Galvanizing industry awards

Three of Australia's leading galvanizing contractors have been recognised in the annual Sorel Awards sponsored by Pasminco Metals.

Transfield Galvanizing - Queensland has won the Sorel Award for 2002 with Highly Commended acknowledgments made to GB Galvanizing of Bayswater Vic and Meneghello Galvanizing Service of Landsdale, WA.

Transfield Galvanizing was awarded the 2002 Sorel Award for Industry Achievement for its supply of over 15,500 tonnes of fabricated and substantially galvanized structural steel being provided to Bechtel Australia, the principal contractor for the Comalco Alumina Refinery (CAR) Project at Gladstone, Queensland.

The CAR project currently under construction and scheduled to open in late 2004 is the world's first greenfield alumina project in 20 years.

Transfield is responsible for the fabrication of over 12,000 tonnes of galvanised structural steel, including the assembling of over 10,000 tonnes of steel for the construction modules in Brisbane, ready for barging to Gladstone and the subsequent on-site erection.

Transfield established a seamless process inclusive of the steel fabrication, galvanising, consolidation, sea transport and site erection at Gladstone, based on its combined facility at Richlands in Brisbane.

GB Galvanizing was Highly Commended for its production of the protective galvanised coating for the complex geometric structural steel frame of the Carousel Building - an important new structure in the Geelong Waterfront redevelopment.

The structure is exposed to high wind loadings while the port area is surrounded by numerous industrial and marine influences where galvanized steel has already demonstrated a maintenance-free service life for periods up to 50 years.

The Carousel Building features a striking design with the steel structure combining cost-effectiveness with a functional and attractive building.

Meneghallo Galvanizing Service was also Highly Commended for its introduction of an innovative Occupational Health and Safety policy and Procedures policy subsequently recognised by Worksafe WA as the first galvanizing contractor in Australia to achieve a benchmark performance level.

The process involved substantial employee input to create a set of manuals and procedures which make up the OH&S Plan.

Worksafe WA commended Meneghallo in its achievements noting in particular, the achievement of an average lost time injury rate less than the industry rate.