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Australian Pipe & Tube: The Independent Choice
A PRIVATELY OWNED AND OPERATED COMPANY, AUSTRALIAN PIPE & TUBE SPECIALISES IN THE MANUFACTURE OF WORLD-CLASS TUBULAR STEEL. THEIR PRODUCTS ARE USED THROUGHOUT A RANGE OF INDUSTRIES, FROM MANUFACTURING, FABRICATION AND CONSTRUCTION, THROUGH TO AGRICULTURE AND FARMING. THIS YEAR MARKS THEIR ELEVENTH YEAR OF OPERATION—NO MEAN FEAT FOR A TRULY INDEPENDENT AND COMPETITIVE MANUFACTURER IN THE AUSTRALIAN MARKET.
Australian Pipe & Tube (APT) was established in 2010 by David Brandi, who is the company's Chairman.
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According to Mike Doubleday (General Manger, APT), "Eleven years ago, when APT was established, it was a completely new start up. The business was set up on a greenfield site in Ravenhall in Melbourne's west, with a purpose-built 6,500m2 shed. The shed was fitted with brand new equipment, including an OTTO tube mill from Italy, which is the newest and most advanced technology in tubular manufacturing in Australia."
"APT grew out of the need expressed by the local market—there was a clear need for a truly independent, competitive and dynamic source of alternate supply for tubular steel sections in Australia, and specifically in Victoria. Our two competitors are based in Queensland and New South Wales," said Doubleday. Today, APT supplies its products—in bulk—directly to the distribution market. "Being a completely independent manufacturer within the Australian steel industry is quite unusual. Our competitors are all vertically integrated, with their own mills and distribution centres," said Doubleday.
"We support Australian made as much as we can. As a country, we need a level of self sufficiency. With so many businesses closing and going under, you can't rule your own destiny if you can't manufacture your own products for industries like downstream manufacturing, infrastructure and defence."
"After all, the more successful we are as a local manufacturer, the bigger we become. The bigger we become, the more jobs we create for the local community and Victoria as a whole." John Egan (CEO, APT) emphasised the importance of local manufacturing for customers. "The flexibility for fabricators and manufacturers using our product comes from the fact that they can access our products with potentially short lead times, or order project-specific sizes and grades. Without a local manufacturer, our customers would be forced into a standard product offering from overseas. We offer much more flexibility."
QUALITY AND CUSTOMER CARE
APT has built its success over the last 11 years on two key pillars: customer service and the provision of superior quality products.
"It’s hard to say what comes first: the customer or product quality. We produce everything to stringent Australian Standards and have an experienced quality manger on-site. All our testing is performed at an external lab, and
AUSTRALIAN PIPE & TUBE PRODUCT RANGE
Australian Pipe & Tube hollow structural sections are manufactured in full compliance with AS 1163 Structural steel hollow sections, which is one of the world’s most advanced Standards. Used in industries ranging from mining through to agricultural, APT Painted and APT Galv products are backed by local technical support.
Painted Products
APT Painted is the newest tubular product in the steel industry, providing strength and ductility that meets and exceeds AS/NZS1163:2016.
APT Painted products can be manufactured in Grades up to C450L0, while providing an industry-high elongation percentage (typically 20% to 30%). Compliance with grade C350L0 or C450L0 requirements of AS1163. L0 grades ensure suitability for use in lower temperature requirements, as well as non-brittle behaviour when subjected to dynamic loads. Compliance with minimum mass per metre requirements ensures full loading capacity
Put simply, APT Painted is one of the strongest and most workable products available in the tubular market. End-users can be confident that APT Painted is the right product, whatever its intended use.
Galv Products
APT Galv products build on the extensive groundwork of the Painted range, taking quality to new heights with improved corrosion resistance. Utilising a pre-galvanised source material eliminates any inconsistencies in applied coating and offers a superior level of protection against the natural elements.
By utilising a 200g per square metre Surface Coating Mass on both surfaces of the material, APT Galv tubular products offer excellent corrosion protection against white and red rust when compared to normal hot-dip galvanizing processes.
Superior paint and powder coat adhesion gives the visual appeal and combined corrosion protection (subject to adherence to the finished paint manufacturer instructions). APT can also supply products without a clear coat layer to meet customer specific requirements.
we also have ACRS accreditation," explained Egan.
When it comes to customer care, Egan believes that APT's combination of personal service and agility is a winning formula. "We’re very agile. We can change and react to the market and customer needs very promptly. We pride ourselves on our personable service. These days, you can take automation too far, particularly when it comes to customer service—we like to add that personal touch," said Egan.
"We have two sales representatives who visit our customers regularly. We listen to what the market wants, and ensure we continue to meet our customers' needs and expectations."
PEOPLE POWER
With a workforce of approximately 35 people, APT runs two production shifts each day. "Our people are our strength. Throughout the whole business, we’ve got a lot of people with years of experience in the steel industry, and specifically in tubular manufacturing. Whether it's our management team, our sales staff or our operators, most of our people have had some level of experience within the tubular industry," said Doubleday.
It's these people who enable APT to deliver their superior quality products and customer service.
THE WAY FORWARD
APT is committed to the advancement of the Australian steel industry. With a successful 11 years of business under their belt, APT is looking forward to a strong future. "We constantly strive to stay ahead of the quality curve and develop a superior way of manufacturing the best quality tubular steel products in Australia—that's the holistic commitment we make to our industry," said Doubleday.
"We're growing the business, which covers a number of different things, from looking at a bigger greenfield site for future growth and development, through to a third shift for manufacturing."
"In the current market, trying to meet demand and remain competitive and profitable—while maintaining our commitment to quality and customer service—is keeping us busy," said Doubleday.
