Techport Australia Common User Facility

Located just 15km from Adelaide’s CBD and 9km from the city’s new international airport, Techport Australia encompasses a Common User Facility for shipbuilding, and a generous commercial and supplier precinct to cater to the maritime industry.

A key supplier to the construction of the Common User Facility, Orrcon Steel’s Pipelines & Infrastructure team worked closely with McConnell Dowell/ Built Environs Joint Venture (MDBEJV) to supply tubular pipes (AS1594/ AS1163 C350) for what is Australia’s largest Shiplift Pier. The structure measures 156 metres long and 34 metres wide, with the capability to support a vessel up to an astounding 9,300 tonnes.

Emphasising the delivery of real value solutions, Orrcon Steel sourced and developed a tailored steel package in conjunction with offshore manufacturers resulting in the best overall offer to the JV. The solution included project specific, tailored coated pipes in varying lengths and wall thicknesses, conforming to stringent quality requirements and specifications. The pipes were coated in the zone subject to the aggressive marine environment further optimising Orrcon Steel’s solution.

The tailored lengths supplied for the project ranged from 30 metres to 45.1 metres, 1067mm OD, with a wall thickness of 16mm to 20mm. Orrcon Steel specified the piling pipes which were manufactured and coated in Korea and under Orrcon Steel’s technical supervision especially for the project. This project further entailed a tailored logistics solution with the arrangement of special shipping and transportation.

Numerous changes to the coating type and the piling lengths meant that many options were submitted to the JV prior to finalising the design. Working closely with its stakeholders, Orrcon Steel provided a timely and effective response during the design stage to ensure that the project remained on track.

According to Frank Cunningham – Executive Quality Manager, this project was formally awarded to Orrcon Steel in October 2007, while preliminary discussions took place well before that. He added, “The journey and process has involved the Orrcon Steel Pipelines & Infrastructure team, the Quality Department, group legal, Daeyang P & T, Miju Steel Co, Toll Logistics and myself so it has been a real Orrcon Steel / supplier team effort to get this one over the line!... not only within budget and on time but with a major focus on overall finished product quality”.

The Common User Facility will be commissioned in 2010 but much effort was put into carrying out the project from day one. This sophisticated infrastructure will play a major role in assisting ASC to construct state of the art Air Warfare Destroyers (AWD) as well as attracting other shipbuilding and repair opportunities to Techport Australia.

Project: Techport Australia, Common User Facility
Client / Piling Contractor : McConnell Dowell / Built Environs Joint Venture (MDBEJV)
Orrcon Steel Products: SSAW 1067 OD x 20 16mm Piling Pipe

For more information give Orrcon Steel a call on 1300 677 266