News

United Steel is always looking to ensure its customers have access to relevant product information. The introduction of QR codes on labels for the “ductile plus” mesh range allows the placer to see clearly how to lap the mesh he or she is actually laying.

“We want our mesh to be laid with the minimum lapping configuration so the customer maximises m2 coverage” says Ryk Kleynhans the Auckland United Steel manager.

United Steel offers a ductile mesh range to the market that few competitors can match. The many size options ensures the most cost effective coverage can be achieved for any job. 

United Steel are using their mesh manufacturing expertise to manufacture gabion baskets in Auckland. The market now has a choice to buy from a local manufacturer with the added flexibility of custom made sizes for any job. 

United Steel is a leading New Zealand manufacturer of reinforcing mesh and nails, as well as a supplier of structural steel, reinforcing rod, steel plates and allied products.

Before 2012, United Steel operated as the sister companies Wireplus and Steelplus, earning the respect and trust of the New Zealand building, engineering and construction industries for our innovation, quality and service.

“Bringing Steelplus and Wireplus together under one banner creates synergies that improve service and cost efficiency. For customers, the merger into United Steel offers access to a wider range of quality steel building products under one roof than ever before,” says Mike Chambers, who took office as Sales and Marketing Manager for United Steel on 1 March 2012.

United Steel has manufacturing plants in Auckland and Christchurch, and additional distribution branches in Wellington, Hastings and New Plymouth.

United Steel is a member of the United Industries group of companies that has served New Zealand well for over 20 years. The privately owned group also serves the Pacific region.

If you wish to find out more about our product range and how it can suit your project, please contact your local United Steel branch.

Download this press release as a PDF. 

 Download the Ductile Mesh Brochure as a PDF. 

The new Ductile Plus 500E mesh from trusted Kiwi building supplier Wireplus does more than meet all the requirements of the Department of Building and Housing’s new standards that apply from February 2012. The new mesh features thicker wire for dramatically improved weld strength.

In developing the new seismically robust mesh sheets, Wireplus took the opportunity to move away from the dimensions of the traditional 665 mesh with its 5.5mm wire and 150mm spacing, opting for thicker wire and larger spacing.

“Using thicker wire creates some benefits in ease of handling and installation. However, for us the most compelling benefit was how using thicker wire increases the weld strength,” says Ryk Kleynhans, Manager of Wireplus Auckland.

“Welds with the 6.1mm wire are 22% stronger than that of 5.5mm wire, while the welds of 7.5mm wire is an amazing 100% stronger. What makes this so important is that the stronger the weld, the less likely the mesh weld will fail in a seismic event.”

With the thicker wire, Wireplus has been able to increase the spacings in the mesh, while maintaining the same weight. The larger openings make it easier for builders to step through the mesh sheet during construction and also means there are fewer wires to cut to make sheets fit. The larger openings also gives builders more flexibility with the placing of services such as waste pipes through the slab.

The steel used for Ductile Plus 500E mesh was developed in conjunction with Pacific Steel to be exceptionally ductile, delivering seismic performance that meets the new building standards in every instance. Throughout its development, Ductile Plus 500E was extensively tested, both in-house and by independent testing body’s SAI Global and SGS.

Ductile Plus 500E mesh is available in three variants

• SE62 Plus features wire of 6.1mm diameter and 200mm bar spacing, in sheets of approximately 5 x 2m.

• SE 73DE Plus features wire of 7.5mm diameter and 300mm bar spacing, in sheets of approximately 5 x 2.3m.

• SE 73LDE Plus is the same as the above, but comes in longer sheets – approximately 7 x 2.3m.

  The new mesh is a further evolution of the Ductile C200 mesh Wireplus had developed and made available to market in June, only three weeks after the Department of Building and Housing announced new interim standards relating to reinforcing steel within house slabs.

  “Even after the final standards come into effect on 1 February 2012, Wireplus C200 will remain an option to suit some design criteria,” says Alister Sladen, Technical Manager of Wireplus, based in Christchurch. “However, where it’s imperative to meet the new code, builders and specifiers will have to use the new Ductile Plus 500E from from that date.”

Wireplus has been supporting the New Zealand building, construction and engineering industry for 20 years, maintaining close relationships across the industry. This gives Wireplus a great understanding of what matters to people in the industry, and the technical experience to deliver to their requirements.

Wireplus continues to invest heavily in manufacturing capability and is currently implementing an upgrade to the mesh manufacturing equipment on its Auckland site. This will ensure manufacturing capability is relevant to the changing market place. Additionally investment continues in R&D and product testing including an onsite testing station. Wireplus is commited to expanding their range of ductile meshes for wider use in the near future.

For more information about Wireplus Ductile Plus 500E mesh, contact:

Ryk Kleynhans – Wireplus Auckland 09 2745535

ryk@wireplus.co.nz

Alister Sladen – Wireplus Christchurch 03 3489540

alister.s@steelwirereo.co.nz 

Wireplus Ltd Continues Proactive New Product Development to Ensure Customers can Meet the New Standards

Wire mesh that meets the Department of Building & Housing’s new Earthquake B1 Compliance standard is now available from Wireplus Ltd in both Christchurch & Auckland.

