This year the Contractor of the Year Award was one of the most competitive categories in the awards program.
Sponsored by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Air Conditioning Australia, there are five Finalists. They are:
Coolphase Pty Ltd general manager, Ricky Gatti, believes that apprentices and training are the key to the sustainability of the refrigeration industry. Coolphase has15 apprentices across the refrigeration and electrical trades. This is in addition to an executive team of six that manage different segments of the company.
As supermarket specialists Coolphase is proud of its major refit projects such as a full store replacement of all refrigeration equipment at Woolworths in Cannon Hill, Queensland. As well as the full scale refurbishment, Coolphase replaced synthetic gas to Co2, setting up a subcritical cascade system. The 30-year-old company has always been community minded sponsoring local sports teams, donating air conditioners to local schools, fundraising and sponsoring the apprentice of the year award at the local TAFE.
O’Connor Services managing director, Andrew O’Connor, is committed to industry leading innovation in design, coordination, construction and commissioning of complex mechanical services projects. In fact the company is well known for its commitment to BIM and ability to model with an incredibly high level of detail.
A recent high profile project is the Uni SA, Cancer Research Institute on North Terrace, Adelaide. It is the university’s flagship building and an iconic landmark for Adelaide. O’Connor began the company in 1999 with a focus on innovative excellence combining disciplined processes with a creative outlook.
It’s fair to say that O’Connor is a pioneer when it comes to contracting. He is the founder and driving force behind Specialist Contractors SA, which aims to improve the imbalance between a main contractor and subcontractors when entering into a contract.
Armed with a $4,000 loan from his parents and an old Rodeo ute that didn’t even have air conditioning or a radio, and Sutton Refrigeration director, Robert Sutton, was on his way. After completing his apprenticeship Sutton and his wife decided to set up their own business in 2011. Back then the business did most of the refrigeration and air conditioning work in the Robinvale/Euston area in regional Victoria. This included up to 15 coolroom projects a year ranging from a stand alone unit to multistage racks.
A year ago Sutton teamed up with another refrigeration contractor to service the Mildura region as well. So in addition to owning Sutton Refrigeration, he has a 50% stake in Congress and Sutton. A big focus for Sutton right now is energy efficiency and natural refrigerants to help customers reduce running costs. “Our business philosophy is simple. When our customers need us we are there. We also endeavour to do the job right the first time. Nothing is ever a problem and we do our best to be very competitive price wise on every job without any quality compromises.” Not surprisingly, there is plenty of repeat business.
It’s hard to believe that Simmonds Heating and Cooling director, Mark Simmonds, is only 33 years old. On the very day Mark Simmonds completed his apprenticeship he set up his own business.
He began by working out of his mother’s back shed and today has a showroom on one of Adelaide’s busiest roads. Simmonds began his business with one vehicle but today has 11 vehicles supporting a huge service division and a team of installers. His installation team has just completed upgrading HVAC systems for a large school in the western suburbs of Adelaide as well as 50 apartments in North Adelaide.
Simmonds hard work was recognised in 2017 when he won the rising star award at Actron Air’s dealer awards.
This year he qualified for Mitsubishi Electric’s dealer awards for sales exceeding $350,000. To successfully manage his business today Simmonds employs a sales manager, an office manager and more than 10 technicians and apprentices. Colleagues claim Simmonds is well known for his kindness, which is one of the reasons why he has such a loyal customer base. For example, he is known to give huge discounts to the elderly during heatwaves.
Mission Air Technologies director, Alex Wenz, is a true technician. Wenz set up his own business in 2008 and his focus has always been on quality workmanship. In fact his biggest irritation is going to a site for the first time and discovering a shoddy installation which requires a complete makeover. “Short cuts give the entire industry a bad name,” he says.
Even as an apprentice he worked in various areas of the trade. In his second year he won the Brian James Award before being sent to China to work on the Nansha Ferries. There aren’t many areas of the trade he hasn’t covered from residential and commercial through to ships and wineries. Wenz said he chose the name Mission Air because most jobs end up turning into a mission.
Speak to some of his customers in Perth, such as GE Healthcre or the St John Ambulance (WA) and they will explain why he is such a great contractor. “He is very straight to the point and always fair when it comes to customers, employees and fellow colleagues.”