With L, M and H Class models, Metabo’s ASR 35 AutoClean Plus range of all-purpose vacuum cleaners is designed to help tradesmen maintain a healthy working environment.

Construction generates several different types of dust, many of which pose a serious health risk to both tool operator and others on site. Especially as fine dust can hang in the air for many hours after generation. For example, drilling, cutting, grinding or polishing concrete, brick, mortar, tiles, stone or other masonry, generates dust that contains crystalline silica particles, commonly called silica dust. Silica dust particles between 1 and 0.1μm (1,000μm = 1mm) in size are close to invisible and are so small that they can be breathed deep into the lungs, where they can cause irreparable damage. These small particles are called Respirable Crystalline Silica (RCS) and are known to cause diseases such as silicosis (an irreversible stiffening of the lungs), lung cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and renal (kidney) cancer. Scary stuff if you are exposed to masonry dusts all day at work! To reduce the risk of exposure to RCS dust, the various state government workplace health and safety offices around Australia recommend the use of industrial vacuum cleaners that comply with either the Class M or H requirements in AS/NZS 60335.2.69:2017 Household and similar electrical appliances – Safety – Particular requirements for wet and dry vacuum cleaners, including power brush, for industrial and commercial use (IEC 60335.2.69 ED 5, MOD). Metabo’s ASR 35 AutoClean Plus range of all-purpose vacuum cleaners includes models that comply with the Class L, M and H requirements. They are all designed for extraction direct from a connected power tool and have a power socket for that power tool, that allows the vacuum to start up automatically when the connected tool is in operation and shut down automatically when it is turned off. The M and H Class machines, complete with anti-static hose, will also continue to operate for around 10 seconds after the tool is  turned off, to ensure that the suction hose is completely empty of dust. All three models come complete with the AutoClean Plus function, that electromagnetically shakes the filter cartridges clean when the suction performance falls below the optimum level, allowing for automatic filter cleaning while in continuous use. The volume flow indicator will light up when the container is full and/or if the suction hose is blocked. A sound is also activated, in the case of the M and H Class machines. All three models are suitable for both dry and wet vacuuming. Each machine will shut down when the maximum fill level of liquid is reached. Each model can also be fitted with either paper or fleece filter bags, for applications that generate small amounts of fine dust. For applications that generate large amounts of fine dust and for H Class dusts, a PE disposal bag must be used. Metabo also offer a range of extraction adapters such as the Metabo GED 125 grinding shroud, CED 125 Plus cutting shroud, DDE 14 and DDE 72 drilling extraction adapters that, when connected to a Metabo tool and industrial vacuum cleaner, extract dust from the generation point, before it escapes into the air. These adapters provide the perfect partner for the M Class ASR 35 M ACP and H Class ASR 35 H ACP vacuum cleaners, especially when working with masonry. These powerful 1400 W vacuum cleaners have a 35 Litre collection container and come with 8 m power cables, to give you plenty of reach. The L Class ASR 35 L ACP comes standard with a 35 mm diameter, 3.5 m generalpurpose suction hose, whereas the M Class ASR 35 M ACP and H Class ASR 35 H ACP models come with a 35 mm diameter, 4.0 m anti-static hose to prevent static charge build up. All three machines provide plenty of suction with 248 hPa (mbar) of vacuum pressure and 3660 l/min of air output, and each model’s large wheels and casters make manoeuvring easy. Metabo’s ASR 35 AutoClean Plus range of all-purpose vacuum cleaners provides a solution for all the major dust classes and applications. Although they work best with Metabo tools, they also work with other tool brands with correctly fitted dust attachments.

Contact your nearest CSS Member Store for more information.

The electrical industry is one of the most progressive trade occupations. It is especially important to be up to date and to always have the right tool on hand. KNIPEX specialty pliers are carefully designed and manufactured in Germany, always focusing on the needs of the user which is vital when working on electrical installations. In this case, the electrician holding the pliers is also holding his life in his hands. KNIPEX insulated tools therefore not only meet statutory requirements, but also offer the greatest possible safety, reliability and performance.

