74 | Noel McIntyre Drainage T T Kelly Deeks Small firm punching above its weight The company’s diversification journey and implement improvement strategy has always been based on the highly regarded feedback from valued customers. “A lot of people are going back to small companies and they want to deal with an owner-operator. There aren’t many small businesses left, but we’re still punching well above our weight.” CONTRACTING A small, locally owned business customers love to support, second-generation, family-owned contracting company Noel McIntyre Drainage is proud to contribute to projects across Southland with a high level of farm drainage and earthmoving expertise. “Our customers want honest, quality work and they want someone local,” says Noel McIntyre Drainage co-owner Glen McIntyre. “A lot of people are going back to small companies and they want to deal with an owner-operator. There aren’t many small businesses left, but we’re still punching well above our weight.” Noel McIntyre started his drainage company in 1988 after working for another local drainage contractor. He was so keen to go out on his own that as soon as he had his first digger and $5 in his pocket, away he went. “I did about 28 hours in my first week in business and I’ve been trying to catch up ever since,” he says. Demand has remained strong throughout the years. “Whatever you can dream up for a digger, we’ll do it,” says company co-owner James McIntyre. “We have lots of different attachments for our diggers and that gives us the opportunity to do some really fantastic projects.” Noel McIntyre Drainage runs seven highly skilled operators and seven diggers ranging from 1.8ton to 35ton. Using equipment ranging from grapples to a long-reach boom, from hammers to vibrating plates, Noel McIntyre Drainage can be found clearing land, building ponds, and even lifting PowerNet technicians up to the power lines. A mulcher attachment was added to Noel McIntyre Drainage’s plant in April to service a growing market for council parks and recreation services. The company’s diversification journey and implement improvement strategy has always been based on the highly regarded feedback from valued customers. As well as the diggers and attachments, the company runs a bulldozer, grader, truck and trailer, tractor and tip trailer, and a really handy, lightweight Hydrema dump truck, which comes into its own in wet conditions. This truck played a crucial role in a Noel McIntyre Drainage project recently completed for Southland tractor and farm machinery specialist JJ Limited. Completing the earthworks for JJ’s new site on the major roundabout coming into Invercargill, Noel McIntyre Drainage was working right in the public view during one of the rainiest years a lot of the team had ever experienced. “The weather was terrible,” Glen says. “We just had to keep going and keep the site as tidy as possible. We did well to keep it tidy and that’s where us having such a diverse fleet can really help. “ We are so well equipped, we’ve got the right machines to do the right job at the right time. “We can adapt as the conditions need us to and keep the job going.” Suitably proud of this result, the Noel McIntyre Drainage team gets to enjoy the sense of accomplishment just by looking out their window straight on to the JJ’s site. James says the owners were the perfect client, involved every step of the way and real team players with great communication and a flexible approach. With the right gear and two generations’ worth of expertise, Noel McIntyre Drainage is ready to help get those earthworks and farm drainage projects completed on time, on budget, and beyond each customer’s expectations.
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