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Despite Australia being the land of beaches and bikinis, Tasmania isn't known for its hot summers and mild winters, in fact the average July low is only 4.5°C, with the mercury dropping below zero regularly. To combat this, Tasmanians must heavily insulate their homes to keep the heat in and control their energy bills.

Austech's range of Duratuff Select Vinyl Wall Cladding comes with a pre-installed expanded polystyrene insulation backing, available in 20mm and 30mm foam. Duratuff Select is an effective way to not only make your home look better, but also improve its energy efficiency.

Tony Caldwell from Austech Tasmania has been installing vinyl cladding in Tasmania for many years and as seen vinyl cladding go from strength to strength as Tasmanians embrace the environmental and aesthetic benefits of vinyl.

Austech Head Office is situated in Sydney, but has branches all over Australia, including Austech Victoria, Austech Queensland, Austech Western Australia and Austech Tasmania. Austech's major suppliers also attended the conference, flying in from all over the world.

Marty McDonnell from Royal Building Products in Canada came to discuss vinyl cladding. Marty was very interested in the unique ways Australian Vinyl Cladding is insulated. In Canada vinyl cladding is just fixed straight onto the existing house, but Austech's Duratuff Select Vinyl Wall Cladding has an expanded polystyrene backing, making it more ridged, but also adding to a home's energy efficiency, wrapping it with insulation.

Billy Lee from Owens Corning, Foamular Extruded Polystyrene's manufacturer, was pleased to see just how well received Foamular was in Australia and all the innovative ways Australians use it. Billy was especially interested in Foamular surfboards and Austech's new innovative foil board. He did notice a big difference in the EIFS (External Insulation Finishing Systems) market in Australia, where in China most new buildings are made of concrete, with Foamular used to insulate the concrete, in Australia Foamular is also used on wooden frame homes, wrapping all the walls in insulation and minimising thermal bridging.

Duraftuff External Wall Cladding now available with Trucolor Protection.

When it comes to colour fidelity, Duratuff Vinyl Cladding with TruColor Protection from Vytec, outperforms all other types of External Wall Cladding.

Today more than ever consumers are taking an active role in designing the look of their homes. Homeowners want more than just maintenance -free cladding:they want good quality, darker, richer colour that will last.

After a spate of related ceiling fires and warnings from experts, the Australian Government has given into the pressure and has made it mandatory to cover all downlight when installing insulation under the revised $1200 rebate scheme.

The Australian Standard requires downlight's (which reach temperatures of up to 300°C) be completely isolated from insulation, timber and loose build-up in ceilings.

The old regulations allowed cowboy installers to simply cut a big hole in the insulation around the downlight, with holes having a devastating effect on fire safety. Most modern insulation isn't highly flammable, but these holes funnel flammable materials like leaves, dust and debris right onto the 300°C downlight.

The National Ice Sports Centre (NISC) is currently under construction in Docklands, Melbourne. In September Austech delivered 7,200 m of 50mm thick Foamular to the site to help with the enormous task of insulating the building.

The National Ice Sports Centre will be an Australian first. This innovative centre features two rinks catering for the sporting elite and ice recreation enthusiasts. Located in Melbourne's Docklands, next to the Southern Star Observation Wheel and Harbour Town Shopping Centre, the ice rink is also set to be the new home of the Olympic Winter Institute of Australia.

Ice rinks represent a unique environment where most insulation would simply fail. The extreme cold, moisture and high pressure cause insulation to under perform, but Foamular Metric 400 Extruded Polystyrene is designed for such areas. When laid under the ice, Foamular stops the cold temperatures seeping out through the floor; this helps to make the cooling equipment more efficient and extends its usable life.

CDOP 4 is the newest building in the prestigious Coronation Drive Office Park. The $100 million building is owned jointly by AMP and Sunsuper and is located on the fringe of Brisbane CBD offering panoramic views of the Brisbane River and CBD skyline.

CDOP 4's Architects worked hard to achieve a5 Star Green Star - Office Design v2 rating by the Green Building Council of Australia for environmental sustainability, making it one of only a few non-CBD buildings in Brisbane to achieve the rating.

Leading construction company ADCO Constructions joined forces with experienced waterproofing company QB Waterproofing to install 1550 m2 of 100mm thick Foamular Extruded Polystyrene in the protected roof membrane system. This gave an R-Value of 3.57, contributing to the buildings energy efficiency and to the crucial 5 Star rating.

