58 | Expanding on the engineering side From an engineering background as a pipe welder and fitter, SJ worked in the company on his own for the first two years, then took on contract welders to help. ENGINEERING Eastweld Engineering T T Hugh de Lacy The recovery work from last year’s Cyclone Gabrielle in Hawke’s Bay has seen Napier-based Eastweld Engineering grow the engineering side of its business, to which it has recently added an insulation and cladding division. Eastweld Engineering runs a 700m2 workshop in Onekawa where its staff of 35 specialises in pipework fabrication, insulation and cladding. For the past year much of its capacity has been focused on helping wood processor Pan Pac and fertiliser manufacturer Ravensdown recover from the cyclone damage they suffered. With both now back up and running, Eastweld co-directors SJ Cavell and Quinn Ryan attended the recent Australian Manufacturing Week in Sydney to check out the latest technology. “We are always looking for ways to increase our productivity, and since going to Australia we’re pursuing some options that we believe will produce high quality, cost-effective products for our clients,” founder SJ says. “We are even looking at some automation options for our prefabrication work. “I started the company in 2014 as I could see that the compliance side of pipework installations was not being delivered as well as it could be. “It’s important that the actual product be of a high standard, but it’s becoming increasingly important for our clients to receive timely and complete compliance packages for the projects we undertake, and we have made this a priority for the past ten years.” With the pressure off to get Pan Pac and Ravensdown back into production, things are getting back to normal now. “We enjoy working with local big players such as Lineage Logistics, Turners and Growers and Silver Fern Farms, and have vast experience in refrigeration from doing so,” he says. “Our point of difference is our quality service and product and our delivery of complete compliance packages. “We have a great team of young guys and girls who all go above and beyond for our clients.” This includes operating a 24/7 breakdown service for big factory clients. Most of Eastweld Engineering’s work revolves around pipework fabrication and installation related to steam, ammonia, natural gas and water, but also includes hygienic process pipework. From an engineering background as a pipe welder and fitter, SJ worked in the company on his own for the first two years, then took on contract welders to help with the growing workload. Three years ago he brought Quinn aboard as a partner, utilising Quinn’s background in sheet-metal, pipe welding and fitting. A year ago Eastweld Engineering bought a sheet-metal company in Hastings when SJ and Quinn saw the need to insulate and clad the pipework they were installing in a house. Previously this work was sub-contracted to companies outside the region. “Our clients have really embraced this new division of the company, and find it beneficial that we have now become a one-stop-shop, alleviating the need to deal with another sub-contractor on projects,” SJ says. That side of the business has grown to 11 employees in the last 12 months, enabling Eastweld to expand both its capacity and its clientele. ENGINEERING & INSUL AT ION 021 773 188 • Certified Pipe Welding • ASME IX Qualified • Cladding & Insulation • Spray Foam Injection • Compliance Specialists • Specialists in Steam & Ammonia Pipework • 24hr Call-Out Sca olding | Rigging | Rope Access | Fall Arrest Safety Netting With 20 years experience in the industry, we are your one stop height safety specialist. Rocket Sca olding Limited | 0800 402 202 Auckland | Napier | Taupo | Rotorua
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