20
CONSTRUCTION WORLD
MARCH
2014
COVER STORY
Building in steel has many
advantages,
aside
from
the fact that 100% of these
components are recyclable,
which makes it a down-
stream ‘green’ alternative,
combined with key factors
that include stability, strength,
and durability. Then there is the speed
of construction, with portal frame clear
span steel structures providing one of the
fastest and most cost efficient ways to
create column free buildings, maximising
the internal space for varied occupant
requirements ranging from warehousing,
to retail space and combined office and
factory facilities.
With their head office based in La Lucia
Ridge, Durban, and the factory based in
Colenso, Tugela Steel is a market leader in
this specialised field, with a project track
record that celebrates 30 years in business
in 2014, with around 350 orders currently
secured annually.
Tugela Steel supplies these structures
to clients both locally and internation-
ally. Within South Africa, Tugela Steel has
a division that delivers and erects, which
includes the construction of the concrete
column foundations. This erection team
also operates in cross-border territories.
Public sector orders include sub-con-
tracts for projects ranging from housing to
schools and clinics.
“At any one time, we have over 100
portal frame buildings in stock and ready
for delivery at our Colenso facility,”
says Tugela Steel’s Bjorn Haug. In
addition to standard modular building
sizes, Tugela Steel also meets requirements
for customised designs, working with the
client’s professional team. A recent project
example is the completion of an 8 500 m²
coal warehouse facility for a developer in
Richards Bay.
Tugela’s design and construct pack-
ages include the roof sheeting, insula-
tion, ventilation and roller shutter door
systems. Roof sheeting consists of 0,5 mm
or 0,6 mm galvanised Zincal or Chromodek
(painted sheets).
“Providing optimum design flexibility,
Tugela Steel structures are all designed
for further expansion to accommodate
commercial growth,” says Haug.
Other options available to clients com-
prise accommodation for overhead cranes,
south lights, canopies, lean-to structures
and ridge monitors. These structures
are sold with an Engineers Certificate
and are designed in accordance with SABS
0160 and 0162.
Tugela Steel standard span width pack-
ages extend sequentially from 12, 15, 18,
20, 22, 25, 30, to 36 m. Span lengths can
be any multiples of 5 m or 6 m, and the
standard roof pitch is either 10 or 15º.
All steelwork is Grade 350WA, and at
Tugela’s Colenso factory steel is degreased
and primed with an oxide primer: optional
extras comprise either enamel finish
coating or galvanising.
Increasing African
demand
Outside South Africa, Bjorn says that export
demand is on the increase, especially in the
mining sector. Currently, around 60% of
Tugela Steel’s turnover is directed at the
South African market, with the balance
comprising exports, both to long-standing
PORTAL FRAME
TUGELA STEEL’S
KwaZulu-Natal based
company, Tugela Steel,
is expanding its niche in
South Africa, as well as
internationally into Africa
and further afield for
portal frame clear span
steel buildings, deploying
a fleet of Cat telehandlers
at its Colenso production
facility to meet materials
handling demands.
1.
