| 55 T T Russell Fredric Sprockets and chains crucial to industry SprocketsNZ is New Zealand’s largest manufacturer and importer of British and American standard sprockets and Donghua transmission roller chain. MANUFACTURING Precision Manufacturing Precision Manufacturing Limited (PML) and its two sister businesses epitomise a provincial company achieving huge things. Headquartered in Feilding, and with a branch in Christchurch, the engineering business is owned and run by husband and wife Darrell and Debbie Lardner, with SprocketsNZ and Southchain – New Zealand’s only chain manufacturer – operating as interlinked arms of PML. Supplying nationwide from Kaitaia to Bluff, SprocketsNZ is New Zealand’s largest manufacturer and importer of British and American standard sprockets and Donghua transmission roller chain. SprocketsNZ services a range of industries, such as forestry and timber, pulp and paper, food and beverage processing and packaging, animal and pelt processing, meat processing and marine, with sawmills representing a significant part of the business. Donghua is the global leader in the manufacture and supply of transmission chain and sprockets to internationally recognised companies in numerous fields, including aviation, automotive, rail transit, industrial and agricultural, with an inventory of more than 100,000 kinds of chain products. Darrell usually travels to China every year. He has visited Donghua in Hangzhou, China, and says the company’s plant and operation is “incredible”. After adding Donghua’s products to SprocketsNZ’s inventory, and the brand gaining recognition in New Zealand, Darrell felt he was on to a winner. As a result, he revisited Donghua and met with a high-level executive with the intention of SprocketsNZ gaining an exclusive supply agreement for New Zealand. “They’d never given exclusivity to anyone in the world before. After about a two-hour meeting of discussions and what I could do with Donghua’s products, I got an agreement. No one else is allowed to directly import from Donghua into New Zealand.” Even locals are amazed at PML’s business when they visit and see the scope and scale of what it does, Darrell says. While it tends to fly under the radar and little thought is given to sprockets and chains, they are absolutely crucial to any industry, he says. “You can’t go a kilometre without passing a sprocket and chain. They’re everywhere. It’s a consumable product.” Over time, SprocketsNZ has grown its inventory, and consequently its customer base, by making sure there was a replacement part kept in stock every time an initial order was placed. “I chased OEM’s (original equipment manufacturer) and got a lot of big brands on board,” says Darrell. The other arm of PML, Southchain, is New Zealand’s only chain manufacturer. Southchain originally operated in Invercargill, but was purchased by PML in 1999 and relocated to Feilding, since then growing into a well-established brand for conveyor chains that today comprises about 15% to 20% of sales, a high percentage of which is in the meat-processing industry. “This is what makes us different from all the other roller chain importing companies. Here in Feilding we have the capabilities to punch plates, rivet chain, manufacture rollers, induction harden pins etc.” The businesses are supported by 37 staff and highly resourced machine shops in Feilding and Christchurch, with a total of 10 CNC machines of various types, and in addition to steel and stainless steel, nylon components can be manufactured. PML has a small amount of business in Fiji, and Darrell sees the potential to significantly grow its business relationship with Fiji Sugar Corporation, the largest sugar-milling company in the South Pacific. The company’s specialisation and diversity has helped even out the highs and low of economic cycles over the years, he says. “Generally, if one business drops off the other picks up, so we settle on that middle line throughout the year. It’s probably one of the key things that plays in our favour.” “You can’t go a kilometre without passing a sprocket and chain. They’re everywhere. It’s a consumable product.” Ph. 06 355 2225 | 55 Kelvin Grove Rd, Palmerston North | sandman@inspire.net.nz A1 Sandblasters are proud to support Precision Manufacturing Ltd 130 Hokio Beach Road, PO Box 1136, Levin NZ feco PLATING&POLISHING Tim Stewart SALES MANAGER • P 06 368 2573 • E sales@flsolutions.co.nz • M 027 220 8942 06 752 2011 | enquiries@eisl.co.nz 1249 Egmont Rd, Egmont Village | egmontindustrial.co.nz STEEL PIPE AND CASING SUPPLIER • New and surplus 21mm - 2350mm od • Range of steel and plastic culverts • Steel mesh, plate and steel sections • Offer in house cutting / fabricating to length
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