Metal Manufacturing Ingenuity solving heavy rooftop challenges Con-form Group has been challenging the perception that Industrial HVAC&R systems have to be heavy and noisy for almost 10 years. Manufacturers’ Monthly speaks to the Australian engineering company about breaking the mould for roof-mounting mechanical equipment.
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EFORE engineering innovation can prosper, Nigel Cro, Con-form Group managing director said his team concentrates on understanding the root of a problem, and more importantly understanding what a customer is trying to achieve. Conform brings its engineers, technical team, warehouse and manufacturing capacity together to solve problems for Australian businesses, rather than just provide products. “It’s not good enough to take on face value what a customer says they need,” he explained. “You have to ask questions, and then ask more questions. If you wipe the slate clean and consider all the factors to to the problem, then you have the opportunity to provide a solution to exactly what they’re trying to achieve.” Nigel Cro recounted what lead the Bathurst-based business to make a change to the standard for HVAC&R
systems and invent a new lightweight platform. “It was painful to see large structural steel sections getting craned onto roofs laboriously day after day, piece by piece and the danger and the logistics involved,” he said. “And I remember just looking at that and saying, “There just has to be a better way” Why can’t we go to a lightweight structural system that removes a lot of this pain?” In 2014, the Con-form Group team collated its expertise and experience to develop an industry leading lightweight roof-mounting platform system for mechanical equipment. Industrial HVAC systems are heavy and often noisy, so Con-form Group provided an engineered solution for the structure to cater for the weight on roof top installations and deliver acoustic solutions to minimise environmental noise. “We knew a lightweight structural
system could remove a lot of that pain,” noted Nigel. “As industry professionals in roof work, we challenged ourselves to take it up a notch. There was skepticism about mounting 20 tonne of equipment on something lightweight, but we proved that wrong and will continue to do so.” The solution’s flexibility continues to be a critical advantage over traditional systems. “They are built fit for purpose, engineered for the required weight and the required KPA,” he said. “Clients such as supermarkets are always renovating and changing things mechanical and refrigeration equipment in stores all the time. What this system allows you to do is to increase or decrease at will, without changing anything in the
physical structure of the building.” From Nigel’s perspective, roofs and Aluminium pair extremely well. Aluminium is light weight but can be engineered as part of a structural solution, so Con-form Group knew it was key to creating this light-weight structure. The metal is an inherently noncorrosive material well suited to Australian roofs, which cope with harsh environmental conditions. The lightweight aluminium plant platforms and screens are now found on industrial, commercial, and public infrastructure roofs right around Australia, but not that you’d notice Peter explained. “People will drive along on a highway overpass and there is a lot of things on roofs that you see, now if you don’t see those things, that’s because we’ve done a good job – that’s our goal.” Capral Aluminium is a key supplier to Con-form Group providing
A finished installation fitted with classic screen walls.
38 MAY 2022 Manufacturers’ Monthly
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