On a recent episode of The Good Builder Podcast we sat down with Shane Lutze, founder of Cresco Australia, to unpack how his team has become the go-to engineering partner for builders across the country.
The conversation, recorded fresh off the back of Ryse Constructions and Biax Foundations’ 100-slab celebration, quickly revealed why Cresco is spoken about as more than just an engineering firm. Builders describe them as “an extension of the team”, problem-solvers who bring calm leadership, technical expertise, and innovative slab solutions to projects of every size.
We take a deeper dive into Shane’s story: how his journey from motorsport dreams to mining engineering shaped his philosophy, how Cresco embraced innovation through Biax slab systems, and why builders from bespoke custom operators to high-volume players are trusting Cresco to help them deliver.
From Spanners to Structural Solutions
For Lutze, engineering wasn’t a career chosen in adulthood, it was practically written into his childhood. His father was a mechanic, his grandfather a hands-on tinkerer. By the time most kids were learning to ride a bike, Shane was wielding drills, grinders, and welders.
“By the time I could walk, I was on the end of one of those things,” Lutze recalls. “Whether or not that was responsible parenting, it gave me a lot of skills that I’ve used throughout my life.”
Racing karts around Australia with his family cemented his love of machinery. But when young Shane announced he wanted to be a mechanic, his father pushed him higher: mechanical engineering. That decision set him on a path through university, the mining industry, and eventually into the founding of Cresco.
Pressure as a Teacher
Mining provided a tough but invaluable training ground. Lutze describes situations where downtime was measured in tens of thousands of dollars per minute. Hydraulic hoses burst in the mud. Platforms had to be stripped off machinery underground. Crews waited.
“When production stops, you have to fix the problem fast. You also need to know why it happened and how to make sure it doesn’t happen again.”
That experience taught him resilience under pressure and the importance of communication between engineers and the people actually doing the work. These are lessons he has carried into construction, where deadlines, budgets, and site constraints create their own kind of pressure.
From Mining to Mastery
Lutze’s mining career was followed by time in agriculture, managing large-scale grain storage projects. Along the way, he pursued a master’s degree in structural engineering, recognising the statutory, long-term demand for structural expertise.
By 2021, he launched SJL Consulting Engineers, initially a one-man operation. Within months he realised the demand and his ambition would require a team. By mid 2022, he had staff on board, tackling projects from residential slabs to portal frame warehouses.
But it was a problematic site that set the stage for Cresco’s future. A home on highly reactive soil in a flood-prone area required a floor level 700mm out of the ground. Standard approaches weren’t cutting it. Lutze’s team searched for alternatives and discovered the Biax 500 pod system.
Meeting Innovation Head-On
The Biax system became a breakthrough. It solved the site’s challenges, saved money, and proved more efficient than traditional methods. Lutze peppered the Biax technical team with questions, so many that they eventually introduced him to the inventor, Fabio Parotti, CEO of Cresco Group.
That relationship flourished. By mid 2023, Lutze and his team had been invited to take on Cresco Australia, the local arm of Parotti’s global innovation.
Today, Cresco designs slab solutions and structural systems for builders nationwide, from bespoke luxury homes to high-volume townhouse developments.
What Builders Notice
Ask Ryse Constructions why they rate Cresco so highly, and you’ll hear the same words repeated: easy to work with, always a solution, part of the team.
That reputation is no accident. Lutze deliberately built Cresco around principles he learned from his mentors: stay calm under pressure, take time to listen, and bring solutions rather than problems.
“I think having a lot of in-house capability is one point of difference,” he says. “Builders can come to us with just an idea and some land, and we can take it through civil, structural, architectural, cost estimations, even tender submissions.”
Embracing Technology
While some engineers stick to 2D drawings, Cresco has embraced digital tools. Their plans often include interactive 3D models accessible via QR code, allowing builders on site to visualise details like edge beams and set-downs.
“If a builder’s got a phone or tablet, they can scan a code and see how the steel sits in a chair, or how the pods click together. It saves time, reduces calls to us, and ensures everyone’s on the same page.”
That blend of clarity and innovation is part of what sets Cresco apart in a conservative industry often resistant to change.
Beyond Slabs: Full Development Support
Cresco isn’t limited to engineering drawings. The company provides end-to-end support for developers and builders, including:
- Land subdivisions and site planning
- Architectural design concepts
- Civil, structural, and mechanical engineering
- Project management and tender support
Townhouse projects in Labrador, White Rock, and Melbourne showcase how Cresco applies its Biax expertise to deliver faster, more cost-effective outcomes.
Culture and Mentorship
For Lutze, culture is as important as capability. He credits mentors from his mining days for modelling calm leadership under pressure, and he now fosters the same approach within Cresco.
He’s also invested in education. Through links with the University of Wollongong, Cresco provides opportunities for engineering students to gain experience. Lutze knows first-hand how valuable those early breaks can be.
“Those opportunities are worth more than any salary you’ll ever earn early in your career. They set you on the right path.”
Custom vs. Volume – Different Builders, Different Needs
One of Lutze’s more insightful points is his distinction between custom builders and volume builders.
Custom homes demand intricate problem-solving, unique structural solutions, and constant dialogue with clients. Volume builders, by contrast, need repeatable efficiency and cost optimisation. Cresco caters to both, but recognises the skillsets are different.
It’s an important reminder for suppliers: one size doesn’t fit all.
What Makes a Good Builder?
Asked the Good Builder’s signature question – what makes a good builder? – Lutze didn’t hesitate.
“A good builder is transparent about what they want, open to collaboration, and committed to doing things better. Whether it’s custom or volume, the best results come when everyone is treated as a partner, not just a vendor.”
The TGB Take
Cresco Australia’s story is more than an engineering firm’s growth. It’s an example of how cross-industry experience, calm leadership, and genuine partnership can reshape how builders work with their supply chain.
For builders facing rising costs, labour pressures, and client expectations, partners like Cresco, who bring solutions, innovation, and collaboration are not just helpful. They’re essential.
As Lutze puts it:
“Everyone’s project is important in their own way. If you’re conscious of that, you generally get a better outcome.”
And that’s the kind of mindset Australia’s home building industry needs right now.
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