REGULATED BY STANDARDS

Only trained professionals are allowed to work on live installations. Requirements that have to be met by tools used in live work are determined by DIN EN / IEC 60900. KNIPEX tools which bear the special 1000V mark are all approved for work up to 1000V AC. Every insulated tool undergoes, one by one, a dielectric strength at 10,000V AC before it is sold. This means that work in the area up to 1000 V AC has a safety buffer of 10 times the permitted maximum limit. Other procedures check the reliability of the insulation towards heat, cold, tensile and impact force. In addition to the KNIPEX quality assurance system certified to ISO 9001, external institutes and test centres such as the VDE guarantee that all VDE criteria have been satisfied. The insulation provides safety when handling electrical installations. In addition, the mechanical properties of the basic tool, such as cutting performance, precision and stability all form part of the overall quality of the insulated tools.

Professionals trust their tools, and with KNIPEX insulated pliers users can depend on safety, quality and durability.

Impact-A SDS plus – SC4 Drill Bits have a SOLID CARBIDE head. They are the longest lasting masonry drills in the world and capable of drilling the toughest materials. They are considered one of the best when it comes to drilling into reinforced concrete, when using a hammer drill or a rotary hammer with SDS plus holders. The SOLID CARBIDE 4 cutter head is composed of the highest-quality carbide, allowing it to resist high impact force when used with any rotary hammer power tools. It also has an extremely sharp pyramid shaped centring tip, providing stability at the start of drilling. The bond between the head and the flute is critical to the quality and performance of the bit. The SDS plus – SC4 Bits have undergone martensitic transformation, which creates the highest bond of carbide to steel, ensuring the carbide head remains attached to the flute, even under extreme pressure. Designed with the visibility of a wear mark indicating if the diameter of the hole is still in tolerance for metal anchor setting, the SDS plus – SC4 SOLID CARBIDE 4 cutter head, can break through any reinforced concrete. The SOLID CARBIDE four head cutting design allows for a neat true hole, providing no obstruction in the hole and creates a firm fit for fasteners, rebar or other bits that need to be inserted. As proof of quality, the drill bit bears the test mark of the PGM Masonry Drill Bit Association Board, guaranteeing compliance with tight tolerances, exact drilling and the firm hold of fixings. The flutes on the SC4 Bit have been designed for effective dust removal, allowing the dust to be removed quickly to reduce wear and tear on the drill head and flute. This also prevents drag on the flute as it prevents dust build up between the bit and hole wall. Having less drag relieves the load pressure off the power tool and bit, extending the life of them both.

Impact-A SDS plus – SC4 SOLID CARBIDE Bits are designed and made in Germany and distributed exclusively via CSS group members.

The new Bordo chamfering tool, E-Z Chamfer, hit the market late last year and the company has seen huge demand for this unique product. As Cameron Brown from Bordo explained, the reason for E-Z Chamfer’s popularity is that it answered an unmet need in the market. Before E-Z Chamfer, how did people chamfer the end of some threaded rod they had just cut to length? How did they chamfer the end of a rusty bolt they needed to screw a nut on to? How did they chamfer a dowel, some rebar or a section of pipe?
The short answer is ‘not very satisfactorily’. Generally, people used a hand file or grinding disc, which was time-consuming and left an uneven edge. True innovation is about simplification and about finding solutions to problems most people in the market haven’t even identified as needing solving. But a unique new product doesn’t come together overnight. E-Z Chamfer represents two years of development work and plenty of trial and error to get the product just right. Head of engineering development at Bordo, John Lojko, said that getting the cutting rakes correct was critical as E-Z Chamfer needed to be suitable for a wide variety of materials. Bordo consulted widely with end users during the design process. They were unanimous in saying they required a tool that was not just capable of chamfering mild steel, wood and plastics, but also very hard materials, in particular Grade 12.9 super hard bolts. A critical component of the solution was to manufacture E-Z Chamfer from M2 High Speed Steel, the same material Bordo Quicksilver and Delta Point drill bits are manufactured from. And by machining the cutting slots into a pentagon-shaped cone, Bordo was able to create five cutting chamfering slots to increase cutting efficiency and tool life. While advertised as chamfering products up to 18mm, in fact, by using a circular motion, E-Z Chamfer will chamfer round products up to 24mm. To see E-Z Chamfer in action go to: www.bordo.com.au/videos/ezchamfer

