| 3 “The recognition for the team for their efforts was priceless, and solidified their abilities, as it’s not always easy crafting some of the crazy stuff we say yes to.” REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT MWF Manufacturing T T Rosa Watson Cool projects winning awards The My Little Pub, brought to life by MWF Manufacturing, picked up Best Speciality Bar Counter Or Fitment at the 2024 Master Joiner Excellence Awards. A tiny pub designed, built and fitted in Christchurch, and relocated all over the country, caught the eye of the judges at the joinery industry’s top awards. The My Little Pub, brought to life by MWF Manufacturing, picked up Best Speciality Bar Counter Or Fitment at the 2024 Master Joiner Excellence Awards. The tiny pubs were an idea dreamed up by MWF Manufacturing owner Gary Altenburg and friend Steve Rosling, along with Gary’s niece Breiana and wife, Charlotte, during the Covid lockdowns. It was hugely rewarding to receive the industry recognition, Gary says. “The recognition for the team for their efforts was priceless, and solidified their abilities, as it’s not always easy crafting some of the crazy stuff we say yes to.” The award was received for best specialty fit-out for the Little Pub product, which the company has designed and successfully taken to market. “These are just the best customers, typically entertainers and storytellers,” Gary says. The company first entered the awards in 2022. “We are always building cool (things), so decided to throw some out there for the team.” That year, they entered the regional awards and won multiple categories, including the supreme award, and carried on that success in 2023 and 2024 with more wins and success at a national level. The team is passionate about joinery and interiors, or as Gary calls it, “the cool stuff on the inside”. The company turned 23 last year, with husband-and-wife team Gary and Charlotte working daily in the business alongside a team of 35. It started as a small business carrying out word-of-mouth and repeat business for customers in the residential and commercial joinery sector. Since then, its offerings have grown to include kitchen, laundry and wardrobe renovations, and full joinery fit-outs for residential builds, including timber windows and doors. Today, its commercial work includes interior joinery fit-outs and acoustic panels for bars, cafés, and restaurants, office fit-outs, and solid timber furniture. Gary says the focus is on training and development of the team, alongside consistent investment into machinery technology and AI (artificial intelligence). Apprentices at the company have won multiple awards for best apprentice in Canterbury through the company’s strategy to continue to support the industry as well as creating some of the “best in class”. Like most industries, the joinery industry has seen huge change over the years, Gary says . “The industry is not where it started, with (the introduction of) software and AI and technology, so the traditional skills of a joiner are also having to change at an alarming pace. The reality is the skills are transferable, but is a far cry from what most of us started with, or for, in this industry. Not a bad thing, just a transitional constant of change.” The company also experienced huge upheaval when it lost everything and was displaced in the Christchurch earthquakes, and had to rebuild from scratch. Looking forward, a new factory layout with de-commissioning of older machines and commissioning of new plant and technology is due to start early this year. There are a number of significant projects in the pipeline, including exporting, and a couple of new product lines to be introduced this year. For Quality Supplies of: Cedar Weatherboards · Fascia & Mouldings · TG&V Panelling Dressed Boards · Joinery Stock · Large Section Beams · Hardwood Decking T&G FLOORING - VENEER BOARD - MARINE PLY STRUCTURAL PLYWOOD 14 Halwyn Drive, Christchurch Ph: 03 344 5591 - 0800 227 862 Email: chch@bbstimbers.co.nz Specialist Timbers: Oak - American & French, Maple, Walnut, Cherry, White Ash, Teak, Kwila, Vic Ash, Yellow Cedar, Rimu, Macrocarpa, Kauri, Iroko, Sapele, Radiata, Rosewood, Euro Beech, Spruce, Saligna, Purpleheart, Greenheart. www. bbs t imbe r s . co . nz
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