Bill and I were recently invited by the Fiji Sugar Corporation (FSC) to visit their mills in Fiji and consult on some of their engineering projects. The experience took us through all four of their mills (three on the main island of Viti Levu and one on the smaller northern island of Vanua Levu) over a week. The experience was almost like travelling back 30 years into Australia’s own Sugar Industry past where full stick processing was still commonplace, and the majority of cutting is done by hand (we hear they only have 3 harvesters!).

The sugar industry is Fiji’s largest industry, and employs approximately 25% of the population. It is part owned by the Fiji government; so being invited over was kind of a big deal! Though much of our trip was spent driving around the island between the mills, but we did have the opportunity to see a few of the local resorts which were absolutely stunning!

Our work with FSC has begun with the arrival of an ex-Bundaberg Sugar loco in our workshop ready for refurbishment; and we are also in discussions on other projects that will see IBS help significantly improve FSC’s skills and efficiency, reduce their environmental impact, and grow their international standing as a global corporation.

Its an exciting time for us!

- Adam

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How long have you been working at IBS?

What do you enjoy about working at IBS?
Designing new products and meeting people

What is your hobby?
Soccer

How do you relax on weekends?
Partying & Sleeping

Ideal holiday destination?
Italy

What is your favourite movie?
Couldn’t pick a favourite, but if I had to, The Mummy

What are your favourite TV shows?
Big Bang Theory, How I Met you Mother, Two Broke Girls, NCIS

What music do you like?
A bit of everything

What book are you reading at the moment?
ENG1201 – Engineering Materials Text Book

What is your favourite food?
Italian & Camp oven roast

What is your favourite restaurant?
Rattle and Hum

Which celebrity would you like to meet?
Nickleback. I know it’s not a person but there a band so it counts.

What is your favourite quote?
“It your attitude, not your aptitude, that determines your altitude in life”

If you could be anywhere else right now, where would you be?
On Holiday

Where are you originally from?
Mutchilba – Near Mareeba

Any interesting talents?
Nope … I’m plain and boring

What was your nickname at school?
Didn’t have one. It was either Michael or Zugno

Who’s your favourite superhero?
Thor

Holden or Ford?
Holden!!!

Cats or Dogs?
Defiantly dogs

Worst injury you’ve ever had?
Damaged knee cartilage

Do you collect anything?
Lures & Camping gear

What is the most embarrassing thing you’ve ever done?
Mistaking some random for someone else

Where is the strangest place you have ever woken up after a night out?
Haven’t been that drunk…….. Yet

What CD are you listening to in your car at the moment??
CD? You mean IPod right?

What’s your favourite desert food?
Ice-cream and chocolate

What trait do you least like in a person?
Greed

What’s your favourite thing to do on a Friday night?
Relax

Which music artist do you least like?
Goyte

Who’s your favourite actor?
There are too many good ones to choose from.

Who’s your favourite author?
Matthew Reily

If you were given $100 what would you spend it on?
Grog

What would cause you to throw beer at the tv?
Why would you waste a good beer?

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Fancy a trip for you and three mates to the V8 Supercars in Abu Dhabi?  Simply call in to IBS Engineering Supplies and Innovative Solutions and grab a pair of Oliver Boots, hold on to your receipt and enter online here.

Entries close on the 10th October @ 5pm.

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Thanks for making IBS the business it is today, and don’t forget the 2012 IBS Car Show this Sunday!

The post Business of the Week appeared first on IBS Engineering Supplies & Innovative Solutions.

Back in May, Bill, Michael, Glenn and Tammy all packed their bags and headed to Melbourne to attend the annual ISG conference. The conference is a chance for members to gather from across Australia and learn about new and upcoming products from supplier members.  Keep an eye out in future newsletters to see some of these products!

The post Expanding their knowledge appeared first on IBS Engineering Supplies & Innovative Solutions.

Des discussed with the students the basic workings of Gas Equipment from the neck of the gas bottle to the flame end and demonstrated the rights and wrongs of use in application which was driven around safety at all times.

It gave both the teachers and the students a better understanding of the workings of gas equipment with the samples on show.

Des also briefly covered the Australian Standards AS4839—2001 and how it related to their place of work.

By the end of the seminar teachers and students had a good understanding of gas equipment and the high quality of Cigweld Comet Gas Equipment.

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Plans are now underway for the show to be held Sunday 29 July.  As in previous years, we’ll kick the day off with a “Show ‘n Shine” from 6:30am for the entrants before we open the gates to the public at 9:00am before closing them at 2:00pm.

This year the show will be run by the Mourilyan State School P & C Association who will also be selling food and drinks with all money raised on the day going towards the Mourilyan State School P & C Association.

Entrants will again be able to compete in various categories including, Best Ford,   Holden, American, Original, Coupe, Hot Rod, Interior, and a host of others.

Cost is $5 per car.  For the public, entry is $2 for Adults while children under 12 get in for free.

If you need any more information, give us a call here at IBS or Stacy Kneubuhler on 4061 8496.

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Thanks to Carla for donating her time, and thanks to all those who donated.  In the end we raised just over $3000.00 for the Leukaemia Foundation.

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The Q400 is an initiative of Queensland Business Review which recognises the leading private companies in Queensland.  In 2006, IBS entered the Q400 rankings for the first time at position 361.

Since then, we’ve always been a part of the list and while the last few years have seen it’s ups and downs, we are once again proud to announce that we are still a part of the Q400 and have risen to the position of 259.

“It’s always an honour to be a part of the Q400”, commented Managing Director Bill Seawright.  “It shows that our staff is working hard and that our plans we put in place a number of years ago are paying off.”

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