“THE NEXT GENERATION OF… MILLIONAIRES WILL BE PLUMBERS AND ELECTRICIANS.” - NVIDIA CEO, JENSEN HUANG DRILLDOWN FEBRUARY 2026 // VOL. 002
See why one of the biggest CEOs in the world today is predicting the AI boom will actually reward tradies more than anyone else.
How CTY Air Conditioning partnered with Drillcut on Coogee Crowne Plaza to remove delays, uncertainty and margin creep. Pg. 10 CUSTOMER HIGHLIGHT
The Only Pipe System That Gives You ‘Visible Confidence’ With Every Install Pg. 08 DRILLCUT PRODUCT OF THE MONTH
FIND MEGA MAX FOR A CHANCE TO WIN A PRIZE See Back Page For Details GIVEAWAY
EXCLUSIVE
CLAIM YOUR FREE SEISMIC TRAINING INSIDE TO BE COMPLIANCE READY THIS YEAR!
SEE PAGE 14
CONTENTS
CONTENTS
03 STATEMENT FROM THE CEO
A bold claim from NVIDIA’s CEO leads to a deeper look at why the next construction boom will test systems, margins, and how trade businesses prepare for scale. 06 2025 HAMPERS STILL AVAILABLE A small thank you for a big year. Our end-of-year hampers are still available for a limited time. 08 PRODUCT OF THE MONTH Veltanium takes the guesswork out of pipe installs, delivering visible verification and true leak-free confidence on every job, on every site, every time. 10 CUSTOMER HIGHLIGHT How Drillcut helped CTY Air Conditioning deliver a complex Coogee project on time, on budget, and without delays.
14 FREE SEISMIC TRAINING Free seismic training to help subbies meet compliance, avoid rework, and build earthquake- resilient systems. 15 NEW STAFF Discover how Drillcut’s evolving team structure is improving customer support, coordination, and on- site experience across projects. 12 GIVEAWAY WINNER From finding every hidden MEGA Max to handing the prize down on site, see how a simple giveaway turned into something bigger.
02 DRILLDOWN VOL. 002 | drillcut.au | sales@drillcut.com.au | 1800 374 552
STATEMENT FROM THE CEO
“ THE NEXT GENERATION OF… MILLIONAIRES WILL BE PLUMBERS AND ELECTRICIANS. - Jensen Huang, CEO of NVIDIA
BY TIM PHILLIPS “The next
energy infrastructure and AI factories. Trillions of dollars. New plants. New facilities. New capacity. And none of it gets built without people on the tools.
generation of… millionaires will be plumbers and electricians.” - Jensen Huang, CEO of NVIDIA “They will be needed by the hundreds of thousands to get all these factories built.” At first glance, it sounds too optimistic. Almost exaggerated. The kind of quote that makes people stop… Then lean in… And realise it might actually be dead serious. Because Jensen Huang isn’t talking about a distant future. He’s talking about right now . All over the world, governments and private capital are pouring money into advanced manufacturing, data centres,
Not without electricians. Not without plumbers.
No matter how advanced the technology becomes, it still needs to be installed, powered, cooled and maintained by skilled trades.
TIM PHILLIPS | CEO
Quote of the Month: “ ALL OVER THE WORLD, GOVERNMENTS AND PRIVATE CAPITAL ARE POURING MONEY INTO ADVANCED MANUFACTURING, DATA CENTRES, ENERGY INFRASTRUCTURE AND AI FACTORIES... AND NONE OF IT GETS BUILT WITHOUT PEOPLE ON THE TOOLS.
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STATEMENT FROM THE CEO
That’s the part most people miss amongst all this AI hype. We’re racing toward a high-tech future… But it’s being built with hard hats, cable trays and pipework.
More pressure… More chaos… More: •
Missed deliveries
• Rework • Expensive labour • Margin erosion We’ve already seen this movie before. The industry ramps up… Everyone says yes to everything… And suddenly the systems crack under the weight. That’s why we’ve been doubling down on Job Flow . Because scaling a plumbing or electrical business today isn’t just about finding more work. It’s also about being able to control the work you already have.
