A Look Back at PacRim Stainless 2018
The ASSDA team and the stainless steel industry is still flying high from PacRim Stainless 2018 that took place at QT Gold Coast last week from 3-4 October.
With delegates and speakers from around the world and nation, PacRim Stainless 2018 was a huge success, with the event attracting its highest attendance in over five years. We gathered for two days of education, inspiration and networking in what was ASSDA’s 25th National Conference.
Stainless Steel Trends in Modern Architecture and Urban Infrastructure was this year’s conference theme, and the program offered an exceptional line-up of speakers who shared their experience and expertise in architectural facade trends, new grades and technologies, recent project highlights, economic overviews, perspectives on global and local stainless steel market direction, and a good reminder on the importance of workplace health and safety.
Thank you to all speakers who joined our program: Jörn Teipel (Outokumpu), Darren Wills and Leif Ho (Kinzi Group), Clive Whittington (C.M. Whittington & Associates), Louis Victor Blain (Weld Australia), Gordon Heald (Fabmetal Specialists), Peter Munckton (BOQ), Jim Lennon (Red Door Research/Macquarie Capital), Mark Ellis (Atlas Steels) and John Ahern (Author of On the Road… With Kids).
The Australian Industry Stainless Steel Supplier and Fabricator Awards is now in its second year and celebrates innovation and excellence in Australian stainless steel supply, design and fabrication. Three individual prestigious awards voted on by the industry were presented at the conference Gala Dinner.
Recognising excellence in supply performance, the Flat Product Supplier of the Year 2018 was awarded to Daming International Import and Export Co., Ltd.
YC Inox Co., Ltd. took out the Long Product Supplier of the Year for the second year in a row.
The Fabricator Project of the Year Award recognises excellence in Australian stainless steel design and fabrication, and nominees were selected from projects featured in Australian Stainless Magazine during 2017 and 2018. Congratulations to Furphy Engineering and TFG Group who both won this award for the fabrication and installation of all stainless steel elements in the new Fuchs Lubricants purpose-built plant in Beresfield, NSW.
The Peter Matheson Industry Service Award was also presented during the dinner to three industry veterans in recognition and appreciation of their commitment and service to the Australian stainless steel industry – Peter Moore for over 30 years of service, Ian Ward for over 31 years of service and Alex Gouch for over 30 years of service.
An afternoon of golf was enjoyed by a small group of delegates at the Glades Golf Course in Robina, with players vying for the Barry Durrant Memorial Trophy. By a quarter of a point, the winners of the 2-ball golf Ambrose for 2018 was Darren Peters (Vulcan Steel) and Nathan Bridge (BRIDCO).
Many thanks goes to our generous sponsors for their support and contribution to the conference, whom without, this event would not be possible: Atlas Steels, Austral Wright Metals, Combilift Australia, Metal Centre Australia and Paige Stainless Fabrications.
Our thanks also to all delegates who attended PacRim Stainless 2018. We already look forward to seeing you all again next year and encourage you to bring your colleagues and make the most of the opportunity to connect with the Australian stainless steel industry.
Mark your diaries for PacRim Stainless 2019: 9-10 October, Sofitel Gold Coast.
