Construction manufacturer RONDO doesn’t do things by halves, especially when it comes to building safety and bespoke architectural solutions. Sean Carroll finds out more.

RONDO is an Australian manufacturer of products for the building and construction industry. With more than 50 years’ experience in the industry, RONDO manufactures over 800 high-quality products which are tested to Australian Standards, the National Construction Code and come with a comprehensive warranty.

The company’s primary purpose is to provide customers with high-quality products and complement it with outstanding customer service and quality assurances.

RONDO aims to go way beyond the price and knows that a superior product is only half of the equation when delivering a quality project. A team of in-house design engineers help contractors, builders and architects find the right solution for their job.

“Each and every project is different, even if they are only small, the differences are there. There is a skill in defining and leveraging efficiencies out of the beneficial project idiosyncrasies and RONDO’s design engineers do this so well,” RONDO general manager of engineering design service Dane Griffin says.

An example of where the design engineers excel is when calculating whether a low internal wall pressure is appropriate in a custom setting. The in-house engineers ensure the correct internal design pressures are used every time, for every building.

They use these design pressures from the beginning concepts through to construction to ensure designs are code compliant from the start. It may take a few extra days to receive a fully customised and compliant wall or ceiling design using the correct internal pressures, but it can be years of rework costs, liquidation damages and rebuilding of reputations if a failure occurs.

The wall and ceiling design solutions available are for projects where specific wind loads, seismic actions and internal pressures need to be accommodated. On top of that, the solutions provide technical assistance with complex bulkheads, curved walls and ceilings as well as the attachment of heavy FF&E.

Additionally, RONDO has several online design and installation resources to assist builders and contractors. One of the tools, RONDO Wizards, works out ceiling loads, wall heights and product quantities, all before completing the purchase, saving the builder time.

What is an example of a Rondo solution to a major building project?

Brisbane has been put firmly on the world stage with the development of Queen’s Wharf. This immensely challenging project is a leading example of how Rondo’s extensive design support, in conjunction with innovative products, provides incredible solutions to complex issues directly to the architect, builder and contractor seamlessly along the project timeline.

Queens Street Wharf Development

Provided to Queens Wharf has been Rondo’s latest product innovation, SMART-WALL. The Rondo SMART-WALL® prefabricated stud framing system includes soffit frames that are specifically designed to cater for recessed lights and other penetrations.

Produced and assembled at RONDO’s prefabrication facility in Yatala, Queensland, the frames help commercial/residential builders or wall/ceiling contractors significantly reduce on-site installation times and achieve construction timelines.

This solution was used on Queen’s Wharf, where the prefabricated frames were used to construct the ‘wings’ attached to the underside of the elevated walkways. Situated in an area of high wind loads, these wings were strategically designed to not only reflect the architectural design, but also create added strength to resist the wind forces.

The complexity of the design meant that it would be difficult for contractors to build the framing on site. To ensure uniformity and ease of installation, Rondo prefabricated the framing in lightweight panels, which were quick and easy to install, even at heights.

Another innovative RONDO solution used in the Queen’s Wharf installation is the radiused top hats, a special-order item that was attached to the braced rail system, creating the stunning curved architectural installation.

Approximately 16km of Rondo Top Hat Steel was radiused and delivered to site, ready for fast installation.

“The real feature, heart and soul of this project is the William Street Soffit framing constructed by Superior Walls & Ceilings. The Superior site team has tackled this project head-on with Joel Creevey as Project Manager, leading the charge and assisting Rondo with design input,” commercial account manager Ory Yaxley says.

“The Superior team adopted the Rondo SMART-WALL® soffit system in certain zones which was a first for their team, and their extensive experience and eye for detail allowed them to use this system to their advantage. It overcame several site obstacles and allowed a smooth transition from design to installation on site.”

RONDO group marketing manager Melanie Picken says that for the past 20 years, the company has asked customers to rate the quality of the products to ensure they continually meet their expectations.

“Each year, product quality has exceeded a rating of 4.5 out of five and this year, the average satisfaction rating was 4.69,” she says.

“We communicate these results through our business and everyone is proud of the role they play in achieving them. It’s a benchmark we aim to uphold in the future.”