Fremantle Steel Fabrication Gives Itself a Lift

Western Australian company, Fremantle Steel Fabrication, has just completed its fourth major workshop expansion, as its order book continues to reflect Australia's resources boom.

As one of Australia's leading steel fabricators, Fremantle Steel Fabrication has been well placed to ride the resources boom. The company's growth and reputation for quality, efficient production has won it some of the largest fabrication jobs undertaken in the country.

Its recent projects have included involvement in the fabrication of the largest ship loader of its type ever built in Australia. Fremantle Steel Fabrication was contracted by ThyssenKrupp to fabricate the massive bridge structure of the loader as part of an expansion project for Worsley Alumina at the Port of Bunbury.

The company, which has Quality Endorsed certification, has also fabricated major components for BHP Billiton's Ravensthorpe mine development and for Woodside Petroleum's Northwest Shelf project requirements.

It carries out large scale fabrication projects for clients from the resource industry, general industrial, commercial and rural developments, and government work.

Fremantle Steel Fabrication's state of the art headquarters in Jandakot now encompasses a 13,000 square metre workshop, equipped to accommodate very large scale fabrication tasks. The company's resources include large workshop bays serviced by 26 overhead travelling hoist cranes.

XLERPLATE® steel from BlueScope Steel is a central ingredient in much of the company's activities, even in the expansion of its own premises.

"Because of our expertise we have been able to contribute to our own expansion in this latest growth stage and in the one before that," Administration Manager Mark D'Amato said.

"In the latest expansion to our premises we have increased workshop floor space by 3,000 square metres and added four new cranes to service the increase. We designed the cranes ourselves and then built them, using 150 tonnes of XLERPLATE® steel."

"Everything you fabricate needs to be moved, sometimes several times. Two of the new cranes have 25 tonnes of lifting capacity and two have 32 tonne lifting capacity. We did the design work, fabrication and treatment. For the mechanical components and lifting equipment we contracted a specialist supplier. When they were ready, we lifted the cranes into position using our own 100 tonne mobile hydraulic crane."

Mark D'Amato said Fremantle Steel Fabrication's construction of the new cranes was an example of how the company's confidence in its own skills had enabled it to prosper.

"Our customers are often multinational companies with the ability to source what they need from wherever they like," he said. "They prefer to deal with suppliers who have a reputation for quality and service."

"We are introducing new automated equipment to bring extra efficiency to our steel processing capabilities. We can now perform punching, drilling and thermal cutting of the XLERPLATE® steel plates with just one machine, where previously we had to use two. To stay competitive in the steel fabrication industry you have to employ the latest technology, maintain and improve your quality standards and form partnerships with reliable suppliers."

Fremantle Steel Fabrication has thrived on diversification since its establishment in 1971. It is one of the largest providers of prefabricated steel structures in Australia and has grown and evolved into an extensive group of companies, including Interstate Crane & Transport Hire Pty Ltd, which provides a wide range of transport and construction equipment.

Mark D'Amato said the company's long relationship with BlueScope Steel had been one of the core elements of Fremantle Steel Fabrication's success.

"Product quality and service are critical factors in our decision to use XLERPLATE® steel," he said. "On many of the projects we undertake, the quality and consistency of the steel is crucial. We have never had any problems using XLERPLATE® steel and that's the way we like it. There's also an element of support that you must have. We've built up a lot of expertise, but we know that if we ever need technical assistance its always available from BlueScope Steel."