OutletThe Official Reece Customer Update We welcome your feedback so please send any comments by e-mail to outlet@reece.com.au or by fax to (03) 9274 0131.

In t

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e Earthmoving equipment goes green

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WorldSkills Australia hits Perth

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THE CRACKLoo paper truths

P04Hello clean pool

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We all know that quoting jobs and keeping track of external costs is a major part of your business. And an important part of this is having quick and easy access to the most up to date product prices. Our customers have always had the ability to receive customised product price lists from us but with My Price Files this process is about to become a whole lot easier.

My Price Files allows you to generate price lists for a customised or complete range of Reece products when you need them. Simply log in to My Account, head to the My Price Files section within Products & Pricing and select one of three options:

1. Minimal Products Products you have purchased in the last 12 months

2. Typical Products The most popular products purchased within the last 12 months

3. Complete Products All products within the Reece system

Once you’ve selected the type of price file you need you’ll receive an email with the price file attached in CSV format. The great thing about CSV format is that you can import the file into the software or application you’re using to either generate quotes or to keep track of costs.

We can even send you a monthly reminder email to let you know when the new price files are ready to be generated, meaning you’ll always have the latest prices at your fingertips when you need them.

ISSUE#151September 2014

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All your prices anytime.My Price Files

My Price Files is just another example of how My Account works for you 24/7 | Find out more at reece.com.au/myaccount

The Block is back for another jam-packed season with Reece on board again as official product suppliers. This time an entire office building is the target of the Blockheads manic renovating efforts.

The Glasshouse (as it’s been dubbed) is located in Melbourne’s Prahran, and features five teams of two completely gutting and renovating the biggest ever project in The Block’s nine-season history. There’s even a plumber in the mix!

Simon Voss and his brother Shannon are off to a cracking start having been crowned winners of this season’s first room reveal with their minimalist Scandi-look guest bedroom. Simon is a 28-year-old plumber from Sydney and we’re excited to have him representing the trade.

At the end of week two we saw the Blockheads revealing their master bathrooms and the judges were seriously impressed with what they saw, describing them as the best in the show’s history. Shaynna was blown away, while Darren praised all teams for their choices in everything from tiles to tapware.

After finishing second last in the guest bedroom room reveal in week one, married duo Chris and Jenna took out week two’s top room honours pocketing $10,000, with a clean sweep of perfect 10s for their “truly world class” and “million dollar” bathroom. Darren and Dee’s modern provincial-feel bathroom came in a close second with The Block judge Neale, remarking that it stood up against some of the best he’d seen in his job as a magazine editor.

Off the back of the success of The Block and its ability to demonstrate to consumers just what’s possible when it comes to bathrooms and kitchens, we’re predicting a serious jump in renovation interest among viewers, which can only be positive for the residential plumbers out there. And, there’s no doubt that The Block demonstrates to the home renovation market just how important it is to have a licensed plumber, like Simon, on board for any bathroom renovation.

To find out more or to view the amazing bathroom reveals including the Reece products that were used head to the Reece The Block website reece.com.au/theblock

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As part of our ongoing efforts to highlight the risks of ‘giving it a go’ without the assistance of a licensed plumber, our annual DIY Disasters competition has been seeking out Australia’s worst DIY plumbing gaffes for more than 15 years. There is never a shortage of DIYers out there finding new and ridiculous ways to put themselves and their loved ones in danger with their amateur plumbing efforts.

In the lead up to the DIY Disasters 2014 competition we added something a little bit different. Over the past few years, you guys have sent us heaps of amazing DIY Disasters photos. So many in fact that we decided to create an entirely new competition out of them. We called it the DIY Disasters Write a Headline Competition.

All you had to do for a shot at $1,500 or a Big Dog prize pack was choose your favourite plumbing disaster photo on our site, come up with an entertaining headline and muster the most votes from the public.

We had a staggering amount of entries, with over 1000 at the close of competition on July 31st. Thanks to everyone for submitting so many fantastic entries. To check out the entries along with all others head to reece.com.au/diydisasters.

DIY Disasters 2014 will again kick off later this year. Stay tuned for all competition details.

The Block is back with the best-ever bathrooms!

