ARBS 2014 Industry Awards announced

As part of the 2014 Air Conditioning, Refrigeration and Building Services (ARBS 2014) exhibition, held last week at the Melbourne Exhibition and Convention Centre, the ARBS 2014 Industry Awards were presented at a gala dinner held in the Savoy Ballroom of the Grand Hyatt Hotel.

More than 450 representatives of the industry were present to congratulate the winners of the prestigious awards and to induct five nominees into the ARBS Hall of Fame. The award winners were announced by industry luminaries and presented by Ian Hopkins, chairman of the ARBS board.

Young Achiever: Brett Saunders

Brett Saunders, the 32-year-old founder and managing director of Hiflow Industries, is passionate about business and the HVAC&R industry, aspiring to be the industry’s leader in providing exceptional service delivery to clients.

Outstanding Service and Maintenance Provider: Precise Air

Precise Air prides itself on establishing collaborative relationships with its customers, implementing programs to reduce ad hoc calls, increasing and/or maintaining NABERS ratings and improving the safety of its customers, employees and the general public.

ARBS Product Excellence Award: Hercules Packaged Air Conditioning Unit - ActronAir

ActronAir revolutionised the >100 kW rooftop packaged unit category with the Hercules product. The range has been optimised for seasonal energy-efficient performance. A recent trial in a Sydney shopping centre showed energy consumption savings of up to 69% over a comparable unit at part-load, with overall savings of 40% during the period.

ARBS Project Excellence Award: Queen Elizabeth II Courts Of Law, Brisbane - Aurecon Australia

The QE II Courts of Law project will see the transformation of an entire block between George, Roma and Turbot Streets in the Brisbane CBD, with the new building linking with a major public square and the existing Brisbane Magistrate’s Court. Aurecon provided multidisciplinary engineering design services for the $570 million project. One of the key features of the building is the dynamically adaptable, double-skin facade which provides the building with a practical solution to privacy, sunlight penetration control and enhanced energy efficiency.

Refrigeration Project Excellence: Coles Supermarket, Hallam

Through the Hallam (Vic) project, a 20% reduction in energy consumption was realised through better engineering design of refrigeration and air-conditioning plants along with initiatives in lighting, mechanical services and water and waste management. Hallam has now become Coles’ base model with a focus on obtaining 4 star Green Star rating for new Coles stores.

Outstanding Education/Training: Web-Based Training (Technicians) - Daikin Australia

Daikin Australia’s web-based training course offers technicians access to online training anytime and anywhere they have internet access. Courses include Basic Air Conditioning, New Refrigerants and Troubleshooting.

Hall of Fame inductees

Alan Woodhouse

Alan Woodhouse was chairman of the Association of Fluorocarbon Consumers and Manufacturers and instrumental in designing the HCFC phase-out in the mid-1990s. He was also involved in the formation of Refrigeration Reclaim Australia, the National Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Council (now the Australian Refrigeration Council) and was awarded the Stratospheric Ozone Protection Award in 2004 by the US Environmental Protection Agency for leadership in Australia’s responsible use of fluorocarbon refrigerants.

Alan Obrart

Alan Obrart has been involved with various professional associations, institutes and industry bodies, having been an office bearer for Engineers Australia, president of AIRAH and fulfilling various councillor positions with RACCA and AMCA. He remains active in the industry in the Society of Building Services Engineers, the Australian Building Codes Board Energy Efficiency Working Group, the Green Building Council of Australia’s Education Committee and the NSW joint CIBSE/SBSE committee.

Albert Watson

Albert Watson’s peers have described him as a modest, unassuming man whose contributions to the industry are a testament to his knowledge, commitment and leadership over a career that has spanned decades, including more than 25 years of service to AMCA SA where he served as president on two occasions. He has been influential in the development and uptake of BIM, and the driving force behind the South Australian BIM User Group.

Bill Siganto

Bill Siganto is considered one of the most influential Australian HVAC&R engineers of recent times. He helped pioneer the use of innovative engineering solutions during design and construction, to help further traditional air-conditioning practices. After joining AIRAH in 1964, he served as president from 1975-1975 - a time of substantial change in the construction industry as commercial high-rise buildings came to prominence.

Kevin Lee

With a career spanning almost four decades and manufacturing, Kevin Lee has played key roles in the development of HVAC&R standards and regulations in Australia. He has acted as chairman for a variety of committees responsible for the development of the CO₂, hydrocarbons and ammonia training courses for TAFE, the AIRAH Flammable Refrigerants Safety Guide and connecting AREMA with international industry colleagues through membership of ICARHMA.