ISO9001 QUESTIONNAIRE

As part of our quality assurance programme we survey our customers every year to find out how we are performing. Megasteel has been doing this for many years and the feedback we get has helped to drive many improvements in the business and we are very grateful to all of our customers who take part. 

We received many responses and overall the feedback was very encouraging, but we recognise that we still have areas that we can improve on. 

Megasteel has been working on improving our packaging over the past few years (based on previous feedback) and we know that customers prefer the way we now pack our coils compared to how we used to do it, but it is still an area that needs to be improved. We are listening and working on this! 

We would like to thank everyone who responded to the survey and we would like to share some of the comments that we received. 

HOW WE DEAL WITH CUSTOMER CONCERNS      

• A coil of strand had become unstable, the owner of Megasteel drove up and helped us get it into the dispenser and showed us how to pull the strand so we would not have any problems.     
  

• We had some problems with using the wire. Spoke to Nigel – got it sorted in minutes! 
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• Megasteel always deliver the right product, on time, in full and always at a competitive price.
  

• Everything! From the admin side, to support functions and delivery – I cannot fault Megasteel in any way. Wish all our suppliers were like you.
  

• All round service is excellent.
  

• Service as always been excellent. Price is always competitive from Megasteel.
  

• They are always my preferred supplier for strand and wire, mainly due to excellent service and rates.
  

• Being based in the UK, Megasteel are very accessible and always give us a very efficient service whether it is simply a quote request, delivery of their product (even at short notice) and giving technical advice and support when needed.
  

• I have been buying from Megasteel for many years. I could not be happier with the quality of their product and the service they supply.  
  

• We only deal with the best!
  

Welcome to our New Apprentice

We’d like to take this opportunity to welcome Ben Wilcox to Sweetnam & Bradley Limited as our new Apprentice. Ben has had previous welding experience at a local company and is looking to build upon his skills for the future. It is so important for us to invest in the next generation of skilled sheet metal workers and we will be working alongside Wiltshire College and Avon Vale Training to ensure Ben gets the best possible practical and academic training possible.

ISO9001:2015and ISO140001:2015 Audit

We have completed our annual QAS audits and we are happy to say that, once again, we have passed with flying colours.

The standards provide guidance and tools for companies and organisations that want to ensure that their products and services consistently meet customer’s requirements, and that quality is consistently improved. Using ISO9001:2015 helps ensure that customers get consistent, good quality products and services. ISO 14001:2015 sets the standard for Environmental Management Systems and we aim to demonstrate our commitment to protecting the environment, as well as building trust with customers.

We would like to thank David Anger, from IMSM, (https://www.imsm.com/gb/) and also to all of our customers, who took the time to give us such positive feedback. The new certificates are now on our website. Please click this link to see the Certificates

Donna - Chosen Charities

Following on from Bella’s chosen charity, Donna has decided to nominate two charities.

These are:

1.   DLB – THE LEWY BODY SOCIETY
2.   DOORWAY 

Donna has chosen The Lewy Body Society, as her mother passed away in 2014 after being diagnosed with Dementia with Lewy Bodies and, as so little is known about this disease, she wanted to help those suffering with the same condition and to fund research. Donna also wanted to choose a local charity and her second charity, Doorway, is a charity for the homeless based in Chippenham,Wiltshire.

Dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB), also known as Lewy Body Disease, is the second most frequent cause of age-related neuro-degenerative dementia. At least 5 percent of people aged 85 and older are thought to live with this little known but not uncommon and devastating disease. In the UK approximately 100,000 are thought to have DLB. Established in June 2006, The Lewy Body Society was the first organisation in Europe to be dedicated exclusively to Lewy body dementia. The Society’s mission is to sponsor research into LBD and to raise awareness and educate the general public, the medical and caring professions and people in decision-making positions about all aspects of the disease.

Moving on from Homelessness in North Wiltshire

Doorway is a charity drop-in centre for those who are homeless, sofa surfing or who have complex issues that might affect their ability to acquire and / or sustain a tenancy.

They believe that homeless and marginalised adults are capable of change and will only achieve their full potential when offered a safe, supportive, empowering and non-judgemental environment which will help reverse the downward spiral of homelessness.

As well as providing guests with everyday basics like freshly cooked food and laundry and shower facilities, the charity also offers a range of activities such as:·       

• music
• creative writing
• art workshops
• indoor football
• IT training
• women's group

These activities aim to build self-esteem and teach new skills as a first step to moving into work and sustaining a tenancy.  

‍If you would like to find out more about these worthy charities,or donate yourself, then please follow the links provided below: 

‍https://www.lewybody.org/ 
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‍http://www.doorwayproject.org.uk/ 
 

 THE BUTALE PROJECT IN UGANDA

The Butale Project is working in a rural area of Uganda, just outside of Masaka, which lies west of Lake Victoria.

Their aims are: to build schools, provide clean water and fund feeding programmes for the children attending school, as well as providing educational resources.

In addition, they take out teams, teachers and builders to help with the project as well as shoes, clothing, sports equipment and anything else they feel may help the schoolchildren and staff. 

Bella has chosen this charity as it was her good friends who started it 9 years ago. She visited Uganda this April to see first hand the fantastic work this charity has achieved. They now school and feed 250 children as well as help with the local community. During her visit, it was wonderful to see her donation being used to help with the older children who may not go on to university, instead helping them with vocational skills. Bella met a few boys learning mechanical skills, a boy learning to weld and a young girl hairdressing. These life skills will set them up for the future, helping them to secure good jobs to support their families.  Whilst there, the group also hosted a very successful women’s day that 800 ladies from the community attended!

The children were all truly delightful and enjoyed having new shoes fitted and new dresses and sweatshirts. It makes us realise how much we take for granted and Bella found it to be an extremely rewarding experience! If you would like to find out more, or donate to this worthwhile charity, then please go to: https://www.totalgiving.co.uk/charity/butale-project and http://thebutaleproject.wix.com/butale-project  

MEGASTEEL ACQUIRES SWEETNAM AND BRADLEY

Megasteel Ltd, the UK's largest prestressing steel stockholder and distributor, has bought Malmesbury-based sheet metal manufacturer Sweetnam & Bradley Ltd.  

