Rollforming Trade Show?

Is there going to be a Rollfoming & Roofing Trade Show?

This has been discussed before - but a Trade Show is being held in Melbourne from June 27-29 at the Melbourne & Exhibition Centre has only got one rollformner attending! Which one - find out below!

See the new page for Trade Shows, Expos and Events at Rollforming & Roofing Diary.

Here's a hint (hidden in the photo) before you go to the page:

Which is the only rollformer attending this Trade Show in Melbourne?

Roofing, MRCAA and NZ Versus Australia!

MRCAA - Metal Roofing & Cladding Association of Australia.

Fielders, Bluescope, Metroll, Stramit & Stratco are all members?

This association is a NSW based group of roofing contractors & suppliers that get fees, sponsorship and membership of businesses and to date seem to be mainly for the benefit of NSW Roofing Contractors - what does this Association do for the Australian Rollforming and Roofing Industry Group?

MRCAA LOGO

There have been some enquiries into this association with very little activity apart from the dedicated few on the organising committee, and there appears to be a Queensland branch of this association! Has anyone got some insight on the associations effectiveness? Also if this association is already set up - why don't more of our industry members join up and make it a powerful representative group for the industry?

The "Find a Roofer" section is not that flash! Try it in your area and see what happens! Search SA, Adelaide, Metal, New etc etc - result is ZERO! Are you happy with the result in your area?
And why haven't they got find a rollformer?

How much does it cost - the rollformers just have one link to their website - are you getting good value for money - ask for more coverage!

NZ beat AUS in Crude steel production!



Steel production Australia Vs. New Zealand. (http://www.steelguru.com/)



This is where you wonder how Australian manufacturing is going! NZ has an average increase of nearly 25% while Australia is down over 27% in crude steel production over the last year - this is not good for the total manufacturing industry in Australia! What has gone wrong?

We are not exactly the industrial work engine of Oceania anymore!

Roofing & Rollforming BLOGS?

Roofing & Rollformers go Blogging!

After numerous comments under one of the previous articles - Fielders have their own new BLOGSPOT called Fielders Steel and this is new for a rollformer - but it will take time to overtake The Rollformer Blogspot (ME)! What I want is for all the major and minor rollformers to be number 1 all the way to 100 - currently a search in Google yeilds 3.07 million results and this site is 1 through to 4 if you enter " rollforming blog australia" in the search field! Plus Fielders have published 2 articles in 4 days and if they continue will pick up a substantial market of HITS when people browse for roofing.

So here's a peak at Fielders Steell Blog Site:



Fielders New Blog Site - Click Here!

These Blog Sites are free! - no money outlay at all - you only need an email address and you can do this type of promotion! Spend money on TV and Print media - measure the results through your cost outlayed and see how you go? This site costs only time - and the rewards come in the thousands! This Blog - The Roofer gets approximately between 10 and 12 thousand hits per month (only small but effective)! ! 
Roofing Contractors have BLOGS on their own websites - but you're better off putting up a separate Blog Site to link back to your website.

Roofing Hints for Blogs:

1. Keep it simple and always use links back to your site.
2. Don't allow Adsense Ads if you are promoting your own business -fairly obvious why!
3. Make frequent posts or articles at the minimum weekly.
4. Make sure your headings are generic! (Don't use We have a new product!) Use "Roofing Product Released - NEW"
5. Promote your company and all products as much as you can with honesty!
6. Don't have RUMOURS in your title like mine!
7. Add humour - keep customers interested! (See example of change in the Fielders Blog below this!)
8. Cross reference competitors -why? Yellowpages do it, Websites do it, Newspapers do it, TV does it also! The more people choose one site to click on - you give them a choice of manufacturers and then it's up to them - just like Yellow pages - the more you cross reference (or add links to your page) the more hits you get! Be very independent - then you're on your lonesome! In effect you will create your own Web Based Yellow Pages for Rollforming and Roofing! FOR FREE!
9. Subscribe all your customers to your BLOG! (Obvious!)
10. Always use KEY words in titles and headings - see above (Roofing Hints for Blogs)!
11. And use links to your own site - eg ROOFING in item 10 above!

Who's next on the ROOFING & ROLLFORMING Blogging sites - and maybe, they are there already - send in the links please!

Here's a humour adjustment on the Fielders Steel Blogspot photo:-

The date stamp is wrong - it's actually the 24th May 2012 - and that's a lifting platform on the right, and Keith is in the middle - ton of steel being lifted there! Have you got gloves on Keith?

 Have fun - in all of these - people don't read specification sheets - they read info and news that entertains them! All the newspaper websites are starting to charge money - why pay them to charge the customer a fee to read about your product advertised on their website when the Rollforming and Roofing Blogs could have their own following for free - and bigger - look at the USA, China, Europe, India, New Zealand, Russia, Norfolk Island etc etc - ???????

BlueScope Constructions - is it true?

BlueScope Constructions Australia?

This report is from the Phantom Roofer Queensland.

