XLERPLATE® Essential for Adelaide Profile Services Business

After over two decades in business, local Adelaide business, Adelaide Profile Services, has its gaze set firmly on the future. Now, with 31 employees working from its brand new premises in Lonsdale, Adelaide Profile Services has come a long way from its modest but solid beginning in 1982.

Now the largest sole profile cutting business in South Australia, Adelaide Profile Services commenced operation with only one machine. Since then, under the guiding hands of joint owners, Alf DeRoma and Terry Stewart, Adelaide Profile Services has built up a reputation as a quality supplier, reflected in its diverse clientele and the range of industries it supplies, such as construction, heavy engineering, agriculture, mining, automotive, and special purpose machinery applications.

"Our philosophy has always been, "Do one thing and do it well," says Gordon Smith, Manager of Adelaide Profile Services. It's a philosophy that's paid off. The company commenced operations in a leased shed, with one three tonne truck. After 22 years of steady growth, and three different premises, the company has expanded so much that they have recently moved a new six acre site.

The new state of the art premises covers approximately 5,000 square metres. With eight profile cutting machines, four surface grinders, and subsidiary drills and presses, and a new two storey office building, the new site has resulted in a quantum leap in productivity and operational efficiency.

"The new premises benefits our customers greatly," says Gordon. "There is improved access for loading and unloading, it's more user friendly." According to Gordon customer service, product availability, and quality are the key values that underpin Adelaide Profile Services operations.

"Customer service is paramount at Adelaide Profile Services. It's all about giving the best value to our clients. We also focus on maintaining product availability and the exceptional quality of our finished products," says Gordon.

Adelaide Profile Services rigorous approach to training staff, from sales and marketing personnel, to program writers, to workshop staff, has also contributed to the company's success. "We implement a regular schedule of productivity training for our staff. Employees are given hands on, in house training, that is specifically geared to our operations and systems," explains Gordon. "It's all part of our dedication to the ongoing improvement of our processes.

"We've always invested a lot in research and development," he adds. "We are committed to staying at the cutting edge of technology, and we are always looking at improving our systems and equipment."

According to Gordon, versatility is also a key component of Adelaide Profile Services approach to its work. "We can do anything from barbeque plates to a 5,000 tonne ship. Our major clients are all from really diverse sectors of industry, such as the automotive industry, agriculture and mining."

Quality products need quality steel. That's where XLERPLATE® comes in. Supplied by Australia's leading steel company, BlueScope Steel, XLERPLATE® is a brand of high quality hot rolled plate steel. "We'd process about 5,000 to 8,000 tonnes of XLERPLATE® per year,"says Gordon.

Gordon says that availability and consistency are the key benefits of using XLERPLATE®. "In terms of availability and delivery, it's a very reliable product and the quality and consistency is always good" he says. "The fact that it's Australian steel is also important. As an Australian company, we are very proactive in supporting local product."

"A good supplier is critical to our business,"adds Gordon. "Product must be delivered at the right time and the right place, or it affects our service levels to our customers. Really, the success of our business is due, in part, to the relationship we have with BlueScope Steel and their distributors."