Western Sydney’s manufacturing sector is set to expand its steel processing capacity with the opening of a new facility in Milperra, designed to support the region’s growing construction and infrastructure pipeline, according to The Australian Reinforcement Company (ARC).
ARC announced it will open a 2,500-square-metre steel processing and distribution facility capable of supplying 10,000 tonnes of reinforcing steel annually to residential and commercial construction projects across Western Sydney.
The facility will receive reinforcing steel products from InfraBuild’s manufacturing mills in Rooty Hill, Newcastle and Melbourne before cutting and bending the steel to project-specific requirements.
InfraBuild Executive General Manager of Distribution and Processing Sean Mannering said the facility would strengthen local supply capabilities as demand for housing and infrastructure continues to grow.
“This new facility will process and distribute steel in Western Sydney, for Western Sydney, using Western Sydney scrap,” Mannering said.
“It’s vital to be able to produce steel locally, cut and bent for local needs, and be accountable to our local customers.”
Mannering said the Milperra site was one of six ARC distribution facilities in Western Sydney supplying more than 40,000 tonnes of steel to the residential market, with more than 100,000 new homes expected to be built in the region over the next five years.
“When our customers are preparing to pour concrete, our steel has to arrive cut and bent, specifically for their program, at the exact time they need it,” he said.
“Our customers chose us because we reliably deliver top-quality product. This new facility helps us ensure we can get reliable, sustainable steel to our Western Sydney customers precisely when they need it.”
The company said the opening forms part of preparations for what it described as a $50 billion infrastructure pipeline in Western Sydney.
“The opening of the Milperra site demonstrates our commitment to growing Western Sydney, as we prepare for the $50 billion infrastructure boom and over 100,000 new houses over the next five years,” Mr Mannering said.
InfraBuild said it currently supports more than 600 manufacturing jobs in Western Sydney and plans to expand steelmaking capacity at its Rooty Hill operations from 680,000 tonnes per year to one million tonnes annually by 2030.
The company also highlighted its steelmaking operations in Western Sydney, which use an electric arc furnace to melt 100 per cent recycled Australian scrap steel. According to InfraBuild, the process is 75 per cent less carbon intensive than a traditional coal-fuelled blast furnace.
ARC said the Milperra opening follows its recently announced investments in Queensland, including facilities at Hemmant and Eagle Farm, aimed at supporting infrastructure projects ahead of the 2032 Olympic Games.
