When brothers Roy and Leon Midalia first started collecting scrap metal in 1951, little did they know their family business would grow into one of WA’s largest steel suppliers.
Launched with one truck, a 6 m x 12 m shed and only £92, the brothers started scouring the South West – buying scrap metal, collecting copper and brass and removing scrap machinery from old mine sites.
Most notably, they removed more than 1,000 km (42,000 tonnes) of wheat rail in the South West and two navy guns from Garden Island, weighing more than 500 tonnes. But they didn’t stop there, as in 1971, the company first started exporting steel pipe and tube to mainland China.
Mark Novel, OMC Regional and Midalia Steel Manager, said that Midalia was a true local success story.
“Being part of the local community and investing in bricks and mortar has been an important part of our long history,” he said.
“We have always employed local people from each of our regional locations and strongly believe the business is made up of many small businesses who know their customers and know where to deliver.”
“We are proud to be able to support projects big and small – whether it’s posts, gutters, roofing and paint for backyard patios, or large infrastructure on mine sites.”
Not only has Midalia Steel been involved in the construction of DIY projects and critical infrastructure in WA, but we have also been active in the local community.
Midalia Steel have been supporting Landcare in their efforts to reverse the decline of the endangered Carnaby’s black cockatoo. With the loss of breeding habitat, Landcare developed artificial nesting boxed called Cockatubes. Midalia donated mesh for ladders used by the birds to climb in and out of the Cockatubes.
Midalia has also been helping Men’s Shed – a not-for-profit organisation that provides a safe space where men can work on meaningful projects at their own pace and forge new friendships. Midalia donated steel to the Subiaco Med’s Shed to build a mezzanine level and double its floor space.
Midalia also teamed up with Station Street Men’s Shed by donating steel for a volunteer project to build Buddy Benches. The schoolyard benches provide a safe place for students when they are experiencing bullying or a feeling isolated.
In 2017, Midalia became part of InfraBuild – Australia’s largest vertically integrated steel manufacturing, distribution and recycling business, providing solutions for commercial and residential construction, large scale and nation-building infrastructure, and the rural and mining industry.
With 100 years of continuous operation, InfraBuild is also Australia’s largest processor and distributor of steel long products, including reinforcing bar, reinforcing mesh, tubular and hollow sections, merchant bar and wire products.
Some of InfraBuild’s most iconic contributions include supplying weathering steel for the Kalbarri Skywalk, reinforcing steel for the Forrestfield Airport Link, and structural steel for Perth Stadium.
The history of Midalia Steel starting as a family business remains one of our core values, along with our commitment to customers and safety.
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