The Courier Mail on Saturday 19th May 2012, ran this advert under Tenders:

BlueScope Constructions - email is DMCBuildingsTenders@bluescopesteel.com

 The only other reference for this tender that could be found is at Newsclassified. Now what is the Multi Million Dollar Transportation Depot @ Logan Link Industrial Park, Berrinba, Qld? This is from the Loganbiz Website called Development Activity Report:

Logan City Industrial Proposals & Completions

And this second paragragh on shed proposals in Logan City:

So the only new Transport complex is the Toll one for the NQX depot - a 43,663 square meter develpoment complex! Assuming this is the BlueScope Constructions project that they are calling in to register interest & Quotes from Sub Contractors & Suppliers - it brings up some very big questions:

1. Why haven't any other builders advertised this same project?
2. Would any other builder be able to compete against a manufacturer, rollformer & builder all in one?
3. Is this a conflict of interest?
4. How can other rollformers compete for material supply to this project?
5. Why haven't BlueScope Constructions advertised their BSA number?
6. Who is DMC Buildings Tenders? Part of BlueScope Corporate see below?
7. Is Toll or NQX a major carrier for BlueScope, Lysaght or Stoddart?

Here are some other facts relating to this project?
The submission of Tender requests require a BSA or QBSA number to be including in the advertisements by Construction or Building companies:

BSA licensed contractors requirement?

There is no BSA licenses recorded against BlueScope Constructions nor DMC Buildings?? WHY?

The email address is actually for BlueScope Steel Corporate - not BlueScope Steel Australia where the Design Manufacture Construct was listed as Emerging Businesses - but not defined as a Construction Company? See this  FY2011 from BlueScope in the PDF.
Here is a small segment of the units description:

This segment was not profitable as indicated in the FY2011 report!
Has anyone have more information on this emerging BlueScope Construction arm and will it cause BlueScope, Lysaght etc grief in future? How will it affect relationships with the big builders in Australia?

BlueScope and Government equals DANGER!

Govt's response to jobs crisis 'almost negligent'

These are the words by Liberal MP Joanna Gash who is using the latest economic modelling by the University of Wollongong and the Illawarra Regional Information Service.

Basically the report is in two parts as follows:

1. That BlueScope Steel's August job cuts would cost the region 2567 jobs, $208 million in household income and wipe $743 million off the value of the Illawarra economy.
2. The closure of the steelworks and shutdown of the Illawarra's steel-manufacturing industry would lead to more than 10,000 job losses and cost $860 million in household income, reducing the value of the regional economy by $2.41 billion. 

BlueScope Steel works - government support minimal!

The following articles and the comments that have been made, highlight the tension in this region as regard to their future! The articles are numerous - here are a few - Govt's Response to job crisis 'almost negligent', What if the unthinkable happens? and The Secret costs of BlueScope job cuts. All these articles are getting print time in the Illawarra - but very little in the MSM - yet Steel Guru, an international website steel industry media group has it listed today HERE! Yet the average person in Australia don't read about it!

One particular comment in the articles above from an Illawarra reader is a follows:

What about the rumour off them losing $1M/Day & paying the employees from the $90M carbon tax 1st installment. Thats already gone.

They are still exporting steel overseas at a huge loss because they have flooded the domestic market & cant sell it. What about the other rumour about them importing slabs & coils for trials.IT AINT NO RUMOUR!!! Just a coincidence that it makes the headlines prior to them making the BIG June annnouncment. STAY TUNED

Posted by rumourmonger, 15/05/2012 11:14:48 AM, on Illawarra Mercury

Pasted from <http://www.illawarramercury.com.au/news/local/news/general/what-if-unthinkable-happens-to-city/2555887.aspx?page=3>

The big June announcement is what?????

The main point above regarding the report on the economic impact in this region - is the fact that the $30 million Illawarra regional investment fund, jointly funded by Federal and State governments, along with BlueScope Steel, would do little to help the area get back on its feet. Yet BlueScope got an early payment of $90 million? BlueScope still want to dominate the coil steel market in Australia - even if it's imported - but is badged as MADE BY BLUESCOPE and not Made in Australia!

Along with the latest housing figures, ASX sharemarket falls, and general no confidence in the economy - the next 12 months plus are going to be difficult!

Fielders Goes Solar!

Fielders Goes Solar!

Fielders released this 6 hours ago- or near enough! Through Twiiter & YouTube!!!




Have a look at the video - will report on some of the clips shortly - looks like a Kalzip solarclad product but will confirm later.

Check out Kalzip PDF and Unisolar in the meantime! The images in the video are the same as those in Kalzip promo! Corus owns Kalzip who is owned by TATA - who is in bed with BlueScope??? But Corus is also in partnership with Uni-Solar who has an Australian distributor that mainly deal in retail but do sell the flexible Unisolar panels for roof sheets. Corus & TATA are also behind the Dyesol developments!

Whats going on with this? Probably a good move for Fielders!

