Safetylyne began in modest surroundings on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast, but over the past twenty-five years it has grown into a respected provider of engineered building access and height safety systems used on projects across Australia.
The business was founded in 2000 by Trevor Collett, who came from a carpentry background and was looking for a new direction when he was introduced to the world of building access systems. What began as a small operation run from a converted house in Nambour quickly developed into something much larger.
Reflecting on those early days, Collett describes a business built from simple beginnings. “We started providing access systems to builders initially back in the year 2000,” he explains. “We started in a small office in a house and a ute, and over time we grew the team and developed into what we have today.”
From those first projects installing standard systems for builders, Safetylyne gradually expanded its capabilities and began designing its own solutions. Today the company specialises in engineered systems that allow safe access to rooftops, plant equipment and building infrastructure for maintenance and servicing.
According to Collett, the company’s growth came from recognising that many projects required something more tailored than the proprietary products available on the market. Rather than relying solely on off-the-shelf systems, Safetylyne focused on developing custom solutions designed around the specific needs of each project.
As Collett explains, the company’s approach is to combine compliance, engineering and practical construction knowledge to deliver systems that work for the people who use them. “We apply the standards and legislation to the client’s needs and give them the best solution that meets the brief and satisfies their operational requirements.”
Over time that capability has led to work on a wide range of projects, from commercial buildings and warehouses to bridges, hospitals and major infrastructure. Much of Safetylyne’s work is integrated into the fabric of buildings and often goes unnoticed by the public, but its importance becomes clear whenever maintenance teams need to safely access complex structures.
Collett admits he often finds himself pointing out projects when travelling around Brisbane. His family, he says with a laugh, is very familiar with the routine. “They get sick of me saying ‘we did that job there’,” he says. “It’s on buildings, bridges, libraries, warehouses and manufacturing plants. That’s been our focus for twenty-five years.”
A key material underpinning many of Safetylyne’s systems is aluminium. For rooftop access platforms, walkways and structural access components, aluminium offers a combination of strength, durability and low weight that makes it well suited to the environments in which Safetylyne operates.
Collett explains that corrosion resistance is one of the biggest advantages. Systems installed on rooftops or near coastal environments must withstand harsh conditions over long periods of time, making aluminium an ideal solution. “Aluminium is perfect because it has minimal corrosion,” he says, noting that steel systems exposed to similar conditions would require significantly more maintenance.
The material also provides the flexibility needed for customised engineering solutions. Aluminium can be fabricated into a wide variety of shapes and profiles, allowing Safetylyne’s designers to create systems tailored to each project’s structural and operational requirements.
Over the years the company has developed its own extrusion designs to improve the performance of its products. Collett says this process often comes from experience in the field, refining designs after observing how different systems perform in real applications. “We’ve used a lot of different systems over the years and worked out what’s good and what’s not good,” he explains. “From there we’ve developed our own designs with the properties we need.”
Supporting that design capability is a long-standing relationship with Capral Aluminium. The partnership dates back to the earliest days of the business and has continued as Safetylyne’s operations have grown.
“Capral has been a supplier for us since way back,” Collett says. “I think the first walkway systems we ever used were from Capral, and we’ve bought many of our extrusions from them over the years.”
Local supply has proven especially valuable in project environments where timing and responsiveness are critical. Access systems often need to be fabricated and delivered quickly to keep construction programs on schedule. Collett says Capral’s ability to supply aluminium profiles and assist with solutions when needed has made the relationship an important one for the business.
The partnership also reflects a shared commitment to Australian manufacturing. Safetylyne proudly promotes its Australian Made credentials and works with clients who value locally produced products and supply chains.
“We advertise that we’re an Australian-made provider and that means a lot to our clients,” Collett says. “To be able to partner with Capral and genuinely say we have an Australian provider of raw materials is a good thing for us.”
Today Safetylyne products can be found across every Australian state and even in projects throughout the Pacific region. Despite that growth, the company remains grounded in the values that shaped its early years. It continues to operate as a family business, with Collett’s sons now involved, and a workplace culture built around safety, teamwork and pride in the work being delivered.
For Collett, the appeal of the industry remains as strong as ever. Each project presents a different challenge, and the opportunity to design solutions that keep people safe continues to drive the business forward.
“What lights my fire,” he says, “is that every day there’s a different challenge and a different client need to satisfy.”
After twenty-five years, Safetylyne’s systems are quietly supporting the operation and maintenance of buildings and infrastructure across the country. Much of the work may remain out of sight, but its impact is clear. Every platform, ladder and access system installed is designed with one outcome in mind: making sure people can work safely at height.