Sweetnam & Bradley produces, assembles and finishes sheet metal. Founded in 1958, they have a long and prestigious history in the sub-contract sheet metalwork field. They pride themselves in their ability to offer a complete 'one-stop shop' for metal components and assemblies and are sheet metal work specialists.  

Nigel Roberts, of Megasteel, said “We have bought Sweetnam and Bradley because it’s a great company with great people working in it. I want to keep it that way and to grow the business in the future. Nigel Johnson and Christian Olejnik are not going anywhere - they have built a brilliant business that they love and are proud of.  They will remain in their current roles in the company and I am really excited about the potential. I do believe that there is a ‘little bit of magic’ and a lot of that has to do with the people who work for Sweetnam and Bradley.”  

The acquisition marks a step into production for Megasteel and it will be an exciting phase in the history of our company. 

For more information about Sweetnam and Bradley please see their website http://www.sweetnam-bradley.com/

Megasteel Continuing Support for Charitable Causes….

As well as the different UK charities that we are supporting this year, the directors of Megasteel are also keen to support some of the different communities that we are involved with around the world.

Much of the steel that we buy is manufactured in Thailand and, more specifically, in an industrial town to the south of Bangkok called Rayong, so this year Megasteel has joined together with one of our suppliers Rayong Wire to support Panyanukul Special School in Amphoe Mueang District, Rayong Province.

Panyanukul is a school for children who have various complex special needs: the children may be autistic, have hearing difficulties, physical or mental disabilities, and many have multiple challenges. In Thailand parents may not be able to care for such children and they are often abandoned or neglected. As they grow up they may be excluded from school and later in life may find great difficulty in fitting into normal society or to get a job.

Panyanukul cares for about 300 children and prides itself on its warm, caring, supportive and happy atmosphere and promoting the welfare of the children in its care. It is an open school and visitors are warmly welcomed.

Along with Rayong Wire, Megasteel were pleased to be able to provide lunch for all of the children; we also donated various items: including a table tennis table, sport equipment, clothes and we also provided scholarships for a number of children to the school to encourage attendance.

We would like to thank everyone at the school, especially the children, for their very warm and friendly welcome!

First shipment to Ukraine

Megasteel ships steel all over the world, not just to the UK and Ireland. We have recently completed our first shipment to one of our customers in the Stalkanat area of Ukraine - shipping through the port of Odessa. Ukraine is currently involved in a military conflict, but the people living there still need houses and apartments to live in so life goes on. We are pleased to be able to play a small part in helping them continue with their normal lives.

SCG celebrates 40 years and the retirement
of an ‘old friend’

Megasteel has been trading with SCG in Thailand for well over 20 years and, in January, Nigel was pleased to be invited to join them in Bangkok to celebrate their 40th anniversary. We also wish SCG many more years of success!

SCG’s 40th Anniversary Party

While he was in Thailand, Nigel had the opportunity to be able to say goodbye to Mr Suriyon Tuchinda (Director of the Steel Division of SCG Trading Company Limited) who has retired after very many years of service. SCG will lose a lot of experience and wisdom but we know that he has trained his successors well. Megasteel have always been impressed by SCG, which is one of the most professionally run businesses we have the pleasure to deal with.

Nigel said “I meet and work with a lot of different people from all over the world, but it is rare to meet someone with the integrity, balance and calm common sense of Suriyon. It has been a real pleasure to meet and talk business and other things with him and also to benefit from his experience. I am pleased to be able to call him a friend and I will certainly miss him.”

Suriyon will not have much time to play golf in his retirement though, as he is on the steering committee for
Thailand Competitiveness and has also taken the role of Vice Chairman - with responsibility for Border Trade and Special Economic Zones for The Federation of Thai Industries.

‍Megasteel would like to wish him lots of luck and good fortune in his retirement and we are very proud to have known and worked with him. We hope he will keep in contact with us.

Nigel and Suriyon enjoying a final lunch at the Royal Bangkok Sporting Club

THE POST TENSIONING ASSOCIATION

Megasteel are pleased to have joined the Post Tensioning Association…..

At the start of February 2019 Megasteel Ltd became a full supplier member of the Post Tensioning Association – PTA.

Full Members of the PTA are either involved in installing or designing PT structures or are key suppliers to the PT industry. To join, Megasteel needed to show that we are fully compliant with the strict membership requirements of the PTA: including quality, health and safety, training and participation criteria.

We are pleased to support the aims of the association:

• To promote the use of post-tensioning in buildings, bridges, silos and tanks, ground floor slabs and other structural types throughout the UK construction industry.
• To promote best practice in the design, procurement and execution of post-tensioned structures.
• To support and take part in research and development to improve the efficiency and technical capabilities of post-tensioning.
• To support high quality in PT construction through the CARES QA scheme and other relevant bodies
• To support safe working practices throughout the UK PT industry and to maintain high levels of training.

Nigel Roberts – Managing Director of Megasteel Ltd – said, “We are very pleased to have joined the PTA, many of our customers are involved in the design and installation of PT structures and we are happy to support the aims of the association.”

For information see: www.posttensioning.co.uk

VISIT TO GÜNEY ÇELİK HASIR A.Ş IN TURKEY

Megasteel has worked with Güney Çelik, in Turkey, for a number of years and Nigel was keen to visit them in their factory, based in Adana, as we are expecting to increase our purchases from them in the future.

Güney Çelik was founded in 1993, in the city of Adana and they have recently increased their production capacity and now manufacture prestressing wire as well as prestressing strand. In addition, they are working with us to develop threaded bars that are used for railway sleeper manufacture in many parts of the world. 

The photos below show the manufacture of strand, along with a photo of prestressing bars manufactured as part of the threaded bar development project.

And finally here is a view from Nigel’s hotel bedroom – just to show it's not all work!

Thank you to everyone at Guney Celik for your hospitality and for a very interesting and enjoyable visit.