Goodbye winter – hello to spring and a clean pool!

dIY disasters Write a Headline Competition Wraps Up

THE BlOCK GlASSHOUSE SPECS

3540m2in total size

70m2of lock-up storage space

254m2of ground floor retail and commercial space

5 apartments 1underground carpark1980s inner-suburbs

Melbourne office block

It is that time of the year again. Winter is on the way out and it’s starting to warm up. Warm weather goes arm and arm with lazy days in the pool, but chances are your pool or your clients’ pools are looking more like the murky Ganges on a good day rather than a blue lagoon. And while the pool may not look as bad as the Ganges, the reality is that a pool left untreated can cause real harm to family and friends, with a bunch of nasty bugs and bacteria posing serious health risks. The good news is that Reece Irrigation can provide free pool water testing and all the products and equipment needed to get those pools in a perfect and safe condition.

Pool Testing

Maintenance is vital in keeping any pool ready to use. Reece Irrigation provides accurate and fast on the spot water tests. Just grab a sample bottle in store, fill it up and drop it back to your local Irrigation branch. Once the test is complete, we can provide you with an easy to understand report along with a tailored product prescription and maintenance plan.

Products

We also offer a range of products to assist with keeping your pool looking its best including chemicals, pumps, filters, chlorinators, cleaners, cleaning accessories and heaters. Our branches stock a wide range of products from leading brands including AstralPool, Waterco, Pentair, Davey, Zodiac and more.

Head down to your local Reece Irrigation branch or visit reece.com.au/pools to find out more about getting your pool in tip-top shape for the warmer weather.

Free water

testing

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The past few years have seen a change in attitudes and requirements when it comes to heavy earthmoving equipment. Apathy has given way to a new found environmental awareness, with many operators carefully considering their impact on the surrounding environment.

They don’t want ‘dirty’ equipment that chews through fuel at a staggering rate and pollutes the environment. As a result the demand for environmentally friendly, efficient and affordable heavy machinery continues to increase and many manufacturers of heavy machinery are working to develop equipment that specifically meets these green demands.

Hybrid powered cars have long been popular amongst those seeking a viable alternative to traditional fuel guzzling engines, and hybrid technology alternatives are starting to appear in the construction industry too. Known for their efficiency, low fuel consumption and the potential for increased productivity, many manufacturers are developing hybrid-powered offerings in order to remain competitive in an increasingly environmentally aware world. Hybrid equipment is becoming more and more popular in this sector, and is representative of years of innovation, research and development in the technology.

Manufacturers such as Hitachi are now recognising that 90% or more of [global] CO2 emissions are from hydraulic excavator products. This takes into account the energy

expenditure in their manufacturing, transport, use and disposal as well as the fuel they consume when they’re actually on the job.

In response to this stark realisation, Hitachi Construction Machinery (Australia) has announced the release of the first of its hybrid hydraulic excavators to the Australian market. The new Hybrid models Zh210-A and ZH210LC-A represent the start of a new generation of Hitachi excavators.

Komatsu’s also responded to the growing trend towards hybrid earthmoving equipment with its hydraulic excavator model, the HB215LC-1, incorporating regenerative braking, and demonstrating a mostly electrically based hybrid system. With the 35-tonne class excavator enjoying a large market in Australia, Komatsu Australia has recently announced the release of the HB335LC-1, a 35-tonne version of its award-winning Hybrid excavator. Komatsu claims that this model will see fuel savings of up to 20 per cent.

It’s great to see manufacturers of this type of machinery creating solutions that minimise the equipment’s environmental footprint, and as a result, contributing to a greener construction industry.

To read more about developments in hybrid construction equipment visit constructionequipment.com

Earthmoving equipment goes green

WorldSkills Australia (WSA) is a not-for-profit organisation which aims to develop and nurture the trade based skills of young Australians. They do this through the celebration of vocational based education and training and skill-based competitions, which are held at regional, national and international levels throughout the year.

The WorldSkills Australia National Competition, to be held in Perth in September will see 500 of the country’s best trainees, apprentices and students showcase their skills in a range of competitions in the hope of taking home the title of ‘Nation’s Best’. In the lead up to the event, WSA commissioned a research survey on Western Australian attitudes towards trade based careers, which revealed:

• FourinfiveWestAustralianssaidatrade-based career was something to aspire to.