Custom Cubbies are a family owned and run Australian business that specializes in not only children's cubbies, but also in sheds, cabins and any other outdoor building you could need. Custom Cubbies now offer Duratuff Select Vinyl Cladding on all their products, helping owners benefit from maintenance free cubbies that last longer and look better.

The key concern in designing cubbies for children is safety and durability. Vinyl cladding will not rot, split or peel so there is no danger of splinters. On top of this it needs to last, cladding is designed to be impact resistant, colour fast and easy to clean.

One huge issue for Custom Cubbies was transportation. The Cubbies are pre-fabricated in their factory and shipped all over Australia. The shipping process often lead to damage to the exterior cladding, but with Vinyl this is rarely a problem since it doesn't scratch, dent or crack.

The new Port Botany Authority headquarters is nearing completion and will soon open its doors. Port Botany is going through a $1billion upgrade, the biggest Australian port upgrade in 30 years. To deal with the increased workload the Port Botany Authority needed a state of the art headquarter to manage the expanding port.

Construction company Lucas Stuart joined forces with GRG Waterproofing to install 600m of Foamular Extruded Polystyrene in the protected roof membrane system. Foamular was used to insulate and waterproof the roof. Combining the process of waterproofing and insulation not only saved money, it also saved time, which was vital with a very tight construction schedule.

In order to become a green star rated building, the Port Botany Authority needed to comply with some very strict guidelines. The engineers specified 90mm thick Foamular with an R-Value of 3.2, dramatically reducing heat transfer from the roof into the building.

The Kangara Waters aged care facility in Belconnen ACT is nearing completion, with display apartments now open and the landscaping finished. Craft Stone wall cladding is featured prominently in the development and its surrounds, linking the project to its bushland location.

In total the development used over 120m of Vintage Ledgestone in Alpine to clad dividing walls, exterior walls and large stone feature walls. Alpine is a very light colour that complements the open plan design for the common areas and landscape.

The main BBQ area is crucial in providing social space to residents. Craft Stone was chosen to create a natural and comfortable environment and was used to clad low walls that define the area and also provide extra seating.

Austech is now the leading distributor forIsolite Downlight Guards in NSW. This innovative product protects homes from halogen related fires while also helping homes get the maximum value from their ceiling insulation.

Halogen downlights run at temperatures of around 300ºC. With many materials commonly found in roofs having an ignition point much lower than this, halogen lights are huge fire risk and cause millions of dollars in damage to Australian homes and businesses every year.

Its not just insulation that can catch fire, timber studs can ignite when exposed to high temperatures for extended periods. On top of that, leaves, dust and debris dragged in by vermin contribute to fires. The insulation clearing around halogen lighting often channels the debris straight onto the halogen.

Foamular Extruded Polystyrene from Austech was featured in the Dincel Construction System's stall at the 2009 DesignBuild.

Dincel has an innovative wall construction system, with permanent polymer form work for walls and columns, which when filled with ready mixed concrete, produces an economical, strong and durable structure.

Concrete has always been used for construction, but its insulation properties are poor at best, so Dincel has collaborated with Foamular Extruded Polystyrene to come up with a new framework with the insulation installed prior to pouring the concrete, saving construction time and money.

The new Redcliffe Tavern has used CraftStone for interior design on feature walls and pillars throughout the new club. The Redcliffe Tavern is located in Redcliffe, just North East of Brisbane. The tavern is designed to be modern and inviting, both to locals and tourists.

The Tavern needed to be cost effective, so CraftStone was chosen for its unique look but affordable price. In addition, installation is also cheaper. Manufactured stone requires less structural support and is quicker to install than traditional stone, saving the Tavern thousands of dollars.

Redcliffe Tavern wanted minimise its environmental impact by sourcing products that benefit the environment. CraftStone is committed to the environment, with 20% of its product being made from recycled materials and a commitment to reduce water consumption and waste sent to landfills.

Austress Freyssinet, the well respected international civil engineering company has been awarded the waterproofing and insulation contract for the roof areas of the Prince Henry Hospital in Sydney where the choiceof insulation was a critical concern.

