The Studco Story
The Early Years
Our story begins in 1976 when Gordon Stevens, a carpenter from Melbourne, Australia, made a calculated move from residential construction to focus on the design and installation of acoustic ceilings for the Australian commercial building market. This new business venture was called Specialised Ceiling Systems. The business grew quickly thanks to a reputation for innovation and speed, aided by their eye for technology and being an early adopter of the rotary laser levelling process that later revolutionised the way ceilings are installed across the globe.
After installing acoustic ceiling across Australia, it was time to make another strategic shift. This time it was from installation to manufacturing; in 1982, Duraclamp was launched, a new brand of Australian-made exposed grid ceiling systems engineered for quality and strength. The brand quickly established itself in the Australian market and immediately began to attract interest from competitors. And just like that, in 1986 Duraclamp was sold to USG, one of America’s largest wall & ceiling systems manufacturer and branded USG Donn.
Studco Is Born
After selling Duraclamp it was decided to stay in manufacturing and in 1986 under the name of Studco, the family pivoted into making steel stud wall systems for commercial walls and partitions. The range of products quickly grew to include complete systems for ceilings and facades, along with other stand-alone components used in commercial and domestic construction.
Studco’s focus was on genuine innovation that could be patented. This led to several products finding a life of their own: Australia’s first plastic bar chairs for the concrete industry, a permanent formwork system for concrete walls that later evolved into CSR AFS, and one of Melbourne’s first steel wall and truss prefabrication system for offsite modular construction. Throughout the 1990’s, the rights to these products and systems were sold off to various buyers, allowing Studco to invest further in its core strategic systems and products.
Strategic Growth And A Team Spirit
With a renewed focus on strategic growth and breakthrough innovation, the turn of the century was a busy time at Studco. In 2000, Studco moved into the commercial door market with the patented, world-first Ezy-Jamb door frame system. Then in 2006, Studco established their first manufacturing plant outside Australia, in the US. This gave Studco a local platform to offer their unique products and systems to the North American market. In 2008, the Resilmount brand of acoustic mounts and accessories was launched by Studco in response to growing demand for practical architectural acoustic solutions.
In 2011, Studco’s leadership set out an aspirational growth plan based on company culture and the power of a trusted brand. After a decade of adherence to the growth trajectory and disciplined execution of the plan, the Studco team achieved 4X growth. To support this growth, Studco expanded its manufacturing facilities in Australia and the US, opened a warehouse and assembly facility in England to service the UK and European markets, established interstate branch offices and warehouses throughout Australia, and successfully launched several new patented products including the world-first Vortex wall framing system.
The Road Ahead
Today Studco is a thriving business where the entrepreneurial spirit continues to drive us to be better and achieve more. Nearly all Studco building systems continue to be manufactured in-house in the US, UK and Australia. Looking ahead, Studco’s best years are still ahead of us. With clearly defined goals for growth and profitability well into the future, the Studco team are ready for challenges that lie ahead. In our eyes, changing the way the world builds through innovation will always be an unfinished business.
Our Growth Timeline
1976
Gordon Stevens starts initial contracting business – Specialized Ceiling Systems.
1982
Start roll forming exposed T-bar under the brand name of Duraclamp from a facility at Bayswater, Vic.
1986
Duraclamp is sold and Studco Building Systems is born – rolling of stud for the partition industry.
1990's
Studco moves to a larger plant in Lilydale, purchases five additional rolling mills and its first 6 ton delivery truck.
1996
ISO:9001 accreditation and implementation.
2000
Studco goes to market with a flush finish door jamb system – EzyJamb; purchasing the EzyJamb rolling mills to manufacture this product in house.
2006
Studco Building Systems US LLC begins to manufacture and sell from its Rochester base. Studco to cement its global footprint and service the US and Canadian markets.
Studco Administration and Sales team relocate to Beresford, Lilydale.
2008
Studco developed the Resilmount Sound Isolation range of products.
Studco Starts exporting to key distributors in the UK.
2010
Ben Stevens relocates to US to support his father’s efforts and grow the business.
Studco US move into a purpose built facility of 60,000 square feet in NY.
2011
Crocstud Stud and Track range released to the US Market.
Accreditation and Implementation of Environmental standard ISO:14001
2012
Studco begins to manufacture a full range of plasterboard beads.
2013-14
Studco Australia opens new branch in NSW.
The VIC branch is moved to a larger facility in Croydon.
2015
Development of the Ezy Finishing product range results in the creation of Studco’s new brand EZ Concept Architectural Finishing Systems.
2016
Studco Vortex Framing System for tall buildings is released to the global market.
Studco Australia opens new branch in WA and celebrates 30 years of business.
2017
Operations and manufacturing begins in the UK to better serve the UK & EU.
EZ Concept develops a fresh new look.
2018
EzyJamb Inswing Door ISD is launched.
2019
Studco US expands its Rochester facility by 56,000 square feet to increase production of steel stud framing components.
2021
EZ Concept release new EzyCap Shadowline wall end cap.
