| 51 REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT Gunac Tyries Thermoplastic polyolefin membrane (TPO) is a type of roofing material known for its flexibility, durability and resistance to ultra-violet radiation and chemicals. Gunac Tyries specialises in TPO’s application to roofs, and before that product came on the market the company used a rubber-based membrane that was just a metre wide. The TPO comes in three-metre-wide rolls, 30m long, and because fewer joins are required it makes applying it to roofs far faster than with the old rubber membrane. Gunac Tyries works out of premises on Bond Street, Invercargill, with five staff, including Allan, who’s been working in the business since 1977, buying it in 1980. To say his staff have been loyal to the company is an under-statement: between himself, foreman Des Jonker, who started with him in 1984, and Simon Branks who joined the team in 1990, they have 123 years’ experience, almost as much as the high school itself. Two more recent additions to the staff are Tyson Marsh and Allan’s grandson, Ryan Pine. “We were pretty proud of the work we did at the high school, but most of our waterproofing work is on new buildings, such as the 180-room Distinction Hotel still under construction in Invercargill, though our work on it is completed,” Allan says. He’s finding the local market steady for Gunac Tyries’ services and, the two recent additions to the staff notwithstanding, he’s not looking at growing the company any further. “We’re trying to keep small and active and we’re not planning to expand the company in the foreseeable future,” he says. Allan Pine | Gunac Tyries LTD 021- 222- 8072 Southland Gafroofing.co.nz GAF Warm Roof System Distinction Invercargill Hotel • EverGuard TPO Membrane • EnergyGuard Tapered Insulation • SA Vapor Barrier XL
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy NDc2Mzg=