| 27 Active Refrigeration Northland T T Sue Russell Raising the profile of refrigeration The Whangarei-based business provides a raft of services mainly across the commercial and industrial sectors, from commercial HVAC, industrial and commercial cooling solutions, transport refrigeration, to routine maintenance of all systems. REGIONAL Active Refrigeration Northland director Martin Duff’s enthusiasm for the industry he serves and his pride in the track-record of the company are evident as he shares some insights into what makes the business tick. “Everything we do, no matter the project, we do to the best of our ability to provide exceptional service,” says Martin. “We know how essential it is for our clients that we’re as responsive as we can be when the call comes, given the types of industries we work in,” he says. “Everyone in the team shares the same passion and commitment to go above and beyond on every job we do.” The Whangarei-based business is 23 years old and provides a raft of services mainly across the commercial and industrial sectors, from commercial HVAC, industrial and commercial cooling solutions, transport refrigeration, to routine maintenance of all systems. Martin says the business operates in a competitive space and that it operates within a part of the wider refrigeration sector that doesn’t tend to receive a lot of coverage. “It almost feels like a forgotten trade. Fridgies and HVAC technicians are few and far between and I think there’s more that could be done at grass-roots school level to promote the sector and the really wonderful career opportunities that it provides.” To counter that inertia, the Active Refrigeration group — a nation-wide network of independently operated brands — offers a very good inhouse training academy where professional development is promoted. “It’s a very good thing that Active has created. It’s a thorough training programme and means we have inhouse capabilities to bring entry-level team members through to acquire high levels of competency — the ‘Active’ way. The types of services they offer is in the ‘specialised space’, servicing the likes of ammonia plants, complex refrigeration and electrical systems, and high-pressure equipment, which means the team works daily with equipment and systems that have the potential to cause serious harm. “This is why we put such emphasis and energy into training and ensuring, above all else, the safety of the team is never compromised,” Martin says. And given that many of their customer’s work in the primary industries, Martin says that when a problem is discovered, correcting it is a critical factor. “We pride ourselves on our rapid response, getting to the worksite to fix the problem quickly. When you’re dealing, for instance, with the transporting of refrigerated goods or a farm vat full of fresh milk, it’s essential work is carried out immediately, given the stringent food safety regulations that apply in those industries.” He describes Northland as a growing region with a tight-knit community culture. “When I see the growth in direction that some of our client businesses have taken it’s been a very humbling experience to see that we have helped them along that journey.” The business covers the whole far North, from Wellsford right up to Kaitaia. Active Refrigeration are currently undertaking projects that include power consumption monitoring and implementation of power reduction solutions. Refrigeration and HVAC systems can require significant amounts of energy to operate. Developing and implementing power reduction solutions for clients is a fundamental part of what the company offers, making a meaningful impact on power generation reductions and lessening the energy costs to clients. Currently the company is in recruiting mode. “We’re looking for another engineer and service technician and that’s entirely due to growth and covering our clients’ needs well. “We’ve got four apprentices at the moment. We offer apprenticeships in refrigeration and air-conditioning and also in the electrical sphere.” Another source of pride for Martin is the degree of competency the team have working with AI generated diagnostic and monitoring equipment, technologies that are continually evolving. “We aspire to train our staff to be competent at all tasks. It’s important they know all our sites, our clients and their equipment. “Most of our jobs have critical implications if things aren’t fixed in a timely way. I couldn’t be more proud of our track-record, and the quality of the service our team consistently provides.” 41 Commerce Street, Whangārei Phone 09 699 3050 Email whangarei@goactive.nz Website www.goactive.nz A member of Empowering the electrical industry, and local businesses, with trusted expertise, local commitment, and exceptional service. Proudly 100% New Zealand owned and operated. - INNOVATION IN REFRIGERATION - AMMONIA & CO2 HOTWATER HEAT PUMPS - NATURAL REFRIGERANT SOLUTIONS MAYEKAWAAUSTRALIAPTY LTD PH: 09 276 2305 E-MAIL: INFO@MAYEKAWA.CO.NZ WWW.MAYEKAWA.COM.AU PROUDLY SUPPORTING
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