KEITH WALLS – MY CHOSEN CHARITIES

Last month, the directors of Megasteel kindly decided that they would like to involve all of the employees in choosing charities to support this year.

 

Keith has decided that he would like to nominate two charities and these are: Help for Heroes and Combat Stress. He has chosen these particular charities as his grandson, a serving soldier, has done two tours of duty in Afghanistan and is aware of the need to provide recovery and support for the Armed Forces community whose lives are affected by their service.

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HELP FOR HEROES

 

This charity was set up in 2007, with the objective of helping those who have put their lives on the line in our Armed Forces. It supports Serving and Reservist Personnel and Veterans who have suffered injuries or illness as a result of their service. The charity also helps their close family and dependants. The aim is to empower Veterans and Service Personnel to look beyond illness and injury. Every penny raised is to help Veterans and Service Personnel reach their potential, regain their purpose and have a positive impact on society.

 

   COMBAT STRESS

 

Combat stress was founded in May 1919, just after the First World War ended. For almost a century, they have helped former servicemen and women deal with trauma-related mental health problems such as; anxiety, depression and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). They understand that invisible injuries can be just as hard to cope with as physical ones. Their services help veterans cope with the present, tackle the past and take on the future.

 

If you would like to find out more, or donate to these charities, then follow the links below:

www.helpforheroes.org.uk and www.combatstress.org.uk

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Congestion and Delays at Felixstowe Port

 

In recent months we have experienced a number of problems bringing steel into the UK through Felixstowe Port. In June they implemented a new terminal operating system and we can only describe the outcome as ‘utter chaos’. We understand that this reduced the ports effectiveness by 50%, meaning the port cannot handle all of the cargo that it is contracted to. Vessels have 'cut and run’ on many occasions, which means they arrive at the port and leave before they have unloaded all of their containers so that they do not miss their berth at their next destination.

 See: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-suffolk-44487211

 

The problems at Felixstowe have resulted in some shipping lines moving vessels to Southampton and this has now led to chronic congestion at Southampton as well! It now means that the UK’s two largest container ports are forcing ocean carrier planners to make further last-minute ship diversions,sometimes missing out the UK ports altogether, adding further chaos to our steel supply chain. One ship owner has told us “We can’t afford to have our ships sitting at anchor for days and then being forced to cut and run when we eventually do get alongside,”

Another issue now is that empty containers are now starting to build up at the ports, as they are not being collected by the vessels to return them to the Far East. This means that the space designated to store containers as they come off the vessel is being occupied by empty containers waiting to go out, adding to the delays in our ability to access our own containers/steel that have actually landed in the port. It’s all a bit of a nightmare!

https://www.handyshippingguide.com/shipping-news/port-of-felixstowe-problems-continue-as-empty-containers-stack-up-elsewhere-and-haulage-rates-rocket_9456 

The impact of Felixstowe’s problems are also being felt in other ports throughout Europe. Giuseppe Lamberti (a manager at Salerno Container Terminal) said, “It’s incredible the impact of this on North European shipping trades; carriers,consignors and even terminals have been affected by the Felixstowe failure. I never thought that my firm’s container throughput might be affected by the capability of another terminal to implement in good order a new TOS [terminal operating system].”

Unfortunately the problems at the UK ports seem to be ongoing and this, coupled with delays to vessels caused by big storms in the Far East such as Typhoon Mangkhut (which is reported to have been the world strongest storm ever), has added to vessel delays.

https://edition.cnn.com/2018/09/13/asia/typhoon-mangkhut-superlatives-wxc-trnd/index.html

Nigel Roberts, Managing Director of Megasteel, has said, “Our business strategy has long been based on holding significant stocks in the UK to cover what our customers need so they can have whatever they want, whenever they need it. This strategy has served us well for 27 years and when this problem first surfaced in June this year we were well positioned, as we had plenty of steel. However, the strength of the UK construction market coupled with these problems in the port now means that on some sizes we are now very tight on stock causing some delays on deliveries to our customers. We want to apologise to our customers for any problems they may have had. Megasteel has lots of steel due to arrive in the next few weeks and we know that Felixstowe Port understand the urgency of the situation and that they are doing their best to sort this out. We believe that in a few weeks things will return to normal, but in the meantime we continue to work very closely with the Port of Felixstowe and our freight forwarders to try to resolve this situation and we are trying hard to minimise the impact on our customers.“

George Baker Shipping's Visit to Thailand

Sharon Binns and Kieron Beamish, of George Baker Shipping, have been visiting Thailand on an International Shipping Conference. Nigel arranged for them to visit Siam Wire Industrial Co. Ltd. This was to see how the wire and strand is manufactured and prepared, before being shipped to their warehouses.

They were looked after by Siam Wire and they found the tour to be informative and interesting.

Megasteel was happy to be able to arrange this tour and would like to thank Siam Wire for their hospitality. Further information regarding George Baker Shipping can be found at: http://www.georgebakershipping.com/

Megasteel Support for Charitable Causes….

For many years, the directors of Megasteel Ltd have put aside some of the companies profits to support charitable activities. This year they have decided that the people who work in the business should be the ones who decide where this money should go.

They have allocated £25,000 and each employee has been given the freedom to choose a charity, or charities, that they would like to support. The only criteria is that it should be registered with the Charity Commission and that the money should go to a cause that helps the communities that we operate in.

To kick this initiative off, Nigel has decided that he will split his donation and has chosen a charity based in Chippenham called Helping Survivors of Domestic Abuse (reg. charity number 1161380) to receive £2,500.

They do amazing work helping people and families that have suffered domestic violence. When someone escapes from domestic violence they are often left with absolutely nothing. HVDV will provide everything they need to start afresh - from a bed to a microwave oven, from baby clothes to a kettle, from some children’s toys, to a table and chairs and much more…

The charity is close to running out of money and this donation will enable them to keep going. Charity trustee, Kevin Thorne, said,“This is fantastic – in fact you have saved the charity, you really have.”

