Daniel Brown, Steelpipe Sales Administrator (1.75m tall), stands next to a piece of 1.965m diameter steel pipe, part of an advance order for Auckland’s Hunua4 Watermain, and the largest diameter steel pipe ever produced by Steelpipe in NZ.

Largest and Weightiest Project Ever 

A new milestone has been achieved in Steelpipe’s 108 year history, the recent award of the largest contract ever secured by the company, in terms of value and tonnage.

The Watercare project, known as the Hunua4 Watermain, is the result of years of planning to meet population growth and increase the security of water supply to the Auckland region. The new line will run from Redoubt Road in Manukau Heights to Campbell Crescent in Epsom, approximately 22 kilometres of pipe, to be completed by 2015.

Steelpipe’s job is to manufacture and supply the pipe, primarily in two diameters, the bulk being 1.965m, the largest diameter pipe ever produced by Steelpipe in NZ, and the rest 1.575m.

It will also be the weightiest pipe ever produced by the company; once each pipe is coated internally with concrete every metre will weigh more than a 1000 kilos - (1100kg). Around 15,000 tonnes of steel will be used in the process.

Lance Thompson, Steelpipe’s GM Business Development, is specifically assigned to this project as Steelpipe’s Hunua4 Project Director. In his 24 years with the company he has been part of some big wins but this is the highlight of his career.

“I am just thrilled that we have won this one. We first started working on prices and budgets in August 2007, so it has been a long haul to the ’start’ line. We approached the job with a view to reducing as many of the risks for Watercare as we could. We obviously have local manufacturing facilities and suppliers but flexibility was key to our offer, being able to meet the changing requirements of Watercare as the project unfolds. Through working closely with NZ Steel and coating supplier Sulco, we have also been able to provide a fixed price over the next four years,” says Lance.

A significant expansion of Steelpipe’s Onehunga facility will be required to deliver this project.

Peter Alexander, CEO Steelpipe says “we will be investing close to $7 million. Our new capability will include manufacturing 12 metre rather than 6 metre lengths of pipe, a more cost effective product overall, in that there will be half the number of ‘joints’ required.

“Manufacturing innovations will be introduced with new tape coating and concrete lining plants, essentially the same technology we have been using for a number of years but on a much larger scale.

“And with the reconfiguration of the new plant we will also be able to remove old plant and buildings, increasing efficiency around our site,” says Peter.



(L-R) Peter Alexander, Steelpipe CEO and Lance Thompson, Steelpipe GM Business Development.

So who is McConnell Group?

McConnell Group is made up of a group of complementary businesses - Hawkins, McConnell Property, Steelpipe, Harker Underground Construction and Element NZ. As one of New Zealand's largest privately owned construction, property and infrastructure groups our passion is 'creating and building project based businesses.' More>>

Who leads McConnell Group?

The leadership of McConnell Group is made up of the combined leadership resource of Hawkins, McConnell Property and Steelpipe. Chris Hunter, CEO Hawkins; Peter Alexander, CEO Steelpipe and Commercial Manager McConnell Group; Nigel Richards, General Manager McConnell Property; and David McConnell Managing Director McConnell Group; are part of the McConnell Group leadership team.  They see value in being part of a group, sharing and learning from each other through the complementary 'project focused' nature of the businesses. John McConnell is Executive Director and Mike Wardle Chief Financial Officer.

What is the role of McConnell Group?

The role of McConnell Group is to support and strengthen the operating businesses. McConnell Group is not an operating company. It ensures that, if and when required, targeted resources are found and put in place to support and strengthen the operating businesses.