The team’s industry expertise, technical know-how and local product and processing knowledge is reassuring for customers, and BlueScope Distribution encourages customers to invite the team to become involved in each project early on, so that they can better assist at the design and specification stages of a project. The added value doesn’t stop there though – for customers, a further benefit of utilising TheHub, is its centralised project management services, to help coordinate the complex supply chains that are typically associated with large steel intensive products, providing supply chain certainty. Mr McPhan said there had been great enthusiasm shown towards TheHub from the broader BlueScope Distribution business, and at a micro level by all employees working from the site. “The culture on-site is fantastic,” Mr McPhan said. “There’s a realisation from the team that they are involved in something very special. The chance to contribute to major projects of national significance and the legacy of this is certainly exciting for all of us. “Already, we’ve seen an interest from prospective customers across many sectors who are wanting to partner with us, including renewables and defence. We have some notable projects in the pipeline.” In keeping with BlueScope Distribution’s focus on minimising the environmental impact of its operations, TheHub features several emission-reducing technologies and initiatives designed to decrease its footprint. An electrical study has been undertaken on site and low consumption L.E.D lighting installed throughout; and roof-mounted solar panels will also be commissioned in the near future. Other initiatives include the fitment of water retention infrastructure and reventilating the site. Also, in accordance with BlueScope Steel Limited’s aspiration of ‘Zero Waste to Landfill’ for all its operational sites, TheHub is in the process of producing a waste map to deliver further environmental benefits, such as increased recycling and waste minimisation to landfill, through the adoption of best practice waste management strategies. Rounding out the main initiatives is the use of electric equipment where possible, such as forklifts. “TheHub is on schedule to become carbon neutral by the end of this year,” Mr McPhan said. “We’re doing this through internal measures on site, and extending the scope of the program by offsetting the emissions of our deliveries. “An additional benefit is that by offering a wide range of processing services at the one location, we’re effectively minimising the amount of product that’s getting transported around to other suppliers – we estimate that over the course of 12 months, this amounts to approximately 100 truck deliveries.” Grand opening of the National Product, Processing and Solutions Hub Learn More Learn More 08 Business News – National Product, Processing and Solutions Hub 1/3 2/3 3/3