20 | Christchurch Airport: Enatel T T Kim Newth Enatel to join thriving airport hub Investment in the purpose-built facility in Dakota Park will support and enable Enatel’s onward growth plans. REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT Christchurch has long been an incubator of innovation, with some of the city’s original hi-tech trailblazers now global leaders in their field. Christchurch Airport’s business campus continues to build momentum for homegrown high fliers targeting further growth. Serving as a gateway to the South Island, and as a thriving business hub, Christchurch Airport is also fostering innovation, sustainability and economic prosperity for the city, the South Island and New Zealand. The airport campus is now home to over 250 businesses across a wide spectrum of industries. Christchurch power electronics company, Enatel, will soon be joining this thriving hub in a new purpose-built 6000sqm facility, which is currently under construction and due to be up and running by early 2026. Christchurch is where it all started for Enatel in 2002. The company’s flair for designing and manufacturing a range of innovative power solutions paved the way to rapid growth in overseas markets. Enatel won a New Zealand Hi-Tech Award in 2012, acknowledging its success. Since 2018, under the ownership of IDEAL Industries Inc USA, Enatel has continued to evolve and grow as a world-leading designer and manufacturer of advanced charging solutions for material handling, ground support equipment, automated guided vehicles and other off-highway vehicles. Enatel is strongly export-focused, and employs over 200 people across industrial design, software and hardware engineering, manufacturing and business support. In May, Enatel acquired its USA distributor, DC Power Technologies Inc (DCPT) with the move set to support further expansion in the US. Enatel is also growing in the Asia Pacific and European markets. Investment in the purpose-built facility in Dakota Park will support and enable the company’s onward growth plans. In a May press statement, Mike Clifford, general manager of Enatel, said that Enatel had outgrown their current facilities. The new building will give much needed space for further growth. He also anticipates a need to recruit more top-notch talent in coming months and years, with the new facility at Dakota Park well-aligned with these recruitment plans. Enatel’s decision to consolidate its operations from four locations to one new facility on the airport campus underlines the growth of Christchurch Airport as a leading business and employment hub. “This is a really great Christchurch story,” says John O’Dea, chief infrastructure and property officer, Christchurch International Airport Limited (CIAL). “Here’s a Christchurch tech business that came up with something so innovative that it attracted the attention of a big international partner, who has chosen to continue to develop and manufacture in Christchurch. “For us, it fits with our advanced manufacturing strategy – supporting high-end, tech-focused manufacturing that generates highly skilled jobs. There are a broad range of economic benefits, including providing options for highly skilled graduates from the University of Canterbury’s engineering school.” Construction of Enatel’s new facility on George Bellew Rd, Dakota Park, is proceeding well. As John observes, a big plus for Enatel is the convenience and connection of being right next to an international airport for a large international business. An additional attraction for Enatel is the long-term partnership it has with Christchurch Airport, which is holding land for it to support further expansion in future. Enatel’s commitments to sustainability, continuous improvement and environmental responsibility have synergies with Christchurch Airport’s own sustainability aspirations. The airport’s 230-hectare Kōwhai Park solar farm development is the cornerstone of the airport’s clean energy vision. Engineering & Surveying services for the Christchurch region and nationally. fraserthomas.co.nz ENGINEERS RESOURCE MANAGERS SURVEYORS 50 Years Over Our expertise drives your project’s success. c r e a t i n g a r c h i t e c t u r a l s o l u t i o n s METALWORK Stainless Steel, Aluminium and Mild Steel metalwork specialists SIGNAGE Internal and external signage using CNC and traditional processes POWDERCOATING In-house powdercoating and wetspray painting services info@metalworkanddesign.co.nz | 021 082 99320 | www.metalworkanddesign.co.nz
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