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Galvanized steel malting facility wins award

9 July 2019

InfraBuild Steel Centre worked closely with SA-based construction firm Ahrens Group to provide an integrated steel supply solution for Coopers Brewery’s Adelaide malting facility. That facility has now been recognised as one of the best in the world.  

The $65 million Coopers malting facility in South Australia has been named the equal best maltster in the world by an international judging panel at the World Barley, Malt and Beer Conference held in Poland.

South Australian construction firm Ahrens Group oversaw the construction of the technologically advanced facility, including its 25 silos, conveyor bridge, conveyor gantry, processing buildings, germinating vessels and kiln. The silos were constructed with 340 tonnes of hot-dipped galvanized steel supplied by InfraBuild Steel Centre (formerly LIBERTY OneSteel Metalcentre), with the product chosen for its ease of installation and resilience over the predicted life of the asset. 

Integrated supply solution

The extensive galvanizing requirements of the project, plus a restricted site footprint, made the malting facility a complex challenge for Ahrens Group. However, InfraBuild Steel Centre demonstrated its supply capability to Ahrens Group, initially winning constituent packages before winning a total integrated supply solution. That solution included nesting of steel materials for processing and managing the steel offcuts, in addition to providing material test certification for all products.

Recognition nationally and internationally

Ahrens says the malting facility was one of its most complex projects-to-date and that particular care and attention was paid to the aesthetics of the facility so as to have it fit with Coopers’ design brief. The galvanized finish of the silos has drawn praise from those who are accustomed to seeing more agricultural-looking malting facilities elsewhere.

The recent international accolade isn’t the first time the malting facility has received recognition. Last year it was awarded winner of the Australian Steel Institute’s (ASI) Steel Clad Structures award in the 2018 Steel Excellence Awards for South Australia.

The title of Maltster of the Year 2019 at the Conference was shared jointly between Coopers and Dutch malting business The Swaen.

Hero image courtesy Ahrens Group.

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