Vertex BD supports Steelcraft Group’s commitment to delivering precision house framing for Australia’s builders

Integrated design technology and independent verification underpin one of Queensland’s most trusted framing operations.

Story originally published on Built Offsite

Steelcraft® Group is an Australian family-owned and operated framing supplier supporting your build with superior steel solutions.

For any builder, the framing stage sets the tone for the rest of the build. When frames arrive on site accurate, complete and certified, the build moves forward. When they don’t, the cost shows up in delays, rework and difficult conversations with homeowners. It’s a reality the team at Brisbane-based Steelcraft Group understands well, and one that has shaped how the business has operated since its founding in 2015.

“Builders don’t just buy house framing, they buy certainty,” says Brad Althaus, Director, Steelcraft Group. “Our job is to remove doubt and risk from the framing stage, so builders can get on with the build.”

Brad Althaus, Director, Steelcraft Group

Design to manufacturing alignment

Vertex BD has been a cornerstone of Steelcraft’s operation since the company’s inception and is central to how the business delivers on that promise. The platform underpins the detailing and manufacturing workflow, enabling the team to convert architectural plans into coordinated structural framing designs and machine ready fabrication data. For builders receiving frames from Steelcraft, this means every frame and truss has been modelled, checked and produced from a coordinated dataset, reducing the risk of discrepancies between what was designed and what arrives on site.

Light gauge steel framing system assembled on site, reflecting Steelcraft Group’s modelled and pre-engineered approach to structural accuracy and build sequencing.

Before production begins, the detailing team collaborates with the builder to ensure everything needed for accurate detailing is in place. With long term clients, that exchange often runs seamlessly from the outset.

Steelcraft Group design team using Vertex BD to coordinate light gauge steel framing models, linking architectural plans with fabrication data before production begins.

Extending visibility beyond the factory

Vertex BD’s value extends beyond the factory floor. Steelcraft provides 3D models of each project accessible via QR codes, allowing builders and installation teams to review framing designs before and during construction.

“The platform gives us a consistent workflow from design through to production, but the value doesn’t stop at the factory gate,” says Joel Dundon, Head of Design Operations at Steelcraft Group. “When a builder or installer can pull up a 3D model on their phone and see exactly how a frame goes together, it removes ambiguity and helps the build run smoothly.”

With a dedicated and growing team of over 75, Steelcraft Group is trusted by many of Queensland’s leading volume and project home builders. Steelcraft Framing supplies precision manufactured steel wall frames, roof trusses and structural steel, while Steelcraft Built delivers installation services backed by a construction manager, supervisors and maintenance carpenters. Whether builders want a reliable supply partner or someone to take ownership from design through to frame installation, Steelcraft can accommodate either.

Independent engineering and verified delivery

Alongside this, Steelcraft operates a quality control process built around independent engineering. Every frame is approved by an independent licensed engineer before it proceeds to manufacturing. For projects where Steelcraft manages installation, the company also arranges an independent on-site frame inspection and Form 12 certification.

“Engineering sign-off is mandatory on every design, but for us it goes beyond compliance,” says Matt Johnson, General Manager, Steelcraft Group. “We engage independent licensed engineers because we believe our builders deserve that level of assurance. It’s about giving them one less thing to worry about.”

Behind Steelcraft’s team is a culture built around a simple purpose: Framing a Stronger Future. For the builders who partner with the business, that purpose shows up in frames that are right first time, engineering that’s independently verified, and Vertex BD keeping design and delivery aligned from the first file to the final fix. For the homeowners at the end of the process, it means a structural backbone built to stand the test of time.

“Every part of the system is built around one principle,” says Althaus. “When a builder partners with Steelcraft, trust should be the last thing they ever have to think about. Tools like Vertex BD are a big part of how we deliver on that.”

About the partners

See: Steelcraft Group

See: Vertex Australia

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