“D&H Steel Construction Ltd typifies the sheer resilience that it takes to move forward in tough economic times. This new facility is a testament to New Zealanders who have the courage to back their vision and get things done.”
So said Deputy Prime Minister Bill English when he officially opened D&H Steel’s new integrated steel fabrication facility in Henderson in May. The occasion was attended by about 150 construction industry leaders, who were taken on conducted tours of the 12,500sq m plant.
One new process they were shown in action was the custom welding of a beam with a depth (web) of 1.6m. It is destined for the new two-lane bridge under construction at Kopu, where holiday congestion has made access to and from the Coromandel notoriously difficult for years.
Custom-welded beams up to 31m long are being submerge arc welded on both sides of the web in an automatically controlled process.
“Speaking in my capacity as Minister of Infrastructure, I am pleased to tell you that the Government plans a $6 billion investment in infrastructure over the next three to four years. I hope that this expenditure will benefit companies such as D&H Steel,” Mr English said.
Revealing the commemorative wall plaque and cutting the traditional ribbon, the Deputy Prime Minister said he took real pleasure in declaring the new facility open.
“Twenty-five years after Roger Douglas introduced the open economy, New Zealand enterprise is showing that it has the confidence to get through the hard times and strive for better times.”
Among the VIPs attending were the Minister of Social Development & Employment and MP for Waitakere Paula Bennett, and the Mayor of Waitakere, Bob Harvey, who complimented the new facility, built by Clearwater Construction Ltd, as having the feel and look of success.
Mayor Harvey said: “I believe that something great has happened here, and it is especially great for West Auckland. Some 100 to 150 people will be employed, and D&H Steel
Construction has demonstrated that when we dream big, the vision becomes reality.”
The vision for what D&H Steel Construction Ltd has become belongs to managing director Mike Sullivan. “The steps taken by the steel fabrication industry in growing the intensity of steel in multilevel construction have seen steel grow from approx 5% of construction in the early 90s to more than 55% in the CBD today.
“Steel fabrication is widely recognised as the most cost-effective form of construction, and it was to maintain our position at the forefront of this market that we embarked on a tour of modern plants overseas to ensure we incorporated the most modern technologies and methods in our plant to obtain greater efficiencies and quality.
“We value opportunities to partner our clients where possible, as we have the most to offer when early project involvement enables us to contribute to cost-effective design, commence shop drawings at the earliest possible time and procure materials early, often indenting them at more favourable prices.
“An integrated facility such as ours is the only way to go when the various processes involved in steel fabrication are rationalised and under one roof. I believe it is important to have a holistic view of each project, be proactive with ideas that solve problems and create a successful outcome for all parties.”
Fact Sheet
Dimensions:
• Total footprint: 12,500 square metres
• Office and canteen: 1500 square metres
Head count:
• Workshop 42
• On site 21
• QS/Estimators 7
• Detailers 7
• Sales/Marketing 4
• Admin 4
• Semi-Permanent 15
TOTAL:
Output:
• Currently more than 250 tonnes per week on 1.5 shifts/day
• Potential not yet tested
Services:
• Full engineering services, including drilling, punching, cambering, coping, rolling, bending, welding, and in-house blasting and painting
• A full-time QA inspector checks the accuracy of fabrication and quality of welds
Site resources:
• Two tower cranes
• Seven 20-25 tonne capacity mobile cranes
• Eight access hoists
• Four mobile welders
Recent completed projects with main contractor include:
• Lion Nathan Brewery, East Tamaki, Auckland, with Mainzeal
• Auckland International Airport extensions, with Hawkins
• Deloitte Centre, Auckland, with Brookfield Multiplex
• Fonterra Cold Store, Hamilton, with Haydn & Rollett
• Cadbury Warehouse, Mangere, Auckland, with ASPEC
Projects currently under construction:
• Boyle’s House, Auckland University Medical School, with
Fletcher Building
• Laminex warehouse, Penrose, Auckland, with Fletcher Building
• Kopu Bridge, Coromandel, with HEB Construction
• Southern Spas, Avondale, Auckland, with Haydn Rollett
• Marine Events Centre, Viaduct Basin, Auckland, with Hawkins
• Lihir Gold, Papua New Guinea, with Tenex Group
• Bridge 316, with Dominion/Ontrack
