Everybody loves a bargain! However, we all hate to be stung by a ‘bargain’ that ends up costing us more, delivers less and creates intense trouble that can lead to litigation.
- Is imported cheap steel cost effective?
- Does it truly meet Australia’s standards of quality of material and manufacture?
- Are safety issues before, during and after construction adequately addressed?
Compliance Issues
Checking compliance of imported fabricated steel with regards to welding specifications is a risky business as it is almost impossible to determine authenticity and accuracy of overseas test certificates. There are numerous cases where ‘certified’ steel had to be partially or completely reworked. This impinges greatly on programming and quality of final work.
Cost Effectiveness
Being the cheapest does not necessarily mean that it is cost effective. Cost effectiveness means that you are getting what you paid for, on time, with the least amount of difficulty and for a reasonable sum. For structural steel to be cost effective, it must be compliant to Australian codes and standards in both material and manufacture. These standards ensure the end user is protected from inferior, cheap counterfeits. Importing cheap non-compliant structural steel is not cost effective because you do not really know whether you are getting what you paid for, you are at the whim of shipping vagaries and repairs or rework are always a costly exercise.
Beware of those companies that present themselves as local fabricators but offer unsustainable cheap pricing. In reality they offer a minimal fabrication here whilst importing the bulk of the fabricated steel. This process exposes you to the same risks associated with 100% imported product.
Conclusion
At idec we only procure locally, fabricate locally and ensure that our steel is fully compliant to Australian codes and standards. Purchasing your fabricated steel from idec assures you of a quality compliant product for your building.
