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| ON A MISSION! SMART FITNESS ARTICLE IN DTC MAGAZINE |
| An Extract from the "SA Defence Business" Magazine September/October 2011, Page 51 |
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Personal trainer Tracey Kennedy might not have a Defence background, but she certainly knows how to bring her 'troops' into line at the break of dawn along Semaphore Beach several mornings a week.
Tracey also a Director of SMART Fabrication at Port Adelaide alongside husband Simon has for the past two years been at the helm of a side-business, SMART Fitness.
With stretchers, ropes and sandbags in tow, Tracey, a former part-time gym instructor, leads a tight military-inspired strength and cardio operation with around 30 participants (including defence industry colleagues and the DTC's own Deputy CEO Kerryn Smith), all in the name of getting super fit.
"I love it, and it's all about making our fitness fun," says Tracey. "Even though it's hard work, we expect everyone to put in 100 percent.
"We have great results though we had one woman who lost 14 kilos in six months from our boot camp.
"Tracey's growing fitness business, a finalist in Messenger Newspapers' Small Business Awards, ...
<-- Click image to download article and read on |
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| SMART FAB SPONSORED ROBERT BRANFORD # 1, IF ONLY FOR A MONTH! |
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Smart Fabrication sponsored international speedway rider Robert Branford has just completed his second season in the United Kingdom and returns home late October after leaving Australia on March the 1st. Robert competed in the Premier league for Redcar and the National league for Buxton.This was his first season in the Premier league, and it was seen as a chance to learn the tracks and gain experience.Robert was an ever present in all of Redcars 47 official meetings and finished with a 3.5 average.He also doubled up with last seasons title winning team the Buxton Hitmen for a second season, where he missed one meeting while on Premier league duty.He competed in 22 official Buxton fixtures.His official average rose from 6.5 last season to over 8.5 this year which made him one of the top riders in the league. He also finished the year as Buxtons number 1 rider, which completed a rise from number 7 at the start of |
| last season to the current number 1. Buxton were not as succesful as a team , although he did help Milldenhall to the play off final and Koc final while guesting as a replacement as there no 1 for a month, including top scoring with 14 points at Rye house and 14 plus 1 at Isle of Wight in late season meetings.Not many riders would take a guest booking at Isle of wight, a five hour drive, followed by a ferry ride from his Matlock base, but |
to an Aussie distance is no barrier. There were some crashes and bruises along the way and he had the disappointment of missing out on the National League riders championship when he lost a rear chain in his fourth race after he had defeated the top two finishers earlier in the night, and he only needed a second in his easiest ride to win. But rather than put a dampner on his season he finished the year strongly with 10 plus 4 for Redcar his best score and dropped only a cpl of points at Buxton over the closing months and had two maximums. So overall Robert competed in 80 meetings over the 7 month season including a 9 meeting run in 9 days in early September, and raced in over 350 races.
Well Done Robert from all the Team @ Smart Fab! |
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BUSINESSES BATTLE TO BE REGIONS BEST! MESSENGER |
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An
extract from the "Portside Messenger", 9th November 2011 Pages 34-35
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Piping Hot Business
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An extract from the "Portside Messenger" 13th July 2011| by Tim Williams
JOBS: Port's Smart Fabrications owner Simon Kennedy |
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SIMON Kennedy reckons he could "motivate a dead person".
A humble boilermaker who has built a multi-million-dollar business not to mention a high school dropout headed for Harvard University it's hard not to believe him.
The owner of Port's Smart Fabrication metal business says he's proof getting a trade qualification opens up a world of opportunity.
Mr. Kennedy was born and bred in Semaphore and took on a boilermaking apprenticeship after leaving school in Year 11, starting his first subcontracting business and buying his first house when he was aged 20 through sheer hard work.
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He worked at ASC for seven years before launching Smart Fabrication, which has turned over $25 million and grown at an average of more than 100 per cent a year since 1999
Staff numbers doubled to about 50 in the past two months, after the Moorhouse Rd. firm won a contract to build 12km of the pipeline that would deliver water from the new desalination plant to the northern suburbs. Mr. Kennedy says working harder and smarter than competitors and treating staff "like family" is the key to his success.
He has up to four apprentices at a time and urges other businesses to give young people a chance.
"Anything that's going to help the younger generation, I'm in 100 per cent for," he says. "My joy is in giving people career paths." Though he says students should ideally finish Year 12, his message to young people is to "get a trade behind you because that can get you into 101 different jobs". "Don't worry about where you begin, it's where you aim," he says.
The 44-year-old intends to hand over Smart Fabrication to his children in a few years time to become a motivational speaker and mentor.
"I always say yes to work experience and career days. I show them pictures of my Harley and my boats and say 'guys, I'm a boilermaker'. I could motivate a dead person."
