100 | CONTRACTING Groundfix T T Karen Phelps Groundwork expertise NZ wide Groundfix’s reputation has been enhanced by multiple award wins at the Civil Contractors NZ awards including taking out two national awards. In 2023 it won an APAC Geotechnical Contractor of the Year Award. “We like to operate a friendly company staff enjoys working for and where they are recognised for their achievements and hard work. Without them we don’t have anything.” In infrastructure projects it is often what lurks beneath the ground that can significantly impact outcomes. Ground engineering and slope stabilization contractor Groundfix has been offering groundwork expertise to clients for over a decade, helping to problem solve and come up with innovative solutions. “Bringing all our experience to the table, along with our investment in modern specialised pneumatic and hydraulic powered drilling rigs, we undertake a wide range of ground engineering and slope stabilisation projects,” says one of the Groundfix directors Justin Wilson. The New Zealand family owned business started in 2013 and is still owned by the original owners. The business has grown from operating out of a garage in a house to commercial premises in Silverdale and Christchurch, working New Zealand wide. Initially employing five staff this has now swelled to a team of over 100 people. Justin says the key to success and longevity is a combination of experience, the team and commitment to quality, which has resulted in a trusted reputation. As an example Justin alone brings around 30 years of geotechnical construction experience in New Zealand and the UK to the table. Business partner Simon Bourke likewise offers an extensive geotechnical construction background and Justin’s wife Elisabetta, a chartered accountant, works in the business as CFO. The company’s reputation has been further enhanced over the years by multiple award wins at the Civil Contractors NZ awards including taking out two national awards. In 2023 it won an APAC Geotechnical Contractor of the Year Award. “Someone put us up for it,” says Justin, “and it was an honour to win. Ground can be difficult to deal with and it’s the background and education we have in terms of our team’s technical ability that sets us apart. This enables us to understand the ground environment we are working in and be able to front foot issues and solve them proactively for our clients.” He credits his team as the backbone of the company’s success. “We like to operate a friendly company staff enjoys working for and where they are recognised for their achievements and hard work. Without them we don’t have anything.” T T to page 102 The company invests heavily in training - both internal and external - and continuously upgrading and improving plant. Its work is supported at the office end via apps to create a fully electronic documentation process where information can easily be created, updated and shared. Health and safety is a focus along with maintaining high quality levels. Groundfix has been ISO certified since 2018 and currently holds the following certifications: ISO 9001 Quality Management, ISO 14001 Environmental Management, ISO 45001 Occupational H&S Management and ISO AS/NZS 4801 Occupational H&S Management. Its concentration on continual excellence has seen Groundfix work with some major clients including McConnell Dowell, Fletcher Construction, Higgins and Acciona. Projects have been varied and often complex, winning awards. For example the Vodafone building in Auckland where the water table was above bottom basement ceiling level, which saw Groundfix drill through the slab to below the bottom level and install 64 tension piles to hold the car park floor in place. Another high profile project was the Waterview Tunnel in West Auckland. “We got engaged by the Alliance when they drove the tunnel boring machine through and realised there was more water flow than expected. We were employed to drill through one tunnel lining within 300mm of the other tunnel lining. FOR ALL YOUR FOLDING AND POWDER COATING NEEDS POWDER COATING • FUSION BONDED EPOXY • THERMOPLASTIC • ALUMINIUM FLASHINGS • ALUMINIUM DOWNPIPES • ALUMINIUM WELDING INDUSTRIAL POWDER COATINGS AND ALUMINIUM FABRICATION 33 Maleme St, Greerton, Tauranga, NZ admin@bpc.net.nz (07) 541 1309 CONTACT US
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy NDc2Mzg=