20 | New HQ delivers the goods Entec’s manufacturing has seen growth of 20% year on year since its inception in 2016 and now accounts for approximately 30% of total revenue. T T from page 18 REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT Entec: 6 Mustang Drive: Shedex With about 130 staff, Entec has grown into a significant player in the region, offering specialist services across instrumentation and electrical work, gas detection, mechanical services, and the prefabrication of electrical switch rooms and substations. These prefabricated plant rooms are often substantial structures, and the newly completed, bespoke workshop space at Mustang Drive will enable construction in an ideal environment. “We build them entirely in-house and having the covered space to do that properly brings a lot of efficiency to our process. Now that we’re in the new building, we can already see the improvements,” says Rob.. “For us, this whole development strengthens the electrical side of the business and supports the transition into renewable energy and electrical infrastructure we’ve been making for the past seven or eight years.” Entec’s transition away from its historical reliance on oil and gas has been deliberate and steady, with growing emphasis on renewable energy projects such as geothermal power, solar power, and grid scale battery storage. Entec’s manufacturing has seen growth of 20% year on year since its inception in 2016 and now accounts for approximately 30% of total revenue. Rob says the move into 6 Mustang Drive represents another step in that journey, and an important good-news story for a region managing the wider decline of petrochemical activity. Entec’s long-standing relationship with Symons Group has played a key role in the success of the project. Rob says the two organisations have worked together across various Symons divisions over the years, and the decision to develop 6 Mustang Drive grew naturally out of that relationship. “Symons Group has been great to deal with all the way through,” he says. “When the site next door became available, we approached them, and they fully got behind the project. Their support has been excellent.” A major factor in the success of the development is Symons Group’s open-book designand-build process. The full-build cost, lease structure, and term were agreed upfront, giving Entec complete clarity from day one. As the design evolved, any variations that resulted in savings were passed directly back through a reduced net lease. This transparent approach allowed Entec to tailor the facility to its operational needs while maintaining total confidence in the commercial outcome. This is a model Symons Group now applies across its wider property portfolio. Builder Shedex also played a major role in ensuring the new building met Entec’s operational needs. Rob says the team brought strong ideas to the table, particularly regarding workshop orientation and access for transporting prefabricated structures up to 20 metres long. “Shedex were great to work with,” he says. “They do what they say they’re going to do, communication is excellent, and they bring a huge amount of skill. They’re a hardworking crew and they’ve delivered a really well-built facility.” Rob hopes to arrange an official opening early in the new year with Symons Group’s Graham Symons and Minister for Energy and Climate Change, Simon Watts. “It will be nice to celebrate something positive for the region,” he says. “We support a lot of families with our big team, and developments like this help keep skills, jobs, and capability in Taranaki.” The move into the new headquarters comes at a time of growing opportunity for Entec, both in New Zealand and overseas. Early in 2025, the company established a full operation in Brisbane after completing a major project for a client in Darwin — a 20m by 5m, 50 tonne switch room built entirely in New Plymouth, shipped to Brisbane, and then transported by road to the Northern Territory. The complexity and cost of that process became a catalyst for expansion. “Our client had a large pipeline of construction projects in Australia and indicated they would support us if we set up in Brisbane,” Rob says. “It made sense. There is a huge amount happening in the energy space in Australia at the moment.” Entec’s Brisbane base opened in February and already mirrors much of the operation in New Plymouth, with a growing schedule of work ahead. Rob says the company’s continued willingness to take calculated risks has underpinned its success. “If you don’t have a crack at things, you don’t move forward,” he says. “We’re still doing a lot in oil and gas, but we’re also doing a lot more in other areas. Becoming more of a manufacturing-focused business has been a great transition.” Now fully settled into its new home at Mustang Drive, Entec is positioned for another strong year of growth, entering 2026 with expanded capability, improved workflow efficiencies, and a modern headquarters designed to support its evolving future. Proud to be a key supply partner. 06 756 7535 24/7 CRANE, TRUCK & HIAB SERVICE P. 0800 117 259 Working alongside another reputable Taranaki company and their professional team – Shed Ex As industry leaders in New Plymouth, there is no-one else that can provide the quality materials and service at our price. Whether it’s a floor, driveway, path, a patio, deck, fence or a feed pad we’re the guys to call if you want the job done properly. We are the concreting contractors for you in the following areas. 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