‘TheHub’ boosts sovereign capabilities for major projects Events of the last 24 months have highlighted the vulnerability of global supply chains, and the difficulties that many industries have faced in securing vital goods and materials including building products. Supply chain shortfalls and growing geopolitical uncertainty, have also seen renewed national interest in growing Australia’s sovereign capabilities. BlueScope Distribution’s newly commissioned $6.9M National Product, Processing & Solutions Hub (TheHub), was conceptualised with the goal of providing a unique and domestically coordinated supply chain solution, assisting in the delivery of large-scale national projects. Plans for ‘TheHub’ actually began in 2017, before the COVID-19 pandemic, and identified a growing number of major infrastructure projects that were to begin across the country – the arrival of the pandemic, however, has further cemented the viability and strategic importance of the facility. Located in Unanderra, NSW, TheHub is ideally situated mid-way down the east coast of Australia, and within close proximity to key suppliers and materials’ sources, including the Port Kembla Steelworks, Bisalloy Steels and Blast and Prime.It’s also based within a well-established intermodal freight region, further adding to logistical efficiency. BlueScope Distribution’s National Manager Operations & National products, Processing and Solutions Hub, Mick McPhan, said that the facility was well placed to provide customers within the defence, infrastructure, renewable energy, transport, mining, oil and gas, and agricultural industries, with a holistic product and service offering, that would help them deliver significant projects Australia-wide. “The company identified the need for a sovereign capability to support customers with steel and aluminium product, processing of semi-finished component and project management solutions relating to surety of supply and single point of contact for all material requirements,” Mr McPhan said. “We’re offering Australian steel, Australian teams and Australian partners, and this value proposition has already been very warmly received by the market – even though the facility was not officially opened until May, we were already providing materials to some partners in December.” The site offers 16,000m2 of undercover space, of which only 4000m2 is currently being used by the facility’s 20-strong team, providing ample infrastructure for future growth. “Australia has flagged significant investment in defence, infrastructure and renewable projects in particular – without TheHub, we would not have been able to properly address these major project opportunities,” Mr. McPhan said. “The facility can also support mining, oil and gas projects along with projects for the transport sector, by offering solutions such as local kitting where material can be supplied in kit form ready for assembly and installation. “We’re geared to undertake all the work to customers’ infeed materials, allowing them to concentrate on their core areas of business, and in doing so, providing added efficiencies. The site also has the capacity to handle surge capability to meet project timelines.” “It’s this combination of a dedicated facility, purpose-built to deliver large scale projects, supported by BlueScope Distribution’s established national distribution network and broader service capabilities, that will allow us to take advantage of new opportunities.” As well as offering the added capacity to handle significant projects and the convenience of dealing with a single provider for product, processing and service solutions, TheHub is home to a dedicated team well credentialled to offer complete and customised end-to-end services, depending on customer requirements. Next Page Next Page 06 Business News – National Product, Processing and Solutions Hub