38 | AGB Stone - Cromwell T T Aimee Wilson Cromwell factory huge for region AGB Stone’s new Cromwell factory is three times the size of the original one, complete with office space and a showroom. REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT AGB Stone’s new purpose-built factory in Cromwell shows huge investment in Central Otago by a progressive company with a commitment to staff safety. Having been established in Cromwell for several years already, the company has had its new factory designed at three times the size of the original one, and complete with ample office space and a showroom, enabling customers to check out their wide range of products. In 2024, AGB Stone committed to zero silica products and only deals with suppliers that have those same values. “At AGB we have a strong desire to encourage and help develop a Code of Practice for our whole industry, with regulations that explicitly prohibit uncontrolled dry cutting of low-silica stone,” says Paul Derham, who manages the new Cromwell factory and showroom. “We welcome these initiatives.” Better Benchtops by AGB has been launched for its zero-silica products, and is available at all its factories in Auckland, Hamilton, Hastings, Wellington, Christchurch and Cromwell. Paul says the company is looking after the health of its staff, who are having to work with these products every day. “We drove the market to low-silica two and a half years ago. “We’re just really proactive and ahead of the game,” he says. Fabricators have moved from wearing no masks in the factory 15 years ago to now being kitted out in full PPE gear, while the cutting and polishing technology is all used with water suppression. AGB Stone has exclusive rights to the Kleenstone products in New Zealand, and more home builders and joiners are converting to the 0% silica range daily. “Tthe Kleenstone products cater for the entry to mid-market, and because they are priced so well, the range is increasing all the time,” says Paul AGB Stone looks after the designer end of the market with its impressive range of quality products – trending right now is the high-spec porcelain, popular because of its heat resistance. “We can make stone-surface products anywhere from 12mm thick for a contemporary streamlined effect at a great price, or mitre the stone to 100mm and beyond for that absolute ‘wow factor’.” AGB Stone Cromwell has a good relationship with many joiners as their first point of call, such as Mojo Joinery in Cromwell, Mosgiel Kitchens in Dunedin and Wedgerwood Joinery in Alexandra. The company covers a huge geographical area from Tekapo to Southland and right over to the West Coast. Paul says the Cromwell team is working on some big commercial projects at the moment, including many hotel renovations in Queenstown, and the ongoing housing developments at Five Mile in Frankton, a residential subdivision with 220 houses. Along with the new premises, there have been huge changes taking place in recent months for AGB Stone, including the appointment of a new factory supervisor, who moved south from the North Island, giving the business the capacity to double the volume once more staff come onboard. Now, with the impressive new showroom, they encourage walk-ins from anyone wanting to come and see the range for themselves. Stone has been the choice of product choice for generations and is endorsed by architects and designers, because of its strength, performance and natural beauty. There are examples of the latest trends in low-silica stone, marble, granite and ceramic, as well as engineered products primestone, caesarstone and silestone on the website www.agb.co.nz and in Cromwell’s new AGB Stone showroom. www.aoteagroup.nz Proudly supporting AGB Stone - Cromwell Call us nowon 03 445 1374 Air Conditioning • Electrical • Communications • Industrial • Commercial • Domestic Electric
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