Coffey Testing Welcomes Rhys Rowlands to our Welshpool Office as Newly Appointed Laboratory Manager
Coffey Testing would like to announce the appointment of our newest Laboratory Manager for our Welshpool Lab in Perth, Rhys Rowlands!
Starting his career within the construction materials testing industry nearly 20 years ago, Rhys has worked on numerous projects all over the UK and Ireland, testing materials such as soils, asphalt and concrete, and had a major involvement in site investigation works, as well as environmental monitoring for dust, noise and vibrations.
Rhys then moved to Australia in 2012, to take on a position of Annex Laboratory Manager in the Pilbara region of Western Australia. Within the 5 years he was situated here, he worked on various projects that contributed to the development of the Roy Hill Mine Site project, such as:
• Roy Hill Aerodrome,
• Roy Hill Camp and Village Facilities, and then
• Roy Hill – Port Landslide.
Alongside these noteworthy projects, Rhys has also worked on many other projects, both within the Oil and Gas fields and Mining areas of Western Australia. He also has previous Laboratory Manager experience, and extensive knowledge on Quality Assurance through previous roles.
We welcome Rhys to the team and look forward to seeing the milestones he creates with our Coffey Testing – WA Team.
Coffey – Testing Nhulunbuy’s Commitment to Providing Testing that Assists with Indigenous Housing
The Coffey Testing – Nhulunbuy team have been providing testing that support community-led projects, designed to benefit the Indigenous groups that form part of the Northern Territory population.
Indigenous Housing in the Northern Territory
The Northern Territory Government has put together a strategy that had commenced in 2020, and will continue through till 2025, titled A Home for all Territorians.
This strategy has been put in place to emphasise the importance of enhancing the wellbeing of individuals, families, and communities within the Northern Territory. The benefits of providing housing that is accessible to all Northern Territory residents not only fosters various social and economic benefits but also demonstrates an active plan to create better living standards.
These initiatives demonstrate the NT Government’s strong commitment to supporting all Territorians to access housing that is safe, secure, and affordable, and include:
- The 10-year Our Community. Our Future. Our Homes. $1.1 billion remote housing investment package,
- Building our communities, together Town Camps Reform Framework 2019-2024’ underpinned by an initial investment of $40.44 million,
- Investment of $169 million to improve the long-term life of existing public housing stock,
- Investment of more than $25 million in 2019-20, for services to support people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness across urban areas of the NT and,
- The NT Homeowner Incentive package, which offers the most generous levels of financial assistance to homebuyers in the country.
Coffey Testing – Nhulunbuy has been assisting with Indigenous Housing Initiatives
Coffey Testing has been assisting with remote projects on Galiwinku, Elcho Island, and Groote, Eylandt.
These have been ongoing projects whereby we have been contracted by the DIPL (Department of Infrastructure, Planning and Logistics) to assist with economic growth and development within rural areas of the Northern Territory. These include:
- East Arnhem Region – Angurugu – Expand Territory Families Housing and Communities Office, whereby Coffey Testing have been chartering flights from Gove to Darwin, conducting testing, retrieving samples, and then returning to their respective laboratories on the same day. These tests will allow the DIPL to develop new demountables, car parking, accessibility provisions, shaded playground, privacy fencing and upgrade of services.
- East Arnhem Region – Galiwinku Stage 2 – Subdivision Civil Works and Services Construction, which is a $9 million project with ongoing works, to assist with the construction of new 30-lot residential subdivision. Coffey Testing is conducting geotechnical testing, to prepare the ground prior to any construction occurring and ensuring that the materials utilised are suitable for building foundations upon.
Types of testing that Coffey Testing Can Facilitate
The Coffey Testing – Nhulunbuy Team can facilitate the following testing, that contributes to providing construction support for facilities that are to be utilised for Indigenous Housing. These include:
- Soil Testing,
- NDG Testing,
- Site Investigations, and
- Soil Classification/ Material Assessment
Unlock Insights with Soil Testing at Coffey Testing – Nhulunbuy
Soil testing can allow project managers to understand more about the ground conditions that the project is to be built upon. Understanding the soil’s conditions and composition reassures confidence when it comes to project planning and allows for mitigating risks that could occur.
At Coffey Testing, we can facilitate a broad range of testing, such as:
- Soil Classification,
- Material quality and conformance,
- Compaction testing,
- Consolidation tests,
- Density testing, as well as,
- Advanced specialised testing.
