25 Years of SMS
Our Heritage
SMS Group Services is now in its 25th year of business. Twenty-five years have seen it grow from a fledgling one-person operation into the successful Tier 1 business and first-choice contractor it is today.
As a small, under-resourced start-up, it would seem counterintuitive to break into an established market where major players dominate the landscape. Especially a low-tech venture that requires significant initial costs, and little prospect of leveraging any advantage from new technologies or proprietary intellectual property.
Yet that is precisely what SMS has succeeded in doing – winning contract after contract against competitors who had established track records, massive stockpiles of valuable equipment and substantial capital reserves.
New for 2025
For over 24 years, SMS Group Services has been leading the way in access management solutions. With expansion, innovation, and new opportunities in store for 2025, our future looks bright – and we’ve got the access to reach it.
- Triple ISO Certification – Now fully accredited in ISO 9001, 45001, and 14001, ensuring excellence in quality, safety, and environmental management.
- Blasting & Painting Division – A major expansion in surface protection and corrosion control, giving clients a one-stop solution for industrial maintenance.
- A Bigger, Smarter Team – Growing our workforce and knowledge base, allowing us to take on bigger, more complex projects with even greater expertise.
- Advancing Technology & Innovation – Investing in cutting-edge design, planning, and project management tools to improve efficiency, safety, and precision.
25 Years of History
Mark Welsh starts a scaffolding business. Operations managed from Mark’s South Perth residence.
Rental of a small office in Balcatta. QAL expansion project, Queensland.
Awarded contract at Train 4 LNG, Karratha.
Supplier partnership with Alquip as their alloy dealership in WA.
Awarded construction work at Hismelt, Kwinana
Awarded the scaffold package for the Wagerup Alumina Expansion
Purchase of 400m² office and warehouse in Carlisle.
Ravensthorpe Nickel Operations awarded.
Awarded the Maintenance Contract at BHP Ravensthorpe Nickel.
Rental of an additional 750m² unit. Purchased first 8 tonne truck.
Purchase of 1,500m² office/warehouse.
Construction contract secured with Karara Mining Ltd.
Awarded the Commissioning Contract at Karara Mining Ltd.
Purchase of 6,000m² office/warehouse.
Awarded the Maintenance Contract at Karara Mining Ltd.
First scaffolding & sentry services maintenance awarded. Confined space management with KML.
Access management for MSP/Tianqi lithium plant construction, Kwinana.
Bunbury branch opens.
5-Year Access Maintenance Contract awarded at Fremantle Port Authority.
Australian partner for HAKI scaffolding.
Rental of additional 3,000m² hard standing.
FQM Ravensthorpe Nickel – re-awarded the Access Maintenance Contract.
Awarded the Maintenance Contract at Telfer Mine Site.
3-year blasting, painting and corrosion control contract and 5-year access management contract awarded by Fremantle Port Authority.
Triple ISO certification achieved - now fully accredited in ISO 9001, 45001, and 14001.
Upgraded design and engineering team.