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Current http://www.current.com.au/ en-us http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss info@current.com.au (The Editor) Fujitsu finds favour on the retail floor with award win http://www.current.com.au/2012/05/15/article/Fujitsu-finds-favour-on-the-retail-floor-with-award-win/QDZFFWPUGQ.html http://www.current.com.au/2012/05/15/article/Fujitsu-finds-favour-on-the-retail-floor-with-award-win/QDZFFWPUGQ.html Current.com.au Correspondent By Claire Reilly There were a range of well-known brands vying for attention at last week’s ARBS air conditioning and refrigeration trade expo in Melbourne. While there was plenty of space in Melbourne’s convention centre, the retail floor is certainly a much more limited area in which big suppliers can compete for position. According to Philip Perham, the deputy managing director of Fujitsu General Australia, aŒbit ofŒaward recognition doesn’t go astray in capturing the consumer’s attention in a retail shopfront. And Perham is certainly happy to talk up the benefits of Fujitsu’s recent <a href="http://www.current.com.au/2012/03/27/article/Fujitsu-General-is-still-Australias-favourite-air/VFCOWFYVVI.html" target="_blank">Canstar Blue award win</a> in the domestic air conditioning category. “From our perspective it reaffirms a lot of the research that we independently conducted, and a lot of the focus that we’ve done our business looking at the customers,” he said.Œ “It’s nice to see a lot of that work that we’ve been doing – whether it’s warranty service or product quality or affordability – is paying dividends for us. It’s confirmation that we must be doing something right.” <a href="http://www.current.com.au/subscribe/index.php" style="padding-bottom: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; outline-width: 0px; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; color: rgb(127,196,35); font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; border-left-width: 0px; text-decoration: underline; padding-top: 0px; border-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial" target="_blank">Click here to sign up for our FREE daily newsletter</a> <a href="http://twitter.com/#!/Current_AR" style="padding-bottom: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; outline-width: 0px; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; color: rgb(127,196,35); font-size: 13px; border-left-width: 0px; text-decoration: underline; padding-top: 0px; border-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial" target="_blank">Follow Current.com.au on Twitter</a> Shortly after winning the award, Fujitsu sought its own feedback on the Canstar name itself, and whether consumers and retailers were aware of what it stood for. From this, Perham said the company was happy with the clout it already had in the retail sphere. “We were quite surprised by the level of knowledge on it out there in general consumer and retail land. A lot of our retail partners have previously won the award – The Good Guys and those sorts of people – so it carries a fair bit of credibility. “I think the Canstar badging definitely gives consumers confidence in the products, that they’re getting something high quality and reliable with back-up service, and something that will go the distance. So it’s a good silent seller for us in stores. “And getting five stars across every category was a nice little tick of approval,” he added. “We’re hopeful at this stage that we can use our point of sale material to enhance the Fujitsu brand again. The job for us now is not to rest on our laurels, it’s to keep delivering. Perham said that Fujitsu’s success comes in from the brand’s profile as a well-known brand in the marketplace. But he also recognised that being a big name comes with its own challenges. “We’re very active in the market, we’ve got a high profile,” he said. “With that comes a lot of expectations and they’re the things that we’re trying to meet. If we can meet those customer expectations on all levels then we should do very well. That’s probably the biggest pressure for us – the presence that we have.” Tue, 15 May 2012 12:06:22 +1000 Seeley founder slams carbon tax as an 'unnecessary imposition' http://www.current.com.au/2012/05/14/article/Seeley-founder-slams-carbon-tax-as-an-unnecessary-imposition/XOOADBTXBR.html http://www.current.com.au/2012/05/14/article/Seeley-founder-slams-carbon-tax-as-an-unnecessary-imposition/XOOADBTXBR.html Current.com.au Correspondent By Claire Reilly Frank Seeley, the founder and chairman of Australian air conditioning manufacturer Seeley International, has criticised the Federal Government’s carbon pricing scheme, saying that it is an unnecessary impositionŒon Australian manufacturing. Speaking to Current.com.au at the Air Conditioning, Refrigeration and Building Services trade show in Melbourne last week, Seeley said the carbon tax would be a positive for his company, because it was a leader in environmentally-friendly products designed to reduce power use. However, he also noted it would negatively impact the local manufacturing industry. <a href="http://www.current.com.au/subscribe/index.php" style="border-top-width: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; font-size: 13px; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(127,196,35); padding-top: 0px; background-color: transparent; border-right-width: 0px; text-decoration: underline; outline-width: 0px; border-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial" target="_blank">Click here to sign up for our FREE daily newsletter</a> <a href="http://twitter.com/#!