To unlock better insights into the groundworks of your project, get in touch with our Coffey Testing Nhulunbuy team today.
Discover Valuable Insights Through Material Assessments using Coffey Testing – Nhulunbuy
At Coffey Testing, we take great pride in promptly testing and delivering results for our clients’ projects.
When it comes to providing testing that can assist with Indigenous Housing and Facilities projects, the Coffey Testing – Nhulunbuy can determine the durability, strength, and quality of materials to ensure that you are getting the most out the structural integrity and longevity of your project.
Material Testing is a very important piece of the construction puzzle, as it affects the following factors:
- Quality Assurance – Project managers are reassured that the materials they are utilising meets NATA specifications and specifications. As a result, the construction project can maintain a consistent level of quality throughout.
- Quality Control – This also further contributes to the overall quality and reliability of construction materials.
- Safety Assurance – Ensuring that construction materials possess the required strength and durability is critical to preventing structural failures, which can lead to WHS issues such as accidents, injuries and in some cases, loss of life. By conducting accurate material testing, construction companies can have confidence in the safety of their projects.
- Compliance with Regulations – Coffey Testing is NATA Accredited and regularly audited, meaning that the safety and performance is compliant with Australian Standards.
- Cost Savings – Material testing leads to significant cost savings in the future, as the structural integrity of the project is more secure due to the pre-construction testing of materials, preventing errors that could be costly.
- Efficiency and Performance – Material testing provides critical data that helps project managers determine the best practice and solutions for construction, and therefore maintaining the longevity of said project. By doing so, projects that have had their materials tested are proven to operate and perform more efficiently.
Confide in Coffey Testing – Nhulunbuy to assist with your next Indigenous Housing Project
Choose a company that cares about providing accurate results in a timely manner. Get in touch with our Coffey Testing – Nhulunbuy team today.
Mobile Trailer Laboratory Now Available in Coffey Testing – WA
Our Coffey Testing – WA team are proud to announce their progression of mobile testing through their brand-new Laboratory in a Trailer.
This trailer has been incorporated into our WA testing procedures to offer our clients a more comprehensive level of testing, ensuring flexibility around these tests, and delivering shorter turnaround times, particularly for clients located over long distances in Western Australia.
Luke Redmond, the Operations Manager for our Western Australian and South Australian regions, states, “The Laboratory Trailer concept has been 4 years in the making and is something that I have been involved with from conception of design, through to execution.”
The Laboratory in a Trailer also allows us to cut costs that are incorporated with mobilising a 6m x 3m building for an annex laboratory, especially when due to the nature of the Construction Materials Testing industry, some testing is needed for different scopes of jobs, and this lab in a van also solves the issue of provident expedient delivery of testing for smaller and shorter scope of projects.
Prior to the Laboratory in a Trailer, the Coffey Testing – WA team were being asked by their clients to undertake the following procedure, which took a lot of time and was quite costly.
Franco Harkins, General Manager for Western Australia and South Australia says, “… We were being asked by our clients to drive to site, which would be a large distance from our Base Lab for 1-3 days, collate samples, and then bring them back to our Base Facility, which was delaying the turnaround times of testing results, which added risk to the project’s failing, and adding extensive costing into these failed areas, due to not having the required results within that 24-48 hour period.
“Utilising the trailer for mobile testing allows us to address these issues and cut down turnaround time and be cost-effective.”
The Coffey Testing – WA team are proud to offer a solution that streamlines processes and cuts costs that are typically associated with traditional practices. By embracing the Laboratory in a Trailer, our team is now better equipped to meet the diverse needs of clients and deliver efficient, cost-effective solutions.
The Laboratory in a Trailer is Available at both our Coffey Testing – Perth and Port Hedland laboratories for all your remote testing needs. Get in touch today for more information.
Coffey Testing is Awarded ‘Best Construction Materials Testing Specialists’ for 2024
Coffey Testing is proud to announce that we have been named ‘Best Construction Materials Testing Specialist’ for the 8th annual APAC Insider Australian Enterprise Awards for 2024.
This is important to us as it stems back to the values and ethics that are portrayed in what it takes to be an Australian Owned business; it shows that whilst the Australian economy has faced various issues coming off the back of COVID-19 in 2020, that many Australian businesses have persevered, allowing the country to recover at a rapid speed in comparison to other countries in the world.
