The 59th annual CIVENEX was held 14 and 15 May at Eastern Creek, Blacktown (NSW), and according to a new management team headed by Institute of Public Works Engineering Australia (IPWEA) CEO John Roydhouse and event manager Toni-Lee Game, it included more than 50 first-time exhibitors.
Showcasing cleaning equipment were a number of well-known companies including Tennant Company, Hako Australia, Conquest Equipment Technologies, Kennards Hire, Nilfisk Advance, Applied Cleansing Solutions, Aspel Cleaning Equipment, Australian Pump Industries and Steamaster.
Roydhouse said he brought the organisation of CIVENEX 2014 in-house to provide better co-ordination with exhibitors, federal, state and local government departments and businesses.
“CIVENEX strengthened in 2013 with a sustained increase in attendance, especially from local government. The relocation and expansion of the demonstration area into the main exhibition area proved a great success, as did the members’ lounge and both have been expanded in 2014,” commented Roydhouse.
Tennant Company had a range of city sweepers and Green Machines on display but the stand’s hero product was the Tennant Green Machines 500ze electric sweeper that uses lithium-ion technology. National sales and marketing manager, Quintus Strydom, also mentioned a new upgrade of the S30 mid-sized rider sweeper to be released later in the year.
Applied Cleansing Solutions was pushing two major products, the Glutton zero emissions vacuum, which won the ‘new product’ award of the show, and the litter master electric bin lifter, which the company produces in partnership with Vehicle Ecology. The litter master is a zero-emissions, multi-task machine that offers electric vacuums and bin lifter in a 96% biodegradable unit.
Hako Australia had its City Master range on display, with specific focus on the City Master 2000 and City Master 600, both of which are already used by some local councils including Sydney City, Liverpool and Blacktown. Helping on the stand was one of Hako’s distributors, Kevin D Rutt, managing director of Rutt Industrial Equipment Company in South Australia.
The Aspel Cleaning Equipment stand had a range of Nilfisk Advance cleaning machines on display with Nilfisk’s NSW area sales manager, Richard Hyam, there to help Aspel’s Bill Zonneveld answer any technical questions. The Nilfisk CS7000 hybrid sweeper scrubber/drier seemed to be a favourite with show visitors.
Michael Mathews, general manager of Conquest Equipment Technologies, had the ecosweep 360 on display – a battery powered suction street sweeper. While Tam Le from Steamaster was promoting the 1525 SilentMaster hot water pressure washer with a decibel rating of only 70dBA, about the same noise level of a normal conversation.
Kennards Hire boasted a huge range of equipment, however, the stand also had some Tennant Green Machine walk behind sweepers and scrubbers to appeal to local councils, government agencies, and utility or civil contractors. “We have the right equipment for any job,” remarked Kennards’ key account manager Matt Perry.
Australian Pump Industries achieved some great results at the show with product manager Bruce Hulm saying there was a lot of interest in the Aussie Hydrotek Peacekeeper Series – designed specifically for inner-city cleaning. The system has a ‘silent pack’ engine and a 12v low voltage diesel fired burner.
Although this year’s show was perhaps quieter than previous years, exhibitors and attendees alike still rate CIVENEX as the number one show specifically tailored for those in local government and the public works industries.
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