“
AND AUSTRALIA IS NO EXCEPTION.
We’re seeing: •
More large-scale projects approved More demand for skilled trades More pressure on timelines
•
•
And at the same time… Less people entering the trades. An ageing workforce. And a skills gap that’s getting wider every year. So when Jensen says “hundreds of thousands” … It doesn’t feel like hype. It feels like a warning. Because opportunity at this scale cuts both ways. Yes - demand is coming. Yes - work will be there. But only for the businesses that can actually handle it. And that’s where the real challenge starts. Because more work doesn’t automatically mean more profit. In fact, for many trade businesses, it means the opposite. More jobs…
“
JOB FLOW WAS BUILT FOR EXACTLY WHAT’S COMING NEXT.
It’s where we bring Design, Engineering and Supply together around your project - before it hits site. We work with your take-offs. Refine them. Stress-test them. Then we turn them into an actionable supply chain plan that actually matches how the job will be built. So instead of:
04 DRILLDOWN VOL. 002 | drillcut.au | sales@drillcut.com.au | 1800 374 552
STATEMENT FROM THE CEO
• Dribs and drabs of deliveries • Multiple shipments • Backorders • Last-minute scrambles You get: • One coordinated delivery • Loaded into Drillcut cabinets • Organised by floor or zone • Arriving exactly when you need it No over-ordering. No missing parts. No wasted labour waiting around. And just as importantly… Your pricing is locked for the duration of the project.
No surprises. No margin creep. No nasty conversations halfway through the job. That’s how you finish jobs on time - or early. That’s how you protect margins when workloads increase. And that’s how you build a business that can actually take advantage of what’s coming, without losing control. Because if Jensen Huang is right… And the next wave of opportunity really is heading straight for the trades… Then the winners won’t just be the ones who are busiest on paper. They’ll be the ones who are prepared. Job Flow is how we’re helping plumbers and electricians get ready - not just to survive the next cycle… But to scale into it. On their terms.
“
[PLUMBERS AND ELECTRICIANS] WILL BE NEEDED BY THE HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS TO GET ALL THESE FACTORIES BUILT.
NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang during a Channel 4 News UK interview discussing why skilled trades will play a critical role in the AI-driven future. Source: Channel 4 News UK
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COMMUNITY
END OF 2025 HAMPERS STILL A FEW AVAILABLE!
In December, our BDMs hit the road and visited sites across the country to personally hand out our most ambitious and creative end-of-year hampers to date. It was our way of saying thanks for a huge year of partnership, catching up on site, and sharing a moment of excitement as
everyone pushed toward the end of a big year. If you haven’t received one yet, please get in touch with your Account Manager as soon as possible. We still have a limited number available, and once they’re gone, they’re gone.
MISSED OUT SO FAR? CONTACT YOUR ACCOUNT MANAGER VIA PHONE OR EMAIL AND WE’LL SEE WHAT WE CAN DO.
06 DRILLDOWN VOL. 002 | drillcut.au | sales@drillcut.com.au | 1800 374 552
COMMUNITY WHAT’S INSIDE
“
DIDN’T EXPECT IT AT ALL, WAS A GREAT SURPRISE. ALWAYS GETTING SPOILED BY DRILLCUT!
ADAM | HOWRAH PLUMBING
2026 DIARY
FIVE STAR PLUMBING
ROBERT | TREC PLUMBING
1.2L WATER BOTTLE
“
THEY ROCKED UP TO SITE WITH A HAMPER. WAS A GREAT GIFT TO WRAP UP THE LAST WEEK!
PAUL | THERMAL INSULATION COMPANY
STUBBY HOLDER
RILEY | DCW PLUMBING
B CENTRAL
MINI SWISS ARMY KNIFE
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PRODUCT OF THE MONTH
All Brass Fittings - like it used to be! VELTANIUM: CONFIDENCE YOU CAN SEE. Veltanium guarantees leak-free installs by letting you visually confirm every connection is sealed before you walk away. Its sleeve system provides instant feedback, so if a joint isn’t installed correctly, it will leak immediately — not weeks later during a pressure test. No hidden crimp failures. No surprises. That confidence is backed by testing and compliance built into every metre of pipe. Veltanium is engineered to meet — and beat — every compliance standard.
