98 | Busy firm spreads its net A recently completed project is a 54 bale rotary dairy shed, undertaken in conjunction with DairyTech South. BUILDING Southland: Ajax Building Contractors Russell Fredric Gore firm Ajax Building Contractor’s expertise spans the full range and scale of commericial and residential projects in the midst of an extremely busy construction economy. Director Tom Hewitson says the past year has been hectic and challenging. “Last year was the start of the material crisis for us, it has been a tough battle to keep the materials up to the team, but it looks like there is finally some light coming at the end of the tunnel ” During the past year Ajax has completed some significant commercial and residential contracts and is working through a busy schedule of existing builds. A recently completed project is a 54 bale rotary dairy shed, undertaken in conjunction with DairyTech South which supplied the platform and plant, while Ajax either completed or contracted the structural steel, concrete work, piping for the yarding and cladding. The shed and its infrastructure was completed just in time for the start of calving. “There were huge challenges at the start of the project, one was getting the consent and the design processed as quickly as we possibly could. The project started early in the year, but obviously the pricing and the preliminary aspects of it were well under way in August/ September last year.” Constraints included a shortage of reinforcing steel mesh and the inability of a secure source of timber purlins, consequently steel purlins were used instead. “Overall it went very smoothly and I know that DairyTech and the client are happy with how it went and the end result.” Ajax has had plenty of experience with dairy shed construction. “We used to do a lot of cow sheds during the dairy boom in the mid to late 2000’s; one season we built eight or nine dairy sheds.” Ajax’s experience covers a wide range of industries and sectors including large scale meat and dairy processors, schools, large commercial premises, civic and schools as well as high end architectural residential builds. In November last year the company started construction on OneSchool Global’s Gore campus, a 10 month project with a total cost of $5 million. The campus, which includes a 950 square metre gymnasium, will be one of OneSchool Global New Zealand’s 17 campuses throughout New Zealand. Ajax’s contract is for the interior fit-out of the 850m2 metre main building which includes modern learning environment spaces. “The project was broken down into contracts; we are completing the carpentry, plumbing, electrical and painting.” One of Ajax’s larger commercial projects is Advance Quip Gore’s new 1600sqm workshop and 400m2 office which is surrounded by 5000m2 of concrete paving. The company’s workload will not be letting up any time soon; it is committed until mid next year completing its existing contracts. “Under construction at the moment we’ve got about eight or nine projects, including building one residential house for a franchise. “We’ve just completed three houses we started last year.” The architecturally designed houses range from 221-380sqm. Like most building firms, Ajax has had to be proactive in maintaining and investing in its workforce, consequently it is has seven apprentices at various stages of their training and these comprise about a third of its trade staff. “People need to be employing apprentices and getting them through their time. “We are in a labour shortage crisis and we need to be sure we are training them well and it certainly is an investment in the industry and for the business.” “We used to do a lot of cow sheds during the dairy boom in the mid to late 2000’s; one season we built eight or nine dairy sheds.” REINFORCING STEEL • MESH • ON SITE PLACING YOUR LOCAL REINFORCING STEEL SUPPLIER www.balcromreinforcing.co.nz | P-027 245 0211 | e-mail:reo@balcrom.co.nz 38 Wolter Crescent, Cromwell Proud suppliers to Ajax Building Contractors
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