The M18 FUEL ONE-KEY High Torque Impact Wrench allow users the opportunity to finally eliminate hoses and cords once and for all. Available in 3 different models; ½” Friction Ring, ½” Pin Detent and a ¾” Friction Ring – the new models are designed with a four-mode DRIVE CONTROL™ feature, providing the user with the versatility to switch between modes to match the power and speed to the application at hand. A new Bolt Removal Mode provides maximum nut-busting torque to remove the most stubborn bolts or nuts and, as soon as it senses the bolt or nut is broken free, the tool then shifts to 750RPM for unmatched control when removing fasteners.

Through ONE-KEY, users will be able to Customise, Track, and Manage the new impact wrenches. ONE-KEY Tool Customisation gives users access to a range of setups on selected models like custom drive control, lug nut mode, and concrete anchor mode:

• Custom Drive Control: Adjust the RPMs to deliver more control for delicate fastening applications. Adjust the torque and RPMs to achieve repeatable torque results from repetitive fastening applications.
• Lug Nut Mode: Eliminate the need for torque sticks by choosing between two settings that will deliver repeatable output
  on lug nut applications, and check final torque with a calibrated torque wrench.
• Concrete Anchor Mode: Select this mode so the tool will automatically shut down once the anchor is seated to reduce broken anchors and stripped material.

Users can create their own profile and, with the touch of a button on the tool, easily go back and forth between saved profiles so each application uses the most accurate and productive settings. Once the tool is set, a phone is no longer needed. Users can also access available setups based on common applications and materials.

The ONE-KEY Integrated Tool Tracking functionality will allow users to identify where and when their impact wrench was last seen. Records and locations will update when any device with the ONE-KEY app comes within 30m of the impact, allowing the user to quickly pinpoint missing tools. Integrated Tool Security will provide an extra layer of protection to prevent theft and tampering. With simplified Tool and Equipment Management, users will also have a central place to take inventory of their impact wrench and all other tools and equipment, and keep detailed records of all inventory to easily build a budget and manage spend.

Milwaukee’s commitment to improving productivity across the job site by providing performance-driven and trade-focused solutions is a testament to their disruptive innovation and game changing technology.

Regardless of what business you’re in, it’s a fact that you want the newest, most up-to-date bit of kit in order to perform at your optimum. And that’s never truer when it comes to car racing. Which is why Phil Munday, team owner of Australian motor racing team Milwaukee Racing, is excited about Ford’s decision to convert their FG X Falcons into Mustangs for the Virgin Australia Supercars Championship in 2019. “We’re doing it because the Ford’s body shape is 11 years old, and the new Mustang shape is more aerodynamic and it’ll have up-todate specifications with the cars of the future now—rather than trying to get the aero sorted on an older car,” explains Munday

