| 89 Houghton’s Plumbing CONTRACTING T T Sue Russell Been fortunate to evolve and grow Purpose-built 8,000-litre Hydrovac truck on site. Robin and Glenice Houghton own and operate Houghton’s Plumbing, Heating & Gas Ltd situated in Hawera, south Taranaki. They established the business in a small way back in 1983 operating from home, then in 1989,having purchased a building in town, set up shop. They’ve been there ever since. “We’ve been fortunate to evolve and grow the businesss and its offering since moving in. We have a showroom at the front, offices in the middle and workshop and storage bay areas out the back where we keep all the large equipment. We also have our utes, trucks and a yard, so all in all we’re very well set-up,” Glenice says. As part of planning for the future, a few years ago Daryl Katene and Sam Houghton were welcomed into the business as shareholder partners. Both are experienced Certifying Plumbers and long-standing members of the team. “Our services include water filtration, woodfires, gas water and home heating. We also install wastewater treatment systems for rural, commercial and industrial situations.” “We’ve actually trained over 40 apprentices in our time and today we’re a team of 17, a mix of plumbers, apprentices, store, showroom, administration and management. It’s a good size for the scope of work we do these days.” A source of particular pride is that all apprentices come out with a full skill-set, with strong encouragement from management to undertake all disciplines. “It takes 5 years to gain all three qualifications but its very worthwhile. I just wish there was more marketing of how good a qualification it is, setting people up for a good career. Some of our apprentices have gone on to establish their own businesses.” There’s a good split, Glenice says, between domestic and commercial/industrial work, providing the team with a lot of variety and opportunities to gain good experiences. As business has grown, so too have the services the business offers customers. Six years ago, the Company invested in a 3,000-litre vacuum truck to complement our plumbing and drainlaying services, allowing us to provide efficient suction and wastewater services to our customers. Last year, we took the next step with the investment in a purpose-built 8,000-litre Hydrovac truck, complete with its own water tank. This has expanded our capabilities to include hydro excavation, providing a safer and more precise way to excavate around underground infrastructure. T T to page 90 Proudly supporting Houghtons Plumbing Bernie the builder Bernard Gavin M: 027 629 8937 E: pamela.gavin@xtra.co.nz • Free Quotes • Bathroom/Laundry renovation • Decks/Fencing • Kit set Kitchens • Small shed/House spouting • Re-lining walls/Fixing Weather boards Hydro excavation uses high-pressure water to carefully break up the ground, with the resulting material then safely removed by vacuum. This is particularly valuable when working around existing underground services, helping to reduce the risk of damaging pipes, cables and other infrastructure that may not be accurately identified or visible. “We also have the specialist equipment and expertise to undertake electrofusion welding of PE (polyethylene) piping. This allows us to install, repair and modify PE pipe systems, providing strong, reliable and durable joints for a range of applications. “Our electrofusion capability complements our plumbing, drainage and water infrastructure services and enables us to undertake projects involving PE pipework from installation through to repairs and alterations.” As part of planning for the future, a few years ago we welcomed two new partners into the business. Both are experienced Certifying members of our team, bringing their knowledge and experience into the partnership and helping to ensure the continued success of the business for years to come.
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