Joud Berou won the ASI’s 2022 Steel Excellence Award in the NSW and ACT Young Designer, Detailer or Tradesperson category.
Starting his steel career at 14 in his father’s metal shop in Syria, Joud had taken on this responsibility as his father became disabled after an accident. After his family moved to Australia, Joud attended Leumeah High School and on weekends would work at his uncle’s factory, Peakhurst Wrought Iron. Joud was successful in securing an apprenticeship and commenced work at Chess Engineering in 2020. Joud has progressed to become a leading hand in the sheet metal works and plans to pursue pressure welding certificates before he finishes his apprenticeship.
Food processing is SCA-certified Chess Engineering’s longest-running market, with their professional services in the market exceeding 50 years. Chess has had a permanent site crew at Kellogg’s for some time, undertaking equipment design, repair and maintenance works. Joud Berou recently had the opportunity to work on a major project for Kellogg’s: rolling an oven reel. This is the project that Joud is most proud of.
But, according to Joud, what he enjoys most about working in the Australian steel industry is general steelwork and the opportunity to undertake TIG welding. Long-term, Joud says he’d like to become a welding supervisor at Chess Engineering, and eventually run his own business. “Winning this award makes me so happy. It makes me want to work even harder for Chess Engineering and for myself,” said Joud.
About Chess Engineering
Established in the late 1960s, Chess Engineering was originally based in Sydney’s inner-city suburb of Alexandria, specialising in fabrication, machining and fitting. Over the years, Chess Engineering has grown, moving its Sydney operations to their existing Padstow location in the early 1970s, and opening a facility in Perth in 2014. Purchased by Steve Facer in 2002, Chess Engineering boasts an impressive roster of clients and project experience.
Their 8,500m2 Sydney facility caters to a broad spectrum of needs, while their largest cranes and machines are located at their 6,000m2 facility in Perth.
Their mechanical engineers are experts in fabrication, machining and fitting. In terms of fabrication, Chess has experience in everything from heavy boiler shops through to sheet metal, with materials including mild steel, stainless steel, exotic steels and other materials. One of their highly specialised fields is flame proofing equipment and parts.