THE CONVERSION PROCESS

Converting one model to another involves essentially skinning the chassis—a fairly straightforward process for someone with Munday’s extensive panel industry experience. “The roll cage can’t be changed, so every supercar has the same chassis and the skin that goes over the top of that is depicted by the model that they’re racing,” he explains. “So in converting to a Mustang, we take the FG X skin off our current car and all of the inner steel frame and change those over to Mustang’s inner frame—and then the skin is mounted on the same frame. That is then welded to the chassis.” One big difference in the conversion is going from a four-door to a twodoor— which is actually more ideal, says Munday. “A two-door on the roll cage inside the chassis fits better and actually looks more symmetrical,” he says. The main part of the process takes a couple of days, then it’s a matter of fitting the panels onto the new welded parts of the chassis. “That’ll take another three to four days to set up and make sure all the gaps are tight,” says Munday, “then you take it all off again to paint it, and then it’s the final suit-up. There’ll be no change to the engine. It’ll be standard Ford V8 on the new Mustang.” There’s also support on offer from Tickford Racing, with whom Milwaukee Racing have an engine lease deal. “Tickford supply the engine so I don’t have to build my own,” says Munday. “And the engineering support, which is all the data you need to work out what the set-up needs to be on the car, is also something they supply to us.”

FOLLOWING THE RULES

There are a range of motorsport safety rules and regulations set down by Supercars that all team owners abide by when converting the cars, before they can be certified to race. “Supercars is really strict on the homologation of the car, which can be quite a lot of work,” explains “Essentially, this is making sure that the car fits the rule book and is signed off. The homologation is set and given out to the team owner and managers and those fitting out the car. For instance, with the right hand front door, we went to a carbon fibre door which has to have a bulletproof rated skin on the outside. So if we were to have a heavy impact in that door, it would sustain and wouldn’t splinter and shatter into the driver.”

GREAT FOR RACING, GREAT FOR FANS

It’s no surprise that the emergence of the Mustang for next year’s Supercars is being touted as a bit of a landmark moment for the sport. “Ford had moved away from the sport and to see them come back in is just fantastic,” says Munday. “It’s given the sport a new lease on life and is a great thing for Ford fans, too.”
Fans who like what Milwaukee Racing do with the car have the opportunity to go out and buy that super suited-up, V8 manual Mustang themselves from a dealer, he adds. “That’s exciting, that our supporters get the opportunity to go and touch and feel a car that’s identical to what we race. It’s a beautiful car.” And given Holden is usually top of the pops on the podium, is Munday optimistic that the Mustang mightchange all that? “We’d hope so,” he says. “The Holden Commodore this year, it’s a completely new aero kit and you can certainly see the benefits. In terms of the Falcon’s body shape, well, the aero has come a long way in 11 years. “And going into a Mustang, we’ve got a brand new set of aero tests that’ll happen. So that car, a completely different shape; it’s quite amazing the difference in how it cuts through the air and the difference it makes to its speed.” What Munday is hoping for is more of a level playing field. “Nissans have got a fabulous aero package, as do the Commodores and now we’ll have that in the Mustang. Of course, it also comes down to the driver skill and the skill of your pit crew and how we manage what we do there, too.”

WHO’LL DRIVE THE MUSTANG?

Milwaukee Racing’s two-time Bathurst 1000 winner Will Davison will be in the hot seat of the new Mustang along with his brother Alex, come 2019—something Munday can’t wait to see given the team’s great start in the 2018 Supercars Championships. “Will is with me for three years; this is his first year so I have two more years left with him til the end of the season. I think the two of them pair up so well and I love the fact that they’re brothers and have history in some of their events. I’d love to see them win a Bathurst or Enduro race next year or the year after in 2020!”

Trying to help young footballers deal with the tragic suicides of seven of their peers convinced a Victorian man he had to come up with a plan to change attitudes and lives. That plan is now available in the workplace. By Liz Swanton

Dave Burt is the type of man who likes to turn his words into action, and if that helps others, then so much the better. Burt is the founder and CEO of SALT—or Sport and Life Training—a not-for-profit organisation that provides education, culture and leadership programs to businesses, schools and sporting clubs. SALT offers a range of courses—wellbeing and mental health, drugs and alcohol, equality and respect—all with the goal of encouraging a more positive and supportive environment for the people taking part. The concept started at the sporting club level but it works just as effectively in a workplace situation, provided there’s a positive response to the question at the heart of the presentation: is it possible for your organisation to function as a team?

