| 79 T T Hugh de Lacy Recognition for iconic agri brand The Timaru business continues to manufacture a wide range of seed drills under the iconic Duncan brand. ENGINEERING Giltrap Engineering A decision seven years ago by the owners of Giltrap Engineering Ltd to purchase the Clough Agriculture business in Timaru, has seen the business continue to grow and strengthen its position in the pasture renovation sector of the agriculture industry. The Giltrap and Clough businesses had similar backgrounds, both being family-owned businesses started in the 1950s, and sharing a long history of product innovation and a reputation for quality workmanship. The product lines of the two businesses were complementary, and both operated in similar markets utilising similar distribution networks. The synergies to be gained from the marriage of the two businesses seemed like an opportunity worth pursuing for Giltrap Engineering Ltd owners, Craig and Belinda Mulgrew, and so in 2018 they purchased the Clough operation, which now operates as a division within the Giltrap Engineering Ltd business. The Timaru business continues to manufacture a wide range of seed drills under the iconic Duncan brand, which has a strong presence and brand recognition both in New Zealand and internationally. As well as supplying the local New Zealand market, Duncan drills are also manufactured for sale into Australia, South America, United Kingdom and South Africa. “Australia is our largest international market, and we utilise a warehouse operation based in Melbourne to distribute our drills to customers right across Australia,” says Giltrap Engineering’s Timaru operations manager Rob Naylor. “Economic conditions post-Covid have made it tough out in the market place for everyone involved in the ag sector. However, there are a growing number of signals that a recovery is underway, led by some bullish payout projections in dairying, which will help all ag support businesses and communities like our own to thrive once again. “A recent investment in extra manufacturing capacity at our site will allow us to take full advantage of the opportunities this recovery should bring.” Rob says New Zealand has an international reputation for manufacturing good-quality farm machinery that can handle most ground conditions and doesn’t break easily. “At Duncan Ag we pride ourselves on just how tough our equipment is: our parts department is still supplying customers with wear parts for drills that have been out of production now for well over 50 years. The farmers tell us their Duncan drills just keep going and going.” He adds that being a manufacturer in New Zealand can be challenging, given the tyranny of distance from the rest of the world that makes both buying inputs and selling finished products internationally expensive. “However, a culture of continuous focus on innovation, product improvement and the greater use of technology in our products has helped us continue to meet the ever-changing needs of our customers,” Rob says.. “We anticipate doing this in Timaru for many more years to come.” Providing all hydraulic solutions for every requirement Timaru - www.scarlett-hydraulics.co.nz EMAIL: sales@scarlett-hydraulics.co.nz TEL: 03 688 2902 Proud to support Giltrap Engineering Phone: 03 983 5500 waterfordpress.co.nz Your Business, Your Industry, Your News. DO OUR READERS KNOW YOU EXIST?
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