Ciltech, a jetty and pontoon manufacturing specialist, relies on sustainably produced aluminium from their supplier, Capral Aluminium. Manufacturers’ Monthly reports.
Ciltech, a West Australian company, specialises in delivering products and services to the marine, mining, and construction industries.
Their core expertise lies in designing, manufacturing, and constructing floating jetty systems for government, residential, and commercial applications.
Ciltech initially focused on importing and exporting high-quality steel and high-density polyethylene (HDPE) products to marine and mining businesses.
In 2017, under the Global Trade Sales (GTS) banner, the company expanded into marine consultancy and steel manufacturing, collaborating with ACH Global on the design and construction of an offshore conveyor jetty for Metro Mining’s Bauxite Project in Queensland.
Returning to their origins in 2019, under GTS, Ciltech refocused on developing and manufacturing jetty systems, or more specifically, pontoons.
Eventually, GTS transitioned/merged into Ciltech when Leno Cilia and Mason Cilia partnered following their tenure at GTS.
“It actually began in 2022 and was a sort of a transition merger of an associated entity called Global Trade Sale,” said Cilia.
“Ciltech was a realignment of that to better represent what our product and services are because we don’t want to just be any company.
“We want to be a brand of products which are purpose fit for the marine industry.”
Now, both Leno and Mason Cilia co-direct Ciltech, each bringing a set of unique skills to the company.
Leno brings over 30 years of experience as a successful businessman and Director, showcasing a high level of professionalism.
Mason Cilia is a dedicated professional engineer with more than five years of maintenance engineering experience in the rail and mining industries, and over eight years of design and engineering expertise in jetties and marine systems.
The Cilias both have extensive family history and experience in marina manufacturing.
Mason, speaking on his earliest experiences with his father and brother, he said: “Even at a young age—maybe around 11 or 12—I was involved in boat shows, helping out with cleats and other tasks, like assisting in their construction.”
“The Royal Perth Yacht Club stands out as one of the major projects we’ve undertaken in the past.
“I must have been around 15 years old at the time, assisting my brother in constructing the marina. It’s a project that holds a lot of memories for me.”
Since the establishment of Ciltech, the company has seen two major developments in their manufacturing process.
“One of the two biggest developments is probably putting more emphasis on sustainability and reducing carbon on the aluminium aspect and the HTPE side,” he said.
“Just using something like Carpal’s Lower-Carbon Aluminium (LocAl), we can reduce carbon emissions up to 76 per cent in our framework, that’s a lot of reduction of CO2. We’re also exploring the use of more environmentally friendly materials to replace polystyrene and foams, prompted by events like the Queensland flood which caused polystyrene pollution.”
The jetties
Ciltech manufactures jetties in standard sizes of 8m, 10m, and 12m lengths, with widths ranging from 2m to 3.5m.
These dimensions cater to typical requirements, but, as Cilia explained, custom sizes can also be tailored to meet unique customer needs.
All jetties consist of an aluminium framework, HDPE floats, and FRP decking.
The jetty design incorporates floats underneath, enabling it to adjust with varying tide heights.
This flexibility is complemented by secure fastening using piles and/or moorings, ensuring stability in diverse marine environments.
For Ciltech, an important aspect of the manufacturing process is their commitment to sustainability.
Recently, the company’s efforts are being concentrated on promoting sustainable products primarily to government clients.
“Sustainability is something that we all should work on because, unfortunately, as humanity, we’re always going to be consuming,” said Cilia.
“We need to come up with more sustainable approaches. The marine industry, unfortunately, has predominantly used polystyrene, even though Australian standards are now pushing for more sustainable materials.”
This industry shift towards sustainability necessitated Ciltech’s decision to partner with Capral.
“Capral provided us with all the information on their LocAl materials, and we were quite interested because it aligns well with our product.”
“It made sense to approach and see if the Department of Transportation (DOT), for example, would get into it, and they seemed keen.
“Hopefully, the next project, estimated to involve 18 tonnes of aluminium, will include our entire product range.”
As Cilia explained, he wanted the supply chain to be mostly Australia-based.
“Our previous products are widespread across Australia, but our latest innovations are primarily focused on the WA market currently,” he said.
“However, we are eager to expand nationwide and are actively seeking opportunities to do so, with a strong emphasis on Australian and locally based products.”