MAKING TEAMS WORK AT WORK

The first workplace presentation was for a transport company, after the owner told SALT his employees had no idea of the concept of ‘team’, to the point where they wouldn’t even wear the shirts supplied by the company. “We had to really explore the issues behind why we come to work,” says Burt, “and then we looked at each person’s strengths and how each could lead within the company using their major strengths most effectively.” From there came calls from a financial planning company, a real estate group, and a quarry—all very different, but the sessions were equally successful. Burt puts that down to an excellent team of facilitators and programs that are highly interactive and fun, as well as informative and educational. Importantly, while the aim of the exercise is to make every employee feel safe and valued, it’s not a one-size-fits-all approach. “Within any team—and that includes the workplace—people play their roles and have their differences, and their reasons for being there,” Burt says. “Once they get past the fact they are paid to be there, they acknowledge it is also about connections, relationships, meaning and achievement. We still have to be contributing to something and growing as people, and becoming better, and more connected and more empathetic, and more able to see when our work colleagues aren’t coping. “We always modify the program depending on the group but we are moving towards doing far more in the wellbeing and mental health space and helping organisations set up sustainable systems of looking after each other.”

WHERE SALT STARTED

The idea of SALT started 15 years ago when Burt, who has been a teacher, sporting coach and chaplain for more than 30 years, was talking to people about the power of sporting clubs. He felt frustrated by the fact that what was happening off the field was far less positive than what was seen during a game. “At the time, there was still a tendency in many clubs to glorify binge drinking, negative attitudes towards women and macho attitudes to wellbeing and mental health. We introduced our kids to these unhealthy off-field cultures, and nobody challenged what was going on.” Beyond those negative aspects, Burt recognised there was a positivity and strength about sporting clubs that could be harnessed; they were part of the problem, but they could also be part of the solution. “The sporting club is a powerfully connected place. People go because they want to be there. The volunteers care about ‘their’ people for all the right reasons. The village mentality we knew in suburbs or churches or schools has largely dissipated, and now the sporting club is the community hub for many people. “Coaches and players demonstrate tremendous dedication to the sport and to each other. They’re on the same page because they value their game and their team. So the idea of SALT was to take the strengths that people use when they’re motivated—which is often when they are playing sport— and apply them off the field. All of us, if we can identify our strengths and apply them more widely, can become better versions of ourselves.”

TAKING SHAPE

As the idea took shape, Burt’s son joined a new sports club and Burt volunteered his services as chaplain and ‘welfare’ coordinator. He saw the teenagers struggling with issues around identity, self-esteem and wellbeing, and decided to create some programs to help. Other clubs called for assistance. Then the turning point. Within 18 months, Burt visited seven different clubs where there had been a suicide. “On one occasion, the coach introduced me to the young man’s teammates saying ‘boys, you know I love you, but I don’t know what to do so we have an expert to help’.” Not feeling much like an expert, Burt simply spoke to each lad. As he expected, most said they were okay. One said no. Burt asked the others if they would help him. As they said yes, they started admitting their own vulnerability. “I think they were willing to be real at the club because they felt safe. There were parents there too, and everyone was saying ‘we didn’t see it coming’. I think everyone realised if we could help before a suicide rather than after, that was very powerful.”

WHERE THE CONNECTION LIES

As Burt reached his own conclusions about the support sporting clubs could offer, Victoria’s La Trobe University released a study showing that men are potentially three times more connected in the footy club than they are anywhere else. SALT operates through the support of a number of sponsors, including CSS. Since 2015, the team has done around 1000 presentations. Until recently, most have been done with sporting clubs, but now more workplaces are calling for assistance, usually as a result of someone seeing SALT in action at their local sports club and realising the wider benefits.

