Stramit COVID-19 Response

1 February 2021

Update: 21 September 2021 (Knoxfield)

In response to the COVID-19 situation in Victoria and recent changes announced by the Victorian government, we write to update you on the impact to Stramit and our customers.

The Victorian Government has announced that all building sites in metropolitan Melbourne and the municipalities currently in lockdown (Geelong, Mitchell, Surf Coast and Ballarat) will shut down until 5th October.

We continue to comply with all the government public health orders, including working from home where possible. Our Knoxfield site will continue to manufacture and support customers locally.

Wherever possible, we will try to maintain regular service to the customers who are still able to operate and receive deliveries.

We ask for your understanding of the challenges the current situation poses for us all. We will stay in close contact with you around orders, deliveries and fulfilment issues daily. Our customer pickup area in Knoxfield will remain open but with strict COVID-19 rules in place.

Your staff and our staff's safety and wellbeing remain our number one priority throughout this period.

Thank you, and stay safe.

Update: 3 September 2021 (Erskine Park)

We are pleased to advise we have re-opened onsite manufacturing at our Erskine Park facility this week. Deliveries into the Sydney and Wollongong metro areas have also resumed in line with the NSW Government COVID-19 guidelines.
 
Pre-arranged “Click and Collect” customer pickups (phone, email and electronic orders) have also resumed. Please remain in your vehicle and we will come to you for contactless pickup.
 
Due to the week-long closure at the Erskine Park facility, there will be an extended lead time on some deliveries as we work through the backlog of orders and restricted steel coil supply from BlueScope.
 
Please liaise directly with your Account Manager to obtain order delivery status.

Alternatively, visit the Stramit Customer Portal for up-to-date delivery info, or call our office on 02 6298 2500. Office staff will be working remotely.

Update: 20 August 2021 (Erskine Park)

Stramit's Erskine Park site will be temporarily closed effective immediately, with deliveries resuming around 1 September 2021.

Government contact tracers identified that a casual agency worker who attended our site one week ago has subsequently tested positive for COVID-19.

Precautions were all in place and COVID-19 protocols adhered to, but we're required to take the necessary precautionary actions from here in line with government advice.

We will do all in our power to work with those customers impacted to rearrange a suitable alternate delivery date and ask for your patience and understanding at this time.

The safety of our staff, our contractors and our customers is paramount and we will take great care to ensure that this situation remains contained. We have our sales and service teams set up to serve you remotely and to work through all of those customer orders impacted by delivery changes in the coming days.

Any delivery dates designed to avoid price increase impacts will be treated sympathetically on a case by case basis.
 
Stramit prides itself on our COVID-19 preventative actions and will be conducting a deep clean and following up with all staff and contractors who were working on the site since the date in question. 
 

If you have any questions, please feel free to get in touch with your Account Manager, or with your local Stramit team.

Update: 13 August 2021 (ACT & Queanbeyan customers)

Unfortunately, yesterday’s ACT announcement means that our Queanbeyan branch is required to close for the 7-day lockdown period from 12 August, in line with government restrictions. 

All face-to-face contact and on-site operations will be closed until the lockdown is lifted, which means:

• Manufacturing at the Queanbeyan factory will pause
• We will not be delivering from our Queanbeyan branch to NSW/ACT
• Our order pick up area will be closed
• All face-to-face visits are cancelled 
• For those customers connected to the Queanbeyan branch that are outside the ACT and receive deliveries from other branches, those deliveries will continue as usual.

Staff who are able to work from home will continue to do so. This means in most cases you'll still be able to contact your Account Manager or the local OMF team via phone or email to discuss any orders, deliveries or fulfilment requirements.

We are monitoring government advice closely and are seeking exemption to deliver product from our Queanbeyan site into NSW.  

If you have any questions, please feel free to get in touch with your Account Manager, or with your local Stramit team.

Update: 5 August 2021 (Cardiff Customers)

In response to the new lockdown announcement for the Hunter and Upper Hunter areas, we wanted to assure you that our Cardiff branch is still trading and delivering for our customers.

All local regulations will be followed, and at this stage:

• Manufacturing and deliveries will continue with any adjustments made to meet COVID-safe requirements
• Staff will work from home wherever possible
• All other requirements including wearing face masks, check in processes and socially distancing will be strictly adhered to. 

If you have any questions, please feel free to get in touch with your Account Manager, or with your local Stramit team.

Update: 30 July 2021 (NSW Customers)

In response to the recent COVID-19 announcements by the NSW government, the following changes will commence at our Erskine Park branch from Monday 2 August 2021;

• Manufacturing resumes to full capability, subject to team members meeting COVID-19 surveillance testing in nominated LGA's. Our priority is to work through the significant back log of orders over the coming weeks.
• Deliveries resume to construction sites outside of the 8 LGA's under the government COVID-19 guidelines.

Due to the significant back log of orders and high demand in the coming weeks, delivery schedules will require a level of flexibility and we ask for your patience in this matter.

As always the Stramit team are here to support our customers wherever possible.

The safety and wellbeing of all staff, customers and the community remains our priority and all government protocols will be followed. 

