Great steel work starts with great people.
When you care about quality, you don’t cut corners — you certify them. And when you see potential in your crew, you back it.
Over the last couple weeks, we've been deep in both: weld test certifications on one side of the workshop, and the launch of Cooper’s Heavy Fabrication apprenticeship on the other. Two very different moments, but both tied to the same idea — doing the job properly, and building a team that takes pride in getting it right.
That’s why March was a big month behind the scenes. We brought in Paul from Weldtest New Zealand Limited for a day of welding certifications and upskilling in the workshop. At the same time, we celebrated a milestone for one of our own—Cooper officially beginning his Heavy Fabrication apprenticeship.
Welding to Code, With Confidence
Under the guidance of Bennet Gage-Brown, our team completed 3 Procedure Qualification Records (PQRs) that were tested to AS/NZS 1554.1:2014 SP. This means we now hold certified WPSs (Weld Procedure Specifications) for structural steel fabrication, and a welder on the books certified to AS/NZS ISO 9606-1:2017.
🛠️ 2x single bevel butt joints (welded both sides and single-sided with backing)
🛠️ 1x single layer fillet weld
It was a hands-on day of learning, certifying, and tightening up our technical capabilities. Big thanks to Paul for bringing his depth of knowledge (and down-to-earth delivery) to the workshop.
Back the Apprentice, Back the Future
Around the same time, Cooper marked a major step in his career journey—starting his apprenticeship with Competenz. He’s been working alongside us for nearly a year, showing up, learning the trade, and putting in the mahi. Now, he’s on the path to becoming a qualified fabricator, and we’ll be supporting him every step of the way.
“Supporting local talent, mentoring our future workforce, and growing capability from the ground up—that’s what it’s all about.”
With Craig leading on the floor and Cooper soaking up the experience, we’re proud of the culture we’re building here. It’s skilled. It’s collaborative. And it’s all about getting things done right.