Building on its proud history, Bostik has moved from a glue manufacturer into a smarter adhesive future. By Meg Crawford

Just shy of 130 years since its inception as the Boston Blacking Company in Massachusetts, Bostik has gone on to secure its position as a global leader in sealants and adhesives. While it started out making dyes, glues and waterproofing products for shoes, it moved into chemical manufacturing in the thirties and changed its name to Bostik in 1960. Subsequently, Bostik has become synonymous with adhesive innovations, ranging from pioneering waterproofing boots to launching the first diaperwithelastic adhesive. Since 1889 Bostik has patented 9000 technologies from aerospace interior adhesive to household names like Blu-Tack and brand leadersFireban One. As the company has grown, so has its understanding of how it can help its customers. Nowadays Bostik talks about what it calls ‘smart adhesives’. The company is not just talking about sticking things together anymore. It’s delivering a more holistic approach to products, meaning that they tick all boxes as safe, efficient, flexible and responsive. “It’s also about delivering broader solutions,” explains Graham Lee, Bostik’s National Account Manager – Construction & Consumer. “So, if it’s in the construction adhesive area, it’s not just talking about a sealant with one application.” Another notable aspect of Bostik’s delivery for ‘smart adhesives’ is the extent to which it’s prepared to work with industry participants, and it involves a lot more than just providing the adhesives and relevant material safety data sheets (although, of course, it does that too). “Say there’s a construction site,” Lee explains. “We’ll work up construction specification drawings and details for a particular project. To put that in context, I might be working with a CSS member, for example, sitting in on joint calls to understand the builder’s requirements and to deliver a truly tailored package for that project. That’s where we become very relevant and create a true partnership.”

Bostik in Australia

The local branch, Bostik Australia Pty Ltd, has also had a lengthy history, taking up residency first with a small concern in 1915 in Abbotsford, Victoria, before moving to Thomastown in 1956 with what remains its largest Australian plant. Currently, Bostik’s other plant is in Kings Park, New South Wales. Over the years, Bostik has consolidated other offshoots into these two premises and its staff count is now around 170 employees. During the heydayofautomative manufacturing, Bostik employed in the vicinity of 500 staff. It now chooses to focus on Construction, Consumer and Industrial markets. Bostik’s range now covers what can broadly be divided into home and office consumer, industrial and construction divisions. “The stable of products for us is large,” says Lee. “For instance, Blu Tack and Clag are as infamous in the Australian market as say Hills Hoist or Vegemite.” In the construction division, Bostik’s range spans everything from sealing and bonding products to construction grouts and adhesives (including another iconic product, No More Nails), flooring adhesives, wall preparations and waterproofing products. “The motto that we’ve come up with over the last few years is ‘all adhesives under one roof’,” Lee explains. “So, if we look at a typical building, we consider ourselves able to supply all construction solutions in adhesives and bonding.” More recently, Bostik has undergone a brandshake up with the introduction of the gecko as its logo. “The Gecko represents an inspiring example of adhesive innovation having one of the most effective adhesives known to man, and aligns to our DNA at Bostik of smartness, efficiency and adaptability,” Lee notes.

Tech breakthroughs

Making good on the tagline, ‘proud history, smart future’, Bostik has notched up some recent boast-worthy developments in a construction context. “We’ve had some real technology breakthroughs in the construction industry, for instance, for  flooring adhesives,” Lee shares. “Take Axios, which is our latest technology in the flooring space. It’s a new hard-flooring glue, and it’s a true new technology when it comes to tiling and polymer-type products.” It’s important to note that Bostik is making these strides, while remaining Aussie made. “We’ve also recently launched our sealants and bonding Xtreme range, which goes into a different type of technology for sealants. We’ve always been very strong when it comes to polyurethane manufacture in Australia, and we’re one of the only remaining companies to be able to do that here and be competitive. It’s a strong Australian position we’ve taken and are proud of.” In 2019 Bostik aims to extend the smart angle for sealants and bonding. When pressed, Lee is prepared to nominate a favourite product in the construction range. “I’m biased, but I think it’s our Bostik Fireban One,” he explains. “It’s one of our core products and it’s unique in Australia. We’re making one of the last remaining firerated PUs in Australia and hold a very high position in the market.”