/Current_AR" style="border-top-width: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; font-size: 13px; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; color: rgb(127,196,35); padding-top: 0px; background-color: transparent; border-right-width: 0px; text-decoration: underline; outline-width: 0px; border-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial" target="_blank">Follow Current.com.au on Twitter</a> “For us personally, it’s a good thing. But for Australia as a nation, it’s a bad thing," he said. “We’re very sorry to see the carbon tax, because I think it’s a retrograde step for Australia, it’s an imposition that we don’t need, and it’s going to make it harder for Australia generally to compete with the rest of the world. “At Seeley, we separate ourselves a bit from that because our products are so unique, and they’re not price-sensitive like other people’s are. But the carbon tax, I have to tell you from my point of view, it’s affecting us. It’s going to affect everybody. “Our steel prices are going to go up, our plastic prices are going to go up, our electrical energy costs are going to go up, everything’s going to go up. "Now here in Australia, if it was a level playing field, you’re only competing with people who’ve got the same problem. But the problem is that we’ve got an impost on us that other countries overseas don’t have. So that means a lot of them are going to be able to send over their products and they are going to come in under the radar. Australian companies are going to pay the extra, they’re not.” Mon, 14 May 2012 11:50:41 +1000 Air conditioning gets a makeover with new seasonal styles http://www.current.com.au/2012/05/09/article/Air-conditioning-gets-a-makeover-with-new-seasonal-styles/FRBAPVXMAV.html http://www.current.com.au/2012/05/09/article/Air-conditioning-gets-a-makeover-with-new-seasonal-styles/FRBAPVXMAV.html Current.com.au Correspondent By Claire Reilly in Melbourne While there are plenty of huge, commercial-grade air conditioning units on show at the Air Conditioning, Refrigeration and Building Services Exhibition in Melbourne this week, there is also an emerging trend to be seen in domestic appliances as brands move towards stylish designer units. Fujitsu, Daikin, Mitsubishi Electric and LG were all showing off new models with sleek shapes and finishes, designed to bring a bit of style to the traditionally white and boxy shape of split system air conditioning units. Fujitsu and Daikin have both opted for smooth curves and a streamlined finish to their units, removing all the excess buttons, vents and lights in favour of ultra-minimal design. <a href="http://www.current.com.au/subscribe/index.php" style="border-top-width: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; font-size: 13px; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(127,196,35); padding-top: 0px; background-color: transparent; border-right-width: 0px; text-decoration: underline; border-image: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial" target="_blank">Click here to sign up for our FREE daily newsletter</a> <a href="http://twitter.com/#!/Current_AR" style="border-top-width: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; font-size: 13px; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; color: rgb(127,196,35); padding-top: 0px; background-color: transparent; border-right-width: 0px; text-decoration: underline; border-image: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial" target="_blank">Follow Current.com.au on Twitter</a> Over at the Mitsubishi Electric and LG stands, it was all about different finishes to offer consumers a different option to the ubiquitous white. Mitsubishi Electric had both glossy black and silver models on display, which the company’s national product manager, Raja Gounder, said were designed to offer aesthetes more of a choice in the home. “If you have dark walls, the black unit doesn’t stick out as much as a traditional white air conditioner,” said Gounder. “It has a new and modern look for modern houses. “The silver model has also been designed to fit into rooms such as the kitchen, where there are lots of stainless steel