| 67 MANUFACTURING Hayes International Brevini New Zealand, proudly supporting Hayes International & New Zealand Industry with quality Fluid Power solutions for over 20 years. 9 Bishop Croke Place, East Tamaki | 09 250 0050 | www.allisonoffhighway.com T T Kelly Deeks New equipment brings new opportunities Hayes International’s latest investment, a twin-column, large bed milling machine, has transformed production capability. More than 40 years of backing Japanese engineering is paying dividends for Rotorua manufacturer, Hayes International, with a major investment in advanced Okuma technology helping the company cut production times, reduce customer lead times, and strengthen its position in global export markets. Managing director, Nick Looijen, says a recent visit to Okuma’s manufacturing facilities in Japan reinforced why the company has remained loyal to the supplier for more than four decades. “We were taken through the factories and shown the amount of research and development that goes into their machines. It reinforced that we’re buying the best equipment available to manufacture our components,” says Nick. Founded more than 66 years ago by Tom Hayes, Hayes International has grown from a small engineering business into one of the world’s leading manufacturers of rollforming equipment. Employing about 105 people in Rotorua, the company exports around 95% of its production and its machinery operates in almost 90 countries. Since becoming part of the Bradbury Group in 1999, Hayes International has continued expanding its international reach, with Australia and the United States now its largest markets. Nick says Hayes International’s relationship with Okuma has evolved alongside rapid advances in manufacturing technology. “Our first CNC lathes were driven by punched tape that ran through the machine. Today, we use Cadcam software to write sophisticated programmes, and there’s far more automation, but the one thing that hasn’t changed is the reliability of the equipment.” Hayes International’s latest investment, a twin-column, large bed milling machine, has transformed production capability. Components that once occupied conventional machinery for up to four days can now be completed in half a day, allowing larger and more complex parts to be machined with greater precision, while improving efficiency throughout the factory. “It has opened up opportunities we simply didn’t have before. We can machine much larger components, improve our products, and remove production bottlenecks,” Nick says. The investment has also helped Hayes International recover from the extended lead times experienced during the Covid 19 period. Before the pandemic, customers typically waited six to eight months for a new rollforming line. Hayes International’s main markets had Government tax incentives for capital asset purchases introduced, which stretched that to almost two years, creating challenges for both the company and its customers. “The new machinery has helped us to reduce our lead times by almost half to around 12 to 14 months,” says Nick. “That’s a significant improvement and gives customers far more confidence when they’re planning future projects.” To support continued growth, Hayes International has expanded into an additional manufacturing facility in Rotorua after the new twin-column machine pushed the limits of its original 5000sqm site. The new premises accommodate fabrication operations and provide the overhead crane capacity required for the larger machinery. While advanced manufacturing remains central to the business, Nick says customer feedback is driving the next stage of investment. Hayes International is now investigating artificial intelligence, robotics, and automated product handling systems as manufacturers increasingly look for greater productivity and efficiency. “We spend a lot of time talking directly with customers to understand what they need. Automation around product handling is something they’re asking for, and that’s where we’re looking to invest next.” Contact: +64 9 634 6441 ZZZ ERQˉJOLROL FRP QHZB]HDODQG HQ High-performance gearboxes & motors assembled in NZ 3URYHQ VROXWLRQV LQ SRZHU WUDQVPLVVLRQ
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