| 45 Hughes Fabrication Ltd REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT T T Russell Fredric Close-knit team handles varied workload Hughes Fabrication undertakes structural steel for residential construction, general engineering repairs, stainless and aluminium fabrication, marine work and custom engineering projects across multiple sectors. New builds | Renovation | Addition | Alterations Proud to support Hughes Fabrication 027 253 9861 mharroldbuilding@gmail.com www.harroldbuilding.com More than just contracting Hughes Fabrication keeps our gear running for the construction of the Kawarau Gorge and Roxburgh Gorge cycle trails Rural & Civil Drainage, Roading & Earthworks since 1965 Operating from its Rogers Street workshop in Cromwell’s original industrial area, Hughes Fabrication provides precision and general engineering across steel, alloy and stainless fabrication. The business has been owned and run by husband-and-wife team Sam and Hannah Hughes since 2022. After more than a decade working in engineering workshops, Sam saw an opportunity to step into ownership after several years with the previous owner. With around 15 years’ experience in engineering and fabrication, the move represented an opportunity to continue a proven operation while building on its capabilities, Sam says. “I’d been working here for quite a while, and the previous owner was ready to move on. The opportunity came up and we were ready for the challenge, just to see what we could make of it.” The business operates with a close-knit team of three including Sam, with Hannah handling administration. Work ranges from day-to-day engineering repairs through to structural fabrication projects. The variety of work reflects the diverse industries surrounding Cromwell. Hughes Fabrication undertakes structural steel for residential construction, general engineering repairs, stainless and aluminium fabrication, marine work and custom engineering projects across multiple sectors. The workshop is equipped with a guillotine for cutting sheet steel, a 200-tonne hydraulic brake press for folding and forming metal, and welding equipment configured for aluminium, stainless and mild steel using MIG and TIG processes. “There’s a bit of everything really. Agricultural maintenance, structural steel for houses, architectural steelwork, marine work on aluminium boats — it’s quite a spread.” Architectural housing has become a regular source of fabrication work in Central Otago as newer subdivisions incorporate designled homes. Some builds require concealed structural steel where large, glazed walls limit conventional bracing systems. The region’s primary industries also drive a steady flow of fabrication work. Viticulture and fruit production, in particular, require specialised stainless steel fabrication and ongoing engineering maintenance. Hughes Fabrication has produced access walkways and stair systems for winery tank installations and manufactured stainless channels used in water-based cherry grading systems, allowing fruit to move through automated sorting equipment before packing. Despite its small size, the workshop has also contributed to larger infrastructure projects. Hughes Fabrication manufactured structural steel components for Department of Conservation suspension bridges, including the anchor systems securing the cable structures. The work was carried out for Ellis Mining, which installed the bridges on site, with two projects completed during 2025. “We don’t let a small team deter us from taking on bigger jobs.” “We just work efficiently and make sure everything is right before it leaves the workshop.” Future regional developments may also influence demand for engineering work. For Sam, the appeal of engineering remains the variety of work and the constant need to solve new problems. “Every day is different. It’s the challenges, the people you meet and the variety of work that makes it enjoyable.”
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