If you want to find out more about the good work that they are is doing please have a look at their website https://www.hvdv.org.uk or their Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/HVofDV/

MSc dissertation at The University of Nottingham

A while ago we were approached by Melina Scasserra from the University of Nottingham about the supply of steel for a research project she was doing. Melina is an Argentinian civil engineer who received a scholarship from Chevening, a programme funded by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO),and the University of Nottingham to study in the UK.

Based on her experience working for “Ferrocarriles Argentinos” (the Argentinian Railway) her work focused on analysing the origin of a failure observed in concrete railway sleepers which causes longitudinal cracking and how she could eliminate this to increase the safety for passengers. Her study analysed the relationship between tensile stresses and the strength of concrete during production.

She produced three sample sleepers, using steel from Megasteel, and the stress on each sample was released at different concrete strengths to evaluate how this could influence the performance. The results of her study have suggested improvements to inspection methodologies and the recommended initial concrete strengths that are specified in international standards and manuals.

We also arranged for her to visit Trackwork Moll, one of the UK’s leading sleeper manufacturers, to see how they are made in the UK and she was able to quiz production management on their experience.

If you would like to discuss this work with Melina you can contact her by e-mail: evxmcs@nottingham.ac.uk or  melinascasserra@yahoo.com.ar  You can also find out more about the Chevening scholarships by clicking on the link here:  www.chevening.org

 Megasteel were very happy to be able to help Melina with her research and we would like to wish her the best for the future when she returns to Argentina and we hope that she will keep in touch with us!

Visit to Rayong Wire

Rayong Wire is Megasteel’s newest supplier in Thailand and we have been dealing with them for less than a year. In that time, they have invested heavily in the factory to bring their product standards up to the high levels that Megasteel requires. We have been very pleased with the huge developments and progress they have made. Well done to everyone at Rayong Wire and we look forward to a long and successful relationship!

Steel ready for shipment to Megasteel.

Visit to Thai Wire Products

Thai Wire Products are a large and very successful producer of prestressing wire and strand and have been a supplier to Megasteel for many years. Recent management changes meant that during this visit Nigel was pleased to meet with the new senior management team, as well as old friends. Thai Wire Products is a company listed on the Thai Stock Exchange, but is also part of a very successful family group of companies with varied interests, including mining, rubber, hotels and prestressed concrete poles for electrical power distribution.

New and old senior management from Thai Wire Products and Siam Cement Group with Nigel in the TWP factory.

Visit to Siam Industrial Wire

Nigel met with SIW management and sales people at SIW’s offices in Bangkok, before travelling to their factory in Rayong. Once there, he visited the mill and met with manufacturing and quality managers. Nigel audited the mills compliance with Megasteel purchasing requirements and BS5896, the product standard used in the UK.

Megasteel has had a very long and successful relationship with SIW, who are one of the biggest producers of prestressing wire and strand in the world and are part of the Tata Group of companies.

Thailand - The Land of Smiles

Over recent years Thailand has become a very important country for Megasteel and we have three excellent suppliers there. They are all based in a town called Rayong, a few hours drive from Bangkok. During early August Nigel visited our different suppliers and whilst he tries to insist that it's all work, here is a view from his hotel room in Bangkok as the sun sets....

Visit to Trackwork Moll

A few weeks ago, Aileen had the opportunity to visit Trackwork Moll, one of our customers based in Doncaster.

Trackwork Moll manufacture railway sleepers for Network Rail.

The purpose of the visit, was to learn about the manufacture of railway sleepers, meeting with our main contacts and to accompany a PHD student from Argentina, Melina is completing a PHD at the University of Nottingham. Megasteel have provided wire coils for analysis in her PHD dissertation.

Megasteel delivery of Indented Strand coils

Aileen and Marcin before the site tour - kitted up and Highly - Visible on a really hot day in June

A view of the prestressing bed shed

Watching the catches being attached to the sleeper slabs during the manufacturing process

Trackwork Moll gave us both a very insightful and detailed tour of the manufacturing process, from the arrival of our coils on site, to laying the strand in their beds, the concrete pouring process and mix properties, stressing of the strand, slab cutting, assembly and finally the testing process when the concrete has cured and dried.  

Aileen thoroughly enjoyed her visit, as when she visited Thailand last year she also witnessed the manufacture of Indented Strand as used by Trackwork Moll. Melina was able to discuss at length the causes of cracking in slabs with the experts at Trackwork Moll, who were able to provide her with some potential solutions to why the beams can crack.

What is Prestressed Concrete....

World leading concrete expert Chris Burgoyne, Professor of Structural Engineering and head of the Structures Lab at the University of Cambridge had produced a series of short online lectures that introduces viewers to prestressed concrete and is recommended viewing for any one operating in the prestressed concrete industry.

ISTA Visit to Liberty Steel Newport

On 21st June Nigel and Aileen, along with ISTA visited Liberty Steel in Newport where they had a guided tour of the plant.  This included a visit to the company dock and a walk through the works where they watched slabs being transformed into hot rolled coils.

Liberty did us proud with an excellent buffet lunch and then there were two sessions with management, who introduced Nigel and Aileen to their current and future plans.

Nigel has visited the Liberty Steel factory many times over the years - the first time was about 35 years ago and in that time the business has been through many changes. During this visit, he was pleased to meet up with Gerry O'Neil, HR manager for Liberty. Nigel recruited Gerry into the Graduate Management Scheme at Allied Steel and Wire in 1983 and it was great to see that he is now back in the steel industry!

As we left, we were given goodie bags with some branded gifts as a memento of our visit to LSN. We had a very informative and enjoyable day and would like to thank Liberty Steel for their hospitality. We wish them every success for the future.

ISO9001:2015 and ISO140001:2015 Audit

It’s that time of the year again when we have our annual QAS audits and this year we have upgraded to ISO9001:2015 and
ISO14001:2015. These have now been completed and we are happy to say that we have passed with flying colours again!

Credit must go to the hours of work put in by Donna, who gathered and collated the relevant information, as well as sending
out questionnaires to our customers.

The standards provide guidance and tools for companies and organizations who want to ensure that their products and services consistently meet customer’s requirements, and that quality is consistently improved.

