HVIA Awards national finalists – Melbourne

National Finalists in HVIA’s National Awards from the association’s Southern region were acknowledged in front of an audience of industry leaders in Melbourne last week.

The special HVIA Executive Club event was hosted by EnergyAustralia.

Finalists were acknowledged with presentations made by Senator the Hon Anthony Chisholm, Assistant Minister for Regional Development and Tony Clark, Chief Executive of NTI, major sponsor of HVIA’s National Awards.

Each of the finalists’ profiles are featured below:

Safety Innovation
Scania Australia – Securing the Future of Workshop Safety

Product Innovation
Knorr-Bremse – iMass®
SEA Electric – SEA 300-45 EV
Hyzon Motors – Hyzon Heavy Rigid

Community Leadership
Morris
MaxiTRANS

Apprentice of the Year
Samuel Allan – Ballarat ISUZU
Samuel Sherriffs – CMV Truck & Bus
Benjamin Gusman – Fuso Port Melbourne

Peter Langworthy Award
Thomas Baggaley – CMV Truck & Bus

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Safety Innovation

Scania Australia – Securing the Future of Workshop Safety

Scania’s Battery Electric Vehicles (BEV) Safety Management System (SMS) ensures employees have a safe work system when interacting with electric vehicles. Scania’s BEV safety structure details responsibilities against each staffing level within Scania Australia.

Scania has developed and activated safe operating procedures (SOP’s) detailing the processes to be followed when working with electric or hybrid vehicles/motors.

To become a qualified authorised Scania BEV technician, employees undertake online learning and face-to-face in-house training . Only trained and authorised technicians can perform electrical work on BEVs.

Scania has purchased an array of tools, equipment and PPE specifically designed to protect our technicians, including dedicated EV mobile work benches that house all tools and equipment required to work on BEV vehicles. These include specific tools rated against electric shock, signs and barricades to protect BEV work, specific PPE including gloves, face shields, glasses and uniforms to protect the worker.

Scania has invested in mobile gantries to permit safe access the batteries and electrical isolation points on the roof of Scania BEV buses, which protect the employee from falling from a height, and which have been designed and manufactured to protect against electric shock.

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Product Innovation

Knorr-Bremse – iMass®

iMass® is a TCA Category B Certified SMART On Board Mass (OBM) System developed by Knorr-Bremse locally in Australia.

The iMass® system meets the OBM requirements for High Productivity Freight Vehicles (HPFV). The system accuracy is well within 2% of a certified weigh bridge providing masses for each axle group as well as total combination mass in a heavy vehicle combination up to 7 trailers in length.

iMass® utilises the already existing mass output from Knorr-Bremse Trailer EBS (Electronic Brake System), eliminating the need for additional trailer hardware and simplifying the product offering. In the prime mover itself, a user friendly Driver Interface Unit (DIU) allows live mass display and troubleshooting for the Prime mover and any connected trailers.

Incorporated in the DIU is a dual CAN capability allowing it to pick up the electronic mass signal from the existing trailer CAN connection and also a signal from the Knorr-Bremse ELC Truck ECU (and subsequent sensors) fitted to the prime mover.

To meet the Category B SMART OBM requirements, the DIU also allows a feed via an RS232 serial connection to Telematics Units to transfer mass data in line with TCA requirements.

SEA Electric – SEA 300-45 EV

The SEA 300-45 EV is a game changer for SEA Electric, both in Australia and worldwide, with its 4.5-tonne GVM meaning that it is capable of being driven on a car licence, opening up a world of opportunity for zero-emission last-mile deliveries.

The patented SEA-Drive® 70-7power-system as fitted to the truck features maximum power and torque ratings of 134kW and 700Nm, with its performance characteristics making it ideal for stop-start city traffic.

Packaged with an 88kWh battery, the SEA 300-45 EV has an unladen range of up to 300km with a fast-charging time of under two hours (normal charging time is approximately four hours), while early adopters of the model have been able to utilise range-extending top-ups while back at base reloading.

Notably, the truck’s tare weight comes in at only 2.5-tonnes, which results in an allowance of 2 tonnes for its body and freight, an attractive proposition in the EV space.

The SEA 300-45 EV is yet another milestone for SEA Electric since the local volume production of trucks commenced, with the brand recently becoming Australia’s latest OEM after gaining Australian Design Rules approval.