PASSED LENDLEASE’S ELEVATED TESTING — ONE OF TWO PIPES
TESTED TO 70 °C/10 BAR FOR 50-YEAR SERVICE LIFE
SCAN TO DOWNLOAD YOUR FREE VELTANIUM GUIDE
FULL 25 YEAR WARRANTY
FULLY CERTIFIED TO AS/NZS 2492 & 2537
SCAN ME
08 DRILLDOWN VOL. 002 | drillcut.au | sales@drillcut.com.au | 1800 374 552
PRODUCT OF THE MONTH
SEE WHAT PLUMBERS ARE SAYING ABOUT VELTANIUM:
MATT
PLUMBCO
“I switched to Veltanium — because it’s the one pipe that never made me doubt myself. Early in my career, I had a job go bad… we used a crimp system, everything looked fine — until the pressure test. One fitting hadn’t actually crimped properly. It failed catastrophically and caused a major flood. That moment scarred me to this day… Ever since, I’ve been suspicious of crimp systems. You can’t always tell if they’re sealed right. Then I found Veltanium… the sleeve system changed everything for me. You get instant visual feedback . If it’s not installed correctly, it will leak — immediately. No surprises later. That’s how it should be… I’ve been with it ever since. It gives me complete certainty . And when your name is on the job, that’s what matters most.”
SCAN TO WATCH WHY AARON FROM TREC PLUMBING USES VELTANIUM ON EVERY JOB
BUILT TO REMOVE DOUBT FROM EVERY INSTALL Veltanium is the only multi- system PEX engineered to eliminate uncertainty on site, with proven compliance, testing, and long-term performance to back it up. 1. Visible Confidence: Every joint verified before you walk away. If it’s wrong, it leaks now (not weeks later) 2. Reliable Under Heat: Rated PN20 (maintains PN16 hot). 3. Flexible Performance: Bends without kinking or stress cracks 4. Full Brass Fittings — no plastic, no weak points 5. Crimp / Sleeve / Push Compatible You don’t hope it’s right - you see it’s right. Scan the QR Code on page 10 and download your FREE Veltanium Product Guide and learn more!
SAM
UPG “For me, it’s peace of mind . So I can sleep at night.”
NATHAN BP PLUMBING “ Excellent pipe to install. Brass sleeves, brass fittings, cut the pipes, use a set of expanders, bend the pipe, insert the tee, then using a crimping tool, you squeeze the sleeve over the tee.”
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CUSTOMER HIGHLIGHT
ONE SUPPLIER. EVERY STAGE. NO DELAYS. How Drillcut supported CTY Air Conditioning across a complex, multi-year project.
ONE SUPPLIER, EVERY STAGE CTY first connected with Drillcut early in the project and continued working with them across all stages of the build. Rather than managing multiple suppliers, CTY relied on Drillcut as a single point of supply.
Large projects rarely move in a straight line. They unfold in stages, shift priorities, and demand constant coordination across trades, timelines, and materials. hospitality For CTY Air Conditioning, the Crowne Plaza Coogee project was exactly that. A multi-year build delivered in three major stages, each with its own scope, pressures, and deadlines. “We’ve been on this project for about two years,” Anthony explains. “It was broken into stages. The first was the rooms and water systems, then the rooftop plant with the cooling towers and boilers, and finally the common areas like the day spa and club lounge.” From the outset, CTY knew the project would demand more than piecemeal supply. They needed a partner who could support the job end-to-end, adapt as stages progressed, and respond quickly when conditions on site changed. That’s where Drillcut came in.
“
DRILLCUT HAVE SUPPLIED EVERYTHING FOR US — PRETTY MUCH THE FULL PACKAGE.”
