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Welcome to our very first online update; your guide to what’s new and changing in reinforcing steel. The aftermath of the Canterbury earthquakes has transformed the way that reinforcing is used in New Zealand. This is particularly apparent in residential building guidelines, which will soon require 500E grade reinforcing mesh for all on-ground slabs New Zealand-wide. At Fletcher Reinforcing, we’ve responded quickly to the change, launching our new Super Ductile™ product in early October. From development of Super Ductile™, to our industry-leading Placing service, our Easy Start™ residential solution and two new branches, 2011 has been a year of constant innovation for our teams across the country. In addition, our focus on health and safety also continues to yield results, with our rate of recordable injuries declining continuously in our quest for ‘zero harm’. Find out more about what we’ve been up to below and at www.fletcherreinforcing.co.nz
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Fletcher Reinforcing Launches Super Ductile™ Seismic Grade Reinforcing Mesh With the EQC targeting December as the completion date for its residential inspections in Christchurch, the launch of Fletcher Reinforcing’s newest product, Super Ductile™ this October could not have been more timely. Super Ductile™ is a new, 500E grade of reinforcing mesh designed to withstand the forces of seismic activity to provide stronger reinforcement to concrete foundations. It has been developed specifically to meet the new residential building standards requirements that will come into effect in February 2012. “We’ve partnered with Pacific Steel and used their ‘100% Seismic’ grade product to come up with a solution that will safely deliver stronger foundations for New Zealand homes,” says Marc Hainen, General Manager of Fletcher Reinforcing. “Extensive, independent testing by SGS has proven that Super Ductile™ has the optimal combination of strength and ductility to allow it to perform in accordance with the new requirements,” he says. And, while the timing of the product’s launch may seem a fortunate coincidence, in fact it was the result of a major effort to ensure that the construction industry would have access to a suitable 500E grade mesh as the rebuilding efforts in Christchurch begin to gear up in 2012. Download the Super Ductile™ specification sheet. For more about the new building standards requirements click here. |
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Some smart thinking around customer needs and the opportunity to provide a hassle-free solution to placing reinforcing has led to the creation of Fletcher Reinforcing’s very own Placing team. The new offer, an extension of existing services offered in Auckland and Dunedin, is available throughout the country and gives Fletcher Reinforcing’s commercial and industrial construction customers the opportunity to use a ‘one-stop-shop’, with quality product installed by a highly professional team. “The feedback we’ve had from clients has been extremely positive - they’re pleased that we’ve taken the initiative in offering this service and are eager to use it,” says Fletcher Reinforcing’s General Manager, Marc Hainen. Find out more about Fletcher Reinforcing’s Placing service > |
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Christchurch’s February earthquake caused significant damage to local infrastructure, including the city’s waste water treatment plant. An important component of this facility is its three clarifier tanks, each measuring 40 metres in diameter and eight metres deep. The force of the quake was strong enough to create waves up to 300mm high in the concrete floor of the clarifiers, all of which needed to be remediated. G and T Construction was awarded the contract to reinstate the floors and sub-contracted Fletcher Reinforcing to supply and install the reinforcing steel. Initially the contract was to involve 240t of 16mm steel, however once the clarifiers were emptied it was discovered the damage was worse than expected. An urgent redesign resulted in 500t of H25 reinforcing product being specified. “While the scale of the project, and the changes to the initial design did create challenges for our team, they responded quickly and everyone – from detailers to steel placers – has worked together to make this contract a success,” says Malcolm Halstead, Fletcher Reinforcing’s Regional Manager in Christchurch. |
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Fletcher Reinforcing’s two new branches, in Palmerston North and Nelson, are open and thriving, with highly positive feedback from customers pleased to have local access to product and expertise.
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Having emerged unscathed from the September and February earthquakes, Fletcher Reinforcing’s Christchurch team is gearing up for the influx of work required to rebuild the city, with projects already underway at Lyttelton Harbour and the city’s sewage treatment plants. In the residential market the team is anticipating huge demand for the new Super Ductile™ seismic grade reinforcing mesh, and has invested substantially in a new mesh machine - commissioned earlier this year - to ensure its manufacturing capability will meet the supply challenge ahead. With a placing team of 15 based in Christchurch, the branch is also well positioned to offer customers a hassle-free, combined option for the supply and installation of its reinforcing products. |
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Ever mindful of making builders’ lives easier, Fletcher Reinforcing has recently launched EasyStart™ for its Auckland and Christchurch customers. An industry first, this clever service allows customers to obtain a single quote for all of the materials required for a conventional or raft residential floor slab – everything from the cut and bent steel to the pods, spacers and polythene – and have them delivered as a neatly packaged bundle, ready for placing within 48 hours. Available from PlaceMakers, the smarter service has already proved highly popular and Fletcher Reinforcing is now looking at offering it in other metropolitan areas. |
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