The advert is also well done! ?

Julia Gillard to be booted out - by The Roofer!

Gillard to leave the Lodge by XMAS!

New Corro Roof!

This has become a serious political football - The Canberra Special Minister of State, Gary Gray, said the works will take about 18 months and cost millions of dollars and has appointed HBO+EMTB Architects the $781,000 design services contract to develop a plan to fix up the 84-year-old building.
The cost is to actually do the work is estimated in millions?????

YES! You are reading this correctly - $781,000 to develop a plan to fix the building! The DEAN Brothers in Queensland could have demolished it for under $25,000 and one of the housing companies could put up three nice little homes for $200,000 each - Total $625,000 and have one for the ALP, one for the LIBS and one for others! Leave Tim's shed there, add a camping ground for Peter and maybe a sleepover room for Craig?

The Lodge:

The Lodge Rear Main Entrance

The Pool Fence looks illegal?

Shocking Slate Roof!

This is the main area of interest - should this roof be slate - definitely not Australian and should be replaced with corrugated iron (in colour if they want) but not slate, tiles or anything else - BUT steel!

 

Here is the comparison if they replaced the slate with corro!



Now that's an improvement! And the right colour for Tony!



There's a poll on the right with various solutions for the LODGE!

I mean the Prime Minister of Great Britain lives in a flat at No 10 Downing Street & then only upstairs!

No 10 Downing Street - upstairs is the bedrooms!

If there is enough votes - we could get some Colorbond by BlueScope, rolled by one of the major (from a lottery), installed by a local roof fixer, and used to promote Australian Steel - easy - why didn't Peter Beattie think of this!

GET RID OF THE SLATE LOOK! Tacky!

Roofing News and Rollforming Comparison in Marketing

Roofer falls in vat of acid in USA.

Hard to believe but a roofer in the USA fell in a vat of nitric acid and one of his workmates jumped in to save him with the aid of others to pull them both out. Amazingly they both survived but with burns to all parts of the body. Lets just hope they both get through this! Another good ending to a story of bravery of the roofing industry!
See the video of the interview with a paramedic after the accident:

Check MSN video - 9RAW: Roofer falls into vat of acid

Roofing & Rollforming Marketing - Cool!

How do you get to millions of Australians every day when ever you want - be Kevin Rudd with over 1,098,418 followers on Twitter as of 7.48pm today! How does he do this? Just get on Twitter and TWEET to his hearts content. No wonder he's ahead of Julia on the polls with almost 1/24th of the Australian population following his every TWEET.

What about our rollformers in Australia and their ability to get around the Marketing of the current media cycle. Lets go through three of the most popular platforms used by the new smart buyers of Australia

facebook

Metroll - only seems to be local branches on this network eg: Metroll Facebook
Fielders - hard to find but on their website - and 47 likes? At Fielders Facebook
Lysaght - only under BlueScope Lysaght - 106 likes? At BlueScope Lysaght Facebook
Stramit - under building products - 3 likes? At Stramit Facebook
Stratco - good site with 1,275 likes? At Stratco Facebook
Revolution - hard to find but 84 likes? At Revolution Roofing Facebook
Steeline - Thanks to Steeline and 71 likes? Steeline Facebook
FrameCAD - Update - FaceBook FRAMECAD or FrameCAD Facebook Group
The Rest - can't be found easily - please supply details & they'll be added to Links Page!

Twitter

Metroll - couldn't find anything at all
Fielders - 14 followers, 40 following, 16 tweets!  Fielders Facebook Tweet Fielders
Lysaght - under BlueScope 301 followers, 3 following, 43 tweets! Tweet BlueScope
Stramit - couldn't find anything! at all!
Stratco - 45 followers, 7 following, 62 tweets! At Tweet Stratco
Steeline - under Steel Select! At Tweet Steeline
The rest - couldn't find on Google!

You Tube

Metroll - couldn't find anything at all
Fielders - 9 videos, 1,818 views, 2 subscribers! At  Fielders YouTube
Lysaght - only under other productions but nothing corporate!
Stramit - Update 9 videos, 2,323 views, 7 subscribers Stramit YouTube
Stratco - 31 videos, 53,194 views total, 25 subscribers! At Stratco YouTube
Revolution Roofing - 5 videos, 871 views, 2 subscribers! At Revolution YouTube
Steeline - many videos under different sources - over 1,000 views Steeline YouTube

OUTCOME?

Kevin Rudd has done more TWEETS than all the total Rollformers combined - only Stratco is way ahead in YouTube and the rest is better not even talked about. Let's get with the times and utilise these FREE platforms to gain market over the tile opposition! Think about TWEETS - suddenly all of your customers, sales staff, management and cash customers have a TWEET about a new product! If your company has an IT department - get them to monitor and engage in these great sites - The Roofer even signed up to TWITTER and have had 15 hits to the BLOG site from this alone.

The youth of today operate in this medium - change and adapt now to gain all the advantages. Kevin Rudd hasn't got a personnel Marketing man - just an IPhone!

