Australian manufacturing is supporting the production of specialised sporting infrastructure, with Melbourne-based Abel Sports and Flagpoles using locally sourced aluminium and components to supply goal posts, flagpoles and barrier net poles to venues across the country, according to Capral Aluminium.
The business has operated for more than 30 years, initially focusing on flags and flagpoles before expanding into sporting infrastructure.
In a LinkedIn post, Capral said sporting products now account for around 70 to 80 per cent of Abel Sports and Flagpoles’ business, with its goal posts installed at venues including the MCG, SCG, Allianz Stadium, the Gabba, Adelaide Oval and Perth Stadium.
Owner John describes the company as “an aluminium pole business”, with its products designed to meet different requirements depending on their application.
“At the MCG, for example, the AFL goals might have to come down for another code of football,” John said. “Literally overnight, that ground can be redesigned.”
According to Capral, aluminium is used for its combination of strength, low weight, appearance and corrosion resistance. The company has also expanded its aluminium products to 10-metre barrier net poles positioned behind sporting goals, where lighter poles can assist with handling when nets are installed or removed.
The manufacturing process extends beyond aluminium extrusion, with Abel Sports and Flagpoles working with local businesses on steelwork, welding, base plates and other components before assembling finished products at its Melbourne facility.
John said maintaining local production and supply relationships forms part of the company’s approach to competing with imported products.
“We don’t pretend to be cheap,” he said. “Our big strength is we’re Australian Made, and that’s what we promote.”
Capral supplies the aluminium extrusion used across Abel Sports and Flagpoles’ products and works with the business on custom dies and tooling for its designs. John said the relationship between the two companies dates back more than a decade.
“We go to them with our requirements and then we work together to get the dies and the tooling made,” he said. “That’s probably why it’s good having a local company to deal with.”
John also said local supply provides the business with greater flexibility when products require repairs or replacement, particularly for sporting venues where damaged infrastructure may need to be addressed quickly.
“If anything goes wrong, anything happens, we’ll replace it, we’ll fix it,” he said. “We’re with these guys for the lifetime.”
He said the long-standing relationship with Capral has also provided consistency in the aluminium products supplied to the business.
“We know we get the quality we want. We have never had any issues with quality,” John said.
The business continues to rely on a network of Australian suppliers while producing specialised infrastructure for sporting facilities, schools, councils and public spaces.
“We’re local. We’ve got local product. We’ve got local suppliers,” John said.
