When we mention that XL is a nationwide company, a common question that arises is how we maintain efficiency across the entire country. This concern is particularly relevant for those who are in more remote locations away from main centres.
For business owners, you want to know quite early on if the company you are speaking to is a good fit in terms of:
- Knowledge of design and local councils.
- Has an efficient structural design system.
- Can deliver a project efficiently without bloated project management or travel costs.
In this article, learn how XL Structural maintains nationwide efficiency in structural design and construction projects. From our internal design team to strategic steel sourcing and tailored installation strategies, discover our approach to delivering projects efficiently across the country.
Design + Council Compliance
Consultant and engineer fees can feel like an endless pit on larger projects, which is why XL takes the lead in design. Over the years, we have worked with different architects, engineers, and consultants right across the country. We often found there were common challenges with architects and structural engineers not working in harmony. This led to clashes or gaps between the various professionals on the project.
To overcome this, we have built our own internal design team at our head office in Timaru. We have architectural designers and structural detailers working side by side, ensuring that both the architectural and structural plans work hand in hand and are efficiently designed. Having the teams in one location allows fast communication, a rapid exchange of information, and continuous learning.
As they will be your point of contact, we have also invested heavily in training our architectural designers in the New Zealand Building Code. This includes working with experts who have trained the council BCOs in how to interpret the code. This, coupled with the experience of working with councils all over New Zealand, gives our team the skills to work with councils and draw off a nationwide pool of experience.
Strategic Steel Sourcing
XL Structural's strategic approach to steel sourcing contributes significantly to our nationwide efficiency. Our team imports structural steel directly from mills in Europe and India, which allows us to cut out the wholesaling/merchant part of the supply chain.
We then stock the raw steel ready for manufacturing in Timaru and Cambridge, which are close to the sea ports of Timaru and Tauranga. As we have developed modular portal systems, and our design team is connected directly to the cost of fabrication, this allows us to continue to drive efficiency and quality control.
In some cases, we may have to ship our fabricated steel larger distances, say from Cambridge to Gisborne or Timaru to Nelson. However, these freight components are still part of the supply chain as your local fabricator is likely getting raw steel sent to them from depots in the main centres like Auckland and Christchurch.
Another advantage is being able to combine our purchasing power with our parent company, Alpine Buildings. For the likes of cladding and purlins, we are able to negotiate efficient rates with importers and manufacturers, like NZ Steel. Compared to local roofing companies that don't have the volume for this, this can save you significant time and money.
Tailored Installation Strategies
XL Structural’s approach to installation is marked by adaptability to regional changes. The first consideration is to leverage off the local expertise to minimise the travel and accommodation of builders and sub-trades. We also recognise that, where possible, it is best to support the local trades for builds in the area.
However, sometimes there is both a quality and price advantage of bringing in a crew that specialises in a particular field. At XL, we have an internal team of steel riggers and roofers and we've found it is often more efficient to bring them into a remote area as they know the system and install techniques.
It can also be beneficial to bring in national subcontractors for specialised works where local teams haven't had the experience. For example, post-tension slab or ground remediation.
Project Management Balance
XL Structural’s approach to project management is focused on keeping things simple and efficient, rather than layering up duties and margin. The key is to break the project into logical chunks.
For example, for a build with smaller offices, it may make more sense for a local builder to look after certain works with their own set of sub-trades. There may also be trades or contractors within the landowner's network (e.g. excavation, electrical, etc.) that are also best isolated. Alternatively, it may be best the for the whole project to be wrapped up under one head contractor.
At XL, we don’t believe in putting square pegs in round holes. We know we're not the best fit for every project so our project consultants will work with you earlier on to qualify the project and understand what your requirements are. If we can offer value, we'll explain how and continue the discussion. If not, we'll explain why and may recommend who we think would be a suitable option.
If you're interested in discussing your next project, contact our team today to book a meeting with one of our experts.
