50 | Elektron Group T T Virginia Wright Solutions to every electrical challenge “We were already one of the largest companies in the Waikato, but we’ve since grown further by developing our civil division, with its emphasis on street lighting, sports field lighting, and subdivision mains. CONTRACTING The recent success of Elektron in the 2024 Master Electricians of the Year Awards is a testament to their skills and workmanship: a Bronze Award for Innovation for their work on Hamilton Boys’ High School’s cricket dome, and reaching the finals in the $5 million-plus category for their work on Kmart’s semi-automated Distribution Centre on the outskirts of Hamilton. One of Waikato’s longest-established electrical companies, Elektron began as Ward Chandler Waikato in 1972. In 2013, the company rebranded with a modern name to reflect its future outlook. By 2019, Elektron had transitioned its leadership to current directors Kevin Cannell, Ryan Van Waveren, and Paul Brown, all qualified electrical inspectors with extensive experience in project management and the electrical industry, and all committed to continuing the company’s legacy of expertise. Well-known for its commercial and industrial expertise, delivered through both a projects division and a service division, Elektron expanded by adding a civil division and a switchboard fabrication department, as Paul explains. “We were already one of the largest companies in the Waikato, but we’ve since grown further by developing our civil division, with its emphasis on street lighting, sports field lighting, and subdivision mains. We grew again with the decision to manufacture and supply high-quality switchboards to other electrical companies, contractors, and wholesalers.” Keeping up with the constant and rapid changes in technology usage is a top priority for the company. They pride themselves on providing specialised electrical solutions to every industrial, commercial, and civil challenge. The inflatable dome at Hamilton Boys’ High School, of American design, is the first of its kind in New Zealand. This air-supported indoor cricket facility, complete with nets and lanes, is built to withstand winds of up to 150 kilometres per hour. The structure derives its support from internal pressurised air that inflates a pliable fabric envelope. Its double-skinned dome features a rigid wire-mesh exterior and an automated air-handling system that controls the speed of three fans to maintain the consistent air pressure needed for structural integrity. For example, if the doors are opened, the pressure drops, and the fans automatically speed up. If something goes wrong, the building monitoring system (BMS) sends a text message alert to the nominated personnel. The system also includes a back-up generator in case of power failure. “Basically, it was 8 GET HIGH www.accessman.co.nz Kaimiro Street Pukete Hamilton waikato@accessman.co.nz Access Equipment Hire Specialists
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