BHP
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| Formerly | Commonwealth Steel Company Vickers Commonwealth Steel Products Commonwealth Steel Products |
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| Industry | Steel |
| Founded | 1918 |
| Founder | Clyde Engineering Goninan & Co Pioneer Spring Co Ritchie Brothers |
| Headquarters | , Australia |
| Parent | American Industrial Partners |
| Website | www.comsteel.com |
Comsteel is an Australian manufacturer of steel products based in the Newcastle suburb of Waratah. It is a subsidiary of American Industrial Partners.
Comsteel was founded as Commonwealth Steel Products in 1918 by Clyde Engineering, Goninan & Co, Pioneer Spring Co and Ritchie Brothers to manufacture wheels, tyres, axles and steel castings for railway use.[1]
A plant was established in the Newcastle suburb of Waratah with Howard Smith acquiring a shareholding. After Vickers acquired a shareholding, in 1923 it was renamed Vickers Commonwealth Steel Products. In the 1930s, BHP gradually bought out the other shareholders and it became the Commonwealth Steel Company.[1] In 1959, a mill was opened in Unanderra for the cold rolling of stainless steel.[2][3] In 1971, Comsteel was licensed by Midland-Ross to produce couplers, draft gears and freight wagon bogies.[4]
In 1983, Commonwealth Steel Company and the Australian subsidiary of Vickers merged to form Comsteel with BHP and Vickers each holding 38% shareholdings.[2] In 1985 Comsteel was purchased by Australian National Industries (ANI).[5]
It was included in the 1999 takeover of ANI by Smorgon Steel which in turn was purchased by OneSteel in 2007.[6] Since 2016 it has been owned by American Industrial Partners.[7][8][9]
