Fletcher Building : NZICC structural steel contract awarded

Fletcher Construction has awarded the structural steel contract for the New Zealand International Convention Centre (NZICC) to CH Steel following a comprehensive, professional tender process.

CH Steel, a New Zealand registered company, is a 50/50 joint venture between Culham Engineering (Whangarei) and Herrick (US) which will help to bring international best practice to the local steel industry.

Fletcher Construction Division, Chief Executive Graham Darlow said CH Steel was selected because it can provide a quality, professional service from procurement to fabrication and erection. 'With CH Steel we have a New Zealand company with American expertise that can fabricate complex structural steel connections and who has world-leading experience in production and quality assurance.'

Culham Engineering Director and GM Rob Kirwan said winning the NZICC contract will benefit Whangarei in New Zealand's North. He has already hired 12 people as a result of winning this contract and conservatively estimates more than 50 others will be hired in the weeks to come.

'Our joint venture with Herrick will result in export opportunities for the Northland business. It will also open up training and mentoring opportunities for the 230 people who work at Culham Engineering with apprentices, engineers and other key employees being sent to the US headquarters for training. This may well lead to opportunities for the steel industry as a whole. We are known for our commitment to training having taken on at least 700 apprentices since we started.'

Culham Engineering has a 58-year history of providing high quality fabrication services and made its name in the highly regulated petrochemical industry. The business is ACC tertiary accredited and has ISO 9001, ISO 9001 2008, and ISO 3834 part 2 and 4 accreditations.

Culham Engineering buys structural steel from merchants using ACRS accredited mills. It will be responsible for between 70-80 percent of the NZICC job with just 20-30 percent of the work being carried out offshore. This will be heavy fabrication work of a specialist nature. It is unlikely any New Zealand company could undertake this work, although Culham has recently invested millions in new equipment to help it gear up for large commercial projects such as the NZICC.

Herrick (US) has more than 100 years in steel fabrication and is recognised as a world leader in steel or high rise and large-scale commercial projects. Both companies will source material from reputable mills around the world. To ensure compliance with New Zealand Standards, the mills will be either ACRS certified or will demonstrate equivalence to ACRS on a product by product basis. Culham will be purchasing materials through New Zealand based steel supply merchants.

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