appliances.” It was a similar story at LG, where the company had a mirror-finish air conditioner from its Art Cool series on display. Offering the same features as LG Art Cool Stylish air conditioners, commercial marketing manager Rania Gebram said the model had proven quite popular on the retail floor. <img alt="" height="310" src="/image/01 ARBS Fujitsu Designer.jpg" width="300" /> Fujitsu’s Designer Range wall-mounted inverter model. <img alt="" height="204" src="/image/02 ARBS Daikin Designer Air Con.jpg" width="300" /> Daikin’s new European-designed air conditioner has a matte finish that is designed to blend seamlessly with the walls of a room. <img alt="" height="166" src="/image/03 ARBS Mitsubishi Electric Designer.jpg" width="300" /> Mitsubishi Electric Australia has a glossy black model designed for dark walls and a silver model to match stainless steel appliances. <img alt="" height="195" src="/image/04 ARBS LG Designer.jpg" width="300" /> LG’s Art Cool range includes a sleek mirror-finish model.Œ Wed, 09 May 2012 11:09:11 +1000 Out and about at the Air Conditioning & Refrigeration Expo http://www.current.com.au/2012/05/09/article/Out-and-about-at-the-Air-Conditioning--Refrigeration-Expo/VJZEYQUYXH.html http://www.current.com.au/2012/05/09/article/Out-and-about-at-the-Air-Conditioning--Refrigeration-Expo/VJZEYQUYXH.html Current.com.au Correspondent Compiled By Claire Reilly in Melboune Current.com.auŒhas been in Melbourne this week to check out the Air Conditioning, Refrigeration & Building Services Trade Exhibition. All the big brands were there, showing off their latest and greatest products, and there were plenty of smaller niche players ready to demonstrate their wares. <img alt="" height="251" src="/image/01 ARBS Fujitsu Racecar(1).jpg" width="300" /> Fujitsu’s giant dome display had two company-branded cars outside, including this snazzy-looking racecar. <img alt="" height="327" src="/image/02 ARBS David McDonnell.jpg" width="300" /> Daikin technical trainer David McDonnell with the company’s latest European-designed model, featuring a smooth matte exterior that was created to blend into the décor. <img alt="" height="383" src="/image/03 ARBS_LG Marketing Team(1).jpg" width="300" /> LG Australia’s commercial marketing manager Rania Gebram and AES account executive Steven Keating. <img alt="" height="347" src="/image/04 ARBS John Marc Adele MEA(1).jpg" width="300" /> Jean Marc Adele from Mitsubishi Electric Australia demonstrates the revolving top shelf in the brand’s latest Multi Drawer Fridge. <img alt="" height="386" src="/image/05 ARBS_Floating Poly Balls(1).jpg" width="300" /> Floating balls were the fad of the fair, as brands vied for the most spectacular use of floating-lightweight-things or blowing-sparkly-tinsel-things. <img alt="" height="391" src="/image/06 ARBS Mark Taylor Bat.jpg" width="300" /> Our brand ambassador is cooler than your brand ambassador: Fujitsu shows off a signed bat from cricketing great Mark Taylor. Wed, 09 May 2012 09:21:55 +1000 Fujitsu takes centre stage at air conditioning trade show http://www.current.com.au/2012/05/08/article/Fujitsu-takes-centre-stage-at-air-conditioning-trade-show/NZAVGMPQZN.html http://www.current.com.au/2012/05/08/article/Fujitsu-takes-centre-stage-at-air-conditioning-trade-show/NZAVGMPQZN.html Current.com.au Correspondent By Claire Reilly in Melbourne If the Air Conditioning, Refrigeration & Building Services Trade Exhibition can be compared to Woodstock then Fujitsu General certainly had all the headlining gravitas of Jimmy Hendrix in Melbourne’s Convention and Exhibition Centre today. The air conditioning company certainly dominated the space at the expo, occupying a large red and white dome in the centre of the convention hall, dedicated to its domestic and commercial air conditioning appliances. The company was taking centre stage to launch its new Airstage VR-II heat recovery system for commercial premises, with a special unveiling attended by Fujitsu General managing director, Kenji Shimizu, deputy managing director, Philip Perham, and cricketing legend, Mark Taylor. The VR-II is ostensibly designed for large spaces requiring independent temperature control – such as hotels, schools and offices – and extends the Fujitsu’s Airstage VRF offering, which also includes the J-II and V-II series. <a href="http://www.current.com.au/subscribe/index.php" style="border-top-width: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; font-size: 13px; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(127,196,35); padding-top: 0px; background-color: transparent; border-right-width: 0px; text-decoration: underline; border-image: initial; outline-width: 0px; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial" target="_blank">Click here to sign up for our FREE daily newsletter</a> <a href="http://twitter.com/#!