DISCLAIMER - I don't adhere to the views or politics of Kevin Rudd - he is only an example of a TWITTER!

Overall Stratco takes the Marketing Badge of the week - No Prize this week - SORRY! The future is in this media of the Internet - not NBN, wireless, etc - the main aim is to hit as many customers as possible - not how fast you can reach them! Get with it!

Update - Thanks to ANON for pointing outthese platforms are the responsibilty of marketing!
Update - Thanks to Steeline for reminding me that I left them out! Here is the Steeline website
Update - Thanks to Irving Washington for updating the Stramit YouTube videos.
Update - Thanks to Peter of FrameCAD for FrameCAD Facebook update!

See comments regarding updates below:

Fielders & BlueScope News.

Fielders & BlueScope are in the News Again!

Fielders Queenslands Loss Leader??

What is happening in Queensland! It's seems like Craig Thompson and Peter Slipper have both Credit Cards or Cabcharges at Fielders Northgate - with the reports on the grapevine of nearly $1 million stock loss!!! Maybe the CyberPolice Squad should check the local Auction Houses??? The Auctions have been quite busy in steel roofing, purlins, framing and flashings! This amount is getting close to nearly 5% of the Queensland turnover at current sales! Not a good look! Maybe Hills should send up their forensic accountants! Just Google (add relevant steel product) Auctions Brisbane! The QLD branch's need sorting and quick! (Info sourced - QLD Roofer SMS) - Thanks!

One Auction Yard in Brisbane! Lots of stock! A few houses!

BlueScope - Sell, Sell, Sell????

Well aren't BlueScope on a mission to sell assets in their business mix! Seems it's either Australia or the USA - but Asia is getting all the money (in partnerships or expansion) - why!
Here's the latest extract for Bluescope some hours ago:

BlueScope sells its Metl-Span Insulated Metal Panels Business

- 03 May 2012

BlueScope announced the sale of Metl-Span, its North American steel insulated panels business, to NCI Group Inc, a NYSE listed company majority owned by private equity firm Clayton, Dubilier & Rice LLC for USDS 145 million.

The estimated net proceeds of the sale, USD 117 million after purchase price adjustments, tax and fees, is expected to be received during the fourth quarter of FY2012 subject to receipt of necessary regulatory approvals and finalisation of debt financing by NCI. The estimated net profit after tax on the sale is USD 9 million, before recognition of unrealised foreign exchange losses of AUD 20 million, and will be included in the FY2012 accounts, based on the expectation the transaction is completed before FY2012 year end.

On announcing the Metl-Span transaction, BlueScope Steel's Managing Director and CEO, Mr Mr Paul O'Malley said, "The sale price realises the value created in this business and generates a good financial return for BlueScope Steel. As outlined in February 2012 at the Company's half year results, we have been actively seeking potential asset sales that could realise around $100-150 million. The divestment of Metl-Span achieves this target and the net proceeds will be used to pay down debt. Under the terms of the arrangement, BlueScope's North American subsidiary, Steelscape, will continue to supply product to Metl-Span and Metl-Span will continue to supply product to BlueScope Buildings North America.

He added "I personally commend the employees and management at Metl-Span for building and running a successful business over many years. Their work has underpinned the significant value of this asset.”

Vinson & Elkins LLP acted as legal advisor and J.P. Morgan Securities LLC acted as financial advisor to BlueScope Steel.

The biggest highlight is that they are willing to take a AUD$20 million loss on the exchange rate - highlighted above.

Investigate Metl-Span here! Basically a sandwich or Insulated Panel Manufacturer!

It's not going to get better with this sort of stuff going on!

Also new profile coming out in August 2012 from NSW!!

Roofing, Rollforming and Shareholders!

Roofing Brothels & Cabfares!

News in the political week - has been all about misuse of money either in cabs or brothels!
1. Craig Thompson in regard to brothels!

Craig & Elite Services - I didn't do it!

2. Peter Slipper in regard to Cabfares!

I dream of Cabs in the morning!

3. Now this becomes interesting - pollies seem to manage to evade conviction and the sack when this happens in their world - only having to pay small portions of the money stolen from either Taxpayers or Union members as the two alleged cases above infer. But when listed ASX companies have this problem - very different outcomes occur. The major one is the employee or manager involved normally resigns and all publicity is restricted. Shareholders are happy - because they don't know. The accounts are still put through and expenses claimed. Well this is about to change for one rollforming company - as the ATO and AFP are looking to investigate claiming of expenses obviously not in the interest of shareholders. When many thousands of dollars are spend in brothels and cabfares running managers and staff around in all hours of the morning - this has to be declared or the money reclaimed from the employee that incurred the expense! Simple - the shareholder should not pay for mismanagement of any staff that can obtain brothel or non business cabcharges paid by the company! Management should pay out of their own pocket as they are aware of this and the money returned to the company. Should be an interesting few months in the lead up to End of Financial Year? CHECK the expenses claimed!