Anthony says. “Valves, copper, lagging, wall hangers, backing — pretty much the full package.” That one-stop approach simplified coordination and reduced friction as the project moved from rooms to plant to common areas. Instead of re-quoting and re-onboarding suppliers at each phase, CTY was able to maintain consistency throughout the job. TIMELINES TIGHTEN On large, live sites, last-minute changes are inevitable. What matters is how quickly teams can respond. SPEED MATTERS WHEN Anthony highlights speed of delivery as one of the biggest differences in working with Drillcut. “If I send a list through, it’s either there the same day or first thing the next morning,” he says. “That makes a huge difference on site.”
That responsiveness helped CTY keep work moving without crews waiting around for materials or reshuffling schedules to cover gaps in supply. PROTECTING MARGINS, NOT JUST FINISHING JOBS Beyond speed and convenience, Anthony points to pricing and margin control as a critical factor — especially for smaller and growing contractors. “On previous jobs, we’d get to the end and realise we’d gone over budget,” he explains. “The margins just weren’t there.” Working with Drillcut changed that equation.
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DRILLDOWN VOL. 002 | drillcut.au | sales@drillcut.com.au | 1800 374 552
CUSTOMER HIGHLIGHT A site catch-up at Crowne Plaza Coogee, with Royce (Drillcut) and Andrew (CTY Air Conditioning) reviewing progress and next steps.
SCAN TO WATCH THE FULL CTY AIR TESTIMONIAL
SCAN ME
“
WITH DRILLCUT, THE PRICING IS BETTER, AND THE QUALITY IS STILL THERE,”
SERVICE THAT SHOWS UP For Anthony, support didn’t stop at product or price. It extended to how Drillcut showed up on site. “They’re always reachable — text, email, phone,” he says. “Even the drivers help unload and move stuff where it needs to go. That doesn’t happen with other suppliers.” That hands-on attitude reinforced Drillcut’s role as a project partner rather than a transactional supplier.
A PARTNERSHIP BUILT FOR COMPLEX BUILDS “As the Crowne Plaza Coogee project reached its final stages, it just made the job easier,” Anthony says — highlighting the value of having a reliable supply partner in place. For CTY Air Conditioning, Drillcut’s support across every phase kept work moving, costs controlled, and teams focused on delivery, rather than chasing materials.
Anthony says. “It makes a big difference, especially for smaller businesses trying to grow.” Rather than squeezing margins as workloads increased, CTY found the project more predictable and financially manageable, allowing them to plan ahead and deliver each stage with confidence.
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GIVEAWAY WINNER WINNER OF THE DRILLDOWN GIVEAWAY Aaron was stoked to win the prize... but what he did with it next was even better...
SCAN TO WATCH TREC WIN THEIR TOOLKIT
Back in Drilldown 001, we hid MEGA Max throughout the issue and challenged readers to find them all. The prize was a fully loaded Drillcut toolkit, built for real work on site and designed to be used every day across a wide range of plumbing tasks. After carefully counting every MEGA Max hidden across the edition, Aaron Cecchin from Trec Plumbing came back with the correct answer: 14 , beating out dozens of other entries from across the industry. When we let Aaron know he’d won, his response said it all. Instead of keeping the prize for himself, he decided the toolkit would be better used by someone just starting out in the trade and building their confidence on site.
SCAN ME
So we headed to site and handed the toolkit over to Brodie Ibrahim, Aaron’s apprentice — helping set him up with the right tools as he continues his journey in plumbing, learns the ropes, and develops strong habits early in his career. It was a simple moment, but one that reflects what Drillcut is about: backing the people on site, recognising everyday wins, and supporting the next generation coming through the industry. And after the strong response to our first MEGA Max challenge, the giveaway is back again this edition with a new prize — check the back of Drilldown for details.
THE TOOLKIT
This toolkit was built specifically for an apprentice starting out on site, covering the essential hand tools needed for day-to-day plumbing work. It includes measuring and levelling tools for accurate set- out, cutting tools for pipe and materials, plus gripping and fastening tools used across install and fit-off tasks, all packed into a durable carry bag. It’s a practical foundation to learn the trade properly, build confidence early, and keep progressing on site.
