Steel-Framed Engineered Solutions Ltd.

The company has been in operation for eight years but saw a dramatic increase in sales three years ago when they acquired a new state-of-the-art machine. This machine allows production of wide spans using 12-inch X 2mm sections, a niche product which only Steel- Framed Engineered Solutions can produce in the Caribbean. Currently, the company fulfills jobs on an order-to-order basis, but Scott says that there are plans to get into supplying standard lengths, which would allow for consistent sales and supply. With customers in Guyana, Grenada, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent, Antigua, and Barbados, Scott notes that an increase in export business has contributed to recent growth. She reports, “Before 2020, we never exported, and for 2021 export accounts are over 50% of our sales. We also benefit from CARICOM concessions, so if you buy from us in the Caribbean, you don’t pay duty.” Export sales have increased significantly despite supply issues that have resulted in the costs of raw materials going up by 70%. With very strict specifications to follow, finding raw materials during the pandemic has posed a challenge for the company at times. According to Scott, “We have specific specifications of our code for our steel. It has to be Galvalume protected, so that’s a G 90 anti- corrosion coating on it with specific tensile and yield strength attributes. So, we put that out, and wherever we can get the material at the best price, we get it. No matter what the price, it has to be to the specification. We don’t settle for less than that. It’s a mandatory requirement. We are very strict on the quality of our steel.” Between contract workers and permanent positions, Steel-Framed employs close to 30 people, many of whom have been with the company for years. The work environment is rewarding, and as Scott explains, “You will never STEEL -FRAMED ENGINEERED SOLUT IONS LTD .