Rolling the Sheets - Management style!

The industry involved should concentrate on corrugated sheets - NOT silk sheets!!!!! Although the company involved - resolved the issue quickly and the staff involved all resigned - the money has been provided by shareholders!

News of Rollforming Trade Shows!

Has Australia had any large rollforming Trade Shows ever! NO!

Link to one site with world list of Trade shows for the rollforming industry until end of year!
May 2-4, 2012 - Fabtech Mexico 2012
May 2-6, 2012 - TurkeyBuild
May 7-10, 2012 - AISTech
May 11-12, 2012 - International Garage Door Exposition
May 25-27, 2012 - Roof India
October 9-11, 2012 - Metalcon International
October 23-27, 2012 - EuroBlech 2012 Stand
November 12-14, 2012 - Fabtech International
November 13-16, 2012 - Metal-Expo 2012

And none in Australia - even in the months from January this year! Where's our MAN of STEEL!
Not only would a large Trade Show here bring much needed tourist dollars - the majority of demand for rollformed products world wide is in the Asia Pacific Region!

And don't forget to vote on the poll regarding the future of rollforming in Australia on the right!

Roofing, Spring Water & Blast Furnaces!

Peter Lavin saves Cooroy Mountain Spring Water!

The Fielders business in Queensland is a result of Hills Industries buying Mr. Peter Lavin's business BSM over 5 years ago for what Mr. Lavin describes as "an offer he couldn't refuse" and has been based on the Sunshine Coast for 30 years or so. The purchase of Cooroy Mountain Spring Water has saved the company from the clutches of Coca Cola who may have just shut the local plant that employs around 60 people. One of the articles in the Sunshine Coast Daily is here "Everyone wins in bottler of a deal"!

So from now on - every time you drink Cooroy Mountain Spring Water - you are essentially drinking a Hills (Fielders) portion of the sale - it's also a pure spring at Cooroy - not just bottled tap stuff.
Here's Peter enjoying his purchase:

Cooroy businessman Peter Lavin (left) with Caitlin and Remi bails out Cooroy Mountain Spring Water.

The Queensland Phantom Roofer also states that Peter IS a legend from Brothers Rugby Union and some of his own team mates were happy they were on his side - fairly well versed in the finer points of dispute is the WORD!

Well done from the Roofer!
Do we call you the WATER BOY now?

Steel making - it's more than just a blast furnace!

This video is very informative in the process of steel (or iron making) and there is so much energy required to get to the end product of roofing. This is only the first stage and there will be follow ups on the coil steel manufacture required for rollforming into roofing. Apologies for those in the industry that know all this info - but many don't! It just might give understanding to BlueScope massive job lose, when it shut the Blast Furnace at Port Kembla! And where will Australian steel come from - well it's fairly obvious that China and Asia will produce most of Australia's steel in the future when you consider the cost of coal, iron, Minerals Resource's Tax and the CO2 Tax! How much can Australian manufacturing take in the money drain of TAXES today?

Here's a new 1,260 cubic meter blast furnace by Xilin Steel in China that has already been built, but is now being commissioned and ready for production. Why isn't manufacturing being promoted here - TAXES?

New Xilin Steel Blast Furnace!

The output of this giant is approximately 1.02 million tonnes per year. China and Asia are starting to lead the world in steel production technology - Australia is just a customer at the counter with the rest of the world!

Rollforming, Roofing & Rugby League News

The news for the last week!

1. The MV Iron Monarch leaves Australia
There seems some problems here - not with the sale of the Iron Monarch - but in BlueScopes announcement concerning it. Here's the MV Iron Monarch below

Iron Monarch on the way to Singapore!

Problem 1 is the report is stating that the MV Iron Monarch sold for around $5 million??? Yet $17 million was spent last year on a refit? Good for the books! Talk about a huge loss or lets get out of Australia!

Problem 2 is the company (BlueScope) decided to transport hot-rolled coil to the Victorian facility by rail, rather than a "prohibitively costly refit" of the ship. Refit - good grief - they just had one! And the rail shipments - where are they - and yet another ship is operating from Port Kembla to Western Port?
See the previous article on BlueScope Not Using The Train! What is this ship doing at the Port Kembla wharf if everything is going by rail Mr. O'Malley?



MV Kaiti Hill

 2. Big Pipe project supply goes to!!!!!
JFE Steel Corporation, in cooperation with Marubeni Itochu Steel Inc, is awarded an order for approximately 150,000 tonnes of DNV grade 450 UOE line pipe for the Chevron operated Wheatstone Project in Western Australia. Where are JFE from - Australia - NO! Good on you ICN Gateway - looks like another manufacturing sector gone in this one for Chevron! What gets me is that some of the pipe is already here and shipping started in January 2012!!! Whats going on - manufacturing of any kind or downstream processing is too expensive! Thanks Mr. Combet!

