Plumbing Connection Autumn 2016

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1 4 PLUMBING CONNECTION AUTUMN 2016
INDUSTRY NEWS
PLUMBER SUES FORD DEALER
The pictured black Ford F-250 started life as a truck
for a Texas-based plumbing company, carrying pipes,
toilets and tools. It was then sold to a Ford dealership
in Houston, and after that it was shipped off to parts
unknown. Until, that is, it appeared as the focal point of a
tweet from a supposed jihadist last December.
The photo indicated that the truck no longer carried
plumbing accessories, but instead, emerging from its
cargo bed were a black-cloaked figure and an anti-aircraft
gun shooting fire into the distance. According to the
tweet, the truck was being used by Jaish al-Muhajireen
wal-Ansar (or, the “Muhaijireen Brigade”), a jihadist group
fighting against the Syrian government.
Yet, even with its function entirely transformed, the
truck still bore the insignia of its past life, a decal that
clearly read Mark-1 Plumbing with a clearly legible phone
number.
Now the previous owner has filed a lawsuit against
AutoNation Ford Gulf Freeway, the Houston dealership
where he traded in the truck. According to the complaint
filed, AutoNation misrepresented their intentions to
remove the decal, causing Mark Oberholtzer, his business
and his family “severe harm”.
Oberholtzer’s Ford isn’t the only vehicle being
repurposed for terrorist use. The Islamic State is known
for featuring Toyota trucks and SUVs in their graphic
propaganda videos, prompting the US government to ask
the Japanese auto maker why so many of its products
have landed in the militant group’s clutches.
So, the next time you trade your work car in, you might
want to make sure any decals or business insignia are
removed…
You never know where it might end up.
EASY ACCESS
Yarra Valley Water, Melbourne’s largest water retailer,
is encouraging time-pressed developers, builders and
plumbers to submit applications online through its
new and improved online easyACCESS portal – a water
industry world first that can issue standards, plans and
connection conditions within minutes. The utility was also
recently named winner of the international FICO 2015
Decision Management Award in the category of Decision
Management Innovation.
“We understand that developers and tradespeople are
busy, often managing multiple projects and dealing with a
lot of organisations to secure requirements for each job,”
Mr Pat McCafferty, managing director Yarra Valley Water
says.
“With easyACCESS, we’ve revolutionised the way we
process applications for water and sewerage information,
so it’s one less thing you need to worry about. You can
simply process your own application 24/7, whenever
and wherever you want, just follow the prompts and the
system instantly calculates your request. In the majority
of cases, you will get a response within minutes.”
For more information on easyACCESS, email
or phone 1300 651 511.
People can also view easyACCESS from Yarra Valley
Water’s website at and click on
‘easyACCESS’ in the bottom right hand corner.
AUSTWORLDWA NOWOPEN
Austworld continues its expansion within Australia,
announcing the new WA warehouse now fully operational.
It prides itself on providing its customers with
exceptional service and unrivalled quality. Servicing
Australia and New Zealand, currently based in four states,
Austworld are now proud to announce the addition of its
WA warehouse.
“Our WA customers can now enjoy the benefits
of having a local supplier at their convenience. This
acquisition furthers our service and stature within
Australia as one of the largest Australian owned and
operated stockiest of superior plumbing products,” Evan
Zikos, executive manager Austworld says.
Austworld is a plumbing product manufacturer and
wholesaler specialising in valves and screwed brassware
along with a range of other products. Today they boast
their inventory to exceed over 1200 products and growing
fast.
For further enquiries please contact 1300 780 430 or
visit
Not the type of image you’d expect to see your old work
truck appearing in.