Complex Sliders Completed

One of the jobs recently completed by the D.E.P Team was this set of three truck access gates at a nearly finished $10 Million industrial complex in Sydneys west.

Constructed using pre galvanised steel by ‘The Fencing & Gate Centre’ the fence panel sections measuring approx. (3.5m x 1.8m) were powder coated in -house. The gates however, were simply to big to powder coat, measuring in at 10m x 1.8m (two of) and 8m x 1.8m and had to be painted onsite.

After masking out the surroundings, the most important part of the job began, the cleaning. Pre – Gal, has a protective (oily) coating to prevent rust whilst in storage that must be removed prior to painting.

“We wiped down each gate 3 times, almost used a full 20 (litre) of degreaser, you could eat your lunch off that now” says Michael.

Next the electrostatic paint machine was set up and one coat of Super Etch Primer was applied. This was followed by the colour, a full gloss Charcoal (Dark Grey) that had been matched exactly to the F & G Centre powder coat sample.

All up around 20 hours were spent on site over 2 ½ Days resulting in a very happy contractor, Chris “that’s great, thanks fellas” and a very happy complex foreman, Wayne, “ I’ve kept their (business) card, I’ll call when the next development is ready”.

Wake Up Call

2 o’clock Sunday afternoon (morning) I am woken by my mobile ringing.
Michael: … hello…?
Mario: Yeah, Mick, it’s Mario here, about the cream Gazebo.
Michael: … Uh… Sorry…Who?
Mario: Mario, about the big cream gazebo… did I just wake you up?
Michael: Uh, Mario, Sorry, Yeah, you did, a friends going overseas for a couple of years and we had the farewell party last night,
Mario: Uh, Sorry mate, anyway, about the gazebo you quoted to paint last week, can you paint it by (this) Tuesday?
Michael: (now a little more aware of what’s going on) Ah? Tuesday, um not really, let me think… Actually, Paul mentioned Wednesdays job had cancelled yesterday, Wednesday be ok?
Mario: Wednesday… yeah ok. Wednesday.
Michael :Ok. we’ll get the paint order on Monday and be there 8am Wednesday.
Mario: Ok, great, see you Wednesday.

3 o’clock Monday afternoon, my phone rings…

Michael: Hello Michael speaking
Mario: Yeah, Mick, it’s Mario about the big gazebo, are we still ok for Wednesday?
Michael: Yep 8 o’clock
Mario: Great, just give me a call half an hour before you finish and I’ll come have a look.
Michael: Ok. No worries see you then.

11 O’clock Wednesday morning and the big (20 metre round 4 metre high) gazebo is wiped down and ready to become Smooth Cream Full Gloss.

3 o’clock Wednesday afternoon and Marios phone rings

Mario: Hello
Michael: Mario, it’s Mick from D.E.P, just ringing to say we are almost done on the gazebo.
Mario: Ok, I’ll be there soon.
Michael: Ok mate see you soon, bye.

4o’clock Wednesday afternoon Mario signs the cheque “thanks for a great job fellas” says Mario.

Boom Crash Cake Shop

When the owner of Specialist Italian Patisserie, Blue Star Cakes went to the front counter to investigate a loud crashing noise, he didn’t quite expect this…

A two car collision at the corner intersection had resulted in one of the vehicles mounting the curb, collecting the traffic signals and coming to rest just inches from his front door, leaving the shops entry and window with a slash of battery acid. Problem…

The insurance company had contacted Allen & Newton Constructions to complete the repairs and with D.E.P being the only people able to match and spray the special Anodised look metallic brown finish onsite, it wasn’t long before Paul’s phone was ringing.

After meeting with the owner to discuss the painting process, it was requested that we do the job on a Monday when the shop is closed so we didn’t disrupt business. No problem.

A couple of weeks later, the shop owner had been in contact with the insurance company and Allen & Newton, shortly followed by Paul’s phone ringing again. Problem…

Compared to the outside, the inside of the shopfront is showing it’s age and signs of wear and tear had been magnified…

Can we book you for another Monday? No Problem.

Reflections

Have you ever heard the phrase…
Second on the “today’s schedule” sheet reads:
“Apartment block foyer / entrance door, windows, possible louvers. Ring half hour before, ask for Ern. Chatswood.”

After meeting with Ern and discussing what he wanted etc, etc, he politely followed us out, having a chat as we went, when he stoped mid sentence and said
“Now, what are two young lads like you, wearing (new) uniforms like those doing driving a van like that?”

To our defence we said that “wash the van” was on our list but we had worked the last three weeks straight and just haven’t gotten to it yet. He was, however right.

Have you ever heard the phrase “the car you drive reflects the type of person you are”?

A couple of months later and I press the button, take a number and stand in line at the R.T.A to transfer the rego of the new Toyota Hi-ace into D.E.P ‘s name, DEP02V.

A couple more weeks and Paul had found time to transfer his ideas for sign writing to pencil and paper. Have you ever heard the phrase “Professionals use Professionals”? D.E.P02V was rubbed down, masked up and delivered to Wayne Harrison at Advanced Airbrush who would transfer our van into a head turning mobile business card.

Three more weeks at Wayne’s and a couple of coats of clear by Paul (D.E.P) and you can see the results for yourself. A van that stands out from the crowd and impresses anyone who sees it. Kind of like a reflection of ourselves you could say! By the way “that” van DEP01V will be getting the same treatment soon, and we have a “young bloke” we are training to ease the waiting times.