicprojects.com.au/ THE CONSTRUCTION SOURCE AUSTRALIA

40 years of brick solutions

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With more than 40 years invested in the brick cutting industry, Empire Brick is Australia’s leader in brick and rail cladding systems. Throughout their history, they have developed unique brick cutting facilities and processes enabling them to cut almost any brick, Australian or imported, and they have built a reputation as problem solvers. No matter the project type or design challenge – whether the bricks are for a multi-story or commercial building, a shop, or home, or simply a feature wall – Empire Brick is capable of guiding their clients to the right brick choice and providing a solution to their problems. “We do everything from a couple square metres in a little Dominos Pizza takeout up to a 27-story prefabricated building, and everything in between,” says General Manager Coralee Simmons. Empire Brick was first founded in the early 1980s with the Mann family who were involved in the Vinyl Cladding industry and Pat Slee who was Sales Manager with Austral Bricks at that time. “We started talking and thought if we can do vinyl, why not brick cladding?” recalls Coralee. Pat left Austral back in 1983 to concentrate on the development and growth of Empire Brick and now owns the company and works as a technical consultant. Today, Empire Brick is based in Queensland, with a manufacturing facility in the city of Bundaberg. Whilst having recently closed their cutting plant in NSW, they are in the process of securing a new location and re establishing and expanding their production capacity very soon back in NSW. The company sells product across Australia, and THE CONSTRUCTION SOURCE AUSTRALIA

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they export overseas as well, with the majority of their international exports going to Japan. That activity in Japan goes back to the company’s inception. “When Pat started in the business he worked in the Australian market and there were not a lot of people who believed in the product. The attitude was ‘why do a part brick when we can do a full brick?’ He went over to the Tokyo home show and established the business more as an export business than as a local business.” The reason for the interest from Japan is the Japanese do a lot of prefabricated buildings, and because of their earthquake requirements they can’t have full bricks unless they have reinforcement in them. Lightweight brickwork is a better solution for their unique conditions. Historically, the company’s popularity in their native Australia came later, when Pat was approached by an Australian company to come back here to do a prefabricated project in Toowoomba. “They thought Empire Brick was an overseas company, and then they realized he was actually local,” she says. These days, Empire Brick does a mix of all types of jobs. They take on large scale commercial projects and smaller second story additions to housing in the residential market. They also supply a lot of shopfitters for internal shop fitouts. Coralee believes it is the flexibility with their system that sets them apart. “Also, because we are an independent brick cutter, we’re not aligned to any particular brick company, so we can cut anyone’s bricks,” she says. This gives their customers more choice to have what they want THE CONSTRUCTION SOURCE AUSTRALIA

for their project. A lot of the shopfitters who have used Empire Brick’s products are repeat customers. “We’ve worked with the same builder or developer on many commercial jobs,” says Coralee. “The developer talks directly to us. We’re a small private company so they talk to me or Pat, or our plant managers. When they ask a question, they’re talking to the people who can get them the right answer to that question.” The company’s staff of 12 are important to the success of Empire Brick. “It is a family-owned business so everyone’s family,” says Coralee. “We’re flexible. I can take my grandkids to school or go to an Easter parade with them. The workers in the plant are much the same. If a family need comes up, they can go do what they need to do.” This relationship extends to their installers as well. “Empire Brick has recommended installers who work with us. We’ve established those relationships over the years that we’ve taught people how to install our system and they’ve become proficient in it and we recommend them to be the installers,” says Coralee. The quality of Empire Brick’s materials and installation has been noticed by their peers, says Coralee. The IGLU residential student prefab building project in Melbourne was nominated for an award recently at the 2024 Think Brick Awards. This 27-story student accommodation is located in the centre of Melbourne. “That’s the thing about our product. Once the brickwork is up, you can’t tell it’s been done by us. It just looks like brickwork. That’s what we want it to do. You can’t tell if it’s thin brick or regular full brickwork.” SEPTEMBER 2024

Another perk of the IGLU project is no scaffolding was needed for installation, says Coralee. It was all prefabricated off-site in panels that were assembled from inside the building and put up on the outside. The project was done through Kane Constructions. “They chose our system because it is lightweight, it maximized floorspace, and it was easy to install,” says Coralee. “The panels were prefabricated offsite, brought in on trucks, and clicked together like Lego bricks.” Another award-winning project they were involved with were the two-building, 24-unit Kurraba Residences luxury apartments in Sydney, located in a prestigious harbour-side suburb less than five kilometres north of the CBD. “They’re beautiful buildings with scallop detailing on the outside,” says Coralee. “This project highlights the flexibility of our system, to be able to deal with the change of direction of the standard brickwork look, incorporating both stretcher and soldier bonds with curves also added in. It’s something a bit different.” This project received two Asia Property Awards in 2020 for developers Thirdi Group and Phoenix Property Investors – ‘Best Development Apartment Australia’ and ‘Best Apartment Development New South Wales,’ respectively. THE CONSTRUCTION SOURCE AUSTRALIA

Looking to the future, Empire Brick is focussed on maintaining the good service for their customers and doing what they say they’re going to do. They are also focused on mitigating their negative impact on the environment through activities like responsible recycling. “We try not to impact the environment in our processes. We do recycle our waste. When we cut the bricks, we have a recycling plant right next door to us. They crush it up and supply it as fill and decorative garden mulch.” According to Coralee, Empire Brick is also interested in becoming a more active participant in industry associations moving forward. Recently, the Australian organisation ‘Think Brick’ – which represents the clay brick and paver manufacturers of Australia – invited Empire Brick to join. “Until recently they didn’t include thin brick facing companies under their umbrella. Now they do and they’ve even produced a technical manual detailing the use and installation of thin brick facings,” says Coralee. Always getting better SEPTEMBER 2024

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Australia’s brick industry is worth $2.8 billion and employs over 30,000 Australians, and Think Brick is a valuable organization to be part of, says Coralee. Think Brick plays an active role in leading the brick industry towards netzero carbon emissions by promoting sustainable sourcing, energy efficient manufacturing and advocating for futurefocused, durable design. Coralee says that Empire Brick is excited to be a part of that push. Beyond that, Coralee says the future looks busy for Empire Brick. “We are keen to reestablish our Sydney facility so we can get back to having two plants running.” “We’re always looking at different methods of installing and improving our cutting methods to get better quality for our customers. The market is changing now from a standard brick format to a lot of different long formats, thinner bricks or larger format bricks and with our Empire Click system we want to push that and say we can accommodate that when other brick cladding systems can’t.” 115 Frank Mallan Drive, Lytton QLD 4178 Ph.: 07 3348 3333 | Mobile: 0428 328 387 www.graymorecouriers.com.au Graymore Brisbane offers a number of years of experience in the industry, we are very diverse in what we can offer from general freight transport to container delivery services. All our staff are very versatile in their approach, always thinking outside the box on ways to improve and ensure our customers receive the freight efficiently and in the most cost effective way. HAND MADE DRY PRESSED BRICKS Are you looking for a special brick shape with a unique size, colour or style? One that has a unique colour and texture variation only seen in handmade, dry pressed bricks? Look no further than Lincoln Brickworks. 894 Wingham Road, Wingham NSW 2429 p. 02 6553 4322 | e. sales@lincolnbricks.com.au | w. www.lincolnbricks.com.au SEPTEMBER 2024

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