A newsletter from Koppers Wood Products Pty Ltd Poles Apart Issue 4: 2010 Thanks for reading this edition of Poles Apart our utility pole newsletter. Because poles are a key part of a critical infrastructure asset we bring you news from Koppers on our pole procurement operations, new products and service innovation and general interest information. Keep up with Poles Apart. In this edition: Pole procurement operations Koppers Takura plant, QLD wins DPI pole supply Don t want to be Grapple Tackled? Koppers has a grip on your poles. Technical support Supply chain solutions let Koppers work it out for you Supplier of the year there s a first time for everyone See us and KPOLE TSB at the ESI Field Days, hosted by Energy Australia... Did you know? Next issue Pole procurement operations Procurement operations throughout 2009 exceeded plan and has provided us with the best inventory position we have held for a long time. The longer term outlook for supply of durability class 1 and class 2 species hardwood poles is strong, with Koppers two supply sources Forests NSW and our network of private native forest owners. East coast demand has continued to draw more on 12.5m and 14.0m length poles, which in turn has forced Koppers to reduce buying 9.5m and 11.0m poles, and makes these available for special supply arrangements with all customers. Please call us to discuss your project requirements to best match our inventory to your project design options for the most competitive outcome. When ordering please check the availability of pole sizes by contacting your closest Koppers plant. See our contact details at the end of this newsletter, or email us at poles@koppers.com.au. Use Wood. It s natural. Page 1 of 5
Plan ahead and receive guaranteed on time supply with all orders when availability has been confirmed by our team - If we say we can do it, we will do it! Takura Plant, Queensland wins DPI pole supply In November 2009 Koppers won a tender with DPI QLD (Forestry) for the supply of hardwood pole resource. Harvesting and supply into our Takura plant commenced in December 2009, and wood volumes have the potential to grow further as we integrate this new and larger supply source with our existing private native forest procurement program. What this means is Koppers will be better positioned throughout 2010 than ever before to meet your pole and piling requirements with access to more wood, greater range of sizes and combined with our other round wood markets we are well placed to balance our inventory in a cost effective and sustainable way. With your ongoing support we will be able to provide you with ongoing competitive supply solutions. If you need poles in Queensland please email us at poles@koppers.com.au, or phone our Takura Plant sales team on (07) 4128 7227. Look out for this Grapple tackle It s Koppers new pole delivery service In 2009 we launched our new truck mounted crane delivery service with our transport provider, Herb Blanchard Transport (HBH). The new crane units are designed for unloading poles at our customer s depots or project sites. Koppers and HBH are proud to be able to offer this new service to our customers designed to increase unloading safety, efficiency and providing a consistent and standardised procedure across our customer s depot centres. The new unloading service is now available and has proven to be a cost and time saver. The crane is equipped with a log grapple fitting which means the poles are grabbed securely when lifted. They are not slung or tied, nor left to be balanced on forks. The grapple also has a heal boom which allows us to lift poles where the boom itself can counteract an off-centred lift and drop safely. So, when you have limited and/or insufficient unloading equipment and want us to deliver and unload for you, please ask us to include it in our pole price. Customers using the new crane truck service include Country Energy, Bilfinger Berger, Civilbuild and many other piling contractors, with Powercor Network Services evaluating the service following a pole unloading demonstration day Koppers/HBH held in December 2009. Please contact us if you would also like Koppers/HBH to conduct a field demonstration for your staff. The delivery service is ideal for restricted access sites where the unloading footprint needs to be small. The crane truck service means there is no need for crane hire and therefore there is no risk of down time when waiting for cranes to arrive and unload. HBH specialist operators can unload the poles/piles to where they need to be stored on site, and your personnel do not need to handle the poles/piles directly. Now that s a safe way to unload poles...leave it to Koppers. Page 2 of 5
Photo courtesy of Country Energy. Technical Support Any specification or design requirements you have, we have you covered. Contact us to discuss your project requirements pole lengths, capacities, and dimension. Koppers now have an engineering capacity not previously available and we offer this service as a function capable of working with project line designers to match up our range of inventory efficiently with your project design requirements. Koppers have a high degree of versatility to be able to work with project designers to integrate our inventory on hand with line design and provide workable, cost effective supply solutions for large scale projects. Supply Chain Solutions let Koppers work it out with you Koppers can help you link up pole selection with your line design requirements and then provide a number of pole supply chain support. Not only do we maintain a wide range of pole sizes and lengths Koppers can arrange delivery, specialized unloading. We can either deliver to a project work site, or to designated peg locations to save unnecessary double handling and additional unloading costs and time. Koppers can even help with the installation process by introducing you to one of many of our pole and piling contractor customers across Australia. Koppers has a vast network of customers capable of standing poles, installing power lines and providing site specific solutions. So, if you need a hand or want to outsource the work contact us and we can help you manage you pole supply chain. Page 3 of 5
Supplier of the Year Koppers were awarded by Powercor Network Services Pty Ltd as their Supplier of the Year (category: manufacturing) which was presented in December 2009 at the annual Client s Breakfast in Melbourne, Victoria. Powercor s Rob Coulson, Manager Supply Chain Solutions said Koppers was a deserving winner not only for hitting all the supply KPI s but also for the way practical solutions were implemented in improving product identification, KPOLE product innovation, and for developing a proposal to improve safety in pole handling and delivery. Poles are supplied to Powercor from Koppers Grafton plant with great customer support from Rick Tranter, Paul Druce and Darrell Simmons and the team well done guys! In related news, Koppers was also presented with a Recognition Award at the Energy Australia annual Supplier s Breakfast in December 2009. Koppers Grafton Business Manager, Rick Tranter was on hand to receive the award and was pleased to be recognised for the outstanding 100% DIFOT (delivered in full on time) performance his team achieved in servicing Energy Australia throughout 2009. See us and KPOLE TSB at the ESI Field Days Hosted by Energy Australia at The Dome, Sydney Showground, Homebush on 5 th and 6 th May 2010 this year s ESI Field Days will be a great event to visit to see the Koppers team and the new KPOLE TSB improvements, with a full size pole on display. Koppers will be near the pole yard at Stand 209 For more details about the event visit www.fielddayswithenergy.com.au Did you know? Worldwide, the average amount of forest per person is 0.6 ha or 1.5 acres or about 1 football field in Australia it s 12 times that 12 football fields per person. Like to know more Treemendous Facts? Visit www.naturallybetter.com.au Page 4 of 5
Next issue of Poles Apart: Behind the plant gates The real down under what s happening in Tasmania? KPOLE TSB the pole with the right fit RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) capability for Koppers poles The Safety Log check out our pole handling Risk Assessment Koppers Leap of Faith go on jump! Supply chain solutions Coordinates (tick), GPS (tick), Delivery (tick) Turn it up! Koppers Hardwood transmission poles are available Until then, keep up the good work...with Koppers hardwood poles! On that note, we hope you enjoyed being stood up with us in this edition of Poles Apart. Feedback or questions? Please email us: poles@koppers.com.au *Distribution of Poles Apart: Feel free to send us the contact names/email addresses of anyone in your company whom you think would like to receive our Poles Apart newsletter. Contact Koppers Wood Products Pty Ltd: Grafton Plant (NSW): Ph 02 6644 7223 / Fax 02 6644 7605 Takura Plant (QLD): Ph 07 4128 7227 / Fax 07 4128 7527 Longford Plant (TAS): Ph 03 6391 1377 / Fax 03 6391 2239 Bunbury Plant (WA): Ph 08 9725 4511 / Fax 08 9725 4163 Poles sales & enquiries email: poles@koppers.com.au Website: www.koppers.com Page 5 of 5