Brisbane Production Plant
Official Launch of Monkey Steel's Production Facility
04-Feb-2008
Monkey Steel – Queensland Launch
Monkey Steel’s first automated production facility in Pinkenba, Brisbane, is now fully operational. We are delighted to announce that the Queensland Minister for Tourism, Regional Development and Industry, The Honourable Desley Boyle MP, will officially launch the Monkey Steel facility in Brisbane on 5th February 2008.
Following two and a half years of arduous research and development, the MonkeyBar® coupling system for steel reinforcing bars is now on sale and ready for use on building sites in Queensland. Monkey Steel’s launch product, the 16mm MonkeyBar®, has met the most stringent international testing requirements and has been approved for use by the Department of Main Roads in Queensland.
In the last six months, Monkey Steel has achieved two outstanding milestones:
1. Winning the 2007 Engineering Excellence Award for Innovations and Inventions from Engineers Australia; and
2. The successful completion of the automated production facility in Brisbane.
Monkey Steel’s state-of-the-art production facility uses the latest in automation and robotic technology to achieve rapid, reliable throughput in a safe industrial environment.
Mr Julian Mitton, Monkey Steel’s founder and CEO today said; “Our Pinkenba production facility is a world-first for the steel reinforcing industry and sets the new global benchmark for safety, reliability and automation.”
“These achievements are the culmination of an enormous effort in Australian innovation. MonkeyBar® is destined to make a giant difference in the way concrete structures are built in Australia and around the world, saving time and money and improving safety in large scale construction.”
“MonkeyBar® is cost effective, stronger, easier to use, safer and quicker than any competitor product available, and is set to take over the Australian steel reinforcing market.”
“MonkeyBar® has global reach and extensive research has shown there is a strong overseas market for this type of application, including building hot spots such as Dubai, New York and London, leading into the 2012 Olympics.”
Press details - Monkey Steel opening
Journalists and photographers are welcome to attend and join Queensland Minister for Tourism, Regional Development and Industry, The Honourable Desley Boyle MP in the opening of Monkey Steel’s production facility.
Tuesday 5 February 2008 at 10.00am
Building H, 731 Curtin Avenue East, Pinkenba, Queensland
About Monkey Steel
Monkey Steel Pty Ltd is the provider of a unique range of concrete reinforcement products for use in major construction projects. The foundation product MonkeyBar® is an engineered bar used for joining lengths of reinforcing steel where speed, performance, precision and cost are vital to the construction process. Monkey’s first production facility is in Brisbane to service the South East Queensland construction market. Monkey Steel is a 100% owned Australian company.
Monkey Steel Pty Ltd, through its holding company Sugar Steel Engineering Pty Ltd, is the grateful beneficiary of two grants from AusIndustry. In June 2005 the company was awarded a COMET grant to assist in proving and commercialising its patented reinforcing steel technology. In December 2006 Monkey Steel was awarded a grant under the Commercial Ready program for $1.44 million to develop its automated production line for the MonkeyBar®.
About AusIndustry
AusIndustry is the Australian Government's business program delivery division of the Department of Industry, Tourism and Resources and it provides a range of incentives to support business innovation.
COMET is a competitive, merit based program that supports early-growth stage and spin off companies to successfully commercialise their innovations.
Commercial Ready is a competitive merit-based grant program supporting innovation and its commercialisation. It aims to stimulate greater innovation and productivity growth in the private sector by providing around $200 million per year in competitive grants to small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs). A wide range of project activities can be supported, extending from initial research and development (R&D), through proof of concept, to early-stage commercialisation activities.
For Further information
Julian Mitton, CEO Monkey Steel
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