Sparks Electrical News August 2019

CONTRACTORS’ CORNER

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PERSONALITY OF THE MONTH – TONY KINSELLA

KEEPING A FOCUS ON QUALITY AND HIGH STANDARDS

Telemecanique, John Veale at Schneider in the UK and Gary Uren with Atkore Unistrut in Europe, have all provided me with great guidance and advice at various points in time. I admire all business leaders that dream big and challenge the norm. People like Reed Hastings, the founder of Netflix, and SA born Elon Musk are interesting and inspirational. Patrice Motsepe of Africa Rainbow Minerals is my favourite South African business leader. Pieter Uys, the founder, retired chairman and previous owner of Strutfast was also incredibly inspirational. Sparks: What, to your mind, is one of the biggest challenges facing the industry at this time? TK: Lack of investor confidence in South Africa is creating a maelstrom of problems for us all. The South African construction sector is in a bad way at the moment and, whilst not in terminal decline, it is certainly under enormous pressure. Suicide pricing and low profit margins are creating a race to the bottom for many large contractors and they are pulling a lot of the supply chain down with them. Sparks: What do you enjoy most about your job? TK: I derive enormous pleasure from seeing the people at Strutfast grow and develop. We have a policy of always trying to recruit from within and this investment in our people pays enormous dividends. Getting customer compliments about my staff is especially rewarding. Sparks: How do you motivate your staff? TK: My leadership style is very much one of encouraged empowerment. I do not micro manage and support the notion that I employ good people to tell me what we need to do, not the other way around. I provide the direction and vision, which is the framework that my team operates within. I think this, along with the development of a no blame culture, allows people to achieve their targets and this achievement is motivational to all. Sparks: If you could ‘do it all again’, would you change anything? TK: With the benefit of hindsight there are a few forks in the road of my career that I may reconsider, but ultimately I am excited at where I am so far in my life journey. Sparks: Would you advise a person leaving school to enter the electrical industry? And why? TK: The electrical industry is one of those ‘lifeblood’ industries that continues to develop. There are always many technology shifts that provide both stimulus and fresh opportunities. Think of the upswing in solar. So yes, I would always advise that a career in the electrical industry would be a good choice. Sparks: What is your advice to electrical contractors? TK: Keep focusing on quality and high standards. Select your suppliers on the same criteria. company with subsidiaries in Australia, Hong Kong, Singapore, South Ko- rea, United Arab Emirates and the United Kingdom. This network of dedi- cated professionals, which includes mechanical, chemical, electrical and marine electrical engineers, allows CCG to give an unprecedented level of service, delivery, technical advice and product training to major projects and industries worldwide. Some of CCG’s most recent global successes have been to be nominated as the sole supplier of cable glands, junction boxes and accessories to the following diverse and significant projects: • Kusile and Medupi ESKOM power stations – South Africa.

TONY KINSELLA, Managing Di- rector of Strutfast Cable Man- agement Solutions, started his career as an apprentice electri- cian in 1982. Since then he has worked in South Africa and Eu- rope and has been with Strutfast for just over three years. Despite current challenges facing the in- dustry, he would still advise that a career in the electrical indus- try is a good choice for school leavers.

Sparks: What is your favourite quote? TK: “Change before you have to” – Jack Welch

Sparks: Name three things on your ‘bucket list’. TK: On a professional level, I would like to achieve my goal of spreading the Strutfast business into Australia and South America. On a sporting level I would like to watch the Proteas win a Cricket World Cup (a big ask, I know but maybe in India in 2023?) On a personal level I would like to hike the Camino Santiago, the 800 km walk from east to west of northern Spain.

Enquiries: +27 (0)11 473 1212

Tony Kinsella

Sparks: Where were you educated? TK: The greatest part of my education has been at the University of Life! However, I have also studied Executive Leadership through the Jack Welch Management Institute, Strategic Marketing with the Chartered Institute of Marketing in London, Business Management with Damelin and did my N5 electrical engineering at Maitland Technical College in Cape Town. I was schooled at Gifford High School in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe. Sparks: How long have you been involved in the electrical industry? TK: I started my career as an apprentice electrician in 1982 with a Stewart & Lloyds-owned foundry in Benoni called Salcast. Sparks: What are the greatest changes you have seen over the years? TK: One of the greatest changes without doubt is the availability of information. It is incredible what you can unearth at the tap of a keyboard key. Technological advancements in almost every industry have been exponential and companies that do not embrace innovation soon get left by the wayside. Sparks: What major projects have you worked on and what is your greatest accomplishment? TK: I have been fortunate to have been involved with many large projects both locally and around the world. Among the most interesting have been a Facebook datacentre in Sweden, an Intel mega-manufacturing plant in Dublin and various mining projects in Africa. But without a doubt my greatest accomplishments are my two wonderful children Leanne (26) and Vaughan (23). CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 zero halogen, high impact, corrosion resistance, thermal endurance, UV resistance, DTS-01 deluge and IP68 tests, one of which was on its proven tapered displacement seal to an unmatched depth of 850 m, which was a requirement for supplying the highly specialised ROV Oil and Gas market. CCG also has sitting representation on the relevant ATEX, BS, IECEx, Australian and South African standards committees, which keeps it at the forefront of industry standards. CCG’s products are certified to the latest editions of ATEX, Australian, Brazilian, IEC, IECEx, Korean, Russian and South African standards and have marine approvals with ABS and DNV/ GL as well as approval for use in the London Underground Rail network. Modern manufacturing plant Certified for ISO 9001 quality, ISO 14001 environmental and OHSAS 18001 health and safety listed with UL USA, CCG is the largest and most modern manufacturer of cable glands in the southern hemisphere and one of the largest in the world. It manufactures all its products in South Af- rica utilising latest generation CNC technology and has its own automated electroless nickel plating plant. A truly global company Over the past 47 years, CCG has steadily grown into a respected global Sparks: Have you won any awards? TK: Dad of the Year for the last 26 years running! Sparks: Who has been your inspiration or have you had a mentor who has influenced your career? TK: I have been fortunate to work with many inspirational leaders through my career and people such as Eugene Wannenburg during my time with

SOUTH AFRICAN CABLE GLAND MANUFACTURER WITH A GLOBAL PRESENCE

• KAZ minerals Oktogay Copper mine – Kazakhstan. • Rio Tinto Oyu Tolgoi Copper Mine – Mongolia. • FQM Minera Panama Copper Mine – Panama. • Hobart Class Air warfare destroyers - Australian Navy. • Shell’s QCLNG Gas process plant – Australia. • Origin Energy’s APLNG Gas Process plant – Australia. • SANTOS’ GLNG Gas Process plant – Australia. • Exxon Mobil Altona Refinery – Australia. • Shatin to Central Mass Rail Transit Link – Hong Kong.

Enquiries: +27 (0)11 394 2020

SPARKS ELECTRICAL NEWS

AUGUST 2019