RICHARD'S CORNER

Spring has sprung and with it comes spring cleaning so we have decided to rename our Buzz Box newsletter ‘The Side Door’. Welcome to the first edition as SCF Group experiences significant growth and product development there are certainly many more exciting times ahead.

In fact, I was counting down the days until October 10 and it wasn’t even my birthday or wedding anniversary. At last the South Australian and Federal Governments have approved BHP Billiton’s $30 billion expansion of the Olympic Dam uranium and copper mine.

And what a day in history this has become as not only will the mine have a lifespan of at least 100 years, it will transform into a trillion dollar project. It will be recognised as the world’s biggest mine and it’s right on our doorstep.

What an opportunity for SCF Group and local businesses to seize on this moment and work with BHP Billiton! It’s time to wake up South Australia and work out what the global mining giant needs to move forward with this massive expansion. We need to start producing products to ensure BHP Billiton doesn’t have an excuse to look interstate and internationally for goods and services.

This mammoth project will not only inject billions of dollars into the South Australian economy but will create thousands of jobs. Premier Mike Rann had vowed to stay in the top job until the deal with BHP Billiton has been signed, sealed and delivered and why wouldn’t you? It certainly would be devastating to walk away on October 20 as South Australia’s leader and witness Premier in waiting Jay Weatherill sign on the dotted line and take all the credit for completing negotiations for the expansion.

With Mr Rann’s impending departure after nearly a decade as Premier, I welcome Jay Weatherill as his replacement to become the state’s 45th Premier. It’s time for a new direction and fresh ideas to ensure the state doesn’t fall further behind in infrastructure.

The $564 million Northern Expressway linking the Sturt Highway with Port Wakefield Road just isn’t enough to sure up freight transportation efficiencies. South Australia needs a proper transport hub where freight can be moved from the north to the south without significant delays caused by suburban traffic lights. A dedicated freight rail line is also an urgent necessity. It is vital we increase the volume and productivity of freight transportation to drive the economy forward.

I call on Mr Weatherill to better prioritise funding allocations, work with the Federal Government and have a real go at infrastructure in South Australia. Can he make a difference? Only time will tell.
 

PRODUCT NEWS

SCF GROUP CREATES INNOVATIVE TRACKING DEVICE FOR MOVING ASSETS

SCF Group has developed an innovative tracking device to take the worry out of transporting valuable assets across Australia.

The company has developed the technologically-advanced AssetWatch product to meet customer demand for a simple and more secure way to keep track of movable assets.

SCF Group CEO Richard Sykes said AssetWatch combined motion sensors, GPS positioning and custom configured sensors to gather and transmit precise information about the whereabouts of containers.

‘We are the first container company to take this technology and tailor it into a device that will show a customer exactly where a container is during its delivery right down to the street name,” Mr Sykes said.
 
“We can issue instant reports updating a container’s whereabouts or issue emergency alerts to a customer by email or by text to a mobile phone all through a device that runs on AA batteries.

“It is an advanced technology developed in a way that is easy to attach, simple to use and far more accessible than anything previously offered on the market.”

Mr Sykes said many clients had indicated security concerns or a desire to be able to monitor the progress of a container load, particularly in remote parts of Australia.

“The product will be used by more than 5,000 customers and we expect demand to rapidly grow,” Mr Sykes said.

“When you are dealing with hundreds of thousands of dollars’ worth of stock per container, it is vital to protect that asset, and this product can offer that peace of mind.”

MORE NEW PRODUCTS

40’ PALLET WIDE HIGH CUBE V3 CONTAINER

SCF Group has been working closely with long-time customer Northline to produce an upgraded version of the 40 foot High Cube Pallet Wide V3 Container.

The new version of the model has been produced with an increased maximum gross weight of 35,000kg, so it can carry more cargo. Its design features extra reinforcement at the bottom of the container and a 3mm steel floor at the door opening. This will result in less wear and tear on the floor, increased strength through the base when loaded by a forklift and a significant reduction in the chances of the floor delaminating.

A total of 25 units will be sent to Northline, which specialises in long haul road and rail freight, warehousing and contract logistics solutions, project management and international freight forwarding.