12 DRILLDOWN VOL. 002 | drillcut.au | sales@drillcut.com.au | 1800 374 552
GIVEAWAY WINNER
ON SITE AT THE HANDOVER Gary Shirreff (Drillcut) with Aaron Cecchin and Brodie Ibrahim from Trec Plumbing, on site after handing over the Drilldown 001 giveaway toolkit to celebrate the winning moment together.
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TRAINING
CLAIM YOUR FREE SEISMIC TRAINING Unlock Expert Secrets for Safer, Stronger Builds If the guide is not enough for you and you have more complex seismic questions unique to your project, book a free training at our 360 Experience Centre. Give us 2 hours, and our seismic engineers will train your entire team to effortlessly achieve Seismic Compliance on all your projects.
HERE’S A FRACTION OF WHAT YOU’LL GET IN YOUR FREE TRAINING: 1. Unlock the ‘Seismic Safety Essentials’ Blueprint— your step-by-step guide to meeting compliance standards seamlessly and avoiding costly fines or rework. 2. Discover the Seismic Product Picking Guide— tailored to your project’s needs to ensure the right choice every time. 3. Master installation best practices, certifications, and tested systems—learn from proven techniques that guarantee reliability. 4. How to bundle cables and pipes through seismic firewalls and manage flange cuts—expert tips to handle the trickiest tasks with ease. 5. Master seismic protection for every project— from experts who reveal the biggest pitfalls and how to avoid them effortlessly. 6. Get your personalised ‘Seismic Success’ Management Plan Template—FREE, on the spot, designed to streamline your compliance journey.
SCAN TO BOOK YOUR FREE SEISMIC TRAINING
SCAN ME
14 DRILLDOWN VOL. 002 | drillcut.au | sales@drillcut.com.au | 1800 374 552
NEW STAFF
STEPHEN HALL NSW State Manager
ZANE CAMPBELL Account Manager - NSW
STRENGTHENING THE TEAM TO BETTER SUPPORT YOU
As projects become more complex and expectations on site continue to rise, we have been investing in one thing above all else: the people supporting you. This year, Drillcut has strengthened its team with experienced industry professionals who integrate directly into our existing sales and support structure. The result is a more connected team delivering faster responses, clearer communication, and stronger support from start to finish. At the top of this page is our sales team, including on-road Account Managers, Business Development Managers, and new support roles, all working together as one. This structure reduces friction and makes it easier to get the answers, products, and guidance you need on site, when you need them. For our NSW customers, this team is led by Stephen Hall, whose focus is helping projects run smoothly, protect margins, and keep work moving. With
extensive industry experience, Stephen understands the realities on site, from tight timelines to product reliability and solutions that work first time. He supports customers across plumbing, electrical, HVAC, and fire on complex commercial projects. Behind the scenes, our strengthened internal account support (led by Daniel Matthews) works closely with on-road teams, improving coordination, pricing clarity, responsiveness, and consistency from quote through to delivery nationwide. It’s all part of our commitment to building the right team, with the right experience, to support you better. “ OUR GOAL IS TO REMOVE THE NOISE, IMPROVE COMMUNICATION, AND MAKE SURE CUSTOMERS FEEL SUPPORTED AT EVERY STAGE OF THE JOB.
DANIEL MATTHEWS National Customer Experience Manager
ROHAN BOFFA Account Manager - VIC
AARON GILES Customer Experience Team
- Daniel Matthews
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FIND MEGA MAX & WIN
MEGA MAX WAS A FAN FAVOURITE LAST ISSUE, SO WE’VE BROUGHT HIM BACK AGAIN.
HOW TO PLAY: 1. Spot MEGA Max hiding throughout this Drilldown. 2. Count every MEGA Max you find. 3. Scan the QR code below to submit your guess and go into the draw to win a prize!
SCAN ME
One entry per person | Entries close 31/03/2026 | Winner contacted directly
sales@drillcut.com.au 1800 374 552 drillcut.au
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