Butler brand boosts BlueScope

BlueScope Steel has announced the planned acquisition of Butler Manufacturing Company, a pre-engineered building systems operator in North America and China.

It has also put plans in place or begun major expansion in Vietnam, Thailand and China.

BlueScope Steel Managing Director and CEO Kirby Adams commented: "The continuing growth program, with announced plant expansion and construction projects in excess of A$550 million in Asia, Australia and New Zealand coupled with the approximately A$260 million acquisition of Butler Manufacturing Company, means BlueScope Steel is in growth mode.

Butler Manufacturing Company has strong technical capabilities and has the number one market positions in both the United States and China.

Pre-engineered buildings are designed and engineered using sophisticated computer software to meet each purchaser's individual requirement, with steel components, pre-fabricated and partially assembled off-site, then transported to site for erection.

The acquisition of Butler is consistent with BlueScope Steels' long-term growth strategy to increase the proportion of higher value-added steel products it makes and sells, and to become a solutions provider, particularly for the building and construction industry.