Mr. Kennedy says ongoing staff training is vital, with a quarter of his workforce on various courses. He will attend Harvard University next year for a six-week leadership course. In the meantime, he's busy with Moorhouse Rd. business Adelaide Ship Construction International, in which he has bought a half share. |
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"DEFENCE READY" SMART FAB SPONSORS ANNUAL DTC DINNER |
Picture and info to come.... |
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LEED ENGINEERING & SMART FAB HAVE SOMETHING IN THE PIPELINE |
| An Extract from the "SA Defence Business" Magazine May/June 2011, Page 50 |
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Leed Engineering and Construction are currently working on a challenging customized engineering project for the DTEI with long time collaborators Smart Fabrication.
The DTEI is currently in the process of replacing large sections of pipeline around Adelaide to continue to meet the water needs of the many residents of Adelaide. As part of the Stirling section of this project, Leed have engaged Smart Fabrication to assist in creating an innovative solution to meet this engineering challenge.
The original pipeline in Stirling is over a hundred years old and is larger than the current piping regulations. After a period of evaluation, Leed decided that the most efficient replacement option was to put a slightly smaller concrete pipe inside.
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Leed and Smart Fabrication have designed a customized pipe trolley to meet these needs, under the working title of 'Michelangelo'.
The Michelangelo is currently in action in and under the hills, carrying two tonne concrete pipe sections up to 300m inside the pipe, laying the new pipes in position and travelling back out.
"Despite the challenging work environment an underground pipe presents, we believe that together we have come up with a unique solution to this unique challenge."
"We are also proud that this complex concept has been become a reality in just a few short months"
Click image above to download article. |
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SMART FAB NAMED IN TOP 20 SME DEFENCE SUPPLIERS! |
| An Extract from the "SA Defence Business" Magazine September/October 2010, Page 14 |
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We were pleased to see while browsing through the October edition on the SA Defence Business Magazine that Smart Fabrication was listed as one of the TOP 20 SEM DEFENCE SUPPLIERS for South Australia. SA Defence Business Magazine is a monthly magazine issued by the Defence Teaming Centre (DTC). This is an honour that cements great confidence in the offices and workshops of Smart Fabrication because this is the direction we have been working towards for the last few years.
In the past 12 months Smart Fabrication has gained certification to ISO 9001 for Quality as well as becoming a Defence Recognized Supplier and a member of the Defence Teaming Centre. We emphasise quality and practice a high standard of work with all jobs we work on. We aim to increase our work for the defence industry over the next few year.
Smart Fabrication was primarily recognised for the custom designed aluminium access ladders and platforms we fabricated for the Air Warfare Destroyers (AWD) Ships. Other factors / projects that contributed to Smart Fab being named as a top 20 supplier were the speed, quality and design input on the water passivation unit for the Australian Submarine Corporation (ASC) and stainless curing ovens also for the ASC.
<-- Click image to download article.
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BRANFORD JUNIOR WAVES THE FLAG FOR SMART FAB IN THE UK! |
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GET SMART! SMART FAB ARTICLE IN SA DEFENCE BUSINESS MAG |
| An Extract from the "SA Defence Business" Magazine July/August 2010, Pages 20-21 |
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| ^^ Click image to download article. ^^ |
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SMART FAB IS NOW AN ISO 9001 QUALITY ACCREDITED COMPANY! |
| After years of claiming to be a Quality Company that prides itself on its simple and yet effective systems, the director of Smart Fabrication Simon Kennedy has put his money where his mouth is and gained ISO accreditation for design and supply. This is a big step in the right direction for Smart Fabrication who is working towards more defence work with larger quality companies such as AWD and General Dynamics.
Commendations have to go to NWBDC and Craig Williams from Williams Laser Cutting & Fabrication who offered advice from the start and recommended Smart Fabrication pursue Quality accreditation.
Also to Derek Ruse whose proactive attitude and dedication to the goal that started Smart Fab documenting all their processes, procedures and writing up SOP's (amongst implementing systems and offering advice to all employees as a clinical psychologist). And then Steve Eccles who came and took over from Derek and finished off all the systems that passed flawlessly. And finally all the staff who have taken on board and followed all the new “extra paperwork” involved with a quality system without too many complaints.
This will mean Smart Fabrication will be eligible to quote and tender for much larger quality jobs with companies that appreciate an eye for detail and well documented paper tail. |
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SMART FAB NOW A DEFENCE RECOGNISED SUPPLIER! |
In recognition of its record of supply to the Australian Defense Organization and the contribution it has made to the continued sustainability of the Australian Defence Force. This logo acknowledges its status as a DEFENCE RECOGNISED SUPPLIER
This comes exactly one month before the final audit is scheduled for certification as a Quality Endorsed Company ISO9001:2012 for Smart Fabrication. Congratulation to Smart Fab on being recognised as a Defence Supplier and good luck with the ISO audit next month! |
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