Update: 20 July 2021 (SA Customers)

The lockdown announced today means that unfortunately our Adelaide branch is required to close for the 7-day lockdown period from 6pm tonight, 20 July 2021, in line with government requirements. 

Staff who are able to work from home will continue to do so and the local team can be reached via phone on 08 8219 2000.

All face-to-face contact and on-site operations will be closed until the lockdown is lifted, which means:

• Manufacturing at the Adelaide factory will pause
• We will not be delivering within South Australia
• Our order pick up area will be closed
• All face-to-face visits are cancelled 

We will be monitoring government advice closely and will re-open and resume operations as soon as we are able to do so.

As always the Stramit team are here to support our customers wherever possible.

The safety and wellbeing of all staff, customers and the community remains our priority and all government protocols will be followed. 

Update: 18 July 2021 (NSW Customers)

Recent events in NSW and the Premier’s announcement on Saturday, 17 July on the Sydney Metro construction shutdown have clearly left everyone with a number of questions.

At this stage, this impacts our Erskine Park Branch only in NSW.

• We intend to continue to manufacture and distribute product for, and to, the areas where construction can continue (under the current rules) from Erskine Park.
• Our team has been impacted from the geographic hot spots restraint of movement and so we will have a reduced manpower available.
• Wherever possible, we will try to maintain regular service to those still able to open construction sites or to other regional areas of delivery.
• Our Newcastle Cardiff, Orange and Queanbeyan branches will continue as normal.

We ask that you are understanding of the challenges that the current situation poses for us all and we will stay in close contact with our customers around orders, deliveries and fulfillment issues on a daily basis. Our customer pick up area in Erskine Park will remain open but with strict COVID-19 rules in place.

Your staff and our staff's safety and wellbeing remains our number one priority throughout this period and all Government restrictions and protocols will be maintained without fail.

Update: 16 July 2021 

Once again our sites are continuing to trade as usual, while observing all local restrictions. 

All local regulations must be strictly observed when visiting any Stramit site, including for order pick ups. Please ensure you follow all local rules and directions from Stramit staff, including using QR codes to check in and wearing a mask where applicable.

The latest updates for sites currently affected by lockdowns or restrictions are:

NSW

As Greater Sydney remains in lockdown, our Erskine Park site will continue to operate in line with current restrictions, including:

• Face-to-face meetings and visits cancelled during lockdown
• Face masks must be worn on-site when picking up orders
• Stramit staff will work from home where possible
• All COVID-safe rules and directions from Stramit staff must be followed on site
• Any staff in local government areas with stricter rules who cannot work from home will follow all COVID-19 testing requirements.

VIC

For the duration of the snap lockdown, our Victorian sites (Knoxfield and Bendigo) will remain open, with restrictions in place including:

• Face-to-face meetings and visits will be cancelled during the lockdown period
• Face masks must be worn when on site picking up orders
• Stramit staff will work from home where possible
• All COVID-safe rules and directions from Stramit staff must be followed on site.

QLD

Face masks must be worn while at the Crestmead site, with the mandatory requirement extended until Friday 23 July 2021.

• All COVID-safe rules and directions from Stramit staff must be followed on site.

As always, feel free to get in touch with your Account Manager, or with your local Stramit team.

Update: 29 June 2021 

Please note that in addition to yesterday's update, new restrictions will be in place at our Crestmead and Townsville sites during the QLD lockdown period announced earlier today. 

Face-to-face meetings and non-critical visits will be rescheduled, face masks must be worn and Stramit staff in these locations will work from home where possible. 

If you have any questions, please feel free to get in touch with your Account Manager, or with your local Stramit team.

Update: 28 June 2021 

With new COVID-19 restrictions recently announced by several of our state governments, we wanted to assure you that all Stramit sites are still trading and delivering for our customers.

In all areas we are continuing to take orders, manufacture and deliver. 

All local regulations must be strictly observed when visiting any Stramit site, including for order pick ups. Please ensure you follow all local rules and directions from Stramit staff, including mask wearing where applicable.

Erskine Park

• Face-to-face meetings and non-critical visits will be cancelled during the lockdown period
• Face masks must be worn when on site picking up orders
• Stramit staff will work from home where possible
• All COVID-safe rules and directions from Stramit staff must be followed on site.

Albury, Queanbeyan, Cardiff, Orange and Coffs Harbour

• Face masks must be worn on site
• All COVID-safe rules and directions from Stramit staff must be followed on site.

Crestmead

• Face masks must be worn when on site
• All COVID-safe rules and directions from Stramit staff must be followed on site.

Maddington

• Face-to-face meetings and non-critical visits will be cancelled during the lockdown period
• Face masks must be worn when on site picking up orders
• Stramit staff will work from home where possible
• All COVID-safe rules and directions from Stramit staff must be followed on site.

At all other sites, any COVID-safe rules and/or directions from Stramit staff must be followed.

At Stramit, our priority is to ensure that we have a safe environment for both our employees and our customers.

If you have any questions, please feel free to get in touch with your Account Manager, or with your local Stramit team.

Even in lockdown affected areas, remember we're only a phone call away.

As the current situation is changing rapidly, we'll continue to update this page.

