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For nearly five decades, NEACH has been a constant in Queensland’s structural steel landscape, delivering critical projects across defence, mining, transport and government.

In its latest white paper, ASI Associate Member GridBeyond explores the reasons why FCAS prices have fallen and what businesses can do to recoup lost revenues.

When it comes to handling long, heavy, and awkward loads in tight spaces, few companies are as trusted or as experienced as ASI Associate Member, Hubtex Australia.

In a significant development for Australia’s steel industry, Steelwork Compliance Australia—an independent certifying body administered by the ASI—has launched certification services for AS/NZS ISO 3834.

With roots tracing back to 1979, CSF Industries has grown from a modest regional steel fabricator based in Cairns, into one of northern Australia’s most innovative and vertically integrated construction partners.

Elmasry Steel Design and Detailing is a cornerstone of the structural steel sector. Starting as a one-person operation, it quickly scaled to become Sydney’s largest steel detailer.

ASI welcomed 1,462 attendees at ASI events, webinars and seminars throughout the year. A total of 524 people downloaded eLearning courses. Activities included: Webinars Forensic Engineering Failure Investigations of Steel Structures for Legal Proceedings by forensic engineer Dr David Tawfik. More than 200 people tuned in to hear common non-compliances encountered for fabricated structural steelwork and the resulting legal obligations for builders, engineers and fabricators.   Slabs, Footings and Tiedowns for Sheds. Jointly presented by Scott Munter and Eric Lume from the Steel Reinforcement Institute of Australia and Dr Jessey Lee from the Australian Engineered Fasteners and Anchors Council. It attracted more than 100 registrants.   Ascertaining the Compliance of Structural Steel and Fabricated Steelwork presented by Dr Peter Key. The seminar attracted more than 50 registrants and covered the content in the current Technote TN015 on structural steel and the new Technote TN018 on structural...

ASI has a strong focus on promoting steel as a career path. In 2024-20225, this included:  Developing online resources to attract and educate young people regarding career pathways, qualifications and emerging roles in the steel industry.   Partnering with members attending school careers expos to educate careers advisers, parents and students.   Interviewing five Icon Metal employees about their careers in steel for educational videos on the ASI website. The videos built awareness for school students interested in a career in steel.   Meeting with Illawarra and Shoalhaven Workplace Learning (ISWLP) to explore work experience for high school students. Twelve local businesses were approached by the ASI to host students, with two taking up the offer.   Meeting with the Department of Education NSW (Regional Industry Education Partnerships Programs) and other relevant bodies (Manufacturing Skills Queensland, Manufacturing Industry Skills Alliance) to discuss issues like barriers to apprenticeships...

2024-2025 saw the ASI provide input to government and receive advice on a range of issues including:  welding fumes, regulation of hexavalent chromium, building collapses and crane licencing. Of key interest to ASI fabricator members and circulated to them for use as collateral when tendering for work was a WorkSafe Victoria safety alert warning of the need to have proper quality assurance systems in place to determine reliability of imported steelwork. Not ensuring the imported steelwork meets Australian Standards may result in catastrophic structural collapse, the safety alert warns. For details, see: https://www.worksafe.vic.gov.au/imported-structural-steelwork.  ASI also played a key role in crane safety after accepting an invitation by the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry to represent it on the Safe Work Australia Crane Licence Review Working Group. As part of that project, ASI distributed and collated a survey on improving crane licensing under the model work health...

2025-2026 is shaping as an exciting but challenging year for the ASI and the steel industry.  Key priorities for the ASI in the coming 12 months will be: Protecting local fabricators from the surge in very low-priced imported fabricated steelwork through trade measures. Supporting a new AS/NZS ISO 3834 certification process to join AS/NZS 5131 certification under an expanded Steelwork Compliance Australia (SCA) scheme.  Implementing a new traceability system for steel products. Engaging with governments on renewable energy projects.  Advocating for local steel content in government and private industry contracts, and monitoring contracts to ensure local content regulations are enforced. Promoting the Steel Sustainability Australia (SSA) scheme to provide pathways for members to meet sustainability requirements in their projects. Representing on Australian Standards committees. Protecting and growing Australian steel by supporting the Australian Resources Recovery Council initiative...

