About us

Company director Simon Askin, a fitter/welder by trade, started Phoenix Steel with Noel Fitzgerald. The pair originally met when Simon worked in Aorangi Steel, a company which at the time Fitzgerald owned. Aorangi Steel in those days had completed large structural steel contracts including Wellingtons Westpac Stadium (a total of 2500 tons of steel) and Christchurch's Addington Stadium. When Simon made the decision to leave his current employment Noel was thinking of getting back in to the structural steel business so the pair decided to start their own business.

"After working in the industry for such a long time we had a lot of contacts so that is how we built the company up so quickly," explains Simon. "The larger workshop gives us the capability to complete larger projects, have faster lead times as well as expanding the company more quickly."

Simon says it is the combined experience of himself and Noel that sets the company apart. Noel largely takes charge of sales and customer liaison as well as pricing of jobs. Simon, who also has CAD drawing qualifications, takes care of the drawings and manufacturing side of the business. Noel's son Jonothon is in the business taking care of the erection on site.