96 | CONTRACTING HEL Rimu delivered on time and on budget. This was achieved by working closely with the client NuGreen Solutions and Nexans New Zealand, alongside suppliers J.A Russells, and involving sub trades OPR, Brough Earthworks, David Jonker Roofing and engineers YEH. With 1500 A strategy to diversify the business Aircon, Data, Automation Solar stood out as growth areas and also gives them sustainable energy solutions. Owae Whaitara Marae solar power. T T Virginia Wright Taranaki based electrical services company HEL Rimu LTD. emerged from Covid with a clear strategy: to diversify their business and stay ahead of the curve while simultaneously offering better solutions and cost savings to their customers. What this meant in practice was expanding their skill set by turning their focus towards services that complement their core offerings. Aircon, Data, Automation Solar stood out as growth areas and also gives them sustainable energy solutions. “At a time when the construction industry is quite slow and lethargic we’re diversifying so that we can offer more of a one-stop shop, so as well as being able to service their normal electrical needs we can provide solar and automation solutions for our commercial and industrial clients, as we expand into the renewable energy space,” says General Manager Callum Margetts. Along with diversifying came an effort to be more collaborative with their clients, suppliers, industry partners nationwide to get better outcomes on projects for all involved. A great example of this is a 1 MegaWatt ground mount solar farm which was successfully “At a time when the construction industry is quite slow and lethargic we’re diversifying so that we can offer more of a one-stop shop.” NEED A BRAND HERO? solar panels on 1000 square meters of unused land and is the biggest one in a industrial zone in the Taranaki region to date and substantially reduces Nexans daily power consumption from the national grid. It was HEL Rimu’s first large scale solar installation, was runner up in the 2024 Sustainable Energy Association of New Zealand Awards (SEANZ) and is now a finalist in the Master Electricians Excellence Awards. “Nexan’s are dramatically reducing their risk and reliance on the energy market by locking in a large portion their energy costs over the next decade. It gives them a stable energy cost outlook and also helps them achieve their own sustainability goals” says Callum. Their other avenue of expansion is into the BMS (Building Management Systems) control systems market in Taranaki which has largely been supplied by companies outside of the region. “We found that companies who had these systems put in were getting very little support, so in the last two years we’ve started offering local businesses a BMS solutions that not only are custom-made to their needs but also comes with local support’ says Callum. BMS systems assist with energy management, offering automated control and monitoring of air-conditioning and heating systems as well as lighting, EV charging, solar and other compatible power using equipment. HEL Rimu installs and programmes the automation to suit the customer’s preferences and its system can be monitored at work or remotely on a PC. “We’re looking to start small. For us local definitely comes first and we’re about to roll out our first multiple site system for a local business which may then expand across the central North Island,” says Callum. While HEL Rimu’s business focus is mainly commercial, their focus on local means their community sponsorship reaches into many homes across the region with a wide range of support including local charities, community projects, sports teams, and initiatives.
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