Effective 1st August 2011 the Department of Building and Housing has introduced changes to key Building Code documents dealing with Structure (Code clause B1).

The changes take effect on 1 August 2011, with a transition period through to 31 January 2012. During the transition period there will be two Acceptable Solutions or Verification Methods - the old document and the revised one. From 1 February 2012 only the new versions apply.

During the transition period non ductile mesh can continue to be used outside of Canterbury. Within Canterbury ductile mesh must be used.

Wireplus Ltd received official approval from the department for their Wireplus Ltd Ductile C200 Mesh during June 2011 – only three weeks after the interim standard for Canterbury was published. The new standard announced on 1 August applies to domestic buildings and is aimed at safeguarding people from injury, loss of amenities and loss of property due to structural failure. To achieve this, buildings, building elements and site work must have low probability of rupturing, becoming unstable or collapsing.

Wireplus Ltd Ductile C200 Mesh is significantly more flexible than earlier products. The mesh can withstand exceptional levels of stretching without breaking. This means the concrete slabs reinforced by this mesh are less likely to break, crumble or collapse under stresses such as those experienced during earthquakes. Additionally the size of the sheet is designed for ease of handling on a building site as Wireplus Ltd has tried to diminish the OH&S risks associated with heavy lifting on domestic building sites where labour is at a minimum.

“We developed the new product specifically to meet current needs in Canterbury,” says Matthew Sutherland, branch manager of Wireplus Ltd Christchurch. “As expected the mesh must now be used in any area of New Zealand from 1st February 2012.”

“The key thing with the new ductile mesh grades is they are significantly less likely to snap” says Sutherland. Wireplus Ltd had their new ductile mesh independently tested by SAI Global, and it meets or exceeds the requirements of the new building standard in all respects of the interim standard.

“For builders and home owners using Wireplus Ltd Ductile C200 Mesh, it means peace of mind that they comply with the latest building standards and the structure is able to withstand even the exceptional stresses associated with earthquakes.”

In order to be able to meet the new standards effective from 1st February 2011 Wireplus Ltd continues to run extensive in house trials on Grade 500E. “Our in house trials are progressing week by week and we are confident our technical expertise will enable us to meet the new standard by the 1st February 2012” says Ryk Kleynhans manager of Wireplus Ltd Auckland, the group’s largest manufacturing site. “Our customers can be assured mesh supplied from Wireplus Ltd will always meet the required NZ standards. Wireplus Ltd has a proven internal technical capability and has been manufacturing and supplying mesh to the New Zealand for over 20 years.”

For full details consult the Department’s Guidance on Reinforcement for Concrete slabs-on-ground which can be downloaded from www.dbh.govt.nz/earthquake-concrete-slabs-guidance

For more information about Wireplus Ductile C200 Mesh, contact:

Christchurch 03 348 9540 or sales@steelwirereo.co.nz

Auckland 09 274 5535 or sales@wireplus.co.nz

In a rare move, New Zealand authorities have placed a trade barrier on imports of Chinese wire nails following an investigation that found they were having a negative impact on a local manufacturer.

The Ministry of Economic Development (MED) began investigating the issue late last year after Wireplus, which has manufacturing operations in Auckland and Christchurch, complained about anti-competitive pricing of nails arriving from China.

Robin Hill, a chief adviser at the MED, said the department established that a "significant proportion" of the nails were being dumped - meaning they were being sold at prices lower than what they were selling for on the Chinese market.

The ruling and duties were announced in a notice signed by Commerce Minister Simon Power.

"[The duties] are designed to essentially increase the imported price of the nails up to a non-dumped level," said Hill.

But Richard Anyon, director of planning and strategy at Wireplus' parent company United Industries Group, said the duties could have been higher.

However, he said the action taken by the MED would at least show other local manufacturers that they could take action against underpriced imports.

"We don't have an issue with competing on a like-for-like basis, but we do have an issue with a non-level playing field," Anyon said.

"There is life left in New Zealand manufacturing as long as there is a level playing field."

He said the dumping of Chinese goods had resulted in a decline in Wireplus' nail sales, and the new duties would help ease the problem.

Hill said instances of anti-dumping duties being applied to imports in New Zealand were rare.

"There haven't been many cases in recent years," Hill said. "This is the first new investigation that we've done since 2007."

An investigation is currently taking place into preserved peaches from Spain.

Business Roundtable executive director Roger Kerr said the remaining import tariffs in New Zealand were "basically a nuisance".

"There's no protectionist sentiment to speak of left in the country ..." he said.

"We've got back into the mindset thinking that [duties] are a negotiating coin for free trade agreements but you don't need tariffs for those purposes - countries like Hong Kong and Singapore are into agreements and they've got no tariffs."

Kerr said the only way dumping could be harmful was if a foreign firm was able to drive a New Zealand company out of business and then raise prices through a monopoly.

Anti-dumping duties

* A Ministry of Economic Development investigation resulted in seven Chinese manufacturers of wire nails facing import duties in New Zealand ranging from 6pc to 110pc.

* The duties will expire in five years.

* Anti-dumping duties are already applied to a number of imports into this country, including diaries from Malaysia and China and canned peaches from South Africa and Greece.

By Christopher Adams | NZ Hearld