56 | Fabrication specialist carves out a niche EPS fabricates a wide range of other products including light structural, aluminium and bespoke stainless steel work, such as bench tops, balustrades and hand-rails for architecturally designed houses. EPS Fabrication T T Hugh de Lacy ENGINEERING Playground slides have become a specialty for Feilding company EPS Fabrication, and never more so since a Mount Maunganui artist asked them to build a stainless steel one down the side of her new house. “She always had a dream of having a slide in her house so she can leave her office, hop on the slide and arrive at her kitchen,” EPS Fabrication joint owner Patrick Frame says. “We’ve developed a niche market in stainless steel playground equipment but this one in Mount Maunganui was one out of the box. “The house went on to pick up regional Registered Master Builders awards, and features in the recently published Registered Master Builders’ House of the Year Magazine. “We are extremely proud of this slide, and of the many others we fabricate and ship throughout New Zealand.” Elliot Wilkes and Patrick formed the company four year ago after they struck up a friendship while working for another company. Even with a 20-year age gap between them, they found they worked well together. Today they operate out of a 930m2 openplan workshop in Feilding with a full-time staff of six, plus sub-contractors. Elliott is an Advanced Tradesman in Light Fabrication while Patrick has a bachelor’s degree in Industrial Engineering, having worked for several large companies around the country. A milestone will arrive soon for the young company when its first apprentice, whom they’d taken on when the company started up, comes out of his time within the next few months. Patrick says the company has a number of business drivers, the key one being quality. “We’re hell-bent on quality, so nothing goes out of the workshop door that isn’t 100 per cent,” he says. “We are also extremely lucky to have a staff skill level and mind-set which supports this driver. “A collaborative approach with both clients and staff is also a key to ensuring creative, timely solutions.” While stainless steel slides and playground equipment provide the company with a specialist niche, it is far from the bulk of their daily work. EPS also fabricates a wide range of other products including light structural, aluminium and bespoke stainless steel work, such as bench tops, balustrades and hand-rails for architecturally designed houses. “We also design and fabricate a significant amount of bespoke garden-style ornamental work, such as large water features. “It’s the fun stuff,” Patrick says. “A lot of our work is either for clients directly or through sub-contracting, supporting larger companies in education and regional defence contract works. While inflationary pressures and a looming recession are threats, Patrick says EPS Fabrication is still on a growth trajectory, and he has encountered little evidence of demand waning at this stage. “Late 2023 into 2024 will ultimately tell the tale. “We’re reasonably robustly insulated from the current market due to having such a broad customer base and extensive networks across many industry sectors. “We remain optimistic right now,” Patrick says. “The medium-term future does hold opportunity for further capital spending with an eye to continued expansion.” For all your Electrical, Heat Pump & Refrigeration needs Office/showroom: 7 Gladstone St, Feilding www.apbelectrical.co.nz e: sales@apbelectrical.co.nz Ph: 0800 272 363 Proud to be Associated with EPS Fabrication Call the professionals CENTRAL POWDERCOATERS Powdercoating Specialists 06 356 9600 or 027 373 9646 centralpowdercoaters@xtra.co.nz 115a Keith Street, Palmerston North PROUDLY SUPPORTING EPS FABRICATION PALMERSTON NORTH 250 - 270 Featherston St Phone: (06) 354 4087 www.mitre10.co.nz Proudly Supporting EPS Fabrication. GET IT DONE RIGHT
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