| 21 Northland: Foreno REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT Reducing waste earns environmental award Foreno is also one of the few tapware companies in New Zealand that voluntarily adheres to :atermark Certification. Sue Russell Waste Management is proud to have provided recycling solutions for this environmentally sustainable project. To find a sustainable waste solution for your project, speak to the experts. Call 0800 10 10 10 or visit wastemanagement.co.nz Kerry Lord, General Manager of Whangarei-based tapware business, Foreno Tapware is very proud of the fact that the company has featured two years running in the prestigious Northland Business Awards. In 2021, Foreno took out line-honours receiving the Supreme Award, while last year, having decided to put themselves forward for award consideration again, the company received the Environmental Excellence Award, sponsored by Northland Regional Council. “I had a good look at the criteria to enter this category and I felt with our innovative approach to conserving, reducing, recycling, we stood a good chance of being recognised,” Kerry says. Reducing wastage is a mantra that has been applied to many aspects of how Foreno operates on a day to day basis. “We’ve designed sink mixers, for instance that reduce the volume of water ȵowing per minute by half. “The majority of Foreno Kitchen mixers now also feature Cold Start Technology. The mixers have been re-engineered with the cold water setting at the top which is normally the fully mixed Hot/Cold setting on standard mixers. Less hot water is used and over time a considerable resource and cost saving occurs.ȋ Foreno is also one of the few tapware companies in New Zealand that voluntarily adheres to Watermark Certification, a certification which is independently audited annually, with part of the requirement is to ensure labelling for water volume usage is accurate. Other initiatives, beyond the products manufactured also have positive environmental outcomes. Over of Foreno’s packaging is made from recycled cardboard. By the end of this year, the remaining of packaging made from unrecyclable plastic will be removed. And when it comes to product testing, further environmental benefits are gained as Kerry explains. ȊThe traditional way to product test every tap before it is sold is to water test it, meaning set it up in a special jig and put water through it at pressure to see if there are any leaks. To reduce water usage we have put in a computerised micro-air testing device which uses air at high pressure to see if there are any leaks.ȋ That technology required a significant financial investment, but Kerry says the benefits of testing using air rather than water Mustified the purchase. (ven the building itself has seen change to bring benefits, with portions of the steel roofing replaced with clear panels to allow more natural light to filter in. “We also had all the old lighting replaced with eɝcient L(D technology. While saving money they also don’t generate heat, making the environment far more comfortable for sta.ȋ Two massive ceiling extraction fans have been installed which in the middle of summer drops the internal factory temperature down by at least degrees. Foreno was established in 1 and its core business is in the design, manufacturing, import and exporting of tapware, while its sister company, Voda Plumbingware, has been operating seven years. Ζn total the business employs people, with a mix of sales sta around New Zealand, and those based at the factory and Head Oɝce in Whangarei. Kerry says the company’s success is based on good old-fashioned quality. “We’ve been experiencing double-digit growth and that’s down to our customer service, our R D and constantly striving to be innovative. We look after our sta, and our production systems are excellent.ȋ NDSL are your technology partners, committed to helping Northland businesses achieve success. Phone us (09) 438 2520 www.ndsl.co 100% LOCALLY OWNED We are locally owned and operated and proud to support the Northland Business Excellence Awards. Your Business, Your Industry, Your News. Each edition priority delivered to your door. i i i i li . www.waterfordpress.co.nz/subscriptions . t f . . / i ti 03 983 5525 Stay informed; we work with business owners and decision-makers across all economic sectors, profiling their success. t i f r ; r it i r i i - r r ll i t r , r fili t ir . businessnorth
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