The SEA 300-45 EV proves that Australian manufacturing, plus homegrown ingenuity, is alive and well.

Hyzon Motors – Hyzon Heavy Rigid

The Hyzon Heavy Rigid platform is the first Australian designed and manufactured FCEV and will be tested and validated locally for Australian conditions.

The product has been designed to seamlessly integrate with the base vehicle, giving the operator an easy transition from the IC powered vehicle to FCEV.

Hyzon have incorporated all of the factory safety features and functions from the base OEM and tested and validated to ensure there is no compromise in safety.

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Community Leadership

Morris

Morris Finance support a number of activities, events and programs to connect, support and enable people within the community, Australia-wide.

Organisations Morris support include Food Bank Australia, genU Inclusion, Geelong Connected Communities and Bethany Giving Tree. Along with numerous other fundraisers, Morris has supported young and upcoming sporting talent through its sports ambassador program for over 12 years.

For its consecutive year running, Morris hosted its Goals to End Hunger initiative in March this year. The initiative saw Morris donate $500, the equivalent of 1000 meals to Foodbank Australia for every goal the Geelong Cats scored during the game. Funds raised benefited those affected by the recent floods in both Northern New South Wales and South Eastern Queensland.

With the Cats taking home the 66 point win on the day, it was only afterward that Morris decided to round up the donation increasing the total to $20,000, the equivalent of 40,000 Meals.

Morris say that an additional benefit of its involvement with these rewarding initiatives, is the improved employee morale and sense of goodwill.

MaxiTRANS

Under the new ownership of Australian Trailer Solutions Group, MaxiTRANS is focussed on giving back to the local Ballarat community in which it operates it largest manufacturing site. In last 12 months:

• Investment in regional manufacturing jobs. Provided almost 60 casuals with permanent roles within the business. Upskilling approximately 100 existing staff through Cert 3 & 4 training. Currently 29 apprentices on site.
• Donated $20,000 to local charity Blakes Army Ltd in support of the fight again bone marrow failure.
• In conjunction with local Ballarat suppliers, started the seed funding with a donation to the 8/7th Battalion Association, which provides former service people suffering from PTSD with support dogs.
• Hosted a free community fun day, which saw over 1000 locals come through its doors to showcase our business and introduce people the transport industry
• In conjunction with BGT, visiting local schools to introduce year 10-12 students to trade skills and advice on career pathway opportunities within the industry.
• Provide several grassroots level sporting clubs and groups support through donations, totaling almost $6,000 over last 12 months.
• Donated $5,000 towards the 2022 Kids Variety Bash through a local Ballarat representative taking part, supporting kids in need.

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Apprentice of the Year

Samuel Allan – Ballarat ISUZU

Samuel Allan is a fourth year apprentice technician studying Certificate III in heavy commercial vehicle mechanical technology at Ballarat Isuzu.

Samuel started with in early 2019 having been referred by the local VET training centre.

His nomination says Samuel was considerably shy when he started but showed great interest and initiative in his work ethic.

“As time passed and training was provided by both TAFE and Manufacturer level, he began to grow as a person and an apprentice,” his nomination says.

“Samuel will be an integral part of the the future of Isuzu Ballarat dealership and the Isuzu product.”

Samuel Sherriffs – CMV Truck & Bus

Sam began his apprenticeship with CMV in 2018 at 18 years of age. Throughout the past 3.5 years, he has always demonstrated a keen attitude to learn and grow his technical skills & knowledge.

His nominations says: “I have witnessed a slightly immature young boy grow to a respected young man in a short period of time.

“A very keen interest in the heavy industry is evident with every conversation with him.”

Benjamin Gusman – Fuso Port Melbourne

Benjamin has applied himself from the minute he was signed on as a first year, during a very challenging time.

With industry shortages across the industry Ben was able to step up and absorb all the training he was given and apply that into his work within a short period.

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Peter Langworthy Award

Thomas Baggaley – CMV Truck & Bus

Tom joined CMV Truck & Bus to begin his heavy vehicle apprenticeship in 2018 and demonstrated leadership from the beginning.

Tom is currently a team leader of a CMV Truck & Bus dealership and is positively influencing senior technicians and young apprentices.