Supplying quality pipe, delivered with superior service for 40 years, OneSteel Oil & Gas Pipe is obviously doing something – or a lot of things1– right. As the company has been a major sponsor of the Australian Pipeline Industry Association since its inception, The Australian Pipeliner thought it fitting to speak with OneSteel Oil & Gas Pipe National Sales, Logistics and Planning Manger, Paul Trowbridge, to try to find out the secret to that success.

The Australian Pipeliner (TAP): OneSteel is obviously a major Australian success story. How has it managed to evolve and stay ahead in the pipeline industry for more than 40 years?

Paul Trowbridge (PT): There are many reasons why our products are used in the vast majority of Australian pipelines. We pride ourselves not only on the scope of projects but our unerring commitment to quality, placing as much emphasis on the quality of our service as we do the quality of our pipe, to ensure we deliver every time.

TAP: What guarantees that quality?

PT: Our pipe quality is second-to-none because we understand how important integrity is to our customers. With our stringent quality control processes, we think not in terms of kilometres of pipe but rather millimetres. Our focus takes on microscopic proportions to ensure the highest quality for every millimetre of pipe we produce. Exhaustive testing procedures, both in the laboratory and in the pipe mill, are our guarantee of quality.

With regard to service, through our long established and comprehensive network of distributors and our direct relationships with major and smaller pipeline owners and constructors, we work with all of our customers to supply the highest quality at the best possible price. No project is too big or small – whatever the size, our customers receive our full attention. Our plant is sited to take full advantage of all transport modes, including rail, road and sea and we have established relationships with all major Australian transport companies and authorities. When you put all of that together, you can see why we can deliver what we promise, on time, every time.

TAP: What about technical expertise?

PT: No other pipe manufacturing company can offer the Australian technical expertise available from OneSteel. We go to great lengths to ensure our pipe is manufactured to meet the technical, commercial and logistical requirements of each client. The people who manage the project are the same people who make the pipe. Our customers can rest assured our own technical troubleshooters are on the ground, ready to provide all the support and advice needed, at a moment’s notice. We do not simply subcontract quality out as others do. It’s much too important to not look after quality ourselves.

TAP: OneSteel has a great safety record. How important is safety to OneSteel?

PT: A huge commitment to safety is at the core of our business. At our Kembla Grange mill in Wollongong, we supply local employment for more than 120 people and recently celebrated exceeding 1,000 days Lost Time Injury free.

TAP: What have been the highlight projects?

PT: OneSteel Oil & Gas Pipe continues to roll out tonnes of high-grade line pipe to diverse projects across Australia. We have recently completed a host of exciting high-grade line pipe projects including the Tasmanian Natural Gas Pipeline, the SEA Gas pipeline, the North Queensland Gas Pipeline and the Comet Ridge project, to mention just a few. In total, we’ve supplied more than 75 major pipeline projects (we classify major as requiring in excess of 50,000 metres) and more than 5,000 minor projects of between 5,000 metres and 49,999 metres. In the process, we’ve created thousands of jobs in various locations across the country. We’re proud to say companies like Santos, Agility, Spie Capag, Worley, Alinta, Esso, BHP, the Queensland Department of mines, Annacoda Nickel and McConnell Dowell are among the many who choose OneSteel to supply their quality line pipe. On the structural side we supplied more than 2000 tonnes of structural pipe to help build Stadium Australia for the 2,000 Olympics, and delivered several thousand tonnes to the Spencer Street Station redevelopment in Melbourne.

TAP: Where to from here?

PT: Reaching another milestone year has prompted us to take stock of where we’ve come from and try to define where we’re going. For example, our revolutionary OneTrack system for project managing coated pipe has proven very successful. We also continue our focus on high-grade line pipe development for the oil and gas industry. We’ve supplied the only X80 pipeline in service in Australia. We’re currently installing equipment capable of manufacturing 20 inch pipe, which will make us the first Australian manufacturer of API pipe in this size, further reducing import dependency. The way ahead is undoubtedly both challenging and exciting but with the continued support of our employees, suppliers and customers, we aim to stay at the head of the pack in the continually changing global market place. Simply put, we intend to still be going strong in another 40 years!