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12 | HIRE
AND
RENTAL
NEWS
| MAY 2012
INDUSTRY NEWS
Customers who buy Honda invest in
product assembled by local workers
Australian compressed-air
specialist, Sullair Australia has
appointed Fred Funnell as its
new Managing Director.
With a diverse background
and expertise in sales,
operations, and governance
across a spectrum of industries,
Fred Funnell will be responsible
for providing leadership,
strategic direction and
operational implementation for
Sullair Australia.
Building on foundations
developed by his predecessor,
Fred aims to ensure Sullair
Australia continues to operate
from a sustainable cost base
while maintaining service levels.
Prior to joining Sullair
Australia, Fred held progressive
roles within Shell for 17 years,
most recently as General
Manager for the company’s
Bitumen Business across the
Asia-Pacific region. Fred
redefined business strategy
and implemented numerous
efficiency initiatives, which
resulted in improved
operational performance and
profitability for Shell.
Sullair Australia’s recent
moves towards centralised
customer management and
investments in efficiency tools,
such as Customer Relationship
Management software, are of
specific interest to Fred.
“We will continue to
streamline
our business
processes and
leverage our local
manufacturing for
major customer
projects,” he said.
With the ISO
14001 and OSHAS
18001 certification
recently achieved
by Sullair
Australia, EH&S
performance are
additional areas
of keen interest.
“For me, safety is a core
value,” he said. “I look forward
to engaging with employees
at all levels to ensure our
Honda Manufacturing
Australia’s (HMA) new premises
in Somerton, Melbourne
has surpassed a half-million
lawnmower production
milestone.
The HMA’s 25 local
employees assemble units
on-site for Australian and
export markets including New
Zealand, South Africa, Egypt,
India, the Middle East, the
South Pacific and Asia.
Apart from lawnmowers, five
brushcutter models are also
assembled at the facility.
HMA moved into its purpose-
built, 17,500m2 Somerton
facility in 2009 to meet
growing manufacturing and
warehousing requirements.
Local focus drives Honda Manufacturing
Honda Power Equipment
National Sales Manager, Ray
Briffa, said the brand was proud
to support local business and
create job opportunities for
Australians.
“We also endeavour to use
Australian parts where possible
in all of our lawnmowers.”
Work carried out at Somerton
includes sub-assembly of blades,
catchers and smaller parts in
readiness for full assembly
on the production line, all
subjected to Honda’s rigorous
quality control procedures.
“We produce the most
advanced lawn mowers in the
world to ensure our customers
receive the highest quality
product money can buy.”
Contact: 1300 1 46632 or
visit: ww.honda.com.au
HR
New hand at Sullair Australia helm
Sullair Australia’s new Managing Director, Fred Funnell
workplace safety maintains its
world class standard.”
Contact: 1300 COMPRESSOR
or visit: www.sullair.com.au
HR
A new addition has been
made to the Kennards Hire
Museum, a beautifully restored
EDCO concrete grinder which
was the first model grinder
hired by Kennards in the1960s.
At that time, Andy and
Neville Kennard, who were
running the business started
by their father in 1948, saw the
grinders in the US, and realised
how good they would be for
customers back home.
Grinding back the years at Kennards Museum
L to r: Gus Kennard, Andy Kennard,
Mark Zimmer in the Kennards Hire
Museum
The machines were retired,
and disappeared, many years
ago, but Gus Kennard, who has
taken the place of his father,
Andy, on the Kennards Hire
board, was determined their
museum should have one.
Gus eventually found one in
a scrap heap at SoCal Rentals
in California. Built in 1965, it
was rusty but in surprisingly
good condition, with no major
defects.
Jason Stanczyk and Leo Swan
from EDCO in the US, which
continues to supply Kennards
shipped the machine from
the west coast to the east
coast, fully restored it with the
original EDCO colours, and then
shipped it to Australia where a
surprise presentation was made
to Andy.
The condition of the
machine was also a surprise to
Kennards’ national equipment
manager Mark Zimmer, who is
celebrating 40 years with the
company, and remembers their
original grinders very well.
HR