‘We are on the move to explore our possible career in Nepal’

Derek Lawley General Manager,Reid Construction

Derek Lawley has a Bachelor of Engineering Degree with Honours from Auckland University and is a member of the Institute of Professional Engineers in New Zealand. He also represents IPENZ on various Australian and New Zealand Joint Standards Committees. Recently, Lawley is associated with Reid Construction System of New Zealand as General Manager. In an interview with Sweta Sharma of New Business Age, Lawley shared about Reid and the prospects using Reid’s products in Nepal. 

Excerpts: 

What is the purpose of your visit to Nepal? 

The main purpose of my visit to Nepal is to introduce Reid Company’s product. Kathmandu Steel Pvt Ltd (KSPL) had launched our product Reid bar in the domestic market of Nepal. The potential of Reid’s innovative systems make us realize to enter South East Asian market to take Reid’s systems to the building industry. We are committed to give undying support to prosper the industrial sector of Nepal by providing skilled and experienced engineers. 

Could you please briefly describe about the Reid Construction System? 

Reid has a history. It started by Alan H. Reid as a general engineering supply business in Australia 80 years ago. Later, I established Reids New Zealand and it was selling more Swiftlift Anchors per head of population in New Zealand than any other country in the world. The systems quickly became industry standard for handling precast in Australia. Reids also realize the potential of Tilt-up construction which had been used for isolated projects in New Zealand and Australia since the 1950’s. Today, Reids had a full product range for every construction site to supplement their specialized Tilt-up and precast system. The company is now interested to launch their products in South East Asia as it has seen a lot potential in industrial sector. 

What made you think to do business in Nepal? 

Anand Nepal, executive director of KSPL is also involved in production business in Nepal. He showed interest towards Reid’s products. He found the work of Reids in Australia and New Zealand quite interesting. He is very conscious about the product’s quality and fortunately we were also interested to spread out in South East Asian region. This was a good chance for us to prosper our business too.

So, are you covering all Asian countries? 

Yes, we have covered some Middle East Asian countries as well. People out there are interested to use Reid bar as it is most effective for building houses, industries etc. We are the bar manufacturer. So we are not sure whether we will be competitive in the markets. With the help of Kathmandu Steel we are hoping to enter the Nepali market to facilitate people with the best served products ever. 

What products are you going to launch in Nepal and who are your target customers? 

Well we are going to launch the whole Reid bar range. The price variations of Reid bar and other normal steel bar will not be much. We have analyzed the living standard of people out here, and priced the products accordingly. This is the challenge for us to ensure the products are competitive in terms of quality and as well as price. The products can be used effectively in any sort of construction work. Our target customers are construction companies, consulting engineers and general people who go for the quality construction systems.

What are the features of your products? 

The Reid bar is micro-alloy, hot rolled which can be cut in any length. It comes in different forms and sizes with flexible design and simplified detailing. Reid bar is the safer way of joining reinforcing steel in construction work. The bar can be used for multiple purposes like wind bracing constructions, bracing and tie down without wielding, anchoring into existing concrete, soil and rock anchoring with cement grout and resins, anchoring in concrete etc. The builders will find very effective to use Reid bar with such features.

What makes your product stand out in international market? 

We are quite innovative in terms of products. For all these years, I have learned to run the business. The main consideration of mine is to satisfy your customer. So our company is quite conscious about knowing our customers. We also listen to customers complains and are not only concerned with selling the products. The quality and the usage of the bar are numerous. The usage of Reid bar is very much effective and such quality is not seen in other products. It does take time to make people aware of new products in the market but when they get to know the importance and benefits of bar, the positive impact in industrial sector is surely to happen.

How do you analyze the construction business in Nepal? 

Nepal is a developing country. It does have huge potential to develop its industrial sector. The construction risk in Nepal is quite low than in any other country. In my point of view, Nepal is appropriate for any sort of business. The good technical support will prosper the business of Nepal undoubtedly. 

After five years from now, where do you think Reid would stand? 

I have the big expectations of Reid Company being recognized all over the world. It has its major impacts in Australia and New Zealand. We are on the move to explore our possible career in Nepal basically. We are doing same in Europe as well.

Many Asian countries are facing some kind of problems to prosper the industrial sector. What is your comment in this? 

I personally think that the business has overcome the political thing. We can take an example of China. While they are having political problems, they were so firmed in business that their products are exported to almost all the countries in world. No matter what, the business has to go on. 

What are your expectations from Nepal? 

We have heard that government would see the benefit in raising the standard of building construction. As in all developing countries, Nepal will also have the tendency to lift the standard. We are very lucky to work with Kathmandu Steel as they too hold the same perception of raising the construction standard in Nepal.