36 | Furnituremakers since the 1960’s The Metalon factory has the capacity to produce around 250 standard chairs and tables a week. Metalon T T Hugh de Lacy REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT Stacking chairs, electronic height-adjustable desk parts, medical trolleys, laboratory benches and dining tables are among the impressive range of products produced by the Dunedin firm Metalon. Based in a 1600sqm showroom and factory in Harrow Street, Metalon has a long history of supplying quality furniture of all types to the Otago and Southland regional markets in particular. The company has a staff of 12 with a range of skills in the light engineering, welding, powder coating, assembly and installation trades, backed up by 2D and 3D layouts and design to meet every client’s needs. Metalon also manufactures construction brackets and frames for other companies, has a full maintenance and repair facility, and designs custom joinery and soft seating, while offering a full service from design consultation through to delivery and installation. A Dunedin icon, Metalon was established by Ralf Markby and Gordon McLaren in the early 1960s, and is today owned by Robyn and Howard Nossiter. The furniture repair side of the business is a significant contributor to Metalon’s success because the chairs last so long. “Metalon refurbishes hundreds of chairs yearly and part of the reason for this is the quality of the steel frames,” sales manager Josef Kaiser says. “The chairs may be 30 years old but with a new powder coat, fabric and seat foam they can be made to look brand-new again.” Metalon’s biggest customers include the University of Otago, Dunedin City Council, Otago Polytechnic/Te Pukenga, Aawanui Labs and NZ Health. “Our products have a good following due to their quality and Metalon’s reputation,” Josef says, “and the height-adjustable electronic desks have been a great product for us over the last 11 years. “We managed to hit the market early with a three-stage, high-end product, and have sold thousands of these in the form of straight desks, corner work-stations and even Biohazard cabinet frames or height-adjustable sink benches, or reception counter surfaces.” Josef came to New Zealand in 2008 as a chef, having worked in hotels and restaurants in Germany, Switzerland, Spain and Australia. He joined Metalon in 2013 after being offered family-friendly work hours and the ability to meet more people in the community. Starting as accounts manager, he was appointed sales manager five years ago, and his focus is on providing a full service from initial design and quotes through manufacture and assembly to delivery and installation, as well as refurbishment. The Metalon factory has the capacity to produce around 250 standard chairs and tables a week, and can hike this output when necessary with extra work hours and shifts. All the company’s standard and customised products come with a master product specification record that documents the bill of materials and the construction technique. At each stage of production the output is informally assessed against the specifications and inspected for faults or flaws in the materials before getting another inspection during the final assembly stage. www.leithjoinery.co.nz | 03 477 0115 KITCHENS - LAUNDRIES - BESPOKE JOINERY - STAIRS TIMBER DOORS & WINDOWS - COMMERCIAL JOINERY We are proud to support Metalon 2017 Ltd
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