Business North
August 2015
CONSTRUCTION » Detail Connect
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Steel specialist taps into technology Karen Phelps Detail Connect has just moved into new premises in Mt Maunganui. Company managing director Luke Fahey says it is a sign of the growth the company has experienced since it started in 2012 specialising in the production of shop drawings for steel fabricators throughout New Zealand. “The new office is located closer to key clients and we are fully cloud based so we now have a faster internet connection to enable backup and remote access into the office,” explains Fahey. Fahey, 30, is a steel detailer with a construction management qualification. He brings over a decade of experience including working for companies such as Calder Stewart. In under three years Detail Connect has grown from a simple home office based organisation to employing one staff member plus contractors as required. Fahey says the company differentiates itself from competitors due to its young, tech savvy staff. “Our age means we all know how to utilize the software we use for the shop drawings to its full potential. I thought I knew a lot already but when I employed my staff member, who is 25 years old, I discovered he knew how to use it on a whole different level. This is the kind of expertise we bring to projects for clients,” he says. The software the company uses is called Tekla Structures. Detail Connect has already won an honourable mention in the steel category of the 2014 Tekla Building Information Modelling awards demonstrating the expertise staff has in using the software.
Detail Connect specialises in the production of shop drawings for steel fabricators throughout New Zealand.
Fahey says that although larger steel fabricators often have detailers who work in-house (although Detail Connect does work for some of these companies as well to
supplement their staff during busy periods) it is smaller fabricators who can really benefit from the company’s services and that proper shop drawings create efficiencies on many levels during a project. “The 3D modelling allows for any errors to be picked up before manufacture. It allows jobs to be staged so projects can be managed more efficiently. “This is especially important for small fabricators, as they may not be able to manufacture the whole project in one go. “It means smaller fabricators can now take on the bigger guys,” says Fahey. As well as 3D structural steel shop drawings for residential, rural, commercial and industrial projects and production of 2D deliverables for pricing, ordering, manufacture and erection, Detail Connect also provides complementary services. The company can complete building consent documentation for the structural steel aspect of projects and third party quality assurance checks.
A newer service being offered by the company is training in Tekla. “We go into companies and train their staff in Tekla. We look at it this way – if their business grows then our business grows.” And Fahey has continued growth as his focus. He hopes the new office will help to attract more good staff to the growing business. “We offer a flexible working environment so if someone wants to go and surf at lunchtime and make the time up later they can. “Having the best staff will be a key point in taking the business forward,” he says. Key clients the company has worked for include Grayson Engineering (a new Bunnings at New Lynn, Auckland), Jensen Steel Fabricators (Fonterra Pahiatua) and Phoenix Steel (a development at 254 Montreal St, Christchurch). “We’re a small company so we can offer a very personal service. Our clients can talk to the detailer working on their project. “Working with clients one-on-one is an aspect that I really enjoy about the business.”
“The 3D modelling allows for any errors to be picked up before manufacture. It allows jobs to be staged so projects can be managed more efficiently. This is especially important for small fabricators....”
solutions in steel We provide steel and engineering solutions to a wide range of industries
· Structural and light steel framing specialists · Design, fabrication and assembly of custom, bespoke machinery · Ferrous and non-ferrous piping solutions · Steam-field pipe supports, anchors & platform fabrication · Architectural balustrades, stairways and handrails · Crane and all-terrain scissor lift hire · General engineering info@metframe.co.nz
07 378 7171, 1154 Rakaunui Road, Taupo
www.metframe.co.nz
Ph: 03 688 7412 Fax: 03 688 7478 Email: admin@phoenixsteel.co.nz Web: www.phoenixsteel.co.nz 68 Sheffield Street PO Box 2129, Washdyke, Timaru 7941
Our business is structural steel fabricating and erection, our company draws experience from over 30 years in the structural steel industry, with great partners in painting and hot dip galvanising we can complete your project to the highest standard whether its a single house beam to a multi level building. Our quality control team closely inspects each job before and after welding to make sure even the smallest details meet our rigid requirements, and yours.