Innovative building product set to revolutionise building industry
The creators of an innovative new building product, MonkeyBar, aren’t playing around when it comes to the construction industry.
Brisbane-based Monkey Steel have developed a unique system that joins lengths of steel bars to reinforce concrete work, and it’s set to revolutionise the building industry.
By doing away with labour-intensive traditional joining methods, the coupler system is stronger, far quicker to use and much cheaper than any other reinforcing system. In fact, the invention could be the answer to the state’s and the world’s growing infrastructure needs.
What gives MonkeyBar the edge is that it’s supplied ready to use on site, with no tools required and no welding necessary. Monkey Steel Chief Executive Officer Julian Mitton (pictured) said MonkeyBars have special grooves built into the ends of each bar, so when joined they interlock into place.
"MonkeyBar’s simple click and fit system will enable us to construct buildings much like Lego," Julian said.
The company has estimated this design innovation saves hundreds of tonnes of steel when the product is used in high rise construction.
"MonkeyBar represents a double innovation because not only is the product itself a major breakthrough, the production side of things also had to be totally revamped by taking a twentieth century process and re-defining it with twenty-first century technology," Julian said.
"By using robotics to manufacture MonkeyBar we’ve greatly increased the product’s reliability and precision while at the same time greatly reducing the costs."
Invented by Queensland engineer Ernest Comerford, this world-class product was developed with research input from the University of Southern Queensland and The University of Queensland. Produced in Brisbane at a new $7 million state-of-the-art fully automated Pinkenba plant, MonkeyBar is used to reinforce concrete columns, beams, floors and walls, and in major projects such as dams, bridges, tunnels, nuclear power stations and high rise buildings.
Julian said the company has secured a distribution agreement with Neumann Steel in Currumbin to take the product to market. "We are currently working with Neumann on opportunities for supply to major high-rise developments in the Gold Coast and Brisbane, and after successful trials have confirmed our first order in Queensland."
"Our next steps include refining the applications for the product, and focusing increasingly on international markets. London is gearing up for the Olympics, New York is very much a happening place in terms of infrastructure, and Dubai is another exciting potential market."
Monkey Steel’s fortunes are definitely on the upward swing. Last year in Sydney the company was awarded the prestigious 2007 Engineering Excellence Award for Innovations and Inventions for the MonkeyBar.
Story: Antoinette Bauer
Last reviewed 16 June 2008