3. Win Stadium ready for Rugby League!
Work at WIN Stadium is expected to be finished by June 8, in time for the St George Illawarra Dragons game against the Bulldogs on the weekend of June 15-18.

4. More Stadium troubles in Illawarra!
As WIN Stadium’s rebuilt western grandstand roof takes shape, ongoing leaks at another leading Illawarra sports venue have users crying foul. Recent heavy rains have forced Shellharbour City Council to cancel indoor sporting events at Shellharbour City Stadium due to the risk to players.
Illawarra Vikings Futsal night manager Gina Jones said games had been cancelled over several weeks in February because of water on the courts. She said the problems dated back to when the multimillion-dollar complex opened in 2000, although the council said the leaks were first noticed in 2005.
‘‘It’s a beautiful stadium, but its reputation is really going down the gurgler because they haven’t fixed the roof and everybody knows,’’ Ms Jones said. The Croome Rd facility at Albion Park is also home to wheelchair basketball champions the Wollongong Roller Hawks. Veteran player Eino Okkonen said at times the leaking roof had caused the club’s junior development program to be cancelled.
‘‘It caters for all our needs and we couldn’t ask for a better facility, except for the leaking roof,’’ he said. Others have vented their frustration online, forming a Facebook group calling for the roof to be fixed. The council last year began legal action against the designer and project manager, and has also hired a firm to trial water-proofing treatments above one of the stadium’s three courts.
Tenders have been called for detailed design services to fix the roof. The council’s manager of assets and projects, Graham Standen, said the trial temporary repair would take place in the next two months and was expected to cost about $13,000. If successful, it would be extended across the roof.
The temporary fix involved a sealant membrane over the joints between the roof sheets.
‘‘We are progressing with a design for a more permanent solution at this point in time, so we’re not sitting back waiting for the court case to end,’’ Mr Standen said. He said the leaks were sporadic and involved water dripping onto the polished wooden floor, and that the problem had become worse in recent years. The council had taken action against architects Collard Clarke Jackson and construction management firm Manteena, he said. Both firms declined to comment yesterday due to the legal proceedings. The matter is listed for directions in the NSW Supreme Court on May 18.

Shellharbour Leaking Roof - Just Fix it!

 
The above was taken from the article in The Illawarra Mercury by CHRIS PAVER
 
 

Steel Industry in bed with Unions and the ALP!

BlueScope, Unions and Government all together!

What a union of back patters! We need big manufacturing businesses, government and unions - but not as it is displayed below.
The PHANTOM ROOFER from Queensland has filed this report on the state of steel manufacturing in Australia today.

First read this article in the AFR Small fry riled by steel "favourites" as reported in The Australian Financial Review. Here is the photo of the three main players in this report:


Industry meets government . . . from left: Ian Thomas and Paul Howes, with Wayne Swan Photo: Jesse Marlow

 From here on it is The Phantom Roofer Queensland!

To start with - industry (one only a Mr. Ian Thomas) meets a Union leader (Mr. Paul Howes) and a Government member (Mr. Wayne Swan)! 1:2 already, so lets sort out this member list of Members of Prime Minister's Taskforce on Manufacturing which includes the following:

Government

• The Hon Julia Gillard MP, Prime Minister (Chair)
• The Hon Greg Combet AM MP, Minister for Industry and Innovation; Minister for Climate Change and Energy Efficiency
• Senator the Hon Kim Carr, Minister for Manufacturing; Minister for Defence Materiel (Deputy Chair)
• The Hon Wayne Swan MP, Deputy Prime Minister; Treasurer
• Senator the Hon Chris Evans, Minister for Tertiary Education, Skills, Science and Research
• Senator the Hon Penny Wong, Minister for Finance and Deregulation
• The Hon Craig Emerson, Minister for Trade

Industry

• Mr Philip Binns, Vice President and General Manager, Agilent Technologies
• Mr Geoff Plummer, CEO, OneSteel
• Mr Ian Thomas, President, Boeing
• Ms Heather Ridout, CEO, AiGroup
• Mr Mike Devereux, Chairman and Managing Director, Holden
• Mr Chris Jenkins, MD, Thales
• Mr Phil Butler, MD, Textor Technologies
• Ms Rebecca Dee Bradbury, President and CEO, Kraft 

Unions

• Mr Jeff Lawrence, National Secretary, ACTU
• Mr Paul Howes, National Secretary, AWU
• Mr David Oliver, National Secretary, AMWU
• Mr Michael O’Connor, National Secretary, CFMEU
• Mr Charlie Donnelly, National Secretary, NUW
• Ms Michele O’Neil, National Secretary, TCFUA

Science and Technology

• Professor Roy Green, Professor and Dean of the Faculty of Business, University of Technology Sydney
• Dr Megan Clark, Chief Executive, CSIRO
• Professor Jonathan West, AIRC, University of Tasmania

Working groups

Two working groups support the Prime Minister's Taskforce on Manufacturing - a Deputy Secretaries Working Group and a technical working group.  The Deputy Secretaries Working Group steers and co-ordinates the input from government. It is chaired by the Department of Industry, Innovation, Science, Research and Tertiary Education and includes:

• the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet
• the Department of Treasury
• the Department of Finance and Deregulation
• the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations
• the Department of Climate Change and Energy Efficiency
• the Department of Regional Australia, Regional Development and Local Government
• the Department of Defence
• Austrade
• the Attorney-General's Department 
• the Department of Resources, Energy and Tourism.