According to APAC Insider, “Australia’s economy generates over $4.5 trillion in output.
Today’s financial landscape is increasingly turbulent, with volatile inflation rates, stunted revenue growth, rising funding costs and regulatory issues are just a few of the challenges [that Australian businesses have faced].”
Whilst these challenges have been prominent in recent years, they have also presented challenges for businesses to look at how they can provide individualised solutions to new problems and fulfil new needs that have been created post-pandemic.
Committed to providing highly quality results in a fast turnaround, Coffey Testing has been supplying soil, concrete and aggregate testing to the Australian construction industry since 1959. Servicing the Transport Infrastructure, Mining, Energy and Defence sectors of Australia, we are committed to supporting the growth of the Australian economy.
Coffey Testing’s Australian Owned Social Responsibility Partnership also go beyond the green logo; it is a testament to the Australian economy to support job creation, economic and demographic growth, throughout contribution to a range of projects.
These include but are not limited to:
- Commitment to the contribution of local projects that lay the foundations that address population growth, such as the North Rockhampton Sewage Treatment Plant (NRSTP), whereby we were contracted on behalf of the Rockhampton Regional Council, in a collaborative effort with Haslin, and
- Our active involvement with the Department of Infrastructure, Planning and Logistics (DIPL) to conduct geotechnical testing in the remote community of Groote, Eyelandt. This testing is important as it lays out the groundworks for the development of new facilities that can be accessed and utilised by the public, such as new demountables, car parking facilities, accessibility provisions, a shaded playground, privacy fencing and service upgrades.
Having won this award highlights the amount of work that we have done in over the years to contribute to the Australian economy and maintain our legacy as being Australian Owned.
We would like to thank APAC Insider for the award and are excited to see how else we can contribute to the Australian economy in the future.
Coffey Testing’s – Port Hedland Lab Can Service Your Project’s Needs
With access to readily available resources, Coffey Testing can service the Pilbara area of Western Australia, through their Port Hedland Laboratory.
Coffey Testing, located nationwide, is committed to the Australian economy, and this is further highlighted through their Australian Owned Social Responsibility Partnership.
This certification represents our active support for not only the wellbeing of our staff, but our clients and other local businesses. It is important for the support to go both ways, as at the end of the day, this is a key driver in our nation’s economy and success.
Franco Harkins, General Manager of Coffey Testing’s Western Australian and South Australian operations, states, “Port Hedland is the gateway to the Pilbara, and this will allow us to service the whole region and be in driving distance to the South of the Kimberly region.”
Benefits of accessibility to the Pilbara region
The Port Hedland Laboratory services the Mid-West, Gascoyne, Pilbara, and Kimberley regions of Western Australia. Initially starting out as an annex Laboratory in February 2023, it then transitioned into a branch in April of the same year. It acts as the Regional Hub, that provides equipment and staffing to these regional operations. The Port Hedland lab has the housing for 3 technicians, 2 of which are currently residential, and can provide local testing services 7 days a week, without the need of Coffey Testing Perth needing to fly staff in and out.
Harkins adds, “We realised that our footprint of permanent testing facilities was limited to the Perth metropolitan area, and with us having several remote annex facilities in Pilbara, it was essential for us to open a remote base testing facility to provide not only support for our remote annex labs, but also provide testing services to local clients, mining and resource areas.”
The Port Hedland laboratory allows Coffey Testing to be readily available to assist with projects that will nurture the growth of the rural Western Australian population. Pilbara is known to many as the Resource Hub, and having this locality allows us to readily supply our services within a high turnaround time, whilst also reducing mobilisation time and any additional costs that surround that.
“We don’t need to rely on FIFO staff, and have a full suite of aggregate testing, including Los Angelos Abrasion testing, that no other competing remote lab can provide.
Alongside this, our staff are very experienced and qualified, and have over 100 years of collective experience between them, bringing our clients peace of mind when it comes to their projects,” Harkins says.
Our long-standing relationships with clients and the impact
Over the past 12 months, the Port Hedland team have worked with client Austral Construction, on a range of projects that further support the Pilbara region. These include the Yeerabiddy Rail Siding Project, BHP Rail Renewals and MAC Access Road.
