Five decades strong: Neumann Steel turns 50
Established in 1970, Neumann Steel, (part of The Neumann Group of companies), celebrates half a century in business and sets its sights on the next five decades.
The oldest, family-run reinforcing steel business in the country, Neumann Steel has grown from a tenacious operation to a proudly Australian-owned and operated company, today employing over 220 people.
Run by second generation directors – Marc and Paul Neumann along with Mark Shearman – as part of the wider Neumann Group, the steel business has flourished over the decades due to its ability to provide the market with products and service that exceeds customer expectations.
“We’ve always innovated, delivering steel solutions to support projects big and small,” said Director Marc Neumann.
“In the 1980s we were the first in the country to innovate with rib wire and rib mesh, transitioning it to the domestic market. We’ve always been responsive, serving our customers’ needs, no matter the size of the job.”
The company has had a hand in many prolific projects including the Q1 tower, Jewel Resort, the Gold Coast Light Rail, the Toowoomba Range Crossing and more. Neumann Steel are also proud to be the supplier of choice for residential home builders throughout south east Queensland and the Hunter Region.
“Over five decades we’ve supplied reinforcing steel solutions to a wide variety of major infrastructure projects and large-scale developments, always with a view to delivering the best product possible for the desired customer outcome.”
The resilience required to combat the tumultuous ‘boom and bust’ of the building industry has long established Neumann Steel and the wider Neumann Group as stayers in a volatile sector.
General Manager, Kathy Bartley, believes this has to do with the company’s ability to listen to the market and produce products that have constructed a steadfast reputation over the years.
“Over my 11-year career with Neumann Steel, our offering has evolved with new product releases and expansion into new innovative markets while maintaining our core product lines.”
Ms Bartley, who rose through the ranks starting out early on as an accountant, cites the opportunity for growth within the company as another defining feature of its longevity.
“Retaining key people, moving them up through the business and providing pathways for growth, this is what makes up the fabric of who we are today.”
Neumann Steel has grown its reputation through reliability, product innovation, quality and its people. Marc Neumann believes this will continue to be how the future decades unfold for the south east Queensland manufacturing institution.
“At our core, we simply enjoy what we do, bringing reinforcing steel solutions to the domestic and commercial markets. Through supplying quality products we foresee future growth and development throughout south east Queensland.”
“We’ve come a long way since I was a 16-year-old working my first job in our steel yards. Today we are the largest, Queensland owned reinforcing steel manufacturer carrying on the Neumann legacy; and are very grateful for the support from the community and our valued workforce.”
The Neumann Group is one of the oldest and largest family businesses on the Southern Gold Coast.
In 1948 they started their first business, sand mining in Currumbin. They then began Neumann Dredging to mine for more sand as demand grew. With the excess gravel from dredging, they decided to start Nucon and produce concrete. In 1970 the family opened Nucast to manufacture precast concrete products, this evolved into Neumann Steel in the late 80s.
Neumann Steel is proudly 100% Australian owned and operated, manufacturing and supplying certified concrete reinforcing steel products, with an extensive range of related accessories.
Established 1970 in Currumbin on the Gold Coast the company was originally named Nucast, selling precast products, introducing Nucast Steel division in 1984.
In 1989, the company renamed to Neumann Steel, expanding across the years to 5 locations across Queensland and New South Wales: Gold Coast, Brisbane, Sunshine Coast, Fraser Coast and Hunter Region.
The company operates the largest mesh manufacturing facility in Queensland supporting the reinforcing steel for a large portion of the residential housing market. While also specialising in the supply of custom reinforcing steel required in the commercial and civil markets.