Locals catch a wind of fortune
A SMALL metal fabrication workshop at Hughenden has become the unlikely base for manufacturing steel towers to monitor wind at sites across Australia.
Rat Engineering was formed just two years ago by Peter Fornasier with the hope of picking up work doing small jobs for clients such as the Hughenden- based Flinders Shire Council, a few local businesses and the grazing industry.
But the focus on the Hughenden area by Australian renewable energy developer Windlab changed the fortunes of Rat Engineering.
Mr Fornasier chose the company name based on a nickname given to him after a friend told him one day he looked like a drowned rat.
Mr Fornasier said the name had been beneficial because people usually remembered it.
The company picked up work in the wind- farm industry after lodging quotes for steel towers needed for wind- monitoring instruments in the Hughenden area.
It all started with Mr Fornasier asking about one of the towers being erected in the shire.
“I was told it was made in Adelaide and shipped here,” Mr Fornasier said.
“After seeing the quality of some of our work I was asked to quote on fabricating masts for Queensland.
“One thing led to another, working with Windlab and other companies, and now it’s an important and valuable part of our business.”
The triangular metal lattice masts are manufactured in 3m lengths and then bolted together and erected with cable supports at heights of up to 140m.
Mr Fornasier said he had employed an extra three people to service the market.
“My business has produced 17 masts over the last 18 months,” Mr Fornasier said.
“To do that I doubled the number of staff to meet the demand.
“It’s great to see these masts being used locally and at Mount Emerald in far north Queensland and other parts of Australia, knowing they’re manufactured right here in Hughenden and not in a major city.”
Some of the latest towers are being used for projects in South Australia.
Windlab CEO Roger Price said Rat Engineering’s contracts were an example of the work that could flow from the industry.
“There will be significantly more jobs during construction of Windlab’s Kennedy Energy Park near Hughenden next year,” Mr Price said.
“However, in the meantime demand for steel- fabricated wind monitoring masts has jumped significantly as renewable energy projects in the region take off.”