Austral Construction was founded in 1979 and quickly became one of Australia’s leading marine piling and civil construction companies. Since then, Austral has steadily grown and expanded their services across the mining, civil and marine sectors. Their mission is to deliver safe, sustainable, and high-quality projects and services, which uphold their core values and the ‘Austral Construction’ legacy.
Thomas Crocker, a Senior Project Manager for Austral Construction, states that the company came across Coffey Testing when needing a contractor that was reliable, flexible, and aligned with the businesses’ core values.
“With a large percentage of our work located between Newman and Port Hedland, having a locally based Geotechnical partner with the ability to mobilise on short notice allows us the flexibility to meet our client’s ever-changing requirements.
Things can move quickly when working on these projects, so Austral and our partners need to be nimble enough to respond with a of minimum fuss. Coffey [Testing] does this with aplomb.”
Crocker also talks about the importance of working with like-minded partners, as these teams can create the most successful projects when working towards a common goal. He also highly talks about Coffey Testing and our ability to be reactive whilst still maintaining our professionalism, day-in, day-out.
“There is an understanding that while the original plan may change, we must remain agile, and ensure that quality and safety are always at the forefront of completing any project.
Austral Construction has built a solid foundation on completing high quality projects, and Coffey Testing possesses the same eye for detail.”
Crocker also talks about how there is plenty of opportunity for growth in the region of Port Hedland, and how the ongoing works that the Austral and Coffey Testing teams are a part of, make all the difference when it comes to accessibility to accommodation, and resources for workers and families alike.
He says, “Engaging with contractors with the same ethos of quality and safety that Austral do is vital to things running smoothly. Coffey Testing have been key to this on several projects to date.”
Adding, “Having ongoing works in the region is great for the local community, as it provides opportunities for families to relocate to the local area, rather than solely relying on FIFO workers. While the resources sector can be a fickle beast at times, we have confidence that the future is bright and that there will be a strong work bank to draw from for many years to come.”
Port Hedland is Proudly Supported by Coffey Testing
To conclude, Port Hedland is the gateway to Pilbara, which acts as the Resource Hub to the Port Hedland region of Western Australia. Our Coffey Testing team is actively available to pursue any projects through their attention to detail and high-quality testing services that yield results that last. If you are after construction materials testing and advice that is bound to make an impact to your project and create an ongoing relationship for future projects, please do not hesitate to get in touch with our Port Hedland team today.
Coffey Testing Opens NEW Cairns Laboratory to Service Far Northern Queensland
Coffey Testing’s new laboratory located in Cairns, is now fully NATA accredited and operational.
The laboratory will be able to service the areas of Far Northern Queensland such as Burketown and Weipa in the west down to Townsville in the south and already doing some work on Yam Island and in the Torres Strait in the North.
Our Coffey Testing team can facilitate testing such as soil, aggregate and concrete testing for a range of projects within the renewable, mining, subdivision sectors, as well as projects announced by local councils, such as road, bridge and culvert works.
Northern Queensland General Manager Sam Hill states, “Opening our Cairns laboratory has been a great win for both our staff and our clients. Far North Queensland is a beautiful part of the state, and we are looking forward to taking more projects in this area.
The decision to establish a presence in Cairns underscores Coffey Testing’s commitment to meeting the evolving needs of our clients, as the demand for our services in Cairns has been evident for some time. Our new laboratory not only enhances our operational capabilities but also enables us to extend our services seamlessly to remote regions.”
Our team in Northern Queensland are keen to continue to contribute to the growing Northern Queensland region, through education, information, and providing construction and support to local communities.
Coffey Testing Conquers the Upper Hunter with Opening of New Muswellbrook Lab
Coffey Testing is proud to announce the opening of our brand new, NATA-accredited laboratory, located in Muswellbrook, NSW.
Having a laboratory in the Upper Hunter allows us to service regions such as Muswellbrook, Singleton, Scone, Denman, and Aberdeen, and expand our Newcastle services to be able to cater to the growth within this region.
The Coffey Testing – Muswellbrook Laboratory can facilitate soil, concrete, aggregate testing alongside Level 1 Supervision for any subdivision and mining projects.
The team are excited for the opportunity to expand and are looking to contribute to the changing landscape of the Upper Hunter for the future years to come.
For any enquiries that you may have, please do not hesitate to get in touch with our team at Muswellbrook for all of your construction materials testing enquiries.
