REGULARS: PERSONALITY PROFILE
Taking steel seriously
We caught up with steel industry veteran Andrew van Gool of
Fabcon Steel to talk steel, sector trends and business success.
By Candace Sofianos King
Q How did you enter the
steel business?
After attending university, I worked for a
structural engineering firm for five years. I
then started my first steel company called
Domestic Reinforcing Steel. After a very
successful 17 years I sold the business and
then grass rooted another steel company,
Fabcon Steel, with a greater slant towards
the structural steel manufacturing side of
the steel trade. With demand from old
clients, I included a reinforcing steel
bending yard as a separate division to the
company. To date, I boast 20 years’
experience in the industry.
`
I believe my engineering background
contributed towards my drive in the steel
industry. I love a challenge, especially
unusual steel structures. I enjoy finding
solutions for any client, no matter the size
of the job.
Q What is the current state
of the steel sector?
It goes without saying that the
construction and steel industries
respectively are reeling. On a daily basis, I
strive to take on diverse projects that are
not specifically tied to the mainstream
construction sector. The industry will
recover greatly, I believe, during the 2020
to 2021 financial years. Careful
management and prudent financial
controls will ensure Fabcon Steel will be
there to benefit from the turn around.
Q What are the major
challenges that the roofing
industry needs to overcome?
Timber is becoming a precious resource
and green energy punters are more and
more unwilling to use timber in their
contracts. However, there are many
30
NOVEMBER 2018
CLADDING // CONCRETE // INSULATION // STEEL // THATCH // TIMBER // TRANSLUCENT // WATERPROOFING // COMPONENTS
Q What attracted you to
the industry?
Andrew van Gool, founder and director of Fabcon Steel.
“
It goes without saying that the construction and steel
industries respectively are reeling. On a daily basis, I strive
to take on diverse projects that are not specifically tied to
the mainstream construction sector. The industry will recover
greatly, I believe, during the 2020 to 2021 financial years.”
creative ways that steelwork can be used to
supplement timber structurally and
aesthetically. The roofing sector, especially
in the domestic housing market, should
look to lightweight steel truss design to
keep up with the changing trends with
regard to green energy and carbon footprint
design parameters.
Q What is your favourite
part of your job?
I love the diversity – I look for the
challenging requests from clients, not
necessarily the profitable ones – profits will
come. To add to this, my personal work
ethos is to invest in your staff.
Q Future prospects?
I hope to develop Fabcon Steel further to be
the top industry player within its target
market. I also see myself giving lower
management more freedom to explore new
divisions and opportunities for Fabcon
Steel. I want the challenges to start coming
from my staff as well as the clients – I want
them to challenge themselves and ask,
‘is there any reason why we cannot do
this job?’
www.saroofing.co.za