With 2026 marking 25 years since the incorporation of ACRS (Australasian Certification Authority for Reinforcing and Structural Steel), the ACRS team - led by Chairman Nick Hill and Executive Director, Andrew Wheeler - were joined by leaders from across steel manufacturing and supply sectors, together with many from the construction, infrastructure, manufacturing and other associated industries, to celebrate the 25-year milestone at a recent event in Sydney.
Speaking at the event, Mr Hill reflected on the organisation’s journey, and the positive impact that ACRS has had in terms of improving product conformity.
“Twenty-five years ago, ACRS was incorporated with a single purpose: to ensure public safety through the provision of an independent, expert and rigorous steel certification scheme for the benefit of the Australasian region. Today, that purpose remains unchanged.”
“Over the ensuing years, ACRS has annually issued certificates to numerous steel mills, manufacturers, processors, traders and importers. It developed and obtained endorsement of its product scheme and became a Conformity Assessment Body (CAB) through JASANZ audits,” he said.
“We’re extremely proud of the fact that the ACRS scheme has, for a long period, been recognised internationally and considered best practice for the supply of structural steels and reinforcing materials into the New Zealand and Australian Markets."
“We operate a two-stage steel certification scheme unique within Australia and New Zealand. Our independent, not-for-profit approach – accredited by and regularly audited by JAS-ANZ – gives users assurance of truly impartial, expert certification,” Mr Hill added.
These comments were echoed by ACRS Executive Director, Dr Andrew Wheeler, who added:
“Twenty-five years is an important milestone — an opportunity to reflect on how much has changed, while recognising what has remained constant: our commitment to independent certification, technical rigour and trust across the steel supply chain.”
“From three pioneering certificate holders in 2003, ACRS has grown to a certification system spanning the steel supply chain and much of the world. Indeed, over the past 25 years, ACRS has certified more than 350 sites across 28 countries to 23 different standards or specifications,” Dr Wheeler said.
“Importantly, this achievement is ultimately about the people and organisations who have supported ACRS and shared our commitment to independent assurance,” he added. “That support and shared commitment enables ACRS to provide confidence in public safety; set an industry benchmark for compliance; and interrogate the performance of the steel it certifies.”
The ACRS scheme has delivered significant and tangible benefits in terms of improving the conformance of construction steels across Australia and New Zealand. Since 2001, ACRS has conducted thousands of annual onsite audits, visiting steel mills, manufacturers, processors, and importers supplying into the Australasian market under the ACRS banner. Through these audits, conducted by its expert staff, and the ongoing quality surveillance of certified firms, ACRS has held manufacturers to benchmarks set by Australian and New Zealand Standards and specifications.
“For 25 years, ACRS has been providing industry with transparency in supply chains, product certainty, and ease in demonstrating compliance through our independent steel certification – which has been recognised and trusted by major developers, governments, and industry bodies,” Dr Wheeler said.
“We’d like to thank everyone involved for being part of our 25-year journey, and for their ongoing support of ACRS, and we look forward to continuing to build on that foundation for the next 25 years,” he concluded.