Additionally, a technical working group supports the taskforce.  This working group is comprised of stakeholders who consider out of session research and other papers.

Secretariat support 

A secretariat, located within the Department of Industry, Innovation, Science, Research and Tertiary Education supports the taskforce. It includes seconded officers from other Australian Government departments.

Stratco goes Solar, BlueScope not training!

1. Stratco introduce Solatop Roofing!

Stratco have released this video of Solatop roofing - here shown as a re-roof! Wonder if this development may too late to take advantage of the boom in solar unit installation. Rebates are still high for feed in tariffs - but is the market already saturated?





2. BlueScope not using the train!

BlueScope stated the Iron Monarch was up for sale as it is more economical to use rail transport! But there is something amiss as this ship using the name of Kaiti Hill IMO 9286944 shown here is being utilised by BlueScope. It is currently moored at Port Kembla or Western Port.


Ship under use by BlueScope!

Also this report in MARCH 2012 ON WATCH by marine engineers has this loading list and they have a list of 14 single voyage permits since October 2011 and all happen to be coil!!! The Hong Kong ship is apparently manned by crew from the Channel Islands?

Why wouldn't they just come out and state this - seems all very secretive!

Rollforming Industry Capability Network

Roofing and the ICN Website

This is the website that government has set up to aid industry and manufacturing gain supply preference for projects in Australia - it is called Industry Capability Network. There's newsletters and project lists, suppliers and a page called the Gateway. This gateway is set out as per below and specifically for Steel and its associated industry and manufacturers.

Search page at the ICN Gateway

Now this is a useful tool if all project companies and suppliers utilise it. I searched in Queensland looking for a supplier of purlins - just as a test - this is the result:

Search for steel purlin supplier in Queensland.

There is only one of the top 5 rollformers here which is Stratco, and only a total of seven listed. Its not a good result, if this is all a project company can locate for purlins in Queensland no wonder they search overseas. It is also amazing that BlueScope Distribution ends up on any search under steel?

This is where the companies (most are listed) have to go back into their supplier settings in the YOUR COMPANY area above and cover all products available so companies searching can locate your company and hence gain a chance to tender and specify for upcoming projects.

In the News section of the ICN website - the following is revealed:

The appointment of the Hon Peter Beattie as the Resources Sector Supplier Envoy to maximise Australian participation in the resources sector. Mr Beattie will visit Perth in November to hold industry consultations and facilitate the inaugural Resources Sector Supplier Advisory Forum meeting.

So now is the time to contact Mr. Peter Beattie and make sure he earns his $1,000 a day plus the money he pulls in from this position. The contact details can be obtained through this page on the ICN Website or phone 1300 961 139.

Also update your company details and insist on a new category for rollforming!  

Also below is the results for a rollforming Lobby Group to be formed - somewhat disappointing number of votes - but consideration of some form of this lobby group should be discussed as the industry needs help in securing Australian projects.

Rollformer Lobby Group Poll results

Australian Rollforming & Associated Industry Lobby Group - coming soon to Australia!

• Joining fee - FREE
• Open to all of the above industry members
• Trial 12 month period

Volunteers needed?

Building Industry Down!

Rollforming also down!

The latest February 2012 figures for residential approvals are down again in February by 7.8% over the previous month. Year to date 2012 - residential building approvals down by 15.2%.



Monthly Building Approvals Australia.

 Amazingly state detail suggests there may be some problems in NSW by slumping 40% in February after a 36% surge in January, conversely Queensland surged 13% for the February after falling 20% in January. But overall the downturn is a fall of 7.8% in February 2012!
Rollformers would also have to be hit with this residential downturn, as the resource industry construction hasn't be big enough to fill the decrease! From this ARTICLE in The Australian today:

Manufacturing has lost 100,000 jobs since 2008, and bright spots among manufacturers linked to the resource sector are not offsetting them," said Innes Willox, chief executive of Australian Industry Group, which conducted one of the surveys. 

The Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry quarterly survey indicates "Australian businesses feel their profitability and sales are at their weakest levels since 1998, when the survey began".
What of all the industries associated with the metal rollforming? They are all suffering and looking forward to another 8 to 10 months before any light at the end of the tunnel.

NEWS FOR THE WEEK

1. Is this the new look of BlueScope in the Australian future. Click on BlueScope!
2. Fielders Career Website - WHAT IS A GARDUATE????? Get in quick for a look - as will be corrected by tomorrow - screen clip below! Spelling is obviously not a priority for this position!
3. UPDATE: Spelling all corrected on website - Very rare for graduate (tertiary) to be seeked by manufacturers in rollforming - well done - need more talent in this field! 