Met with Western Australia’s Minister for Energy and Decarbonisation, Manufacturing and Skills, and TAFE Amber-Jade Sanderson, and the Premier Roger Cook seeking strong procurement rules that ensure sub-contractors use local supply chains. Talking points included Made in WA policy, WA Jobs Act (2017), WA Industry Participation Strategy and WA Local Manufacturing Investment Fund.  Ongoing consultation continues with the Western Australia State Government regarding traceability and the Federal Government’s guidelines document. The state is investigating the role of traceability in decarbonisation and the circular economy. Western Australia’s wind farm development is at a crossroads with onshore and offshore both facing protests and urgent demand from new industrial developments such as the Murchison Green Hydrogen Project. ASI has advised the government that steel supply is critical for the state’s ambitions and original equipment manufacturers should be encouraged to engage with the industry. Met...

Attended a Meet the Buyer event organised by the South Australia Office of Industry Advocate and engaged the Office of Northern Water Delivery, Office of Industry Advocate, Office of Hydrogen Power and Housing Authority to promote the local Australian steel supply chain. Held a successful ASI South Australia Fabricators Forum with Minister for Infrastructure and Transport and Minister for Energy and Mining Tom Koutsantonis together with Industry Advocate John Chapman and Deputy Industry Advocate Phillip Dowsett. There were 52 attendees representing 25 local businesses (ASI South Australia members) and the South Australia Government (Minister’s Office, Department for Energy and Mining, Office of the Industry Advocate, Department for Education). Continued to lobby the Office of the Industry Advocate for stronger local steel and fabrication content for South Australia Government-funded projects via a Tailored Industry Participation Plan for steel. In conjunction with the Department for...

Discussed with Queensland Government representatives the commitment by the previous government to require SCA certification of steel fabricators to AS/NZS 5131 as a prequalification to work on government building projects. It was confirmed that the new government will likely support the progress of the commitment through the normal government protocols.  Communicated with Manufacturing Skills Queensland (MSQ) regarding sharing of information on training, with the intention of gaining MSQ support for ASI initiatives. Joined the Engineering Skills and Training Industry Reference Group (IRG) at MSQ. Presented lectures on economical structural steelwork to third year engineering students at James Cook University, the Queensland University of Technology and the University of Southern Queensland. Held the ASI Steel Scholarship for 4th year University Students with support from Professor Mahen Mahendran and his team at the Queensland University of Technology. The successful scholarship winner...

Engaged with the Victorian Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action (DEECA) to gain better visibility of government-funded renewable energy projects and gain an understanding of the Victorian Energy Policy and Investment Overview. Participated in a Steel Industry Forum organised by the Office of the Local Jobs First Commissioner on the Suburban Rail Loop (SRL) Project which highlighted 92% local content requirements and identified steel tonnage requirements for the initial SRL East Main Works package. After disappointingly discovering that 11,000 tonnes of fabricated steel bridge girders were being sourced from overseas by the main contractor Laing O’Rourke for the Bullen flyover, persistently raised concerns initially from April 2024 to September 2024, and then at a steel industry forum on the project hosted by Laing O’Rourke in October 2024, and again in November 2024 at a Steel Industry Roundtable with the Victoria Government. Coordinated a steel industry roundtable with...

Compiled a list of local steel producers, fabricators, and manufacturers capable of supplying wind, solar, transmission, and pumped hydro componentry and infrastructure to use as a checklist when evaluating the tenders for energy supply projects under the NSW Renewable Energy Sector Board Plan. For details, see: https://www.steel.org.au/Membership/media/Australian-Steel-Institute/PDFs/NSW-Steel-Supply-Chain-Capability-Reference-List-160425.pdf.   Delivered the annual steel construction lecture to the civil engineering class at the Australian Defence Force Academy on 12 August, 2024. The lecture included additional special content on architecturally exposed structural steel and façade systems relating to this year’s student project, which is a brownfield redevelopment of the Officers Mess facilities. Presented to an inquiry into the procurement practices of government agencies in NSW and its impact on the social development of the people of NSW. Six of the eight members of the upper house...

Our members The ASI represents the whole of the Australian steel chain. Its members include founding and sustaining members that provide substantial financial support, and 7,000 members and 700 companies that: Manufacture raw steel or are engaged in Australia in steel product manufacturing or roll-forming steel finished products (manufacturers) Warehouse, process, sell and/or distribute steel products and are appointed distributors for one or more ASI manufacturer members (distributors) Fabricate steel structures, vessels, pipelines or any other form of steel fabrication (fabricators) Engage in architecture, structural engineering, steel detailing, quantity surveying and/or project management (professionals) Supply equipment, consumables and/or services to manufacturer, service centre or fabricator members (associates) To find out more about ASI members, go to https://www.steel.org.au/become-a-member/ Corporate partnerships AustralianSuper  AustralianSuper has renewed its corporate partnership...