| 13 T T Russell Fredric Structural steel experts play crucial role The company was subcontracted to undertake seismic strengthening and to add a floor and lower section to the existing seven-story structure. JKs Engineering: Distinction Hotel “We fabricated everything in-house, blasted and painted it and transported it in quite big sections.” REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT JKs Engineering made a considerable contribution to the reconstruction of Invercargill’s former Menzies Building into the striking new Distinction Hotel. The company was subcontracted by main contractor Amalgamated Builders to undertake seismic strengthening and to add a floor and lower section to the existing seven-story structure. The multi-disciplined Invercargill business has been making its mark in the southern South Island for more than 115 years, operating from Southland’s largest and best-equipped workshop which covers 4,500 square metres. Engineering manager Dwight Dougherty says the Menzies Building was totally gutted, with a total of 180 tonnes of structural steel installed. “For down here, it’s quite a considerable job.” For health and safety reasons, the truss structure of its new roof was assembled on the ground in four sections and lifted into place with a 130-tonne crane. “We fabricated everything in-house, blasted and painted it and transported it in quite big sections.” Apart from a few teething problems at the start of the project, due to the building being constructed in the 1960s and having variances in dimensions which had to be allowed for during fabrication, there were no major challenges and Dwight was pleased with how it progressed. Due to its architecture, the Menzies Building was known to be noisy on windy days. However, in what might be the ultimate test of the new hotel’s façade system installed by Allwin Facade, during the Southland windstorm late September last year it was reported to Dwight by people inside the building they could not even tell it was windy outside. Following on from the hotel, JKs Engineering was directly contracted by Distinction Hotels for the fabrication of the structural and metalwork elements of a new three-storey car park adjacent to the hotel. While the majority of its work is for commercial and industrial clients, JKs is also known for residential builds that require structural steel, as well as features such as handrails, balustrades, fire surrounds and hearths, kitchen finishes and architectural features that include the likes of Corten steel. The company’s impressive workshop equipment includes six 5-tonne overhead cranes, plus 8- and 10-tonne Hamilton cranes, a Ficep Vanguard beamline and PCS profile cutter, a new 400-tonne Dye CNC press brake and a 200-tonne CNC press brake, 2.5 metre plate rollers and a 3.6 metre wide guillotine that can cut up to 12mm thick plate. JKs also has a dedicated machine shop for conventional and CNC milling and lathing, with the ability to lathe up to 1100mm in diameter and 5.5 metres in length. Its most sophisticated item of equipment is a 5500MHB profile cutter, installed in 2020. A high-definition plasma and gas cutting profile cutter, it is the largest in Southland and is capable of drilling, bevelling, and etching a range of thicknesses from 1.2mm to 100mm. Late last year, JKs upgraded to the 400-tonne CNC computer-controlled press brake manufactured by New Zealand company Dye to replace its existing 300-tonne Dye press brake which had served the company well for 50 years. “It’s probably the biggest in Southland, to produce our own work and to do work for our customers as well.” “We can press from 3mm mild steel right up to 20/25mm mild steel plate. It’s 5.5 metres long so we can do quite long sections.” “It’s [currently] pressing a lot of agricultural parts for different companies; we’re pressing up gutters out of 16mm plate for canopies, it does a wide range of jobs. It’s nice and accurate and there’s speed with it as well.” Safe and Reliable Electrical Services At AMTEC Electrical we are totally committed to supplying a service that consistently meets the requirements of our customers. We are dedicated to continually improve our service by involving all employees in establishing and maintaining quality systems. With 35 years experience in the business, we are your safe and reliable provider of electrical services in Invercargill. Residential • Commercial • New Builds• Alterations Building Maintenance • IQP Registered • Site Safe Certified 03 217 6158 admin@amtec.net.nz 69 Eye St, Invercargill www.amtec.co.nz Otautau -CentralOtago -Christchurch Danyon Cleaver 0272369753 otautaufr8@gmail.com Pneumatic Contractors Ltd Proudly supporting JK's Engineering Specialists in: Abrasive Blasting | Protective Coatings Phone 03 218 4173 BLENHEIM | TEMPLETON | BROMLEY | YALDHURST GORE | INVERCARGILL | CROMWELL | LUGGATE TRUCK & TRAILER PARTS SERVICING & REPAIRS FOR ALL MAKES & MODELS - SOUTH ISLAND WIDE, WE’VE GOT YOU COVERED www.transportrepairs.co.nz | 0800 875 747
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