FEATURE: INNOVATION IN FABRICATION

INNOVATION IN FABRICATION

AUSTRALIA’S STEEL FABRICATION INDUSTRY IS HIGHLY DIVERSE, WITH A LARGE NUMBER OF BUSINESSES PRODUCING A WIDE VARIETY OF STEEL FABRICATED PRODUCTS THAT ARE USED IN A RANGE OF ECONOMICALLY SIGNIFICANT DOWNSTREAM INDUSTRIES. WITH AUSTRALIAN FABRICATORS INVESTING IN INNOVATIVE TECHNOLOGY, PROCESSES AND COMPANY CULTURE TO INCREASE CAPACITY AND CAPABILITY, THE INDUSTRY IS POISED FOR GROWTH.

The Australian structural fabrication industry is comprised of hundreds of fabricators, most of which are small and medium enterprises (SMEs)—approximately 94% of market participants have fewer than 20 employees. Of the approximately 6 million tonnes annual capacity of Australian steelmakers, total market output of fabricated steelwork is approximately 1.6 million tonnes per annum. The medium and larger fabricators process approximately 1.1 million tonnes per annum, with the largest fabricators producing in excess of 20,000 tonnes per annum.

Three industries—the construction, manufacturing and mining industries— are the main consumers of steel fabricated products comprising almost 90% of demand for these products. Australian fabricators also supply steelwork for industrial, commercial and residential buildings, bridges, towers. to a decade earlier. In 2017, the Australian Government’s Anti-Dumping Commission found that imports of some steel fabricated products had increased following the imposition of measures on the primary steel input to their production (although data and analytical constraints meant that a causal link could not be established). More than 50% of total steel fabricated imports came from China and Thailand.

Recognising the competitive pressures that the international procurement environment has brought to Australia’s doorstep, the industry has responded through innovation and investing in improved capability and mechanisms. This has increased effective capacity to help ensure the Australian fabrication industry secures sufficient project work to support what is a significant extended manufacturing community and Australia’s continuing manufacturing knowledge base. structures is endemic, driven by continual striving for cost-effective, time-efficient and risk-minimised solutions in a nationally and internationally competitive market. Every steel structure is ultimately a bespoke design, responding to external environmental influences and complex user requirements. The power of bespoke design is evident in the Sydney Football Stadium (page 36), and the work undertaken by ASI members DBM Vircon and S&L Steel to bring this steel structure to life.

Australian fabricators are also innovating in different ways, diversifying their business into new sectors. For instance, NEPEAN Engineering & Innovation has branched out into additive manufacturing of medical devices (page 34), and ArmorGalv has developed a thermal diffusion galavnizing technology (page 41). Others still‚ like Icon Metal (page 44) have invested in innovative approaches to company culture to shore up future success.