Update: 27 May 2021 (VIC customers)

In response to the new COVID-19 restrictions announced by the Victorian government, we wanted to assure you that all Stramit sites are still trading and delivering for our customers.

While complying with all the government public health orders including working from home where possible, our Knoxfield and Bendigo sites will continue to manufacture and support our customers locally.

We are continuing to monitor the rapidly changing COVID-19 situation and its impact in Victoria. Our businesses in both Australia and New Zealand are following the advice of their respective governments and required restriction levels.

We'll continue to provide any further updates as required.

Update: 30 March 2021 (QLD customers)

The Queensland Government has once again announced increased restrictions and requirements for both Greater Brisbane and the rest of QLD.

Currently all sites are able to remain fully operational and deliveries are unaffected.

We have revised working arrangements as needed to ensure the continued safety of our team, our customers and our communities, including:

• wearing masks where required and where safe to do so
• having staff work from home where possible
• continuing to follow all other COVID-safe recommendations, including social distancing and hand washing

If you are in an affected region and have any questions, please reach out to your Account Manager or local branch.

We'll continue to monitor any changes or updates to the situation and provide further updates as required.

Update: 15 February 2021 (VIC customers)

With the current COVID-19 situation in Victoria and recent restrictions announced by the Victorian government, we want to provide a fresh update.

Whilst complying with all the government public health orders including working from home where possible, our Knoxfield and Bendigo sites will continue to manufacture and support our customers locally.

However, due to the closure of building sites, deliveries will be impacted for the duration of the lockdown (ending 11:59pm on Wednesday 17 February 2021). With our COVID-19 plan and controls in place, deliveries to non-building sites and pickups from our Knoxfield and Bendigo sites will remain unchanged.

We encourage our customers to plan ahead and ensure adequate time when picking up or receiving deliveries. In the short term we will revert to a 48-hour service offer until we work through the back log of building site deliveries. We thank you in advance for your understanding and patience in this matter.

Our Albury site remains fully operational. However, we will be working through any deliveries to sites in Victoria that are serviced by our Albury branch similarly, if they are impacted by the lockdown. 

We are continuing to monitor the rapidly changing COVID-19 situation and its impact in Victoria. 

At Stramit, our priority is to ensure that we have a safe environment for both our employees and our customers.

If you have any questions, please feel free to get in touch with your Account Manager, or with your local Stramit team.

Once again, if the situation changes, we will continue to provide updates on this page.

Update: 1 February 2021 (WA customers)

In response to the lockdown in Western Australia announced yesterday, we wanted to provide you with an update.

Our Stramit Maddington facility remains operational as usual to support our local customers, with all necessary precautions in place.

We continue to comply with all government public health orders, including working from home where possible. Although this means some new changes for our Perth team, rest assured we are here and ready to take your orders as normal.  

Our ability to manufacture and deliver for our customers remains unchanged. With our COVID-19 plan and controls in place, deliveries and pick up orders from Maddington will continue during this lockdown.

We encourage our customers to plan ahead and ensure adequate time when picking up or receiving deliveries.

At Stramit, our priority is to ensure we have a safe environment for both our employees and our customers.

Nationally, our team continues to manage any changes as they arise and we endeavour to keep our operations running smoothly in all regions.

If you are impacted by the lockdown and need to get in touch, please feel free to chat with your Account Manager, or with your local Stramit team on 08 9493 8800.

Update: 4 August 2020

With all Australians battling the issue of COVID-19 in their local communities, please be assured that Stramit and all its brands are open and ready to support your business.

In particular, it’s important to highlight that our business has responded to the latest government measures in all states and territories, including Victoria and News South Wales. An example is our Knoxfield and Bendigo branches, which are both operating with heightened safety measures in place in response to the latest government restrictions to keep our staff, customers, suppliers and local communities safe. 

We’ll continue to monitor the latest in government advice and are reviewing our measures accordingly.

We have a range of measures in place across the country, including (but not limited to):

• strict social distancing
• full compliance with mask-wearing where required
• increased hygiene protocols
• working from home wherever possible
• ensuring we can meet all contact tracing requirements. 

Once again, we'll continue to update this page as the situation progresses.

If you have any questions please don't hesitate to contact your account manager or your local Stramit branch.

Original post: 24 March 2020

In response to the COVID-19 situation, we’ve put a range of measures in place to protect the health and safety of our people, customers and suppliers.

Here in Australia, our ability to deliver for our customers remains unchanged – we’re still able to provide quality steel products nation-wide as per usual. Our product is predominantly locally sourced and so our supply chain is well insulated. 

Our businesses in both Australia and New Zealand are following the advice of their respective governments and required restriction levels. 

Protecting the health and safety of our people, customers and suppliers is our top priority, so we’ve introduced a range of new measures.

These include (but are not limited to):

• introducing more agile ways of engaging our customers
• limiting any customer face-to-face contact
• having staff work remotely, where possible.

We also have a solid continuity plan which includes leveraging our geographic coverage throughout Australia at 19 sites.

If you have any questions, please feel free to get in touch with your Account Manager, or with your local Stramit team.

As this is a constantly evolving situation, we will continue to update this page as needed.