Cilia expressed that the most rewarding aspect of producing jetties and pontoons lies in the design and engineering facets of the manufacturing process.
“A couple of things: I genuinely enjoy the design and engineering aspects, working with our fantastic team, and being part of this community,” he said.
“I have a real passion for our products, which drives our continuous investment and innovation.”
Ciltech’s projects
When it comes to ambitious and large-scale marine projects, Ciltech’s recent undertakings at Fremantle Fishing Boat Harbour and Hillary’s Boat Harbour stand out.
“In the past two years, our most significant projects have been Fremantle Fishing Boat Harbour and Hillary’s Boat Harbour for the WA DOT, said Cilia.
“At Hillary’s, we used approximately 55 tonnes of aluminium for frames and pontoons across a total area of about 2,500 square meters of jetties.
“Fremantle Fishing Boat Harbour, while slightly smaller, was still a substantial endeavour.”
Cilia explained that DOT consistently returns to Ciltech because their products are always of high quality.
“We’ve been doing a lot of work for the Department of Transport for quite some time through the previous director, Lene Ocilia, who’s been working with the department for about 20-odd years at this point,” he said.
“They keep coming back to us because we consistently deliver high-quality products, and they love our service.”
Cilia said that he often hears positive feedback from residential and commercial customers.
“We’ve received numerous compliments on our projects. For example, at Hillary’s, penholders loved the new Marina and floating jetties compared to the old ones,” he said.
“Upgraded systems are clearly beneficial, especially for those renting pens.
“We frequently get positive feedback from residential customers as well. Recently, a customer in Pinjarra called to express their satisfaction with their new system.”
Jetty manufacturing
The manufacturing team at Ciltech comprises four to six personnel in the workshop, staffing levels are adjusted according to current labour needs.
As Cilia explained, before the manufacturing process begins, the customer will approach the company and initiate the design phase.
The company offers standard systems and sizes, but customers often want to customise
their desired products.
“We offer a standard set of systems and sizes for our jetties, but customers, both commercial and residential, often prefer to customize their products. This customisation is always welcomed,” said Cilia.
Cilia explained that after design approval, the Ciltech logistics coordinator procures materials.
The workshop then handles the manufacturing and assembly, cutting materials as needed.
“We will proceed with ordering and procuring all necessary materials if we don’t have anything in stock at hand,” said Cilia.
“And then essentially at that point, when the workshop needs more work, which is sometimes not all the case, the workshop will come in and they’ll start arranging the next cutting list and queuing the next projects.”
Manufacturing happens at the headquarters, but large-scale assembly takes place at a nearby facility in Wangara, Western Australia.
“We handle all manufacturing at our headquarters, but due to space constraints, final assembly takes place nearby,” said Cilia.
“After fabricating frames here, we transport them to our Wangara facility. There, we complete assembly, including floats, decking, cleats, and fenders.”
After the manufacturing and assembly process, Ciltech conducts quality assurance checks, inspecting the pontoons and welds, before arranging delivery to customers.
Crafted with Capral
Cilia expressed satisfaction with Capral, highlighting shared values between Ciltech and Capral in prioritising high-quality materials.
“It’s been great working with Capral,” he said.
“Both Ciltech and Capral’s values align in wanting a good quality product. It’s not just LocAl aluminium; 98 per cent of our pontoons use our proprietary dyes with Capral.”
“We’ve upgraded these dyes, focusing on 12-meter extruded sections. Each extrusion dye is unique, from decking support to specialised track systems.”
Ciltech is currently aiming to make all of their jetty systems entirely recyclable.
One of the primary challenges, however, in the context of marine construction is the removal and disposal of old jetties.
Disposing of such structures is not straightforward, requiring special landfill notices and limited disposal facilities capable of handling these materials.
“Our current systems are mostly recyclable. We’re just in the process of upgrading our floats to be recyclable,” said Cilia.
He continued to explain that a key advantage of partnering with Capral is gaining access to their materials.
“Even the aluminium and other components are fully recoverable,” said Cilia.
After upgrading their floats to be recyclable, Ciltech’s collaboration with Capral continues to drive innovation in sustainable marine construction.
For those seeking deeper insights into their journey with Capral Aluminium, scanning the QR code below provides access to the latest entry in the ‘Crafted with Capral’ series.