SCF GROUP SIGNS NEW DEAL WITH CHESS MOVING AUSTRALIA

SCF Group has secured a new deal with Chess Moving Australia and re-signed a five year contract with the company.

At a time of significant growth, SCF has built a custom-made high cube container for the furniture removal company to meet customer demand.

The 450 x 20 foot high cube container is designed for transporting and storing large personal and household items as well as office furniture. It’s similar in structure to standard containers, only taller.

SCF Group CEO Richard Sykes said the new lease contract with Chess Moving Australia was testament to a solid working partnership between both parties.

“It’s a reflection of thinking outside the square, listening to our client’s needs and working together to develop a product which meets customer demand,” Mr Sykes said.

“We formed a relationship with Chess Moving Australia in 1993 when we signed our first contract with the company. Since then, it has been about getting to know each other and establishing our goals for the future.”

Chess Moving Australia prides itself on their ability to move people’s possessions safely and securely from door to door both nationally and internationally.

“The high cube container we’ve designed for Chess Moving Australia has been developed from a lot of discussions and hard work. It’s a container which can accommodate bulky goods that wouldn’t normally fit in a standard container,” Mr Sykes said.

“It’s an example of what we can design for our customers, tailoring a product to suit their individual requirements.”

The high cube container is a solid steel structure which has been painted to include Chess Moving Australia’s company logo. The product has many features including tie rails on the ceiling and side walls, wooden flooring, a lock box and is pest and vermin proof.
 

SOUTH AUSTRALIA

SCF GROUP RECOGNISED FOR INNOVATION AT SA TELSTRA BUSINESS AWARDS

Lindsay Carthew accepting the Award  from AMP

SCF Group has taken home the AMP Innovation Award at this year’s SA Telstra Business Awards.

The awards, now in their 19th year, officially recognise the achievements of South Australia’s small to medium size businesses and enterprising spirit and winners were announced on July 22.

SCF Group was nominated and named a finalist in three categories of the prestigious awards which included Panasonic Medium Business Award, AMP Innovation Award and Yellow Pages Social Responsibility Award.

SCF Group CEO Richard Sykes said taking out the innovation award among such a high calibre list of inspiring businesses was a significant achievement for the company.

“Being recognised for innovation by the Telstra Business Awards is a reflection of successful team work in a supportive team environment,” Mr Sykes said.

“Our number one priority is meeting the needs of our clients when it comes to transport storage and accommodation in achieving good design and environmentally friendly products.”

It was a winning night for The Group, with SCF also taking out the Product Innovation Prize at the Australian Business Awards in Melbourne for the Supalite container.

The Supalite has become world-renowned for its design and innovation and is the result of five years of persistence, patience and hard work.

“We were told that it couldn’t be done but we didn’t give up, our engineers kept at it to produce a world-first 40 foot side door container with moulded plastic bi-fold doors that are light and durable,” he said.

“We have interest from the United States, United Kingdom and Europe as there is nothing else like the Supalite on the market anywhere in the world.

“We are honoured to be recognised as the awards are a really good opportunity to create further awareness about what Australian companies like us can achieve and inspire other emerging entrepreneurs to do the same.”

 

NEW CFO JOINS TEAM

SCF Group has welcomed Nicholas Woodward to the team, appointing him to the senior management position of CFO.

Nicholas has more than 12 years of experience working on large infrastructure projects in various locations around the world, including Indonesia, Panama and Canada.

As CFO, Nicholas is responsible for all commercial aspects of the business, and is dedicated to the delivery of a superior level of service and support to all of the SCF Divisions.

“We want to improve the efficiency of our systems and provide information to our business in the fastest and most comprehensive way possible,” he said.

“At SCF, it is vital that we support our growing business and I’m looking forward to building stronger relationships between the finance team and all of The Group’s employees.”

“At the same time, we are concentrating on developing commercial capacity and competency within the Finance, HR and IT departments that will allow us to add value to our business in new ways.”

Nicholas said the leveraging of new technologies was crucial to the growth of SCF Group and that he was committed to the introduction of new processes such as a web-based credit card purchasing system and accessing the untapped value in the Container Tracking System (CTS).