Using ISO 9001:2015 helps ensure that customers get consistent, good quality products and services. ISO 14001:2015 sets the standard for Environmental Management Systems and we aim to demonstrate our commitment to protecting the environment, as well as building trust with customers.

We would also like to thank David Anger, from IMSM (https://www.imsm.com/gb/), for his help and advice when we were updating our accreditation.

The Manufacturing of Prestressed Concrete

Have you ever wondered how prestressed concrete is made? These short videos by our good friends at MacFab, who are the leading producers of prestressed production equipment in the UK, show the manufacture of T-beams. Megasteel are pleased to have been able to co-operate with them on several projects in the UK and worldwide. To find out more about MacFab and what they manufacture see www.prestressed.ie.

British Steel

Nigel and Aileen visited British Steel at Scunthorpe last year with ISTA and since then British Steel have published a movie. This shows what happens in a steel mill, showcasing the amazing processes involved and highlights the craft and skill that goes into producing steel.

Freyssinet and Aykon One, London

For nearly 40 years, Freyssinet has been at the forefront of post-tensioning technology, contributing to its acceptance as a standard technology and its consequent increase of utilisation in structures all over the world. We are very pleased to be able to supply the strand used.

They have been involved in many different projects, including the Royal Liverpool University Hospital and The Cube at The Mailbox, Birmingham. Their latest project is with Aykon One, in London.

Developed by DAMAC, with architecture by the award-winning Kohn Pederson Fox, Aykon One is set in Battersea/Nine Elms. It will be a unique, ultra-modern, 50 storey tower with first-class facilities and interiors designed by Versace Home. For more information, visit www.harrodsestates.com/aykon.

Once more, Megasteel Ltd. is able to provide the steel that goes into such wonderful structures.

‍Photos courtesy of www.harrodsestates.com 

MANCHESTER AIRPORT TRANSFORMATION PROJECT AND LAING O’ROURKE

Manchester Airports Group’s £1bn investment in the Manchester Airport Transformation Programme will see the airport significantly enhance and expand its facilities, enabling improved customer experience and positioning Manchester Airport as the global gateway for the North of England.

As part of the 10 year transformation programme, Laing O’Rourke is delivering a £570m package of works which includes the design and construction of an extension to the existing Terminal 2 building, more than doubling its current size, as well as a new 3,800 space multi-storey car park, significant upgrades to the airport’s landscaping and road infrastructure, as well the initial two new piers for arrivals and departures. Megasteel is supplying the strand for Laing O’Rourke’s large prestressed beams, which will be used in the construction.

Photo courtesy of www.manchesterairport.co.uk

Artists impression- Photo courtesy of www.laingorourke.com

A photo taken from inside the first of three new piers to be built at Manchester Airport has revealed the fantastic views that will be enjoyed by customers from April next year (2019) and an artist’s impression, showing how the finished building will look.

Laing O’Rourke is a privately owned, internationally focused engineering enterprise with world-class capabilities spanning the entire client value chain and we are extremely happy to be able to supply them with strand and to know that our product is a part of this amazing engineering project.  

Visit to the UK by Suriyon Tuchinda from SCG in Thailand

We were very pleased to host a recent visit to the UK by Mr Suriyon Tuchinda, Director of the Steel Division of SCG Trading Company Limited. SCG is one of Asia’s biggest businesses and with whom Megasteel have been trading for about 20 years.

Suriyon Tuchinda from SCG, Debbie Coe from Hutchison Port of Felixstowe and Scott Sullivan from George Baker Shipping

Most of our steel comes to the UK through Felixstowe and Debbie Rowe, Customer Relations Manager of Hutchison Port of Felixstowe, gave us an in-depth tour and explained the history that stretches back 143 years and their expansion plans for the future.

We were pleased to be able to witness the discharge of our containers from the biggest container vessel in the world - the OOCL Scandinavian, a 400 metre long giant that is capable of carrying 21,413 containers, weighs a colossal 197,500 tonnes and entered service in 2017.

We also visited our warehouses in Felixstowe and Woodbridge.

Finally, we took the opportunity to admire the US designed strategic swing wing bomber the F-111 Aardvark and a classic British icon - the Harrier Jump Jet - which are stored in a private collection next to our Woodbridge warehouse!

This was a perfect way to finish a very successful and enjoyable visit.

RAYONG WIRE INDUSTRIES

Thursday, 29th March 2018, is the 24th anniversary of Rayong Wire Industries. At their factory they will be celebrating with a Buddhist ceremony and a special luncheon for everyone.

Rayong Wire was established in 1994 and since then it has continued to grow strongly. We are proud to work alongside them, proving to be a very successful relationship and we would like to take this opportunity to congratulate them on 24 years and to
wish them every success in the future. 

GOODBYE SUCHANUCH

We have always had a strong relationship with SCG Trading/Thai Wire Products and on 30th April 2014 Ms Suchanuch Katathikaranan - Assistant Manager of Steel and Related Products - became our principal contact. She is known to us as Parn.  This was the start of a very successful relationship and it has continued until today.

Sadly for us, Parn is now moving into a new and important role away from the steel industry and will no longer be working at SCG. She has always been dedicated and professional in everything she does and nothing has been too much trouble. At all times, she has offered us her full support and co-operation.

Nigel and his family have met Parn on several occasions and she made sure that they were well looked after and enjoyed every moment of their visit.

When Aileen travelled to Thailand, Parn became her personal tour guide! As a result of this visit, they formed a good working relationship and friendship that has continued beyond the trip. 

We would like to thank Parn for her support and help over the past four years and to offer our sincere gratitude for everything she has done, both in the workplace and on our trips to Thailand. We wish her the very best in her new career and we will miss her.

Parn’s replacement will be Ms Tawita Pongsungnern, known to us as Nup, and we look forward to working with her and developing another strong relationship.

Tottenham Court Road Station and Crossrail

Images Courtesy of Crossrail UK

Artists Impression 

Tottenham Court Road Station is one of the central section stations being constructed for Crossrail, working with one of our customers, Structural Systems Ltd (see http://www.structuralsystemsuk.com/), who are supplying the post tensioning systems that have enabled this station to look so fantastic!