Mr. Sam Haidar, Manager of the NSW Division chose Austech's Foamular Extruded Polystyrene as the insulation for their innovative system.

Foamular Extruded Polystyrene is a closed cell Extruded Insulation board that has high insulation values that are maintained over the long term (20 year Guaranteed).

Austech and Dulux have come together to match Dulux's range of paints, with the rich colours of Austech's Duratuff Select Vinyl Cladding range.

Vinyl Cladding and its accessories never need painting, but many other parts of a homes exterior do, such as gutters, downpipes and garage doors. Dulux has used its colour matching technology to provide a colour matched to every Vinyl Cladding colour.

Homeowners can now install cladding in any colour they desire since they no longer have to pick a colour to match the existing home.

Due to strong demand "Sahara Sand" is now available in the Duratuff Select Range of Vinyl Cladding directly from Austech External Building Products.

Sahara Sand is often seen as a traditional Australian colour that fits well on traditional and renovated buildings.

Available in D5" profile with 8-meter length boards, Sahara Sand Duratuff Select minimizes wastage and create the seamless look.

Austech's Range of Duratuff Select Vinyl Cladding is designed to play a key role in making your home more environmentally friendly with Expanded Polystyrene insulation.

Vinyl is inherently green in comparison to other building products like brick and concrete, but with Duratuff Select, Home owners get the choice of an added layer of Expanded Polystyrene which helps to insulate the whole home and reduce energy costs. Expanded Polystyrene is CFC free and is used as environmentally safe insulation worldwide.

Duratuff Select Exterior Wall Cladding is often recommended for use in hard to reach areas and second storey extensions because it is lightweight and has good insulation properties. In the winter months, hot air rises, and a poorly insulated second floor will let heat escape. Duratuff Selects Polystyrene Cladding wraps the walls in insulation and helps minimise thermal bridging.

The Villa Roma Design for Charleston Homes features Austech's Perfect Shutters on all windows in the central courtyard. Charleston Homes are known for their quality designs and are seen as an industry leader in homes designed with quality products throughout.

Tony Curran, Austech's General Manager said, "Perfect Shutters offer an attractive design accent around any home or business. They are durable, decorative, and come in a wide range of styles, with the natural texture of real wood". Perfect Shutters leading plastic technology offers a range of permanent classic decorative colours for lasting, weatherproof good looks.

Perfect shutters are designed to be both durable and low maintenance. Modern plastic technology means that Perfect Shutters will not peel, crack or warp, but maintain a constant wood grain finish. Perfect Shutters only require an occasional hosing down to remove dirt, other than that, they are maintenance free and will keep your home looking new for years to come.

CraftStone is often used on exterior walls as stone wall cladding, but is now increasingly being used in interior design to create feature walls and focal points inside homes and businesses.

CraftStone is a manufactured stone. It is recommended for work in interiors because of its light weight structure and quick installation. CraftStone therefore often does not need any extra structural support associated with heavier real stone products, reducing costs and construction time.

Internal applications of CraftStone include pillars, wall features, fireplaces, chimneys and kitchens. Manufactured stone is inherently versatile, and can be adapted to most environments.

Foamular Metric XPS is an energy efficient substrate, especially suited for new generation PM Render Finishes.

Extruded Polystyrene Panels are lightweight and can be screw fixed directly onto studs or masonry, and then finished with a Polymer Modified (PM) render system. the panel design creates a seamless render that is impact resistant.

Foamular is a truly green product. It is created using an environmentally friendly HCFC Blowing Agent and its high insulation levels means it reduces household heating bills. With over 90% of Australians electricity coming from burning coal, Foamular has the potential to reduce Australia's carbon footprint.

By now, everyone knows the importance of insulation. Insulation provides protection from temperature variations, saves money on heating/cooling bills and can add value to homes. What people often miss is that some insulation is greener than others. Extruded Polystyrene is a versatile rigid insulation with high R-values and a lifespan that far outstrip those of its competitors.

The versatility of Foamular's rigid insulation board design means it can be used almost anywhere. It can be used as garage insulation, insulation for basements, roof insulation membranes and under slab insulation. The applications are unlimited.

Foamular is produced using an environmentally friendly HCFC blowing agent in complete accordance with United Nation Protocols regarding CFCs. By reducing CFCs Foamular is helping to preserve the Ozone Layer and protect the environment