6 minute read
and Sustainability
ORRCON STEEL IS A LEADING AUSTRALIAN DISTRIBUTOR AND MANUFACTURER OF STEEL, TUBE AND PIPE. THEIR 600 PERSON STRONG TEAM LEVERAGES IN-DEPTH STEEL INDUSTRY KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE TO PRODUCE AND SUPPLY A WIDE RANGE OF TUBULAR PRODUCTS. WITH THEIR OPERATIONS GUIDED BY THE PILLARS OF GROWTH, EFFICIENCY, SERVICE AND SUSTAINABILITY, ORRCON IS FOCUSED FIRMLY ON THE FUTURE
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Originally formed as Welded Tube Mills in 1989, the company had less than 10 employees in its first year of operation, and produced 10,000 tonnes of tubular steel. Interestingly, Orrcon's Brisbane facility in Salisbury is one of the few sites in Queensland that has a private train spur line, enabling direct coil delivery from Port Kembla via train to the production site.
According to Paul Day (National Manager, Orrcon Distribution), "Orrcon was established in October 2000 through the merger of Welded Tube Mills and Hills Industry—the owners of the iconic Hills Hoist clothesline. In February 2005, Hills Holdings acquired 100% of the Orrcon Steel company. BlueScope then bought Orrcon Steel in February 2014."
"Over the years, the company has continued to evolve. The most notable development in the last year has been the growing distinction between the operations of Orrcon Steel Distribution and Orrcon Manufacturing. Previously, the two were under the same management structure. This is where my role as leader of the Distribution business comes in. My focus is to enable future growth opportunities to be realised for Orrcon Steel Distribution."
"The business I now oversee has more than 300 employees and operates under two separate brands: Orrcon Steel Distribution and Metalcorp. We outlined the history of Orrcon Steel through Hills, but the Metalcorp business is iconic in the rural sector. It has been around for over 40 years, and is particularly strong in the eastern states. It's become known as the 'rural brand on the land' steel supplier. With the catchphrase of ‘Everything in Steel’, our customers know that if they need any steel products in the rural sector, we can help," said Day.
A DIVERSE PRODUCT RANGE
Orrcon Steel Distribution supplies tubular products that are used across a wide range of structural applications, from buildings, sporting arenas, and major mining and industry infrastructure, through to aesthetic structural uses such as in airports and shipping terminals.
It sources these tubular products through two Australian manufacturing sites. The first site is Orrcon Manufacturing in Brisbane, which produces cold-formed steel hollow Sections in line with AS/NZS 1163, covering steel grades C250L0, C350L0 and C450L0. The second site is Orrcon's mill in Adelaide, which manufactures precision tube products that comply with AS 1450. Orrcon Steel Distribution also imports a range of larger tubular sizes that are outside the local manufacturing capability, ensuring the same high standards are adhered to.
Orrcon Steel Distribution offers a range of hot rolled structural products including beams, columns, channels, angles and merchant bar, as well as a broad range of plate from 3mm up to 200mm. Orrcon also supplies fencing, roofing and building accessories.
Orrcon's product lines extend to MECSPEC-GAL®, which is manufactured with quality BlueScope GALVABOND® coil. MECSPECGAL® offers a versatile alternative to imported galvanized products. Rolled to length and made with 300 grade steel, MECSPEC-GAL™ Pipe is hotdipped zinc coated with a spangled surface. Manufactured to AS 1450, MECSPEC-GAL™ Pipe is suitable for general purpose mechanical applications, including; bench frames, box trailers, playgrounds, gym equipment, handrails, agricultural applications and more.
With distribution centres strategically located in Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia and Western Australia, Orrcon Steel provides a reliable national distribution network.
"Our clients and sectors of operation vary greatly: agriculture, residential and non-residential buildings, infrastructure, manufacturing, furniture, office equipment, automotive and transport. We touch a very wide range of market segments across the country," said Day.
"Our clients are typically those who value an Australian made, high quality product. Orrcon prides itself on working collaboratively with its customers and we can deliver highly customised solutions. Individual customer solutions have been part of our DNA and will continue to be moving forward. We can deliver a variety of dimensions, grades and sizes for client needs. We have the assets and the mills to enable this, and our customers have leveraged our capabilities over the years," said Day.
WE'LL SEE IT THROUGH
"We'll see it through is more than a tag line next to our brand. It is a statement that says a lot about our business and the people who work for Orrcon Steel. It is a part of our culture and it reflects our relationships both internally and externally. We do what we say we're going to do," said Day.
"Orrcon is synonymous with quality, links to Australian-made manufacturing, providing flexibility, and a broad range of products. We pride ourselves on the service we deliver to all our customers in the markets we service."
"We don’t try to be something we’re not. We have 19 locations around the country. We understand where our key markets are, providing products the customers demand, and strive to be outstanding in delivering those."
THE FUTURE
Orrcon Distribution is optimistic about the future of steel in Australia, and the role that it can play.
"There are a number of opportunities for Australian steel on the horizon. Firstly, the disruption to global supply chains is helping with repatriation of material sourcing in Australia. It could also help encourage a resurgence in onshore manufacturing," said Day.
"We are seeing significant opportunities in new infrastructure, not only through increased government spending, but with work associated with the Olympic and Commonwealth Games, as well as significant civil and roadworks underway in most states."
"However, the biggest opportunity for Australian steel is the renewable energy revolution that is taking place. The significant infrastructure that will be required for the move to renewables over many, many years represents an enormous opportunity for steel products and the steel industry to move with the times in terms of our carbon footprint."
"If you look back at the Australian steel industry 20 years ago, and compare it to what the industry looks like today, you would be staggered by the change. The industry has changed significantly in terms of the way we do business and the players within it. Fast forward 20 years – what does the consumer and the steel industry look like in the future?"
"Will it look more like the Amazon model, with digitalisation and online sales? The steel industry is traditionally a slower adopter of these types of trends. So, a major opportunity for Orrcon Steel is to look at what the needs of the future will be and investigate ways to optimise our operations. With the backing of BlueScope, we can look at digital technology, energy initiatives, product development, and sales and marketing innovation. That’s where our focus has to be: on the needs of our customers and the business on a 10 to 20 year horizon," said Day.
