As the Western Australian construction industry continues to face challenges under the pressure of supply chain disruptions, material inflation, labour and resource availability, innovation is what keeps the cogs turning to ensure projects remain underway and on track in our state.
One company dedicated to developing its capacity to meet the needs of the industry and alleviate ongoing construction delays is Bestbar Reinforcements, a supplier of steel reinforcement mesh and bars to builders and concreters across Australia.
Recognised at the annual RISE Business Awards as the Large Business of the Year winner in 2023 and a finalist in the same category in 2022, the steel reinforcement manufacturer has grown into a thriving national supplier of steel for some of Australia’s largest building and construction projects.
Established in 1995, the family-owned business was built from the ground up by brothers Grant and Brad Johnston and their father Steve Johnston and has transformed significantly over the past 29 years.
“We take a long-term approach to business and continue to invest in new technology, machinery and our people to ensure WA projects are not delayed and have the steel they need when they need it,” Bestbar CEO and co-founder Grant Johnston said.
“Though we are not involved in all aspects of a construction project, addressing the challenges of material supply is essential to maintaining momentum and ensuring the successful completion of WA projects. We are here to support that.”
Bestbar made a significant $4 million investment into building a new head office and a state-of-the art 9,600sqm manufacturing facility in East Rockingham, completed in August 2023, which has in turn enhanced the company’s capacity to support local projects.
Additionally, Bestbar's proprietary customer portal, ReoNet, has been instrumental in streamlining operations for their clients. In FY2023 alone, some 26,000 documents were downloaded in WA, resulting in significant savings on labour, printing, and document retrieval.
While there were inevitable challenges that came with migrating to the new facility, including staff acclimating to the new production flow and clients adjusting to the new location, Mr Johnston said it has well and truly paid off.
“First, we installed new automated production lines, increasing our output by 25% before moving any existing equipment. We then migrated the machinery in stages, always keeping at least half of it operational. This approach ensured that we maintained at least 75% of our production capacity between the two facilities at all times, minimising downtime and doing our best to maintain service levels for our clients,” he said.
The new facility has increased Bestbar’s production capabilities by 51% to meet long-term demand in WA.
Bestbar is investing a further $5 million into new, more efficient and safer machinery for its East Rockingham facility by 2025 to further improve product delivery.
The company also recently acquired the machinery assets of local steel reinforcement supplier, Fero Reinforcing, further expanding its capabilities by 77% from a centralised distribution facility.
“Greater capacity and synergies with Fero allow us to be more responsive to client demands. Whether it’s a sudden surge in demand or a need for specialised steel, we are more dynamic and can adapt quickly to meet these needs,” Mr Johnston said.
Across Australia, Bestbar has more than 500 skilled employees, including over 130 staff employed at the new East Rockingham facility, and retained 13 staff from Fero who are able to provide new perspectives and unique expertise on the industry.
The business continues to be managed by the founding members and prides itself on putting family first. “We are a family-oriented business and continue to invest in our people. Family has always been a central element of our business culture,” Mr Johnston said.
“We are now a large business, but we still retain our core family values. We have a lot of people who have worked 10-plus years with us. If our employees are happy that reflects on the work that goes out to our customers” co-founder Brad Johnston said.
The national steel supplier has branches in Perth, Melbourne, Sydney, Darwin and Adelaide and continues to expand, with a new branch recently opened in Ingleburn, New South Wales, and another branch under construction in South Australia.
“Opening two new branches will significantly enhance our national supply capabilities and demonstrate our commitment to supply chain reliability and improving service delivery across the country. Additionally, these new branches bring state-of-the-art technology and greater automation, leading to efficient production and higher safety levels,”Mr Johnston said.
Bestbar’s growth underscores its ability to scale operations and adapt to the needs of a diverse and widespread customer base, solidifying its role as a leading national steel reinforcement supplier meeting the needs and demands of the construction industry.
