Building Industry News

International electrical wholesaler sets up on Central Coast

Fast growing electrical wholesaler, UK based, City Electrical Factors has moved into the Australian electrical wholesale market trading under the name Ramax Electrical Wholesalers Pty Ltd.

Australian General Manager, Lee Britten said Ramax plans to develop a branch network across Australia and New Zealand. “We will grow organically and not through acquisitions,” he said. Ramax has opened its first branch store at West Gosford, appointing Steve Frame as Manager and has established its National Accounts Department in Erina.

Mr Britten said that the company’s policy is to employ local people who understand the local culture and have an interest in the community. Since opening in West Gosford a second branch has opened in Chatswood.

Established in 1951, City Electrical Factors are a privately owned company with over 1,400 outlets globally. The company will receive a payroll tax rebate over the next five years under the State Government’s NSW Payroll Tax Incentive Scheme.

In making the announcement Acting Minister for the Central Coast, The Hon. Tony Kelly, said that the Scheme is available to start-up businesses in their first year of operation, businesses relocating from interstate or overseas and businesses expanding their payroll and becoming liable for payroll tax in NSW for the first time.

The electrical wholesaling industry in Australia which is made up of numerous small chains appears to be undergoing a period of consolidation. In recent years Rexel International, which is owned by the French conglomerate, Pinault Group (another worldwide distributor of electrical supplies) has bought up a number of electrical wholesalers including, in NSW, John R Turk, Lear & Smith and Lawrence & Hanson as well as trading in their own Rexel name. All brands have branches on the Central Coast and Hunter.
Meanwhile, privately owned Cetnaj Pty Ltd which has branches on the Central Coast, Hunter, North Coast and Southern Queensland remains independent as does Davis & Spence and TLE Electrical.

Award for Gosford Air Conditioning

Tuggerah-based Gosford Air Conditioning has won the ActronAir Award for the Highest ESP (Energy Smart Performance) Sales in Regional NSW for 2008. Managing Director, Shane Stone and wife Tracey were at ActronAir’s Annual Conference to collect the Award in July. It is the third year in a row that the Stone’s have picked up the Award.

“When we decided to move out of Western Sydney and buy Gosford Air Conditioning four years ago it was on the basis that we wanted to run the business as a highly professional operation,” said Mr Stone. “We are in a highly competitive industry but in the end quality, service and efficient management makes a difference and these awards prove to us that we are highly effective in the marketplace.”

“We offer a range of air conditioning brands but we do believe that ActronAir has the edge and are confident in recommending them,” said Mr Stone. Gosford Air Conditioning operates from premises at Tuggerah Business Park and employs eight people plus four contractors. ActronAir is the largest Australian-owned manufacturer of world-class air conditioning systems.

MBA Award for Daniel Olzomer Constructions

Terrigal-based builder, Daniel Olzomer, has taken out the Award for Alterations, Renovations and Restorations - $250,000 to $500,000 in the Housing Category of the Master Builders Association awards in Newcastle last month. The entry was for a $500,000 renovation of a early 1900's fibro house at Wamberal. This the first building project for Daniel Olzomer who until recently has been operating as a subcontractor with his father and uncle – both well known Central Coast builders.

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