• ThemajorityofyoungAustraliansbelievea university degree provides more career options, with 36 per cent of 21 to 30 year olds saying they’d encourage a degree for their own children. That compared with just 19 per cent of people over 60 who said a degree was more important.

• Despitetheminingboomandsix-figuresalariesfor some, three-quarters of respondents had not considered a vocational or trade career.

• Oneinfivepeopledidn’tknowbricklayingorplumbing were offered at TAFE level.

For many there continues to be a stigma surrounding a job that requires TAFE or vocational based training.

“It’s a perception issue,” says WorldSkills Australia’s Chief Executive Mark Callaghan. “It reveals a problem that needs to be addressed – we’re not educating people on the fulfilling pathways that vocational and educational training (VET) can offer,” he said.

“There are many unseen trades and skills that keep Western Australia running, and there’s a misguided view that these careers are less valuable or less skilled.”

Through its work, WorldSkills Australia aims to put trades such as plumbing on a pedestal, and show Australians that they can offer rewarding careers and pay good money.

Running in tandem with the 2014 WorldSkills Australia National Competition will be the state’s largest employment event, the Skills West expo, offering organisations, employers and educational bodies the opportunity to showcase their careers and education opportunities to the state’s current and future workforce.

Reece is proud to sponsor the 2014 WorldSkills Australia National Competition, and to find out more visit worldskills.org.au

Should more people consider a trade-based career? WorldSkills Australia certainly thinks so…

Reece products included in BIM-MEPAUS initiativeIntegration of mechanical, electrical and plumbing services (MEP) in new buildings has long been a time consuming and costly design process. Often it is not until the construction and installation phase of a project where issues are discovered, requiring further redesign and amendments on the fly.

Building information modelling (BIM) was created to improve MEP Design by providing a 3D view of the design, allowing any issues to be discovered at the design phase of a project. BIM provides a computable building model, holistic design and parametric change management of the MEP design.

Backed by some key building industry players, the BIM-MEPAUS (Building Information Modelling – Mechanical Electrical Pluming – Australia) is an initiative put in place to help develop best practice building information modelling, supporting integrated project delivery.

The key objective of this initiative is to drive the transition of the mainstream construction sector towards adopting whole-of-life standards, protocols, models and workflows that define

building services activities and integrated project delivery tailored to Australian requirements.

The BIM-MEPAUS program models a building from cradle to grave integrating all mechanical, electrical and plumbing systems and as a result making it easier to understand the full building life cycle.

As an avid supporter of leading industry programs and initiatives, Reece is proud to have parts, valves and fittings from Conex, Dura and CTS Flanges accessible through the BIM-MEPAUS interface.

We all know how tricky it can be managing the MEP requirements for multiple projects so one of the great benefits of having access to our products through BIM-MEPAUS is the ability to generate an order directly into the Reece system, saving you time that would otherwise be spent placing orders.

To check out videos on how our products can be used within 3D design modelling software head to reece.com.au/outlet Or to find out more about BIM-MEPAUS head to thinkbimmepaus.com.au

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Main Price Changes For the full list of price changes or if you have any queries, please see your Reece Branch Manager or visit www.reece.com.au/outlet for further updates.

In The PipelineProducts for smarter plumbingPlumbing is changing and there’s a lot more to it than pipes, trenches and taps. In The Pipeline keeps you up-to-date on a wide range of products.

The Crack

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Plasson Large Bore EF Branch Saddles are now available from Reece Civil. These saddles are suitable for pipe diameters ranging from DN250-DN800.

