The winning Victorian electrical and communications contractors were recognised at the prestigious annual electrical industry Excellence Awards, hosted by Australian industry body the National Electrical and Communications Association (NECA).

Nine companies across nine categories received the top state awards in front of over 600 industry representatives including contractors, educators and government representatives at the showcase event of the electrical and communications industry at Crown Melbourne.

The winning projects in 2013 included the electrical, lighting, voice and data communications installations and energy efficient installations.

NECA Victoria executive director Philip Green says the winning companies were chosen because of their commitment to excellence, significant engineering achievements and most importantly their ability to integrate many different technologies into the one project.

“The electrical and communications contracting firms that have won an award today are simply outstanding for what they have achieved during each project,” Philip says.

“This year NECA received a huge variety of nominations and it is very encouraging to see that Victorian electricians and electrical businesses are leading the country in everything from occupational health and safety through to energy efficiency and the wiring of smart homes.

“The judging panel were privileged to view such high quality projects and as always NECA members have contributed positively to some of the biggest construction jobs in this state.”

The winning companies and their projects are listed below:

Category – Domestic Residence

A single residence project in the domestic sector where the applicant’s contract value is less than $1 million.

Winner: PBE Insurelec Pty Ltd

Project: Three-Story Domestic Dwelling

Why: PBE Insurelec provided solutions for their client’s every need from the ground up. This home is fully wired with Clipsal CBUS allowing it to be operated via central control screens as well as from any internet enabled devices such as iPhones. Security cameras monitored from any TV in the house as well as any internet enabled device. A cinema incorporates innovative control via CBUS with several mood lighting scenes plus fibre optic lighting in the ceiling providing a starry sky inside.

Category – Small Contracting Business

A small contractor, employing less than 10 technical employees, demonstrating a wide range of skills – may be a company or project based.

Winner: Deacam Pty Ltd

Project: Oakridge Wines, Trade Waste

Why: Deacam designed a fully automatic system that controlled the entire process from waste liquid collection to batching which enabled Oakridge Wines to process their winery waste on site and no longer needed to transport this waste off site for processing. Deacam were faced with a number of challenges including the requirement to change from an immersed pressure sensor to an above mounted ultra-sonic sensor due to the fact that chardonnay waste had a higher specific gravity than pinot.

Category – Energy Efficiency and Environment

A project where the design, product selection, lighting, processes or technologies have created an energy efficient or sustainable installation and/or made a significant contribution to preservation of a site’s natural environment.

Winner: E-Tec Pty Ltd

Project: Steavenson Falls

Why: After the Black Saturday bush fires in 2009 visitor access was restricted due to safety issues and lack of facilities. The project was aimed at restoring public access to the reserve and re-instating the visitor’s facilities. E-Tec carried out the electrical works which involved replacement of power distribution network, lighting fixtures and switchboards within the reserve. The challenges faced were wet weather, steep terrain, plus complex site layout, visitor access and the upgrading of ageing infrastructure.

Category – Industrial Project – Small

An industrial project which may include, but is not limited to, undertakings of a civil, mining, high voltage, manufacturing or process nature where the contract value is less than $2 million .

Winner: National Automation Controls

Project: Dandenong Energy Precinct Co-Generation

Why: National Automation Controls were contracted to utilise their design, software programming, manufacturing and installation skills across a total electrical project. This project was specialised work and required co-operation between the client and contractor. National Automation Controls undertook their own research to establish the required criteria and Standards and to subsequently apply such in terms of a compliant and reliable delivery.

Category – Industrial Project – Large

An industrial project which may include, but is not limited to, undertakings of a civil, mining, high voltage, manufacturing or process nature where the contract value is greater than $2 million .

Winner: Downer Infrastructure

Project: TDJV Aquasure Victorian Desalination Plant

Why: The Victoria Desalination Plant was built as a response to recent droughts in Victoria and is designed to provide up to 150 gigalitres a year into Victoria’s water system. Downer was contracted to provide electrical and instrumentation systems for the critical Reverse Osmosis Plant, administration building and install communications, lighting and reactors yards. Downer was able to rapidly mobilise and action the work in record time.

Category – Voice/Data Project

A voice or data project of any contract value.

Winner: DESA Australia

Project: Digital Reallty MEL-10

Why: DESA Australia were briefed to assist with design and modelling of this new state of the art Data Centre to ensure any clients current and future requirements and standards were catered for.

“To be recognised as a winner of this prestigious award honours both the hard work and integrity that our dedicated and highly skilled team at DESA Australia invested in this critical project. Along with the invaluable assistance of the incredible Project Teams at Digital Realty and FDC Construction we have together delivered a benchmark installation that all involved can be extremely proud of,” Michael Richardson – Project Group Manager says.

Category – Commercial – Small Project

A commercial project where the applicant’s contract value is less than $500,000.

Winner: Pacific Services Group Pty Ltd

Project: Melbourne GPO

Why: Pacific Services Group undertook the complex job of restoring the façade lighting via a highly interactive Dynalite Touchscreen Interface system to one of Melbourne’s most prestigious buildings Melbourne GPO. It will be the first time since the 1950s that the iconic GPO building will become a night time attraction with a fantastic LED light display. Featuring 2,900 LEDs running at a fraction of the power as previously used. This energy efficient project will use 725w in its entirety which is less energy than it takes to power 15 household down lights.

Category – Commercial – Medium Project

A commercial project where the applicant’s contract value is more than $500,000 and less than $2 million.

Winner: Electrico Group (Aust) Pty Ltd

Project: Coles Southland

Why: Electrico Group was contracted for the disconnection and refurbishment of all electrical and security works for the upgrade of the new Coles Southland Concept store in Cheltenham. This is considered by Coles to be one of Australia’s best supermarkets with some of Electrico Group’s favourite features being the iPad screens to browse specials and recipes. The scope required all works to be completed over two shifts day and night – this was due to the fact that the store was required to remain open over the short period of five months in which all works had to be completed.

Category – Commercial – Large Project

A commercial project where the applicant’s contract value is greater than $2 million.

Winner: Nilsen (Vic) Pty Ltd

Project: NEXTDC Data Centre

Why: This project involved the full electrical fit out of ‘M1’, NEXTDC’s flagship data centre in Melbourne. The massive scale and technical complexity of this project can only be understood in the context of the world class M1 facility itself. Nilsen had every kind of challenge thrown at them – new world class technology, harsh time and space constraints and constant redesign work. In addition to laying over 100km of mains cable, Nilsen constantly partnered with their client and other suppliers to solve problems.