Orrcon Steel Manufacturing

• Industry: Australian-made steel tube and pipe manufacturing.
• Location: O’Sullivan Beach, South Australia.
• Challenge & Requirements: Orrcon Manufacturing team analysed the site’s energy usage and set a firm requirement for a 100 kW solar system.
• Strategic Drivers: The 100 kW cap kept the system eligible for Small-scale Technology Certificates (STCs); exceeding it would shift the project to the Large-scale Generation Certificates (LGC) program, which Orrcon Manufacturing identified as less financially beneficial. The installation also served as a feasibility study for rolling out solar across other Australian manufacturing sites.
• The Local Mandate: Orrcon Manufacturing prioritised fast, reliable assistance and could not afford delays. A supplier with a physical presence in South Australia was a major factor in the decision.

• The Edge: Founded in 2011, Tindo is Australia’s only solar panel manufacturer, offering local insight, quality assurance and long-term reliability. Their South Australian base matched Orrcon’s need for quick, dependable support.
• Technology: Tindo manufactures premium panels engineered for the toughest Australian environments, from high heat to coastal winds, combining deep research expertise, a skilled local workforce and advanced manufacturing.

Delivery focused on transparency, collaboration and future-proofing the O’Sullivan Beach site.

• Consultation and Assessment: Tindo met on site with Orrcon Manufacturing’s project manager, Kingsley Barnes to clarify requirements, confirm the 100 kW size, review billing data and assess roof space.
• Accurate Costing: An electrical site inspection ensured precise quoting and a tailored design.
• Ethical Transparency: Tindo originally included a Network Protection Unit (NPU) as per SAPN requirements. When regulations changed and the NPU was no longer required for systems under 200 kVA, Tindo promptly removed the cost and informed Orrcon.
• Collaborative Design: Orrcon Manufacturing specified the arrangement of panels on the roof, allowing safe separation from skylights, safe access for inspection and cleaning, and room for future expansion of the array. Tindo built the design around that brief and tested it against Orrcon Manufacturing’s forward plans, including new production lines, to confirm the system would not be undersized. Early involvement of Tindo’s head installer and close cooperation from Orrcon Manufacturing team kept delivery smooth.

• Total Electricity Generated: 79.5 Megawatt-Hours (MWh)
• Grid Electricity Avoided: 75.3 MWh
• Grid Reliance Reduction: 7.7% reduction in total site grid electricity purchased