| 81 Steel-it Ltd BUILDING SERVICES T T Kelly Deeks Seeing confidence in the market Steel-It uses only New Zealand-made steel from New Zealand Steel’s Glenbrook Mill. Steel framing could be ready for a bigger role in New Zealand construction as the industry looks towards its next wave of building activity, offering a faster, lighter, more precise, and now increasingly sustainable alternative to traditional timber framing. A year after buying Steel-It, director Martin Robinson is starting to see renewed confidence in the market, and believes the company is well positioned to meet growing demand for construction solutions that improve productivity while delivering consistent quality. Martin came to the business after a career spanning building, project management, property, and some less conventional chapters. He and wife Jeanette spent time living and working in remote parts of Australia, Cambodia, and the Himalayas, where they volunteered teaching and helped install a village water supply. After returning to New Zealand, Martin moved into corporate roles, completed an MBA, and decided he wanted to own a business. Steel-It, which manufactures and supplies light gauge steel framing, offered both a strong existing reputation and significant potential. The construction sector and the economy have since endured a prolonged downturn, but Martin is finally starting to see some renewed positivity. That positivity comes as Steel-It continues supplying residential, commercial, and industrial projects from Kaitaia to Oamaru, and a truck and trailer recently headed to Christchurch. A key advantage is supply security. SteelIt uses only New Zealand-made steel from New Zealand Steel’s Glenbrook mill, giving customers traceability from frame back to the original coil. New Zealand Steel has now produced its first commercial batch from a new electric arc furnace, a major step in reducing the carbon intensity of steel production. Supported by a $140 million government subsidy, the project replaces two coal-fired kilns and is expected to nearly halve carbon emissions. For Steel-It, the development strengthens its sustainability story. The new furnace will also allow more New Zealand scrap steel to be recycled domestically rather than sent offshore, with more recycled material entering the local supply chain. “We know sustainability is really important to a lot of our customers. It’s often one of the first things we are asked about,” Martin says. Precision manufacturing also means very little waste. Frames are cut and formed to millimetre accuracy, with standard pre-punched service holes removing the need for plumbers and electricians to drill through framing onsite. Plastic grommets and complete fixing packages are supplied, while bespoke service holes can be incorporated during design. Steel frames are lighter than timber, while remaining strong and straight. They do not warp, twist, shrink, or bow, helping deliver consistent results through the life of a building. Steel-It also manufactures its RBoard thermal break system, combining a building wrap, thermal break, and rigid air barrier in one product. Behind the manufacturing operation is a team focused on making steel framing easier to specify and install. An in-house designer works with customers, architects, and engineers to develop bespoke designs for every project, while Steel-It’s factory manager brings extensive hands on experience and is ready to help builders on site. OUR WAY IS TO FIND A WAY www.booths.co.nz | 0800 BOOTHS 20 400 800 130,000 100 branches, with 40+ facilities across New Zealand modern trucks strong team warehouse storage kiwi owned and operated | THE SMARTER ENVELOPE SOLUTION FOR STEEL FRAMING. THERMAL BREAK + BUILDING WRAP + RIGID BARRIER ONE PRODUCT LESS HANDLING FASTER INSTALLATION NZ MADE BRANZ APPROVED WWW.RBOARD.CO.NZ Meanwhile Martin’s wife Jeanette is updating the business’s systems, including developing installation manuals to make assembly straightforward. As New Zealand moves towards recovery, Martin believes faster, more efficient construction will become increasingly important. “New Zealand is going to really need some innovative, quality construction solutions that help with drive productivity, so we can get things built much faster.”
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy NDc2Mzg=