Key features include:

• WidediameterrangeDN250-400, DN 450 - 800

• FullboreoutletsDN90,110,125&160

• Lightweightandfastandsimpletoinstall

• Largefusionareas

• Useofaninnovativefieldfriendlyclampingsystem which is designed to obtain full contact along the welding zone, even when pipe is oval or deformed

• PlassonSmartFuseweldingsystems:

- One weld time -10°C to +45°C

- Auto weld recognition (with Plasson Control Boxes)

- Dynamic monitoring of welding parameters

• Simpleweldintegritytestcanbeperformed using a plumber’s Pressure Testing Pump to check weld before core cutting

• Tighteningtorqueindicatorandembedded heating coil

To find out more, head to reece.com.au/civil

Supplier Products % Increase Date Effective

Cement Australia Cement Various % 1 September 2014

Clearpond Pond Equipment Various % 1 September 2014

Con-X Civil Electrical & Communications Conduit Various % 1 September 2014

CTS Fabrication Flanges only 10% 1 September 2014

Geofabrics Australasia Drain Cell Various % 1 September 2014

RW Sales Flue and fittings Various % 1 September 2014

Vinidex Draincoil pipe & fittings only 10% 1 September 2014

Yatala Plastics Draincoil pipe & fittings only 10% 1 September 2014

Zip Heaters Boilers and chillers Various % 1 September 2014

Daylite Skylights Skylights - VIC only Various % 1 October 2014

Everhard Industries Drainage products 3-6.5% 1 October 2014

HR Products Irrigation products 0-5% 1 October 2014

Plumbcrete Drainage products 0-5% 1 October 2014

Repelec Tools and hardware Various % 1 October 2014

Seeley Spares Heating and cooling spares Various % 1 October 2014

Zetco Valves Valves 3% 1 October 2014

Curious truths about loo paperA staple in most households, toilet paper is one of life’s luxuries that most of us couldn’t live without. This month we’ve rolled up some curious truths regarding the humble poo ticket purely for your amusement. Enjoy!

• Thefirstrecordeduseoftoiletpaperwas in 6th Century China.

• Historically,whatyouusetowipedepended on your income level – wealthy Romans used wool soaked in rose water and French royalty used lace.

• Otherthingsthatwereusedbeforetoiletpaper include: hay, corncobs, sticks, stones, sand, moss, hemp, wool, husks, fruit peels, ferns, sponges, seashells, and broken pottery (ouch!).

• Packagedtoiletpaperwasn’tsoldintheUnited States until 1857, and it wasn’t until 1935 when “splinter-free” toilet paper became available.

• Americansuseanaverageof8.6sheetsof toilet paper per trip to the bathroom, and when asked what necessity they would bring to a desert island, 49% said toilet paper before food.

• 70-75%oftheworldstilldoesn’tusetoilet paper because it is too expensive or there is not sufficient plumbing.

• In1973JohnnyCarsoncausedatoiletpaper shortage. He said as a joke that there was a shortage, which there wasn’t, until everyone believed him and ran out to buy up the supply. It took three weeks for some stores to get more stock!

• Themostexpensivetoiletpaperin the world is from Portuguese brand Renova – Renova is three-ply, perfumed, costs $3 per roll and comes in several colours including black, red, blue and green.

Expanding the networknEW STORES

HvAC-R Brookvale25 Orchard Road, Brookvale NSW 2100

Ph (02) 9909 6550Fax (02) 9909 6559Email Brookvale.Hvac-R.NSW@reece.com.au

The Australian Anti-dumping Commission investigates alleged dumping and subsidisation of goods imported into Australia and imposes duties to protect the local manufacturing industry.

On 18 March 2014, the Commission initiated an investigation into the alleged dumping and/or subsidisation of deep drawn stainless steel sinks exported to Australia from China.

After meeting with various suppliers, the Commission recently issued a preliminary finding which has the effect of requiring the payment of securities to cover the interim dumping duty that is anticipated to be payable once the Commission makes a final determination. These measures apply to applicable sinks both shipped and landed into Australia on and after 13th of August. The value of the security varies depending on the supplier and can be anywhere up to an extra 61.5%.

The investigation is not scheduled to conclude until November and there may be further variations to the Commission’s preliminary measures.

This all means that we can expect to see the price of various sinks in the Australian market increase where they meet the Commission’s criteria so it is important to ask us about our price changes before specifying your upcoming work.

There will be some products that are not affected such as granite sinks, fabricated sinks, clay sinks, or of course, anything made outside China.

For more information on these Anti-Dumping measures, you can visit the Public Record section for the case on the Australian Government website at adcommission.gov.au/cases/ EPR238.asp

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Anti-dumping Commission – deep drawn Stainless Steel SinksWhat is it and what does it all mean?