Rodin Cars is located in Mt Lyford in the South Island. Technical proficiency, engineering excellence and one of the largest and most diverse collections of machinery and 3D printers in the Southern Hemisphere, are the foundations on which Rodin Cars’ is built. Rodin Cars promote promising young motorsport stars, and in January this year, Rodin Cars announced a 2021 FIA formula 2 Championship partnership with Liam Lawson. Though not yet 19, Liam Lawson is now just one step away from the pinnacle of motorsport – Formula 1. After his first visit to Rodin Cars in 2018, Liam Lawson was quoted describing Rodin Cars as his “happy place, it really is like nowhere on Earth What they are doing with the Rodin FZED and Rodin FZERO track cars is amazing.”
As the world entered into the unknown of COVID-19 lockdowns and restrictions, Rodin Cars confidently began drafting plans for an enormous expansion of its design and production facility. Using the same sophisticated computer design programmes that the company employs to design its Rodin FZED and Rodin FZERO track cars, the supercar manufacturer created a blueprint for a 2500 square metre facility that will house all of the company works under one single-span roof.
Little did we know at that time that New Zealand Steel owned Steltech's designed and manufactured portal frames were to become part of such an epic project. When presented with the opportunity, Steltech's Senior Engineer Amir Shahmohammadi created a preliminary design in record-breaking time to be a part of a design and build tender process, collaborating with VIP Structural Steel.
The clear span option presented, was successful and it was all systems go to finalise the design and begin manufacturing the welded columns and rafters. During the final design phase the building grew from the original 50m x 20m to have another 30m in length added creating the current 50m x 50m size. Every piece of the main portal frame was designed to ensure they could all fit onto a flat rack to be transported to Christchurch via regular coast shipping where the final fabrication steps were completed before being transported to site. Once fitted, the multi-million-dollar facility, will house a full supercar engine production facility, including casting, 3D printing, machinery and assembly, an engine test lab and a heated paint booth.
Learn more about the project and watch a video of this incredible build coming together here.