“The finance team is already working on enhancing the current reporting systems,” he said.

“We need to empower people within the business with improved access to real-time information, delivered through a fast web-enabled environment and in formats that are more easily understood.”

SCF KICKING GOALS WITH SPONSORSHIP

SCF Group continues to show its support for local South Australian sport with the ongoing sponsorship of the Roxby Downs Junior Football Association (RDJFA).

For the past two years, SCF has sponsored the league’s U16 competition, donating various items including four sets of guernseys, premiership cups and SCF hats to be worn during presentations.

President of the RDJFA Matthew Daddow said they were extremely grateful for the support SCF Group had given the junior footballers over the past two years.

“We are very proud to have an innovative company like SCF Group as a major sponsor and it is very exciting that we can help promote the company in Roxby Downs at a time of significant change for the area,” he said.

“This year we experienced an influx of junior players into the local competition and in response we created two additional teams, The Roxby Suns and The Roxby Giants, to join our two original teams, The Hawks and The Bulldogs.

“We rely heavily on sponsorship from businesses outside of Roxby Downs and we are very grateful for SCF Group’s generosity. We hope we can continue to grow thanks to their ongoing support.”

SCF LIGHTS UP OZ ASIA

SCF Group was proud to sponsor Adelaide’s celebrated Moon Lantern Festival as part of the 2011 OzAsia Festival. The company has been sponsoring the event since 2010 and supplies transport and storage arrangements for the lanterns that feature in the parade.

And so it was fitting that SCF Group produced a lantern designed especially to resemble a container. Six SCF Group team members braved the cold Adelaide weather to carry the lantern through an excited crowd of more than 20,000 spectators who had gathered to celebrate the full moon and watch the parade.
 
Now in its 5th year, the annual Moon Lantern Festival is growing in attendance and sponsorship each year, and it is the only festival of its kind in Australia. 2011 hosted a Japanese theme, and next year the celebrations will have an Indian influence. SCF Group is looking forward to sponsoring the event for another two years.
 

QUEENSLAND

A NEW FACE

Liam Cashen has been promoted to Business Development Manager for SCF Group and is now working across all four divisions. He has a new FIFO position, spending two weeks of every month in Queensland and the other two weeks working from Adelaide’s head office. 

In Queensland, Liam focuses on a number of large mining projects, meeting with potential and existing customers, selling SCF products and building a solid working relationship between The Group and its clients.

Liam says it has been exciting working on a number of important deals.

“It’s a satisfying feeling to help our clients achieve their goals and we are certainly up to the challenge to meet their needs. SCF Group is all about giving our customers a good reason to come back for more,” he said.

40’ SIDE DOOR DANGEROUS GOODS CONTAINER

SCF Group is excited to announce Brisbane’s latest creation, a unique unit that will be shipped to Africa and used as a dangerous goods container.
The modified standard 40 inch container features bunding and side-door access, and has been built for Cooper Fluid Systems, a specialist provider of hydraulic, pneumatic, fluid transfer and lubrication products and services. The company is a key supplier to the mining, petrochemical, construction and heavy engineering industries.
SCF Group has finished the production of the container which is currently being prepared for transportation to the customer’s site where nine Intermediate Bulk Containers will be fitted inside the unit before being shipped to Senegal, Africa in December 2011. Here, it will house engine lubrication fluids, oils and grease and will be self-contained with full dispensing equipment as part of the workshop installation at the mine site.

WESTERN AUSTRALIA

MATTHEW HARRIS HEADS WEST

Matthew Harris is heading up the WA team after relocating to Perth in August this year to work as General Manager of the Container Rooms Division.

He is focusing on the WA mining sector, and working to increase the local customer base. Brand recognition and product placement throughout Australia are on his immediate agenda as well as the design of new products for all sectors, including mining, construction and defence.

Matthew, who is originally from South Africa, has been living in Australia for three years, and previously worked in Kuwait in the Middle East. 

Matthew said he had hit the ground running in the new role and that the move would fulfil the need for senior presence in West Australia.

“It’s an exciting time for us as we have major clients in WA and there is so much business potential for us here.”

