| 57 ‘Great team’ central to firm’s success Sue Russell Smythe Contractors specialises in directional drilling, pipe bursting, slip lining, pipe jacking and ramming, rock drilling and hydro excavation. CONTRACTING Smythe Contractors 07 827 5925 www.smythecon.com Smythe Contractors Ltd are a multi-resourced construction company with a proven track record of over 40 years, undertaking civil construction projects with great outcomes and satis ed clients. Please contact us to discuss your project - our experts are happy to answer your queries and to work with you to achieve the most cost effective and successful operation. Contact Solo Plastics for more details on this environmentally friendly, recycled product: p +64 9828 9594 | e solo.sales@solo.co.nz | w solo.co.nz AVAILABLE NOW THROUGH YOUR LOCAL MERCHANT. ENGINEERED TO YOUR EXACT SPECIFICATIONS FROM RECYCLED PLASTIC AND ITS MADE RIGHT HERE IN NZ. THE PERFECT SUSTAINABLE, LIGHTWEIGHT AND SUPER STRONG SOLUTION FOR LARGE BORE CULVERT PIPES. Paul Cooke is relishing being General Manager at Cambridge-based civil contracting company Smythe Contractors He’s been in the role since just before Christmas. “Contracting is challenging at the moment and I’m 100% enjoying every moment. We have a great team with high level skills and many have years of experience. We really value their contribution to our success,” Paul says. Smythe Contractors employs upward of 4050 staff, taking on more when the workload demands it. The company specialises in directional drilling, pipe bursting and slip lining, pipe jacking and ramming, rock drilling and hydro excavation. Paul says that if the right person, with the right attitude, knocks on the door, they will seriously look at giving them an opportunity. “We’re fortunate that we have really skilled operators who can train up a new team member. “We just need an attitude that matches our culture to work well as a team and deliver projects to the highest standard for our clients.” Smythe Contractors was established back in the mid 1970’s by Mike Smythe, a pioneer in trenchless drilling technologies. Mike was one of the first to bring in directional drills into New Zealand. A large segment of work the company takes on is for regional and district councils, along with privatised industries, including the dairy industry. “We also take on work for the domestic consumer. “With where we are based in central Waikato, we do like to focus on our local community and market as much as possible, and there is a lot of ground work happening all over the district, as old infrastructure is replaced and new ground opened up.” COVID, has of course, brought its fair share of challenges, particularly with the supply chain. Paul says it’s a case of working further into the future when planning jobs and sourcing materials as soon as possible. Even then, time-frames are extending as the impact of the pandemic kicks in. To counter these challenges the company has focussed in keeping a certain level of material on site so that when jobs cross the desk they have access to necessary materials. The business is divided into four or five specific crews, including office staff. “We have separate start and finish times for all the crews so that they remain as single units on our site.” “We’re fortunate that we have really skilled operators who can train up a new team member. We just need an attitude that matches our culture to work well as a team and deliver projects to the highest standard for our clients.” When Business North spoke with Paul approximately 10% of the staff were off work, either with the virus or as close contacts. “This brings challenges with jobs that have a delivery date. “We’re fortunate to have great relationships with our customers and they understand we are doing the best we can to ensure delivery on time.” Most of the company’s gear is imported and expensive so an emphasis is put on ensuring that all equipment is thoroughly checked over and serviced between jobs. Generally, office facilities are established on the job site, ensuring that the necessary administration is taken care of as each project progresses. Smythe Contractors has just completed a major and very complex project on No. 1 Road, Te Puke, involving the establishment and upgrade of a main trunk water line. The project involved 4km of large diameter pipeline from the water processing plant down No 1 Road and across Landscape Road. A 54 tonne DD440t American Auger, with 220 tonne pullback capacity, capable of installing 1.2m diameter pipe in 1km sections. Tendering for projects is a skill-set in itself. Given the nature of the work Smythe Contractors takes on, there’s always an aspect of uncertainty as to what issues the ground will present. The company engages geotechnical experts and an international mud-mixing company to provide important information prior to submitting a tender. “It’s a case of getting the best possible understanding of ground conditions and then mitigating the risks and challenges.” Paul says one of the great aspects of the business is it’s family-based culture. A business that looks after its crews and families. “Everyone is inclusive in the business and we are community focussed. “We’re not a big player so the guys in our business do have an identity and they are listened to.”
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy NDc2Mzg=