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Designbuild Melbourne a huge success
Designbuild 2006 staged at the Melbourne Exhibition Centre over 4 days 28-31 May was successful by any measure according to organisers Australian Exhibition Services.
Total visitors numbered 15,325, almost 1,000 more than the last Melbourne show, occupied 18,000 sq. metres - up 3,000m², hosted 433 exhibitors from 17 countries and had a full house at most of the free architectural and design seminars featuring some of Australia's leading architects, designers and engineers.
The organisers, in conjunction with Austrade, in a major initiative this year brought over 160 international buyers to the show providing an opportunity for Australian businesses to meet with international visitors and maximise their chances of developing productive international relationships and gain export sales.
This year also saw a greater number of industry association conferences and seminars running in conjunction and alongside the show including The Connected Home Conference opened by the Governor of Victoria; The Precast Concrete for Builders Seminar, Precast Concrete for Engineers Workshop and Precast Concrete for Architects Seminar run by The National Precast Concrete Association of Australia; The Building Designers Association Victoria Professional Development Seminar, Tilex Tile & Stone Seminars endorsed by the Australian Tile Council and the Australian Stone Advisory Association; Green Plumbers Information Seminars, an initiative of the Master Plumbers & Mechanical Services Association of Australia; Backflow Seminars hosted by AIRAH, the Institute of Plumbing Australia and the Backflow Association. Cement, Concrete & Aggregates Australia also ran a series of seminars.
Exhibitors were enthusiastic in their praise of the show and have already booked over 50% of the space available for the 2007 show. Their comments included adjectives such as "Excellent" Centor Architectural; "Successful" Mitten Vinyl Aust Pty Ltd; "Fantastic!" ASPAC Golf & Turf; "Very positive" Silkstone Collection; "Exceeded expectations" Austech; "Very, very busy" Dux Hot Water; "On a roll!" Jetmaster; "Fantastic result!" Tasman Sinkware; "Lots of quality" JD Macdonald; "Sensational" RYEmetal; "Very satisfied" Mitten Vinyl; "Flat out everyday" Zego; "Impressed" G-U Australia; "Encouraging" Matrade and the final word from first time exhibitors Frook "Very good, excellent!".
The Designbuild Awards were presented on Monday 29 May at a gala function compered by Ian McLaren, in the Auditorium at the Melbourne Exhibition Centre.
And the winners...
The Selector.com / Architectural Product News Best Product Award was judged by Peter Ho of Phooey Architects, Mark Scruby, Editor of Architectural Product News and Dean Perry of Selector.com.
Neil Williams of Architecture Media presented the award to Centor Architectural for the 'Centor Door Screen'. This unique new Door Screen for folding and sliding door systems incorporates Centor's patented load-balancing technology and is a world first in screening systems for large openings like bi-fold doors. With finger touch ease the screen effortlessly glides open and closed and when retracted into the side jambs the screen becomes one with the door leaving almost no clue to its existence.
The finalists were FROOK for the 'Frook', Nu Flow Technologies 2000 Pty Ltd for the 'Nu Flow Renew Lateral Connection Liner', Studor Australia Pty Ltd for the 'Positive Air Pressure Attenuator' and Vinidex Pty Ltd for the ''Sink Guard In-sink DBA'. Both Studor Australia Pty Ltd and Vinidex Pty Ltd received a Special Commendation for their products.
Dael Climo, Editor of Environ / BPN presented the Environ / Designbuild Environmental Product Award (ESD) to Guyco Pty Ltd for their 'Apex Valves RainAid'.
The RainAid valve automatically switches water supply from rain water to mains in the event of rainwater demand exceeding rainwater supply.
The finalists were Designer Laminates for their 'Recycled Laminate', Everwater Australia for their 'Grey-2-Blue System' and Forma-Tech Pty Ltd for their 'Forma-Tech Wall System'.
Jeff Patchell Managing Director of Connection Magazines and Ian Harrison Chief Executive of Australian Made Campaign Limited presented the inaugural Australian Innovation Award to Ortech Industries for their 'Durra Lifting Frame'.
The Durra lifting frame is a unique installation system developed and used in land mark projects in Australia and overseas to save time, cost and improve the safety on site.
The finalists were Forma-Tech Pty Ltd for their 'Forma-Tech Building System', Guyco Pty Ltd for their 'Guyco GXT Telescopic Fittings', Red Gravel Publications for their 'Risk Manager - Architecture' and STM Fences Pty Ltd for their 'Stainless Steel Fencing and Balustrading System'.
Bill Hare, Exhibition Director then presented the Best Stand Awards, beginning with the Shell Scheme Award. The winner was Metalcote Pty Ltd, Stand V6. The finalists were Crane Copper Tube, Stand C2, Infiniti Stone, Stand L2 and Oz Roll Pty Ltd, Stand J31.
The winner of the Best Stand 36mē and Under was Street Furniture Australia, Stand G20. The finalists were Canterbury Windows & Doors, Stand N36, C.R Kennedy Total Surveying Solutions, Stand P28 and RyeMetal Pty Ltd, Stand B35.
Silkstone Collection Pty Ltd, Stand L14 was presented with the Best Stand Over 36mē Award. The finalists were Barloworld Coatings Australia, Stand K42, Centor Architectural, Stand L28 and Deceuninck, Stand H28.
Designbuild Australia was supported by the Australian Architecture Association, Australian Tile Council, Master Builders Association of Victoria, Building Designers Association Victoria, Australian Government Austrade, CEDIA, Green Plumbers, Master Plumbers, Mechanical Services Association of Australia, National Precast Concrete Association of Australia and Cement, Concrete & Aggregates Australia.
Designbuild will be staged at the Sydney Exhibition Centre 3 - 6 June 2007 and for the first time the show is going to Perth where it will be held at the Perth Convention & Exhibition Centre 12 - 14 October 2007
Design Build
phone: + 61 3 9261 4500
fax: + 61 3 9261 4545
web: www.designbuildexpo.com.au
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