MOVING AHEAD AT BARROW ISLAND 

SCF Group is strengthening its presence in the West Australian mining industry with its provision of specially designed and constructed products for Barrow Island, home to one of the world’s largest natural gas projects.

The company has been working closely with contractors to provide tailor-made products including containers, units and barges to various contractors on the island.

SCF Group CEO Richard Sykes said they had been winning numerous contracts in the West Australian mining industry.

“The industry is really beginning to accept and appreciate our products,” he said.

“Barrow Island is a phenomenal opportunity for us, but it is also very challenging as the island is a Class A Natural Reserve with strict environmental guidelines in place.

“For example, containers purpose-built for Barrow Island must not contain any wood, so we had to re-think our designs and custom make the product accordingly.”

SCF Group boasts a number of lucrative contracts on the island, including one with Australia’s largest equipment hire company, Coats Hire. This contract saw the provision of approximately ten custom-built, 40 foot crib rooms.

The company also supplied containers and barges to its new client Select Plant Hire Australia, and leading oil and gas services provider Royal Boskalis Westminster N.V.
 

CLIENT PROFILE
LINCOLN MINERALS LTD

An emerging minerals explorer with several projects on the horizon, Lincoln Minerals Limited is already a South Australian success story. And when asked how the company has come to find such success, Managing Director Dr Allen John Parker has a convincing answer.

“It’s all about proactivity and looking ahead to try and predict the future,” he said.

Lincoln Minerals Limited is an Australian minerals explorer with a primary focus on a multi-deposit iron ore exploration and project development across South Australia’s Eyre Peninsula. The company has more than 5,000 square kilometres of exploration tenements including deposits of iron, uranium, gold and nickel-cobalt.

As an experienced geologist and geophysicist, Dr Parker, who joined Lincoln Minerals in 2006, said the company’s flagship project scheduled to begin in mid-2012 is Gum Flat Barns, an iron ore deposit just outside of Port Lincoln.

“I have been in discussions with SCF Group with regards to the provision of containers to be used for exploration and operational purposes,” he said.

“We plan to use containers to ship iron ore out of Port Lincoln. It will be a containerised operation where minerals are transported to the port and then off-loaded into the hull of a ship.

“We intend on using half-height containers that feature lids as part of the design. The ore will be stored in the wharf precinct and loaded into the ship’s hold using a tippler system with mist spray to control any potential dust.”

Dr Parker said Lincoln Minerals Limited would require up to 2,000 containers for the first stage of the project and that the company would also be considering sourcing a containerised office complex.

“We hope to have the next stage of the project up and running within five years,” he said.

“Stage Two involves a deeper, magnetite iron ore operation where the ore will be upgraded before it is exported. We will build a large facility to convert the iron ore into a high-grade concentrate and we plan to ship this out of the proposed port at Sheep Hill or at Port Lincoln.”

Lincoln Minerals Limited is finalising a Mining Lease Proposal for submission to the State Government to commence mining and direct shipping iron ore from its Gum Flat Barns deposit in mid-2012. Export is expected to commence late 2012. For more information visit www.lincolnminerals.com

LIVEABLE CONTAINERS TOP DESIGN

The standard shipping container has grown in stature to be more than just a unit which is filled with goods, fitted onto the back of a truck and bound for a new destination.

A shipping container is now a home! The series premiere of ‘Top Design’ on Channel Nine on July 13, 2011, challenged the show’s contestants to transform a shipping container into a dream pad. The once sterile containers were renovated into glamorous mini apartments to include funky kitchens, decking, living spaces and even bedrooms.

The makeovers came as no surprise to leading container manufacturer and supplier SCF Group, which already builds custom containers for accommodation purposes in the mining industry and other applications, such as mobile surgical centres for remote locations.

SCF Group CEO Richard Sykes said the company fitted out the containers to include everything from sleeping quarters to kitchens and shower blocks.

“There are endless possibilities for shipping containers, and even the South Australian Government is embarking on a trial to house prisoners in the units as part of a cost-saving initiative.”

click here to view examples.

Contact Us

Unit 3/Level 1,
1 London Road, Mile End, South Australia 5031
Phone 08 8208 0900  Fax 08 8208 0901

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