What this class covers
ANZSIC class 2291, Spring and Wire Product Manufacturing, classifies Australian businesses whose primary activity involves transforming metal—primarily ferrous wire and steel—into a diverse range of finished products. This is a specialised segment of the metal fabrication industry focused on processes like drawing, forming, welding, and coiling wire and strip. Businesses in this class typically operate factories or workshops where raw wire is cut, bent, twisted, and assembled into functional items.
Common examples of operations that fit this classification include a factory producing rolls of barbed wire for agricultural fencing, a workshop manufacturing industrial springs for machinery and vehicles, and a plant making nails and staples for construction and hardware suppliers. Other typical businesses include manufacturers of wire mesh for screening or guarding, welded link chains for industrial use, and rolled steel posts for boundary fences. The classification captures a broad spectrum of products where the primary input and skill set revolve around manipulating wire and spring steel.
Primary activities in plain English
The following list describes the core manufacturing activities that define a business's classification under ANZSIC 2291. A business is placed in this class if one of these activities is its main source of revenue.
- Manufacturing barbed wire and other types of fencing wire.
- Producing braided or stranded steel cable, wire, or strip.
- Making chains through welding (excluding forged, cast, or sprocket chains).
- Fabricating wire fence droppers and rolled steel fence posts.
- Manufacturing wire gates and wire safety guards.
- Producing wire hooks, skewers, spikes, and slings.
- Making household articles from wire, like baskets or racks.
- Manufacturing nails, pins (except dowel pins), and safety pins.
- Producing wire screening and wire netting (but not reinforcing mesh for concrete).
- Manufacturing shopping trolleys from wire.
- Producing mechanical springs of all types.
- Manufacturing wire mesh (excluding mesh for mattresses).
- General wire product manufacturing not covered by other classifications.
Exclusions and nearby codes
Certain activities are specifically excluded from this class because they are classified elsewhere in the ANZSIC system. Understanding these boundaries is crucial for accurate business classification.
The initial production of coiled steel rod intended to be drawn into wire is not included here. This primary steel manufacturing activity is classified under ANZSIC 2110: Iron Smelting and Steel Manufacturing.
Manufacturing wire mattress supports, such as base springs or link mesh for beds, is also excluded. This specific activity falls under ANZSIC 2299: Other Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing n.e.c., a broader miscellaneous category.
Finally, the production of electrical cable or telephone wire is classified separately under ANZSIC 2431: Electric Cable and Wire Manufacturing, as it involves insulating materials and processes distinct from general wire product fabrication.
Practical guidance
For business owners and operators, correct ANZSIC classification is used in several practical administrative contexts in Australia. When applying for an Australian Business Number (ABN), you must declare your main business activity, and selecting the precise ANZSIC code ensures accurate government record-keeping.
This code directly influences your Business Industry Code (BIC), which state and territory regulators use to calculate your workers' compensation insurance premiums. Rates can vary significantly between different manufacturing classes based on perceived risk. Furthermore, your classified activity is reported on your Business Activity Statement (BAS) and annual tax return, providing a snapshot of your industry to the Australian Bureau of Statistics and the ATO.
Accurate classification can also be a factor in eligibility for certain industry-specific grants, assistance programs, or manufacturing incentives offered by state and federal governments. It is important to review your classification if your business activities change significantly to ensure compliance and correct reporting across all platforms.