Business South May 2021

| 43 ENGINEERING Nicholson Engineering Traditional skills still have their place T Russell Fredric Nicholson Engineering has a crucial role in keeping the oyster fleet operational during the oyster dredging season. Telephone: (03) 215-7302 www.bearingreplacements.co.nz sales@bearingreplacements.co.nz 24 hours cell: 0275397579 164 North Rd, Invercargill 9810, New Zealand Proud Supporters and Suppliers to Nicholson Engineering Ltd Invercargill - Blu - Invercargill Daily / Invercargill - ChristchurchWeekly Proud to Support Nicholson Engineering Phone Danyon Cleaver 027 433 7606 Ph: 03 215 8558 | E: info@hecton.co.nz | www.hecton.co.nz Proud to support Nicholson Engineering Ltd P R O D U C T S QUALITY FARM PRODUCTS 100% NEW ZEALAND MANUFACTURING & ENGINEERING • SHEEP HANDLING EQUIPMENT • CRUTCHING MACHINES • ATV & ROAD TRAILERS • DAIRY FEED SYSTEMS D espite the considerable technology available in the 21st century, tradi- tional skills are still the highly valued backbone of work undertaken by Nicholson Engineering. The name Nicholson & Son Engineers and Blacksmiths dates back to the 1910’s where the business operated from Palmer Street, Bluff, which is still its location today. A change in ownership brought a change of name in 2015 when Ross and Rowena Phil- lipson took over the business, which employs five staff. Ross had previously worked for the compa- ny for more than 30 years, bringing considera- ble knowledge and expertise to his ownership role. Perhaps more importantly, he loves what he does. “I particularly enjoy doing boat work - fixing boats and the maintenance on them, the pipe work, engine work, pumps, shafts and winches.” As the marine engineering hub of Foveaux Strait’s oyster fleet, Nicholson Engineering has a crucial role in keeping the fleet operational during the oyster dredging season while also providing repairs and maintenance to crayfish, cod and kina boats and trawlers. Like Ross, the Nicholson Engineering dedi- cated team are passionate about their work, bringing more than 40 years of experience to the industry and hold qualifications such as a Level 4 mechanical engineering (fitter and turner) specialising in marine engineering. They are not only skilled in general and specialised engineering and maintenance, but also have the ability to design and engineer solutions from scratch. “Listening to our clients to solve their prob- lems is a big part of what Nicholson Engineer- ing do.” A perfect example of this was the rebuild of a boat for Campbelltown Seafoods, a project undertaken over two seasons working largely in the off-season around the operational needs of the oyster dredging business. The complete rebuild included fitting a new engine, a new generator, new deck frames, a new winch, overhauling pumps, rudder and rudder shaft, sheaving and also ongoing maintenance. A client that Nicholson Engineering has been working with for over a decade also called upon them to complete a major refit af- ter the company took ownership of F.V. Diana. The work included an engine refit, new pipework, new sea-chest, base plate and fitting for a new Hiab crane, making and fitting a new hydraulic tank and overhauling the anchor winch. Both clients spoke highly of the service, communication and standard of workmanship undertaken by Nicholson Engineering. The nature of the boats’ operations and the extreme conditions they can work in means there is no margin for error and that all work is undertaken carefully and methodically with health and safety uppermost in mind, Ross says. Because Nicholson Engineering is intrinsi- cally part of the Bluff community, the business prides itself in supporting community pro- jects. Benefactors have included Bluff School and Bluff Schools Reunion, Port Softball Club and, with health and safety an extremely important aspect of Nicholson Engineering’s ethos, the business in partnership with Wurth supplied much-needed headlamps to Bluff St John. Nicholson Engineering is also a sponsor of the annual Bluff Oyster Festival.