Crossrail is the biggest civil construction project in Europe today. The Crossrail Project is building the Elizabeth line, which will link Reading and Heathrow in the west with Shenfield and Abbey Wood in the east, via new 21km tunnels under central London. This will increase London’s rail capacity and cut passenger journey times across the city. This complex construction project has involved the innovative use of many post tensioned concrete structures.

When completed in 2019, Crossrail will be known as the Elizabeth Line - carrying over 400,000 passengers daily.

Read more about this project:

http://www.crossrail.co.uk/route/stations/tottenham-court-road/#

https://www.networkrail.co.uk/our-railway-upgrade-plan/key-projects/crossrail/

AJ MORRISROE – THE MADISON BUILDING, LONDON E14

Located on the site of former 4/5 storey buildings and car park, the new high rise construction at 119-224 Marsh Wall, London E14 is now underway. The site Is approximately 100m x 30m with a target completion date of 2019.

The main contractor Balfour Beatty awarded one of our customers, AJ Morrisroe, the contract to construct the 2-storey basement and the 53-storey tower located on the Western side of the site and 1-storey pavilion building with landscaped areas on the Eastern side.

The core will be cast using the jump form system, followed by post-tensioned slabs. The stairs will be cast using Stairmaster systems. Morrisroe is undertaking dig and construction of the 2-storey basement including the waterproof lining of the walls in the Eastern side. Level B1 will have a part suspended floor on the Eastern side. Piling on the site will provide the main foundations for the structure. As part of the dig, Morrisroe ground workers and engineers are also undertaking the construction of the concrete capping beam and propping system.

We are very proud to say that Megasteel’s strand will be used in this construction. For more information on this project, please see:

http://www.morrisroe.co.uk/portfolio/the-madison/

https://www.themadison.co.uk/gallery/

Christmas Celebrations

It’s that time of year when Santa is on his way and our own personal ‘Santa’ arrived in the shape of Scott, from George Baker Shipping. 

It was lovely to meet up with him again and Keith was also able to join us on this occasion  We had a super lunch in Malmesbury to celebrate another successful year and the great partnership we have with George Baker Shipping Ltd., which we really value. Many thanks to everyone at George Baker for their professionalism and care (as well as patience!) We are looking forward to continuing this in 2018.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY KEITH

We would like to wish Keith a very happy birthday,
as he is 83 years young today!

Keith joined GKN Somerset Wire in 1969, reporting to the technical director Terry Cahill – responsible for the marketing and selling of prestressed wire and strand. He was part of the team that invented and commercialised low relaxation wire and strand – a product that revolutionised the prestressed concrete industry and which Megasteel sell now.

Keith became Technical Sales Manager on the formation of Allied Steel and Wire in 1981 and Sales Manager in 1991 . On the sale of the company in 2001, he joined the new owners Carrington Wire until 2003 when he operated part time as technical sales consultant. In 2005 the company was bought by the Russian steel company Sevastal and in 2006 he
resigned from his position in Severstal and joined MEGASTEEL.

Keith has been part of the success story of Megasteel now for 11 years, and Nigel says he values his experience and advice.
“There is no one in the world who has had the length of experience in selling prestressing wire and strand – 48 years – and we hope that he will continue for many years to come!”

 Happy Birthday!

Visit to Siam Industrial Wire
Thailand - September 2017

During September, Nigel and Bella Roberts visited SIW in Thailand. SIW are one of our major suppliers and we have
been working with them for more than 13 years. SIW have one of the biggest and best prestressing factories in the world.

Bella Roberts with shop floor, quality management and sales personnel from SIW

Prestressing wire ready for shipment to Megasteel for the UK market.

Prestressing strand ready for packaging and shipment to us in the UK.

Meeting with Siam Cement Group
Thailand - September 2017

Siam Cement Group, SCG, is one of Thailand (and Asia’s) biggest companies and is listed by Forbes as the 640th biggest company in the world. Megasteel has been working with SCG in Thailand for nearly 20 years. SCG employ about 45,000 people and we have always found them to be the most professional company we have ever dealt with.

SCG was established in 1913 under the Royal Decree of His Majesty King Rama VI, who wanted to have a Thai based cement plant to reduce cement import and drive infrastructure development.

Operating its business for over 100 years, SCG is now one of the largest and most respected conglomerates in Thailand and ASEAN, with 200 companies in the group.

SCG work closely with Megasteel on many of our activities in Thailand and around the world and we are pleased and very proud to continue to ‘cement' our long term and excellent relationship with them.

As you can see visits to Thailand are not all work! Thank you to SCG for looking after us all so well and providing so much wonderful Thai food!

Steel Price Direction
It all depends on what happens in China!

Recently Nigel visited a number of suppliers in Asia to try and understand better the future direction of prices for steel and how this will affect the price of prestressing wire and strand in the UK and Ireland in the coming months. His thoughts are shown below:

China’s restrictions on various forms of economic activity to prevent pollution are starting earlier this year, most are in place from October to mid-March, and are expected to be enforced more stringently than they have been in previous years. A key culprit is the 19th Communist Party of China National Congress in late October. At this meeting president Xi Jinping is expected to consolidate his power and enshrine his political thought into the constitution.

More specifically for the steel industry, Xi Jinping wants blue skies over the ‘big 19th’ meetings and local authorities have been ordered to develop detailed plans to reduce pollution. The level of detail made public has already far exceeded any
previous such plan. After a central order for 28 northern Chinese cities to reduce steel output by 50% over the whole winter, cities have begun to release detailed plans mandating specific production allocations for each individual blast furnace. Similar details have been released for different ‘polluting’ processes, including coking plants and graphite electrode production.

Forecasting the movement in steel prices has always been almost impossible, there are so many imponderables – will they go up, down or remain the same? Who knows!

The drive for price is not cost, it’s the balance of supply and demand. If supply is higher than demand, prices will fall. But with the announced plans for production cuts in China (that are only now starting in China) it seems unlikely that steel prices will fall and the restricted availability is likely to lead to continued shortages of specific sizes of prestressing wire and strand for some time to come.

