Rubbing shoulders with titans of the worldwide steel construction industry, a Tauranga business is pioneering sustainable building.

Last week, SteelworksNZ representatives were in Charlotte, North Carolina, presenting at the global Constructsteel awards.

Grier and Jill Fuller flew to the United States after winning the Constructsteel  – Excellence in Sustainability Award.

Grier said it was “a bit daunting” getting up in front of such important industry figures to talk about their Bay of Plenty-Waikato project, but it was a great chance to show Kiwis can compete on the world stage.

“We found out who we were speaking in front of… they were the big wigs of the American steel industry. Mostly manufacturers, but massive players.”

Tauranga-based structural steel fabricators presented their Hinuera Sheds in Waikato, highlighting an excellent example of reusing and recycling materials for modern buildings.

Grier said they talked to some of the steel industry representatives after his presentation.

“They were impressed with what we’ve done in little ol’ New Zealand and they’re trying to replicate similar things in the States around sustainability. It was great that they took an interest in us and it was humbling,” he said.

The Hinuera Sheds contract focused on reusing nearly 200 tons of recycled beams from a demolished building at the Port of Tauranga.

“Hinuera Sheds is a prime example of how repurposed steel can reduce carbon footprints, promote sustainability, and position steel as a ‘superhero’ material of choice in construction.

“By addressing the challenges of damaged components, we demonstrated how recycled steel can meet design specifications and standards advancing the concept of reuse for reconstruction,” Grier said.

“This project showcases our evolution into the sustainability era and highlights how innovative solutions to recycling material can position steel as a key player in the circular economy.” 

Safety and integrity were a key consideration when using recycled steel and the team at Steelworks had the expertise to assess and test the materials,

“Beams arrived in various stages of deterioration with old paint, rust, dirt and old welds that needed reworking."

"This poses the next challenge where working with recycled materials requires a certain amount of testing and inspection to meet engineering design and material specifications."

"Our quality manager, workshop manager and welding supervisor was tasked with visually identifying inadequate joints and welds and organizing a reworking and testing regime.”

Steelworks has just moved its headquarters and manufacturing workshop from Mt Maunganui to Tauriko. The company is locally owned by Grier and his brother, Elliott Fuller.