Rockingham-based company Steelpipe Australia has secured a $5.9 million contract with Fremantle Ports to reconstruct North Quay Berth 10.
Rockingham-based company Steelpipe Australia has secured a $5.9 million contract with Fremantle Ports to reconstruct North Quay Berth 10.
The project which aims at using more than 3,000 tonnes of tubular steel piling will see Steelpipe Australia teaming up with WA sub-contractors Park Engineers, Boyd Metal, Steelhaul and Waterside Welding and Fabrication to complete the project.
Steelpipe Australia has already begun work on the Berth 10 project. The upgrading of this berth for container shipping is associated with the planned deepening of the Fremantle Inner Harbour and will provide increased draft capacity for bigger ships now wanting to call at Fremantle.
Minister for Energy, Resources, Industry and Enterprise Francis Logan said that the contract was a big step forward in improving local content in major Western Australian projects.
In 2006-07, Fremantle Ports achieved 88.59 per cent local content in the purchase of goods to the total value of about $22million.
Australian Steel Institute WA state manager John Brazier said this contract was a positive win for the local steel industry and proved that collaboration at an early stage created good results for local industry and the State.
Full announcement pasted below:
A Rockingham-based company has successfully secured a multi-million-dollar contract with Fremantle Ports.
Industry and Enterprise Minister Francis Logan said the $5.9million contract to reconstruct North Quay Berth 10 using more than 3,000 tonnes of tubular steel piling had been awarded to Steelpipe Australia.
Mr Logan said the contract was a big step forward in improving local content in major Western Australian projects.
The Minister said WA's local manufacturers and steel fabricators clearly had the capability and capacity to complete local and overseas contracts right on our doorstep.
"This contract shows how a successful partnership between local companies can prove to be a win-win situation for the whole State," he said.
"Building local content opportunities for WA's manufacturing industry is one of the Carpenter Government's priorities.
"Our local contractors face strong competition from overseas modular fabrication and load-out of pre-assembled capital works units.
"The team approach demonstrated on this contract is a strong example of how our local industry can join forces to provide competitive solutions that meet the client's requirements."
Steelpipe Australia will team up with WA sub-contractors Park Engineers, Boyd Metal, Steelhaul and Waterside Welding and Fabrication to complete the project.
Steelpipe Australia sales manager Ian Hutchens said the contract was an exciting step for the company and confirmed that its decision to move to Perth was a good one.
"The flexibility, control, local and international knowledge, ongoing support and willingness of the State's local industry to work together, all lend themselves to assisting major infrastructure projects in WA and Australia," Mr Hutchens said.
"The contract with Fremantle Ports, our largest contract to date, is an important milestone for us.
"We have grown from a staff of one in 2005 to 30 today and the support of both customers and sub-contractors has been very important to this success."
Steelpipe Australia has already begun work on the Berth 10 project. The upgrading of this berth for container shipping is associated with the planned deepening of the Fremantle Inner Harbour and will provide increased draft capacity for bigger ships now wanting to call at Fremantle.
Fremantle Ports acting chief executive officer Chris Leatt-Hayter said Fremantle Ports was strongly committed to maximising local content in the purchase of goods.
"In relation to the sourcing of steel sheet piling for the Berth 10 upgrade we have worked closely with the Australian Steel Institute from the outset," Mr Leatt-Hayter said.
In 2006-07, Fremantle Ports achieved 88.59 per cent local content in the purchase of goods to the total value of about $22million.
Australian Steel Institute WA state manager John Brazier said this contract was a positive win for the local steel industry and proved that collaboration at an early stage created good results for local industry and the State.
"The proactive and early co-operation of the Fremantle Port Authority with ASI was pivotal in helping a local company win this contract," Mr Brazier said.
"Engaging with project proponents as early as possible ensures that we can engage with relevant local industry to ensure they are in the best position to compete with overseas contenders."
Mr Logan said the current economic climate would ensure that Steelpipe Australia continued to make an important contribution to the State's vast infrastructure projects through its steelpipe spiral weld capability.
