38 | DEVELOPMENT Trundles Automotive T T Karen Phelps Everything under one roof at Trundles The workshop offers a range of services including general vehicle servicing and repair but mostly focusing on suspension and accessory upgrades for 4WD vehicles. Since Trundles Automotive moved into its new purpose built premises in February efficiencies have increased meaning an even better service for clients, say company owners Claire and Chris Trundle. Located at 10 Cory John Place, Bell Block, New Plymouth, the 1800sqm building is a vast increase from the previous 800sqm facility. It includes a large showroom (a new offering for customers), warehousing, workshop, fabrication bay and dyno tuning cell. All of the company’s 17 staff is now able to work together from the one location including highly trained fabricators, mechanics, parts and accessories experts, graphic designers and 3D/CAD. Future plans – within the next year - include investment in a press brake and fibre laser. Claire says this will allow the company to do more work in-house. It’s the third shift for the company since it was started by the Trundles over a decade ago. Chris, a mechanic by trade, and wife Claire started the business from their own property. Initially, due to its rural location, the business mainly serviced local farmers’ vehicles and equipment. Claire says the business grew due to the couple’s passion for motorsports and all things to do with cars. “Chris had already been making suspension components for his own cars because nothing was available to be purchased. The company growth is based on the fact we are both passionate about motorsport and cars in general,” says Claire. Chris is well known in the industry. He was the youngest to compete in the Targa Rally as a 15 year old. He has competed in D1 drifting, a driving technique where the driver intentionally over steers with loss of traction, while maintaining control and driving the car through the entirety of a corner, at the highest level. He currently competes at the top level in the New Zealand off-road racing championship. As Trundles Automotive grew it moved from the couple’s home to its first premises in T T to page 40 central New Plymouth. Two years ago, due to company growth, the Trundles started building their new facility at Bell Block. Claire says one of the biggest changes has been reducing double handling and consolidating all stock on one site, which was previously in various storage facilities. Warehousing is also expanded and includes extensive shelving supplied by Storepro Solutions plus a man-up order picker to make things easier and safer to access. The new fabrication bay offers a large separate space for Trundle Automotive’s fabricators, keeping vehicles safe from weld and grind sparks. The dyno tuning cell is a soundproofed booth with large extraction fans so the company can diesel tune vehicles. The new showroom, with a promotional vehicle park inside, has proved a real hit with clients, says Claire. “It allows us to display parts, have vehicles on display and mag wheels. It’s a new offering and it’s very impressive when you walk in. We get a lot of comments,” she says. Trundles Automotive is a one-stop-shop for all 4x4 suspension and parts. The main focus is the importation and supply of performance parts and suspension to customers and workshops around New Zealand. The workshop is the other main facet to the business and Trundles Automotive has such a strong reputation it works on vehicles from around the country with people willing to wait for months. The company is booked out for the rest of the year and has over 200 pallets of stock on the water waiting delivery. The workshop (06) 759-0414 www.iceelectrical.co.nz enquiries@iceelectrical.co.nz SUPERIOR since 1983 WALLS AND CEILINGS LTD TRUSTED IN TARANAKI FOR OVER 40 YEARS FIXING • STOPPING • ORNAMENTAL RESIDENTIAL • COMMERCIAL 021857673 CONTACT PETER ALL ASPECTS OF CONCRETE Rose Concrete Ltd, New Plymouth Call Sam Rose: 0220844626 E: rosecontractingltd@hotmail.com Facebook: Rose Concrete Ltd
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