Minutes of the Nelson Marlborough Branch Training Event
held on Wednesday 31st May 2017 at 3.00PM
At the ITM Steel Framing Plant, 5 York Street, Picton.
Attendance: Don Frame, Brett Whiteley, Graham Allum, Winton Grigg, Paul Guile
Site Visit: the ITM steel frame and truss plant in Picton
The group were welcomed by Manager Gary Knofflock who gave a power point presentation highlighting the advantages of steel versus timber framing.
The main advantage stressed are the weight savings, which translates into easier transport and handling, no issues of moisture content therefore no delays in construction, currently cheaper than timber framing on a typical housing company home, strength, long spans and straight lines.
Cost savings are particularly evident once larger members are required. For example, the cost difference between 90mm studs and 140mm studs is nominal. This is because the amount of steel in the larger members is not much more than in the smaller sizes. Likewise, larger lintels and joists are not much more expensive than the smaller ones.
Following the presentation, we toured the factory. There are two forming machines with a combined worth of over a million dollars. One forms 90mm members, the other forms 140mm members.
The raw material enters the machine at one end in the form of a continuous coil of flat steel, and the machine bends the steel into the familiar C profile, forms dimples and holes for the fixings, cuts any holes for services and produces a completed member within seconds.
The frames and trusses are assembled on a simple flatbed using battery powered screw drivers. The machines are capable of churning out the framing requirements for an average home each day.
The market share for steel framing in Marlborough (as in the rest of the country) is currently fairly small. Gary believes this is due to lack of knowledge of the product, and conservative attitudes of owners, designers and tradesmen.
The factory has been exporting container loads of frames overseas, and is currently involved in a Christchurch based cooperative venture with Portacom to supply modular classrooms to the Ministry of Education under the brand Interlink Modular. Two of these buildings have recently been relocated to Marlborough, one at Marlborough Girls College, the other at Spring Creek Primary School.
After leaving the ITM factory, we assembled at Spring Creek School to take a tour through the new Interlink Modular classrooms.
Unfortunately, the key provided did not fit the door, and we had to be content with an
external inspection and peering through the windows. The buildings are constructed to exceed the requirements of the highest wind and earthquake zones, so can be relocated to any part of the country. As a group, we were impressed with the concept and construction of the building.
To see the plans through the Marlborough District Council “Property Files Online” portal. https://www.marlborough.govt.nz/services/property-files-online
Search using building consent number – BC160958
Next Branch Meeting: 19th July, Nelson or Tasman
End of Meeting: 5.00pm
Paul Guile
Branch Secretary