GARDUATE - What's a Garduate???

4. Hopefully some fine weather ahead for NSW, VIC and QLD so builders can at least get to roof stage over next three months!
5. Please vote in the POLL on the right - to express your feelings on the future of rollforming in Australia!

Rollformers on the move!

USA Rollforming Industry looking at Australia!

There are two brand new American made mobile gutter machines in Australia - one in Sydney and the other in North Queensland. These are trailer units running continuous gutter (with non BlueScope feed) and the price of supply and install has been very competitive! The North Queensland one is now operating in Townsville and been extremely busy.

There are numerous suppliers of these trailer gutter rollformers and they have been here in Australia before and also still operate in New Zealand. The interesting thing about these is the operators (all have at least two Americans) that have been surveying customers on their thoughts of the system - and one includes a leaf guard gutter rollformed all in one.

Of all the rollform manufacturers that have this, can supply coil, and are very big in the USA is in the following promotional video: Any other suggestions welcome!




Is the company looking at entering  the Australian market called ENGLERT? Maybe some of the USA readers could help out here, how big are they etc?

The reason for this is the number of hits this site has had in the last 24 hour period, and the high ratio of  USA viewers as per below:

Hits to The Roofer

The figures are around 400 in total and nearly 1/3 has come from the USA. Has anyone seen or got a photo of one of these mobile gutter machines?

The mobile gutter machine trade in America is quite large - and very competitive!

Stratco Shuts Auckland Shed Section!

Stratco shuts Auckland manufacturing section.

Full details here: Stratco Shuts
News is out already - thanks for the tip Southern Roofing Phantom!

Auckland Toy Shed Shuts

Any news about Metroll in Melbourne?????

Will your roofing screw washer – survive 20 years?

How to fix a leaking roof

Action Fasteners have been around for a while - but they have just started to delve in the world of IT with their first BLOG - and the result of this from the 13th March 2012 - just 5 days ago - they are now on The Roofers Blog also. Go to their site and have a look - the start of bigger things!

The Storm-Tite video was released in 2009 on You Tube and has had 411 views - this is an Australian company with the main man Gary Hollis still promoting his product - the Storm-Tite roof screw. There is nothing worse than having to order 1,000 Roof Zips plus 1,000 Cyclone Washers for a project in one colour (because they come separate) then you find in the delivered stock that the washers are Dune instead of Surf Mist - a big problem - as they get painted to order! The biggest advantage with these are fully assembled (less contractor time) and a reduction of stock holding when considering the economically side.

Here's the video for not those 411 people in Australia that haven't seen it! Sign into YouTube Site and have a look at the 19 videos that Action have uploaded.



What I do like about this is the that the Storm-Tite exceeds AS/NZS 1170-2 rating for cyclones/hurricanes as classified by Australian Standards. Wouldn't it be good for suppliers and customers to know that all these regions are covered by one fastener?

Here's a picture of the Storm-Tite screw:

Storm-Tite Screw by Action Fasteners

Good to see an Australian designer supplying these locally and overseas.

This is the Buildex Website so you can compare screws! And also the Cyclone Assembly picture:

Buildex Cyclone Assembly

What are roofing contractors thoughts on this - it would be a lot easier to have one screw type in the different colours for all roofing profiles and cyclone areas - and for distributors it would result in less stock holding.

Roofing CO2 Tax again!

Carbon Tax Advert by CSIRO!

The roofing industry may be affected by the following news and publications this week.

The first is the news that Clive Palmer is going to take the Government to court on the Carbon Tax. See this video from the ABC:  Video: Clive Palmer on the carbon and mining taxes (7.30)

A Swan in the Palmer is worth ???

This will be an interesting development that may even stop this tax.

The second is the release of "The State of The Climate 2012" by the CSIRO that has just been published. All the details on everything is here at the CSIRO Climate Site.

Climate - here's the Glossy Brochure!

The report itself is large but basically backs up the Government arguement that the CO2 Tax is neccessary to stop rising temperatures, rising sea levels, rising floods, more intense cyclones, drier droughts, etc etc - all caused by us dirty polluters of plant food, and using it to justify their great big save the world TAX.
CSIRO uses data from the BOM (Bureau of Meteorology) weather stations around Australia.

The third is the attack on BOM from external independant scientists that have described their data as not even complying to their own standards. The sites are many and heres two:

Australian temperature records shoddy, inaccurate, unreliable. Surprise!

“Near Enough For a Sheep Station”

As always stated - how can they know what the climate will be like in 100 years - when they muck up tomorrow!

Here's a clip of the BOM weather station at Eneabba?

It's right in the middle! Looks like a bee hive?

And to finish off - what is going on at HILLS - had a good few months on the ASX and now down to $1.09 - maybe failure to offload Fielders & Orrcon?