/Current_AR" style="border-top-width: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; font-size: 13px; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; color: rgb(127,196,35); padding-top: 0px; background-color: transparent; border-right-width: 0px; text-decoration: underline; border-image: initial; outline-width: 0px; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial" target="_blank">Follow Current.com.au on Twitter</a> While not necessarily the kind of unit a retailer would stock on the shopfloor (the VR-II certainly dwarfed all present at the unveiling) visiting industry professionals were also treated to a full display of Fujitsu’s domestic range of products, as well as demonstration videos, a history of the company and even one of Taylor’s signed cricket bats. Speaking about Fujitsu’s involvement at ARBS, deputy MD Philip Perham said it was the perfect forum for the company to focus on its commercial offering as well as its retail range. “Our effort is on a commercial front primarily at ARBS,” he said. “But our history has been more as a retail brand, especially with the company starting as a consumer products brand back in the ’70s. “So our focus has shifted from being just in retail, to being in retail and commercial. So obviously ARBS goes very well for us in being in the right demographic and target market, getting the message out to consultants, architects, specifiers and trade.” <img alt="" height="300" src="/image/01 Fujitsu ARBS dome.JPG" width="364" /> The massive Fujitsu dome at the centre of the Air Conditioning, Refrigeration & Building Services Trade Exhibition in Melbourne. <img alt="" height="300" src="/image/02 Fujitsu ARBS display.JPG" width="359" /> Fujitsu displays inside the dome. <img alt="" height="350" src="/image/03 Fujitsu ARBS Canstar.JPG" width="300" /> Fujitsu was keen to show off its recent Canstar Blue award – the brand was awarded the highest mark of five stars in every category for its air conditioners. Tue, 08 May 2012 14:24:37 +1000 Australian appliance brand Hotpoint goes into voluntary administration http://www.current.com.au/2012/04/16/article/Australian-appliance-brand-Hotpoint-goes-into-voluntary-administration/FSDILUJZXD.html http://www.current.com.au/2012/04/16/article/Australian-appliance-brand-Hotpoint-goes-into-voluntary-administration/FSDILUJZXD.html Current.com.au Correspondent By Claire Reilly Australian whitegoods and seasonal appliance manufacturer Hotpoint has gone into voluntary administration, following weeks of industry speculation surrounding the company’s future. The company went into administration on Wednesday 11 April, appointing Jirsch Sutherland accountants as administrators for the business. Since then, the office has all but shut down, with calls placed to the company head office and service hotline going unanswered. Hotpoint’s website is still active, though there is no notification to consumers or retailers about the administration. Of the five authorised state sales agents listed on the website, three were listed with incorrect or disconnected phone numbers. Comment has been sought from the remaining two sales agents. <a href="http://www.current.com.au/subscribe/index.php" style="padding-bottom: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; outline-width: 0px; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; color: rgb(127,196,35); font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; border-left-width: 0px; text-decoration: underline; padding-top: 0px; border-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial" target="_blank">Click here to sign up for our FREE daily newsletter</a> <a href="http://twitter.com/#!/Current_AR" style="padding-bottom: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; outline-width: 0px; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; color: rgb(127,196,35); font-size: 13px; border-left-width: 0px; text-decoration: underline; padding-top: 0px; border-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial" target="_blank">Follow Current.com.au on Twitter</a> Andrew Bobb, a representative fromŒJirsch Sutherland, confirmed that the company went into administration last week, and that staff and creditors had been informed and given a notice of meeting. Bobb was unable to provide further information on the reasons behind the collapse, the nature of employee entitlements following the fallout or the future of the company. Bobb said that althoughŒhe did not know the reasons why the company went into voluntary administration, he assumed they were “economic” in nature. He confirmed that more information would be available “in due course”. Current has learned that staff members were given little notice about the fate of the business, with some reportedly finding out about the proceedings on the day the company appointed the administrator, despite allegations that the company had “known about it for months”. Œ Mon, 16 Apr 2012 13:18:43 +1000