Rehabilitate Your Mine Site with Coffey Testing – Northern Territory
Coffey Testing are assisting various mine operations in prioritising the rehabilitation of mine sites within the Northern Territory.
Continue reading to discover the testing capabilities that our Northern Territory team can provide to assist with this scope of works.
What is Mine Site Rehabilitation?
Although mining in Australia still makes up a large proportion of the nation’s economy, but with plans to be zero emissions by 2050, mine site rehabilitation has never been so important.
When mining operations are complete, the natural landscape and the stripping of vegetation can lead to major environmental impacts.
This process allows for the process of restoration to occur, ensuring that land that was once used in mining is now available for economic activity, conservation and diverse community uses.
Australian Governments have now placed significant emphasis on the need to rehabilitate a mine site, as this will impact the future use and repurpose of the land.
Benefits of Mine Site Rehabilitation
Progressive rehabilitation practices that have been put into place also provide better outcomes for soils and land to be repurposed. There are a range of benefits, including the following:
- More opportunities for land use,
- Better flora and fauna outcomes,
- Minimising the health and safety risks associated with mine sites,
- Reduced financial risks and liabilities,
- Cutting costs by future planning, and
- Building positive reputations for mine operators who meet regulations and community expectations.
Coffey Testing’s Capabilities to Assist with Your Next Project
Coffey Testing – Northern Territory has a wide scope of testing and services to assist with mine site rehabilitation.
These include:
- Site classification,
- Soil testing,
- Aggregate testing, and
- Level 1 Supervision.
Get in touch with us today for more information on services and their rates.
Coffey Testing – Northern Territory’s Site Classification Testing Capabilities
At Coffey Testing, we believe that all successful builds start with reliable soil testing and accurate site classification.
Not only is site classification that is required by council DA approval, but it is also crucial to the integrity of any project. Far too often, project managers will find that early on their foundations, bricks and gyprocks and movement in building frame foundations occur, and this is a result of incorrect site classifications.
When it comes to Coffey Testing – Northern Territory, we will provide the correct insights backed by over 65 years of experience and expertise, guaranteed to give you the results you need.
Rely on Coffey Testing – Northern Territory with our in-depth site classification testing today. Get in touch with our sales team for more information rates or to discuss your requirements.
Soil Testing Available at Coffey Testing – Northern Territory
Soil testing can help project managers gather an in-depth understanding of the ground conditions and the project’s soil composition. Having these insights enables confidence with planning construction and mitigating risks.
From site classification to other types of soil testing such as material quality and conformance, compaction testing, consolidation testing, density testing, as well as advanced specialised testing, our Coffey Testing team can do it all.
Find out more about rates and get a quote from our sales team in the Northern Territory team here.
Did you know we can also offer specialty testing services? Get in touch here.
Additionally, if you are after any other specialty testing services to test materials such as rocks, you can see this here.
Coffey Testing – Northern Territory Can Also Test on Gravel and Aggregates
Coffey Testing’s aggregate testing services take a deep dive into the material’s properties to ensure that it is suitable for your project. Our skilled and experienced technicians will analyse and test the size, shape, density, strength, and durability of the aggregates.
Whether you are looking for professional advice or need rates, a resolute focus of Coffey Testing’s is to reduce your risk and giving you valuable information that will assist with decisions that heavily influence your project. Contact us today and allow us to talk through your specific needs.
Choose Coffey Testing – Northern Territory for Level 1 Supervision
Due to the wide scope of projects that are heavily associated with residential and commercial developments, Coffey Testing – Northern Territory can facilitate Level 1 Supervision and Certification, which is necessary throughout the earthworks and stages of civil construction. Our Level 1 Site Supervision and Testing is in accordance with ‘AS3798-2007 Guidelines on Earthworks for Commercial and Residential Developments.’
Get in touch today with our Coffey Testing – Northern Territory team to find out more information about how we can further assist you and your project’s needs.
Coffey Testing’s Site Labs and Remote Testing Make us the Best Choice for Your Next Project
Our Coffey Testing – Northern Territory team has the resources and knowledge available to service a wide range of projects that require construction materials testing, no matter where you are.
With access to one of the largest NATA scopes of accreditation in Australia, Coffey Testing can facilitate remote labs and annex labs, that allow for our testing requirements to be kept in-house and can cut costs and speed up outcome delivery.
For more information on any additional testing services that you might be after, please contact our sales team at Coffey Testing – Northern Territory today.
