NEW AND SUPERIOR SAFETY FOR FIREFIGHTERS
ADA’s constant pursuit of excellence has involved us working with Queensland Fire & Rescue Service to have its firefighters now equipped with world’s best protective apparel.
Our in-house Research & Development Division was given the task of creating a new-generation structural firefighting ensemble that met the performance requirements of recently published AS4967:2006 and that:
Provides maximum ‘breathability’ of garments to minimize a wearer’s core body temperature build up
Provides maximum physiological/ergonomic factors to increase wearer comfort and mobility.
Reduces garment load while maintaining protection against external thermal threat.
The new QFRS firefighting ensemble employs a Nomex® outer barrier with Goretex moisture barrier technology. It provides exponential improvement in protection and wearability over previous generations of the ensemble.
ADA conducted its R&D in close consultation with QFRS and other international industry professionals to ensure it fully met practical, on-the-ground needs of firefighters in real conditions.
Our R&D Division has membership of, and works with, international standards-accreditation bodies and testing laboratories. We worked closely with international giants DuPont and W L Gore on this project.
ADA BOOSTING INTERNATIONAL PROFILE
ADA has significantly boosted its profile with a major presence at the Land Warfare Conference in Adelaide.
It was the first time we have sought representation at the conference, Australia’s premiere Defence event. We received numerous inquiries from both local and overseas representatives about a wide range of our products - not only military but also police, fire and safety forces.
ADA is the only garment manufacturer in the ADM (Australian Defence Magazine) top 40 defence contractors.
The theme of the conference was “Pervasive, Persistent, Proportionate”. It focused on the land force and urban warfare, reflecting the uncomfortable reality challenging ADF force planners now and in the future.
ADA is Australia’s biggest supplier of apparel to the ADF, manufacturing, managing and delivering some 450,000 items a year. These include: Army, Navy and RAAF ceremonial uniforms and shirts, RAAF flying suits, Disruptive Pattern Combat Uniforms (DPCU) and Disruptive Pattern Desert Uniform (DPDU).
Building on our near 100-year history of supply to the ADF, ADA has certification to ISO 9001:2000. Our in-house R&D Division is integrated with a sophisticated manufacturing plant employing 200 personnel, state-of-art technology and JIT methodology.
BIG BOOST FOR PNG DEFENCE FORCE
ADA has won and completed a significant tender to supply Ceremonial clothing and accessories to outfit the Papua New Guinea Defence Force - significant for the very real positive impact it is having on the force.
"The force has been crippled by budgetary restrictions for many years and troops have operated with quite sub-standards outfits," says ADA Marketing Manager, Alan Bent, "Consequently they have suffered a very real decline in morale."
"The new uniforms have both boosted the troops' morale and considerably enhanced public perceptions of the PNGDF. Creating respect for the force makes it that much more effective in carrying out its duties."
ADA completed the initial supply of 7000 garments under considerable pressure. Normally it takes 6-8 weeks for bulk supply from receipt of order to delivery. This time order confirmation and funding came with a request for delivery in less than three weeks - to coincide with the 30th Anniversary of PNG Independence.
"So working in half the normal time frame ADA liaised closely with the PNGDF to meet that deadline," says Alan Bent. "We had to make some very swift decisions about sourcing materials and manufacturers."
Alan Bent's colleague, Trish Gercovitch, flew to Port Morseby just two days before deadline carrying with her the last vital items of PNGDF uniforms - 700 green berets. A remaining 24,200 garments were scheduled for delivery within three months.
ADA has a strong commitment to PNG and is a traditional long-time supplier to both the PNGDF and the Royal PNG Constabulary.
ADA SAFETY FOR MALAYSIA'S AIRPORTS
Malaysia's tourist trade is booming and ADA is catching the economic slipstream by helping out with airport safety at Kuala Lumpur and 22 other airports.
For some time Malaysian Airport Holdings Berhad has been concerned about the need to increase protection for its airport firefighters - the first line of protection in the event of any on-ground airline incident.
The boom in tourism - plus international security concerns - have accelerated MAHB's search for superior protective garments for its 800 staff. A number that is soon to expand to 1200 to meet demand.
ADA's partner in Malaysia, Cito Marketing, identified the opportunity and we swung into action - designing and prototyping a new, state-of-the-art structural firefighting outfit.
ADA had a paradigm to work to. For some time we have been supplying structural firefighting outfits to the Pakistan Navy - which is constantly on military alert and thus has exacting demands for personnel safety.
The new MAHB outfits undergo rigorous testing to ensure they conform to the international standard EN469 for structural firefighting outfits.
ADA has premier experience in this specialist field. For years we have supplied Airservices Australia - the Australian equivalent of the Malaysian organisation. We provide fire coats and overtrousers to 500 Australian personnel, at 18 airports across the nation - from Launceston to Cairns and Maroochydore to Perth.