Steel Prices set to keep rising

The International Rebar Producers Association have published their view on what is happening in the world on rebar. While prestressing wire and strand supply and demand can be very different to rebar as prestressing production comes ultimately from iron ore while bar is made from scrap, the dynamics of the markets are similar and it provides an interesting perspective on what is happening - you can read the original article here - we summarise their conclusions below:

SUMMARY REPRODUCED COURTESY OF IREPAS

Further improvements in global long steel market amid lack of pressure from China

Demand in the global long steel products market is good and has even been increasing slightly in almost all markets as there is no pressure from China on the international market.

Strong domestic steel consumption in China reduces prospects for Chinese exports

With strong domestic consumption of steel in China, the prospects for Chinese steel exports continue to decrease. In addition, some major reinforcing bar markets, like Turkey and the EU, are growing.

Low inventories, low interest rates and weaker dollar also help boost global market

In addition to declining exports from China, overall low inventories, low interest rates and the cheaper US dollar are also helping to boost the global market. Better economic conditions for GDP growth around the globe likewise help a lot.

Mills in EU finally able to raise prices amid limited imports and higher costs

Due to limited import possibilities, mills in the EU have finally been able to increase their sales prices. Their prices are also driven by higher costs for scrap and electrodes. Demand in the EU is very good compared to previous years.

Rising raw material costs push producers to raise their long steel sales prices

The upward trend in raw material prices is pushing producers to increase their sales prices for long products, ferrous scrap demand from Turkey – the world’s leading scrap importer – is significantly stronger this year, pushing import scrap prices in Turkey to reach their highest levels of the past three years.

Chinese suppliers highly unlikely to re-enter billet export market

The shortage of billets, or the lack of extra billets in other words, is preventing several rolling mills from producing more long products. The curtailment of electricity in China means that electrically-produced billets will be produced less and that BOF mills will be chased for more billets and will thereby also increase prices or keep prices at the present high levels.

Competition is decreasing and more balanced in the absence of China

Competition in the market is decreasing and is much more balanced due to the absence of China, and may be described as being fair and modest.

Very good outlook for next quarter provided there is no surprise from China

The current status of the market is stable and the outlook for the next quarter is very good as long as there is no surprise from China. Increasing prices and a solid supply-demand balance combined with low inventories have given everyone reason to believe that the strength of price levels will be sustained up to Christmas. The market is in outstanding shape but protective measures still pose a real threat for the future.

Steel prices are rising, please click the button below for more information

Visit to British Steel, Scunthorpe

Last Thursday Nigel and Aileen travelled to Scunthorpe to join other ISTA members on a visit to British Steel. For Aileen it was her first visit to a working hot rolling mill, and for Nigel it was a walk down memory lane, as Nigel worked here for a period in 1984.

During our visit, we saw the manufacture of slabs and billets from raw materials.In the hot rolling mill we were able to observe the slabs being hot rolled into wire rod. Surprisingly, it was quite hot in the rolling mill! After production, coils can be used in the manufacture of many different wire products, from pre-stressing and post-tensioning strand and wire to steel thread used in the manufacture of tyres and other steel products.

Picture left shows Blast furnaces at British Steel Scunthorpe

ISO 9001 AND ISO 14001 AUDIT

The annual QAS audit has just been completed and we are very pleased to say that we have passed with
flying colours. Credit has to go to the work put in by Rob, who over the past few months has been gathering information, sending out and collating questionnaires to our clients. Signing the documentation with Mr Anger was Rob’s final task at Megasteel, as he has now retired. However, his legacy continues…

ROBERT BUSS RETIRES

Rob left Megasteel today, with over 12 years service. He has been an important part of the company and has forged strong links and friendships with everyone that he has dealt with. We are sad to see him go, but wish him well for the future and we are sure that he will settle comfortably into retirement and will enjoy his time split between Cardiff and Spain.

Aileen's Visit to Thailand

Sightseeing - Day 1:

On Sunday morning I met with Parn of SCG, for the first time, previously we had communicated only via email. She kindly became my personal tour guide of Bangkok. This was an ideal opportunity to develop our friendship and our future working relationship. We visited many locations, MBK, the Bangkok Art and Cultural Centre, Siam Square, we rode in a Tuk-Tuk, and had dinner in China Town.  I tried and enjoyed many new foods, Mangosteen, Dragon Fruit and Durian - the King of Fruit, and enjoyed the wonderful spicy smells of the street food markets.

Visit to Thai Wire Products - Day 2:

On Monday we travelled to Map Ta Phut , Rayong Province in the Eastern Sea Board region to visit the Thai Wire Products factory. Just before we arrived, the skies opened with a heavy down pour - I was pleased as it reduced the humidity! Dr Dan and his team provided a detailed tour of their Production Factory. This was my first Supplier Factory visit, where I learned about the full production process of both Wire and Strand. Starting with testing of the raw materials used in the coils, cleaning of the raw materials, to tensile strength/break point testing, watching the 7 Strand manufacturing to the final preparation of the finished coils, ready for their despatch to our warehouses in the UK. Lots of questions were asked, and information shared, my knowledge of the how the coils are manufactured has greatly improved! I was surprised at how quickly a coil of wire can be manufactured!

Visit to SIW/TSN - Day 2:

The SIW/TSN Factories are located side by side in A.Bankai, Rayong. This was my first time to meet with Vattanan and Parada, again I had only previously communicated with them via email, so this was a wonderful opportunity to finally meet with them in person.The SIW team provided me with an interesting and detailed presentation and tour of their Production Factory of Prestressing and post tensioning Wire and Strand, sharing their wealth of experience in the manufacture of Strand and Wire.It was a very humid afternoon whilst walking through the manufacture processes, but I survived the heat! The TSN factory produces Hot Dip Galvanised steel wire strand, to customer specific requirement. This is not a product that we currently stock for the UK market.

