Vulcan was founded in 1995 with a clear vision – to become the most customer focused and efficient metals distributor in Australasia, by delivering superior service we have grown consistently ever since.
A history of performance
and partnership
We began by distributing carbon steel and steadily widened our portfolio to include plate processing, coil processing, stainless steel and engineering steels. Today, Vulcan’s product diversity and operational make us a key supplier to the Australasian economy. With 69 warehousing, manufacturing, and processing facilities across Australasia and over 1,300 people across six business divisions, we have built this coverage through a combination of organic growth and strategic acquisitions.
Looking ahead, we remain focused on what matters most – inventory, quality, people, and service. We have the management team, the motivated workforce, the infrastructure, and the ambition to keep at the forefront of the steel industry for the next 25 years and beyond.
Vulcan was founded in 1995 with a clear vision – to become the most customer focused and efficient metals distributor in Australasia, by delivering superior service we have grown consistently ever since.
A history of performance
and partnership
We began by distributing carbon steel and steadily widened our portfolio to include plate processing, coil processing, stainless steel and engineering steels. Today, Vulcan’s product diversity and operational make us a key supplier to the Australasian economy. With 69 warehousing, manufacturing, and processing facilities across Australasia and over 1,300 people across six business divisions, we have built this coverage through a combination of organic growth and strategic acquisitions.
Looking ahead, we remain focused on what matters most – inventory, quality, people, and service. We have the management team, the motivated workforce, the infrastructure, and the ambition to keep at the forefront of the steel industry for the next 25 years and beyond.
Our principles
We believe that by creating the right environment we inspire the delivery of amazing results.
We want our employees to genuinely enjoy the work they do. Aside from having well resourced, high standard facilities, we aim to create a workplace where everyone feels listened to, valued and supported in reaching their full potential.
By nature, working with steel has inherent risks, therefore ensuring our employees’ safety is our primary, ongoing priority. Not only do we want our employees to get home safely to their families every night, we also want them to feel psychologically safe and supported while at work.
This enables us the freedom to invest in our business and people to ensure we’re thriving, not just surviving. It gives us the ability to determine our future success from which everyone can prosper.
Ambition is about being courageous enough to try, knowing that while we may not always succeed, we will learn, grow, adapt and ultimately find a better way. Innovation isn’t without risk, and we’re here to support our employees in stepping outside of the box and striving for greatness.
We know that balancing the above is critical to our success.
Our ethos
We hold ourselves to the highest standards in our work, how we do it, and how we treat one another.
We’ve got an “everyone supports the team, and the team supports everyone” culture. No one person is more important than another, therefore we value and respect everyone’s individual perspectives and ensure that all decision making reflects what’s best for the team.
We trust everyone to have complete responsibility and autonomy within their role. Our employees don’t have someone looking over their shoulder and should feel empowered and enabled to do their job to the best of their ability, in a way that works best for them.
Work should be somewhere our employees enjoy going every day. We don’t take ourselves too seriously and our relaxed, yet committed environment ensures everyone feels comfortable asking questions, receiving feedback and supporting one another.
Our people’s health and happiness directly depends on the health and happiness of those around them. These extended networks of friends and families across New Zealand and Australia, are our local communities. Through understanding their difficulties and helping support, uplift and improve the lives of these people, we hope to foster meaningful and lasting change.
Everyone has a clear understanding of their responsibilities and goals and has the resources and decision-making authority to achieve them.
Building active, supported decision makers.
Building active, supported
decision makers.
A core part of our strategy is empowering every employee to be an active decision-maker, supported by initiatives that promote overall wellbeing.
At Vulcan, we recognise that good health goes beyond the physical. From introducing onsite gym facilities to providing access to specialist services, we’re making sure our employees have the resources they need to thrive.
We believe all accidents are preventable.
We believe all accidents
are preventable.
Health and safety is a core aspect of our principles and ethos. We take a pre-emptive and highly detailed approach to providing a safe and healthy workplace for our employees, contractors, visitors, and the public who share the roads with our trucks.
Creating a safe, supportive, and committed workforce.
Creating a safe, supportive,
and committed workforce.
Our workforce feels safe and supported, happy and relaxed, yet they are as professional and committed as anyone could wish for. Our belief in supporting people to be the best they can be extends to the local community where we’re long-time supporters of the Victorian School of the Arts at Melbourne, and the Halberg Trust in New Zealand.
Experienced leadership.
Leaders have a broad base of experience and skills, covering building products and steel distribution, local and international markets, operational expertise and commercial insight. Unit leadership are supported by a senior leadership team, overseen by a Group Advisory Board.
Russell Chenu (Chair)
Russell held numerous finance and management roles in several ASX-listed industrial and resources companies, including James Hardie where he was CFO for 10 years until 2013. Russell is also an independent director of Reliance Worldwide Corp (ASX:RWC) and CIMIC Group.
Rhys Jones
Rhys joined Vulcan’s Board in 2006, and currently is Vulcan’s Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer. He has previously held several management positions within the steel industry, including an executive of EasySteel NZ and CEO of Pacific Steel and Wire Makers. Rhys was formerly the COO of Carter Holt Harvey’s Pulp, Paper and Packaging, and new ventures division at the time of the Rank Group takeover.
Adrian Casey
Adrian has worked in the steel industry in Australasia for over 40 years. He managed his own steel processing operation, which subsequently merged with Vulcan in 1998. Adrian is an executive director and as Vulcan’s Chief Operating Officer has responsibilities for procurement, as well as leading Vulcan’s steel business in NZ.
Bart de Haan
Bart has extensive experience as a strategy consultant working with senior management and boards of top 50 companies in Australia, US, and Holland. His consulting experience spans across numerous sectors including energy, transport, resources, and building products.
Carolyn Steele
Carolyn is a professional director with extensive experience in capital markets, mergers and acquisition and investment management. Carolyn serves on the board of Property For Industry Limited (NZX:PFI), Green Cross Health (NZX:GXH), Oriens Capital GP 2, WEL Networks, and is Chair of the Halberg Foundation.
Nicola Greer
Nicola is a professional company director, currently also holding directorships with Precinct Properties New Zealand Limited (NZX: PCT), Fidelity Life Assurance Company Limited, South Port NZ Limited (NZX: SPN), New Zealand Railways Corporation, and is a member of the New Zealand Markets Disciplinary Tribunal. Prior to embarking on her governance career, Nicola worked in the banking and finance sectors in New Zealand, Australia and the United Kingdom.
Russell Chenu (Chair)
Rhys Jones
Adrian Casey
Bart de Haan
Carolyn Steele
Nicola Greer
Contact us
Sounds interesting? Reach out to your local branch to chat about how we can support your business or project.
