28 | Focus on forward planning from page 26 Connecting the new build to a fully operational facility was another challenge. Mount Pack & Cool REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT to page 30 Kiwi-owned and operated, SG Equipment is the only authorised Yale Forklifts dealer in New Zealand. We sell quality Yale forklift trucks as well as Taylor-Dunn, Polaris, Gem and Goupil Products. Whether you’re looking for brand-new, used, short or long term rentals, or just some good honest advice, we offer a great range of materials handling equipment to suit your specific needs and budget. We have a nationwide dealer network covering from Kaitaia to Invercargill, with full product support services in all locations including a 24-hour, 7-dayemergency breakdown and field service, with a large range of parts available. stevegordon@yale.co.nz 30 year partnership continues • Industrial Pallets • Horticultural Pallets • Custom Crates & Bins • Export Fumigation • Recycled Pallets & Repair Services • Cut to length timber PROUDLY SUPPLY AND SUPPORT MOUNT PACK N COOL 9-11 Diversey Lane, Manukau | Telephone: 05 08 472 553 or 09 277 9224 E-mail: sales@bigtuff.co.nz | www.bigtuffpallets.co.nz Working through the red tape to get exemptions where necessary and creating separate work zones for workers that came from lockdown areas to the site were solutions Form and Mpac came up with. Karl says microprogramming also helped keep the project on track with separate programmes developed by Form project manager Mike Wardrope and site engineer Mark Oram for all major sub-trades. The project was also constructed through winter and this required a series of smart design changes to allow the project to get out of the ground earlier. For example concrete pavement slabs were poured with partial structural steel stubs that were later welded as full height structure, rather than install full height at a later date due to steel supply issues, which massively reduced the risks of subgrade degradation and helped fast track other parts of the project. Another major challenge was connecting the new build to a fully operational facility. “A massive amount of preplanning was required to allow structure, roofing, concrete and services connections to the existing building without disrupting Mpac operations,” explains Karl. He says the collaborative attitude of the client, Form and design consultants BCD was extremely important and a vital factor in the success of the project. “We all had to be flexible, adaptable and think outside the square. At Form we are huge on making sure we always have a plan B, C and D and that has also stood the project in good stead.” Mpac is based on a 65,000m² site, the largest single site in the Tauriko Business Estate, which it purchased in 2016 to build the stateof-the art facility. Brendon says that every detail was designed with efficiency, sustainability and performance in mind making it the most technologically advanced greenfield kiwifruit packhouse in New Zealand. The company’s growth since 2009 has gone from 2.5 million trays at its previous site in Mount Maunganui to over 16 million trays at the Tauriko site. In 2021 it processed 16 million trays and next year 19 million trays is the estimate. Brendon says future developments are already being planned driven by increased demand for Zespri’s Sungold or Gold 3 variety. Brendon says that Zespri has released thousands of hectares of the gold license, which has been eagerly snapped up by orchardists with no signs of abating. Brendon says that Mpac has been able to pick up a large market share of the resulting demand for post-harvest services on the back of investment in its facility, low fruit loss, high OGR (orchard gate returns), harvest capacity and strong forward planning focus. “By future proofing our business growers can see that we have capacity to expand and feel confident coming on board,” he says. “
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