Sightseeing - Day 3

Parn of SCG and I met up again on Wednesday, where we spent time visiting Wat Arun (Temple of Dawn), a quick boat trip across the Chao Phrayo river to Wat Prakaew (Temple of Emerald Bhudda). We finished our time together at the Ananda Samakhom Palace. I was over-awed by the intricate carvings and detailed treasures that were on view. My trip went by so quickly, I have tried to make the most of my time with my new business friendships and seeing as much of Bangkok and Rayong as possible in a short time. I thoroughly enjoyed exploring Thailand’s culture, it’s food and I do hope to return with my family at a later stage.

Supplier Visits to Thailand

It has been a busy few weeks here at Megasteel, Aileen Murphy, Megasteel's Business Manager, has just returned from a week long visit to Thailand. The purpose of the visit was for Aileen to see first hand the manufacture of Wire and Strand. Aileen spent time with a number of our Suppliers at their Production Plants in Rayong, and explored some of the wonders of Bangkok, and its amazing cuisine.

Aileen and our friends from SIW, in Bangkok.

Meeting with Thai Wire Products, in Rayong.

Meeting with SIW, in Rayong.

Parn from SCG and Aileen, enjoying some sightseeing at the Grand Palace in Bangkok.

Strand dispensers for 4T coils are now available EX-Stock!!

Our specially designed strand dispensers can help to prevent tangling of strand during dispensing.

We are now stocking 4t coils dispensers in addition to the 3T coil dispensers we have traditionally held. 

The 4T  dispenser can accommodate both 3t and 4t coils.  Please contact us for more detail.

How to load a dispenser - Click here

Help we need 4m of 9.3mm strand!!!!

Each month we supply many thousands of tonnes of prestressing wire and strand, indeed Megasteel is the biggest distributors of prestressing wire and strand in Europe and one of the biggest the world - but we don’t often get asked to supply 4m of strand (that’s less than 2kg!).

We had a call from Emma at The Stonemasonry Company who build the most beautiful floating stone staircases. They urgently needed a 4m length of strand to post tension a special stone staircase for a prestigious development they are supplying in London.

We were happy to try and help, but our coils all weigh a minimum of 3t and have 7386 meters, as our regular customers will know, we are unable to split up a coil of strand!

We were able to put Emma in touch with Nick Deighton at Floorspan Ltd one of our customers who are based in Wisbech and near to the workshop of The Stonemasonry Company who came to the rescue with the required 4m of 9.3mm strand!

We are very proud that a little bit of our steel is now helping to hold up a beautiful carved stone staircase!

Rob Buss Retirement

Rob Buss has finally decided that he is retiring at the end of June.

After 12 successful years with Megasteel, Rob has decided that the commute from Cardiff to Malmesbury is just too much and he intends to take a well earned retirement from the company. He is moving to a 3 day week until stopping work completely at the end of June.

Rob and Nigel have known each other for over 35 years. They first met at Cardiff Rod Mill, which was part of ASW - a steel producer based in South Wales - when Rob was Nigel’s ‘boss’. They worked together until Nigel left in 1991 to set up Megasteel Ltd.

Rob and Nigel’s career paths crossed over the years and in 2005, after many requests from Nigel, Rob took on the role of Commercial Director at Megasteel. He has been an integral part of the growth and success of Megasteel over the last 12 years.

Rob & Nigel at Cardiff Rod Mill in 1985

Nigel has often said that the business would not have been as successful as it has been without Rob’s input and he will miss his help, advice and guidance in the future (although he won’t miss him moaning about his daily commute from Cardiff!).

Rob and Pam (who is also retiring from her job in the NHS) are hoping to split their time between their homes in Cardiff and Spain, spending more time with their children and grandchildren. Nigel, Bella, Keith and Aileen will be very sad to see Rob retire….and are envious of those relaxing afternoons on the beach! We wish Rob and Pam all the best for their new adventure in the coming months.

Do you know what happens to our steel when it arrives in the UK?

When our containers arrive at the Port of Felixstowe, our freight forwarding partner George Baker Shipping collect the containers, and transport them to one of our three warehouses. Coils of Strand and Wire are unpacked from the container and are stored for delivery to our customers with the UK and Ireland.

George Baker shipping provide a bespoke warehouse operation enabling excellent logistical management for Megasteel, with a dedicated team working closely with the Megasteel head office.

“George Baker Shipping is very proud of it’s established partnership with Megasteel. We consider ourselves privileged to have been involved in the development and achievements of Nigel and his team over the past 12 years, and we are committed to ensuring the continued success of our business relationship”
David Baker (George Baker Shipping) 

"We think of George Baker Shipping as an integral part and extension of our business, they manage the logistical process of getting containers from the port to our warehouses and control the stock-holding operation. Our business relationship has developed over many years and we value the strength of the relationship and the service that they provide to us. ”.
Nigel Roberts (Megasteel)

1. George Baker Transport collecting shipment containers at the Port of Felixstowe.

2. Strand coils on arrival at the warehouse.

3. Strand coils in storage at George Baker Shippling.

4. Strand coils loaded for delivery to one of our customers.

5 . Wire coils loaded for delivery to one of our customers.

Did you know that at Megasteel we ship our steel all over the world ?

Coils are loaded into a shipment container, secured with lashings and wooden batons to prevent slippage or movement during transit. Containers are loaded onto huge container ships that transit the globe, so we can deliver to you , wherever in the world you are based. Want to know more? click here (courtesy of the BBC)

The Hidden Strengths of Unloved Concrete

Concrete has a pretty poor reputation, yet this ubiquitous material has largely overlooked benefits

Read Full Article on the BBC Website

UK Steel Price Increase

The National Association of Steel Service Centres (NASS) has conducted a number of surveys with its Members within the UK and its supply base over the last few weeks.  Given the significant upward price pressures evident in the steel supply chain, NASS has taken this opportunity to comment and reflect upon current market conditions in the UK as the year 2016 comes to a close and we look forward into 2017.

Thai Wire Products Achieve UK CARES Approval

We are delighted to announce that our supplier, Thai Wire Products based in Thailand have now successfully achieved UK CARES approval. Well done to all at Thai Wire Products and our partners in Thailand SCG Trading and especially Parn (Suchanuch Katathikaranan ) .