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New Zealand’s structural steel fabricators aim to set themselves apart from imported prefabricated steelwork with the launch today of a new independent, quality assurance scheme.

The Steel Fabricator Certification (SFC) scheme ensures participating fabricators not only manufacture product to the specified quality standard, but that they have appropriate personnel and quality management systems in place representing international best-practice.

“Today’s launch of the Steel Fabricator Certification scheme is an important milestone for our industry,” says Steel Construction New Zealand (SCNZ) Manager Alistair Fussell.

“As with other construction materials, the current compliance regime for structural steelwork relies, for the most part, on self-inspection and self-certification.

“This new Steel Fabricator Certification scheme raises the bar by providing independent, expert certification of New Zealand fabrication companies.”

Mr Fussell says the SFC scheme creates an important point of difference for locally fabricated steel compared with imported prefabricated steelwork.

“The recent boom in construction activity, centred on Christchurch and Auckland, has seen an increase in the amount of imported prefabricated steelwork entering New Zealand. However, there have been cases where paperwork has been missing or the steelwork does not meet the required specification, leading to costly project delays.

“The SFC scheme, on the other hand, provides procurers and specifiers, such as engineers, architects and contractors, with certainty of product quality and significantly reduced compliance risk.”

The SFC scheme was launched today in Hamilton by SCNZ and the Heavy Engineering Research Association (HERA), together with Ministry for Business, Innovation and Employment Chief Executive David Smol.

The initial group of steel fabricators certified under the SFC scheme are:

• Chapman Engineering, Christchurch
• D&H Steel Construction, Auckland
• Eastbridge, Napier
• Jensen Steel Fabricators, Mt Maunganui
• John Jones Steel, Christchurch
• MJH Engineering, Lower Hutt
• Red Steel, Napier
• Whakatiki Engineering, Upper Hutt

Developed jointly by SCNZ and HERA, the SFC scheme is based on the European system which is part of the CE-marking regulatory environment and represents international best-practice.

Ends
About Steel Construction New Zealand
Steel Construction New Zealand Inc. (SCNZ) aims to advance the interests of New Zealand’s diverse steel construction industry by promoting the benefits of steel solutions in building and infrastructure projects. Members include manufacturers of structural steel and steel products, distributors, fabricators, designers, detailers, galvanisers, and paint and building supply companies. SCNZ provides its members with technical advice on the latest in steel design trends and standards, networking opportunities and a representative voice with key industry and government decision-makers. For more information please visit www.scnz.org.

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Lisa van Beurden
Hotwire
Mob 0274 377 579
Email lisa.vanbeurden@hotwirepr.com