Knox Business Life - November 2011 (Issue 48)

Knox Economic DevelopmentONE BATTERYFOR SIXMACHINESWINSAWARDSTIHL has taken out a Best inCategory-Consumer Award forits 36 volt modular cordlesspower tool range at theAustralian International DesignAwards (AIDA).Held in Melbourne in July, AIDA acknowledgedthe design of the STIHL range, which consistsof a chainsaw, two grass trimmers, a leaf blowerand two hedge trimmers. All machines utilisethe one battery with the option of rapid orstandard chargers available. In the future, therange will increase to cover other categories ofoutdoor power equipment.Unlike conventional electric motors, STIHL cordlesstools are fitted with brushless motors as standard,which eliminates the need to replace carbonbrushes and makes the motor maintenance free.Because all STIHL cordless products are lowin noise, it allows the operator to use theequipment early or late at night, as well as innoise sensitive areas such as hospitals.About STIHLSTIHL Pty Ltd was the first subsidiary companyestablished by the STIHL Group outside Europe,and is currently the sixth largest in annualturnover, employing around a hundred staff.The company is headquartered in Victoria withits central distribution centre in Knoxfield andstate offices in NSW, QLD, SA and WA.A STIHL chainsawthat is part of itsaward-winning 36 voltmodular powertool range.SWAGS OFAWARDSFORBACKPACKBEDKnox-based Swagsfor Homeless haswon the world’s largestproduct design award:the German 2011 Red Dot‘Best of the Best’ fortheir Backpack Bed .Competing against 4433 entries from60 countries, Swags for Homeless isthe first Australian recipient and firstcharity globally to be awarded thehighest Red Dot award honour sincethe awards inception in 1955. Pastwinners include Rolls Royce, AppleInc. and Mercedes Benz.Swags for Homeless, is a non-profitcharity founded by Tony Clark thatis helping Australia’s street-sleepinghomeless with its unique rolled-upbed that provides protection fromwind, rain and mosquitoes and can beused as a fully functioning backpack.Thousands of theBackpack Beds havebeen distributedaround the world.Founder of Swags forHomeless, Tony Clark,with co-designer wife,Lisa Clark and one oftheir latest awards.For Australia’s 100,000 plus homelesspeople, the fire retardant and comfortableBackpack Bed provides welcome relief.Other awards in 2011 includetwo accolades at July’s AustralianInternational Design Awards (AIDA): TheSydney Powerhouse Museum selectedthe Backpack Bed as the top productdesign among all AIDA finalists with theadditional honour of being acquired intothe Museum’s permanent collection; andthe AIDA’s gold logo Design Award in theSport and Leisure category.Following commencement of productionin 2009, Swags for Homeless partnerswith more than 100 charities throughoutAustralia to distribute life-savingemergency relief Backpack Beds tohomeless people who are turned awayfrom shelters.With community support, Swags forHomeless has manufactured 3,000Backpack Beds over the past 12 months.Considerable interest and orders arrivedaily from all parts of the globe.www.swags.org.au[8]Knox Business Life | Issue 48 NOVEMBER 2011