| 79 T T Kelly Deeks Supporting staff, not just at work Grammar Electrical is part of the Grammar Group, alongside plumbing, roofing, and gasfitting teams. Grammar Electrical CONTRACTING A culture of continuous improvement and employee wellbeing has seen Grammar Electrical named on the 2025 Best Places to Work™ shortlist – an achievement that’s been years in the making for the Auckland-based company. Director of operations, Matt Wannenburg, says the recognition is the result of a deliberate push from third-generation owner Aaron Dempsey to become a better employer, not just a better business. “Aaron said he wanted to be one of the best places to work in New Zealand, so we’ve been working towards that ever since,” Matt says. “At first, we just wanted to be nominated so we could benchmark ourselves against others in the industry. Now we’ve been shortlisted, and that’s a massive validation for us.” As a team operating in high-risk environments, Grammar Electrical has taken a holistic view of what it means to support its people – on and off the job. “We’ve always known tradespeople come to work, do the job, and go home, and there’s nothing wrong with that,” Matt says. “But we wanted to go further and create an environment that supports them beyond work.” That involved direct consultation with the team, asking what would make work more fulfilling, and what support systems would actually make a difference. The results have driven a number of innovative initiatives, including regular toolbox BBQs and catch-ups, social events, and comprehensive professional development opportunities. “We’ve been putting people through leadership training and inspector courses, which in the past tradespeople would have had to fund and pursue on their own accord,” Matt says. Perhaps most unique is the wellness suite installed at Grammar Electrical HQ, complete with an ice bath and sauna, a reflection of Aaron and Matt’s shared passion for sport and physical recovery. “These tools teach the body how to deal with stress. You’re in a 95-degree sauna or a three-degree ice bath, and everything in you wants to get out. But learning to stay calm in that space builds resilience, and that’s directly transferable to high-pressure work environments.” Used by staff, sponsored athletes, friends, and even clients – sometimes during meetings – the facilities have become a key part of the company’s wellbeing ethos. Grammar Electrical is part of the Grammar Group, alongside plumbing, roofing, and gasfitting teams. The business now numbers around 60 tradespeople and works across residential, commercial, industrial, and construction projects, meaning a wide range of skills and personalities make up the team. “Our people don’t all fit the same mould,” Matt says. “We’ve got people from all walks of life here, and we deeply value authenticity and individuality. We can teach the technical side, so it’s the mindset that matters most.” The company also runs a Gateway programme with local high schools, giving students on-the-tools experience and a clear pathway into the trades. Some of Grammar’s top tradespeople began with the company at 16. “We want our people to grow with us, stay with us, and feel part of the family,” Matt says. “Being shortlisted for Best Places to Work™ tells us we’re on the right track – and we’re just getting started.” “We’ve been putting people through leadership training and inspector courses, which in the past tradespeople would have had to fund and pursue on their own accord.” In pursuit of industrial e iciency, New Zealand’s manufacturers are swapping muscle for automation, and at the heart of this transition is ACSE (Automation Control and SCADA Engineers), a company delivering tailored factory automation solutions that improve safety, quality, and productivity across a range of sectors. ACSE’s core strength lies in end-to-end automation engineering, specialising in the design and implementation of PLC-based control systems, machine vision integration, SCADA software, robotic packaging lines, and low metering. Their client base spans food and dairy processing, packaging, manufacturing, and even energy and resource sectors. “We’re solution engineers,” says managing director Gert Van As. “Clients come to us with a pain point, whether it’s production bottlenecks, manual quality control, or outdated systems, and we develop automation strategies that remove those barriers.” A recent example involved a client in the pet food industry. Historically, human operators manually inspected each pouch before packaging. ACSE designed a vision inspection systemusing high-speed cameras and image recognition software to detect defects in real time. Non-compliant items are automatically removed via pneumatic ejection. Pass-grade products are robotically picked, packed, and palletised—no human intervention required. ACSE also upgrades legacy machinery ACSE: Driving Smarter Manufacturing withmodern control platforms. “Many breakdowns come fromobsolete PLCs or limited software functionality,” Gert explains. “We retro it advanced controllers and implement SCADA layers to give clients not just control, but full production visibility and data traceability.” Their SCADA systems act as a central nervous system, aggregating live data from sensors and control devices across a plant. Operators canmonitor operations, track production KPIs, and receive instant alerts for maintenance needs—all from a central dashboard. “Data is the new diesel,” says Gert. “It’s about fuelling smart decisions.” Based inWiri, Auckland, ACSE services clients across New Zealand and Australia. Long-term relationships with companies like Fonterra, AFFCO, Godfrey Hirst, and Argenta are a testament to their reputation for quality and problem-solving. While their core teamof four engineers delivers most projects, they work closely with a trusted network of subcontractors for large-scale rollouts. Their compact but agile setup allows them to respond quickly and lexibly to client needs. Gert sees arti icial intelligence playing a greater role in future. “We’re moving from reactive automation to predictive and self-optimising systems,” he says. “AI-powered analytics will helpmachines not just follow instructions, but learn and improve over time.” gertva@acse.co.nz Are machine breakdowns interfering with your productivity? ACSE Limited specialize in machine control upgrades. We replace old control gear with the latest technology along with programs that improve machine performance. ACSE Limited provides innovative solutions to processing industries. Some of our projects include: Batching plants, Packing lines, Pump control systems, Dairy Process systems, Wood chip plants, Stand-by Generator controls, Crushing plants, Flux Blenders, Food processing plants, Automated car stackers, Data centres, Power management systems and Waste water treatment plants. We are registered system integrators for: Rockwell • Siemens • Omron • CoDeSys Microsoft .NET • SQL Database Get in touch with us to discuss your automation needs. 09 269 5558 www.acse.co.nz gertva@acse.co.nz
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