| 63 T T Virginia Wright Size doesn’t matter for this business West Melton Engineering can help customers achieve maximum value for their money. ENGINEERING West Melton Engineering After 20 years’ experience with John Jones Steel, Michael Fitzgerald decided to open his own business in 2020, West Melton Engineering. Having worked his way up from apprentice at their Timaru branch, he was called to Christchurch after the earthquakes to manage John Jones Steel’s main workshop through the Christchurch Rebuild. What started with building things for friends after hours, such as gates, fences, horse stable panels, or anything that was ‘man handleable’, grew through word of mouth until there was too much for him to manage in his spare time. “I gave the director of John Jones Steel a year’s notice when I could see how it was tracking. They helped me out by sending work my way in the first year or two, and we’re still in close contact,” says Michael. Building himself a workshop with a fivetonne gantry crane meant Michael was able to focus on his core skills in structural steel fabrication and take on bigger contracts along with the smaller ones, for both residential and commercial projects. Having a good-sized yard means they can handle contracts like their recent 100-tonne job. “It was a 2500-square-metre commercial workshop for MTC Trailers on their site just north of the airport, and we’re also building their 20-tonne capacity gantry crane in the workshop now, to be transported to site,” says Michael. With a small crew of qualified fabricator/ welders, on-site erecters, and contractors to call on when needed, Michael prides himself on being a relatively small company capable of producing big results. With his years of handson experience to draw on, Michael manages the whole process through to the erection and handover of the building, which means projects like the MTC Trailer building end up ahead of schedule. “It’s that personalised service and quality you get from a small company, but with the capability of producing steel buildings upwards of 100-tonne,” he says. Being involved from the initial design stage, and having input into the buildability of a building, also plays a part as West Melton Engineering can help customers achieve maximum value for their money. Simple things like knowing how to design the steel with standard steel lengths in mind means minimal waste and not paying for a five-metre off-cut, explains Michael. “And we know about the efficiencies of bolted joints. “Rather than just having to build the drawings we’re given, we like to get involved early on and can recommend a practical engineer, who won’t over design the project. I can run an idea past him and he’ll design everything that’s needed and nothing that isn’t, lightweight and strong.” What often starts with a phone call and a chat about a shed can quickly become an estimated price for its supply and erection, all done with the full consideration of the health and safety of everyone involved. With blasting and painting about to be brought in-house, Michael’s looking forward to having full control over the process and continuing to efficiently deliver projects on time and on budget. Official NZ Partner for Materials handling equipment specialists Proud to be associated with West Melton Engineering P +64 9 415 0163 F +64 9 415 0164 E sales@trimate.net W www.trimate.net
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