42 | Everything engineering Stafford Engineering uses SolidWorks software so its design team can model and evaluate projects before moving them into production. Waikato: Stafford Engineering T T Karen Phelps REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT Manufacturing often involves juggling multiple suppliers and contractors, but Hamilton-based Stafford Engineering aims to make things easy for clients by bringing every aspect of engineering and manufacturing under a single roof. This approach has seen it transform from its humble beginnings as a small machine shop into a comprehensive engineering solutions provider that handles everything from initial design to final installation. “This ability to do everything in-house is a real advantage to our clients. They have one point of contact for their entire project, and we have a highly skilled team undertaking each aspect for them. It’s reflective of our company ethos towards quality, which means we always strive to exceed customer expectations,” says company engineering manager Dave Stuart. The company’s journey began in 1986, when brothers Roger and Don Evans established a modest machine shop called Stafford Industries, later expanding to include Stafford Sheet Metal. By 2000, the two operations had merged to form what is now Stafford Engineering. Today, the company employs around 60 people and boasts a range of services spanning contract manufacturing, design-andbuild services, engineering consulting and comprehensive maintenance support. This includes CNC machining, laser cutting, folding services, fabrication and rolling. This complete in-house capability has attracted major clients, including Fisher & Paykel Healthcare, Sealed Air, and Image Holdings. Quality assurance is embedded in the company’s operations, as evidenced by its ISO 9001 certification, a globally recognised standard for quality management. One of the company’s real points of difference has been achieving ASME U Stamp certification, making it uniquely positioned in the New Zealand market to export pressure vessels into the USA, says Dave: “We are the only company in New Zealand that can send pressure equipment to the USA as we have this required certification.” Whether clients arrive with fully developed drawings ready for manufacturing, or just an initial concept requiring development, Stafford Engineering’s team can accommodate their needs under one roof, says Dave. Stafford Engineering uses SolidWorks software so its design team can model and evaluate projects before moving them into production within the same facility. This integrated approach not only streamlines the manufacturing process, but also ensures quality control at every stage, Dave says. The company’s comprehensive approach is perhaps best illustrated through its work with Image Holdings on an animal nutrition plant. “They came to us with a particular need and requirement. We worked through the design process with them, then built and installed the whole line,” explains Dave. “It was a very successful project and as testament, we are now entering the second phase of this project.” Dave says that at Stafford Engineering “the customer is our number-one focus”. This customer-centric approach has led to significant projects, including current work with Australian mining giant Rio Tinto’s research centre in Melbourne, and the manufacture of specialised equipment for Fisher & Paykel Healthcare’s production lines. The company has also established itself in the food processing and packaging sector, producing everything from ice cream churns to milk powder mixers. hennessy.co.nz Freephone 0800 243 243 Smart Solutions, Powerful Results. • NEW ZEALAND’S TECHNICAL CUTTING TOOLS DISTRIBUTOR • SPECIALISTS IN DORMER PRAMET, SANDVIK COROMANT, SPEED TIGER • EXTENSIVE NZ STOCK-HOLDING OF ALL OUR CLASS LEADING BRANDS • AVAILABLE NZ WIDE DIRECT & THROUGH LEADING DISTRIBUTORS 9/18 Taurus Place, Bromley, Chch | 03 338 4169 | admin@southerncut.co.nz Customers are at the forefront of our priorities, W W W . V U L C A N . C O Your trusted, customer focused supplier of carbon, stainless, engineering steels and aluminium. Proud Suppliers to Stafford Engineering Suppliers of: • Acrylic (Perspex), Polycarbonate, Petg • Rigid & Foam PVC • Engineering Plastics • Full Sheets & cut to size • Plastic Fabrication, Bending and Polishing • Safety Guards • Custom Made Products Creative Plastic Fabrication specialise in fabrication of plastic sheeting for many industries and applications. Phone 07 847-0044 | Email creativeplastics@xtra.co.nz | creativeplasticsnz
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy NDc2Mzg=