46 | REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT Rangitikei: Ovation NZ Work force ‘key part’ of business T from page 45 Specialist sheep processor Ovation NZ employs 200 full-time staff and a further 150 seasonally. Ovation’s catchment area encompasses the central and lower North Island, which enables short turnaround from farm to processing. “That’s a real point of difference for Ovation. We operate a just-in-time system for when the stock arrives. A farmer knows that soon after the stock has been delivered to our facility the livestock will be processed and will hold its condition, optimising the farmers’ returns.” While the skills of an experienced butcher or boner can never be replaced, Ovation utilises a high degree of automation throughout the process to assist with quality, productivity and safety. Over last couple of years the company has introduced robotics that have been developed in partnership with local engineering firm Advanced Engineering Services to carry out some processing tasks. “We produce to tight specifications providing ready to use products to chefs, manufacturers and other customers, where they can bank on minimal wastage and standardised preparation processes and giving customers high confidence in uniformity, quality, and cost.” Ovation’s highly skilled workforce include many staff who have been part of the company’s journey for the last 20 years and form the core of the team’s experience. “We’re hugely dependent on our workforce and they’re a key part of making the plant work efficiently and effectively. On an industry scale the Feilding site is at the smaller end, but that allows us to operate on a year round basis and offer most of our staff the confidence of year round full time employment.” In addition to being a major employer, Ovation has a policy of utilising local suppliers and trades to support the plants operation, and actively supports the local rural communities with sponsorships. “We also host plants tours for schools and other tertiary and training facilities.” Proudly supporting Ovation NZ Proudly supporting Ovation NZ. Hastings 06 878 8002 Napier 06 835 8002 www.hbr.co.nz
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