78 | Freeman Roofing Dunedin CONTRACTING Dunedin - Ph: 03 477 1999 Proudly Supporting Freeman Roofing - Dunedin Transport Ltd • General Cartage • Trombone Trailer • Container & Artic Work • Fly Jib • Crane Trucks with Winches & Man Bucket Ranger Drilling Supplies Providing all hydraulic solutions for every requirement Proud to support Ranger Drilling Supplies Timaru - 97 Racecourse Road Ph: 03 688 2902 Christchurch - 80 Waterloo Road, Hornby. Ph: 03 344 3030 www.scarlett-hydraulics.co.nz Email: sales@scarlett-hydraulics.co.nz 021 1082192 jesse@rds.nz rangerdrillingsupplies.co.nz 65BBridgmanStreet Dunedin9012NZ R a n g e r D r i l l i n g S u p p l i e s h a v e a f u l l y e q u i p p e d w o r k s h o p i n D u n e d i n . W e a r e a b l e t o p r o v i d e w o r k s h o p b a s e d o r o n s i t e n a t i o n w i d e s e r v i c e . Top quality Italian gear Marini drilling equipment has built its name on top-quality machinery and parts. T T Hugh de Lacy Custom-made products to suit local needs T T Russell Fredric The 2016 Kaikoura earthquake created an appetite within the earth-moving and construction companies charged with re-building State Highway 1 for the specialist Italian-manufactured Marini drilling gear being touted by Dunedin company Ranger Drilling Supplies. Marini Drills is a globally recognised brand of drilling, diamond wire cutting and special foundation machinery, operating through 55 retailers worldwide, with Jesse Ranger and his wife Michaela’s Ranger Drilling Supplies being Marini’s sole New Zealand agent. “Marini drilling equipment has built its name on top-quality machinery and parts, with an awesome back-up service compared to anything else available,” Jesse says. “The Kaikoura quake put Marini and us on the map in New Zealand because it created a surge in demand for rope-access drilling rigs and slip remediation machinery. “Those cliffs all along SH1 north of Kaikoura required a big investment in abseiling and related drilling machinery, things that could cope with near-vertical slopes, and which hadn’t been in such demand before, particularly our Marini MR-2PN rig,” he says.. “We established Ranger Drilling in the year of the quake, 2016, but Michaela and I had Dunedin’s mix of heritage homes, coastal conditions and changing weather means roofing isn’t always straightforward. It often calls for custom-made products and practical advice from people who understand the local environment. That’s where Freeman Roofing’s Dunedin team comes in — manufacturing roofing and rainwater products locally, while drawing on the support of a nationwide, family-owned business. Freeman Roofing has been manufacturing products in New Zealand since 1956 and today, 11 branches stretch from Whangārei to Queenstown. Dunedin branch manager Ronny Hayes has been with Freeman Roofing for almost nine years, including three years in her current role. The branch’s team of 16 includes qualified sheet metal workers and factory staff who are cross trained on its array of machinery. Steel, produced in New Zealand, arrives at the Dunedin factory in coil form. This is manufactured into roofing, wall cladding, flashings, rainwater products and other custom-made components to suit each project. Manufacturing locally means the team can respond quickly and produce products tailored to the requirements of each job using modern roll-forming and folding machinery. The branch produces material for everything from residential new builds and re-roofs to sheds, commercial buildings and commercial re-roofing. Much of that work is completed in close collaboration with local roofers. Dunedin has plenty of older homes with architectural features that often require custom-made roofing components rather than standard products. “We’re well known locally because we can manufacture things like bullnose roofing,” Ronny says. been laying the groundwork before then and the post-quake business gave us a welcome nudge, with the Marini association critical.” Marini Drills was founded in 1975 by Giuliano Marini and was aimed particularly at the quarrying industry. In 1997, he merged his construction and quarrying companies to form what eventually became Marini Drills. As well as furthering the Italian reputation for innovative and high-quality engineering manufacturing over a range of drilling products, in 2012 Marini introduced its first machinery for deep foundations, a product that has spurred its growth ever since. Ranger Drilling Supplies has 300sqm of offices, workshop and store in Bridgman Street, Dunedin, stocking a range of Marini gear and parts, with always a couple of Marini drilling rigs on hand for immediate delivery – and if he can’t supply an item from his shop, Jesse can get it sent to a Kiwi customer direct from the factory in Villadossola, Italy. Jesse started out with a mechanical engineering apprenticeship in Dunedin, and then spent some time in Christchurch before moving home to Dunedin. About that time he was approached by Luca Zaninetti, Marini’s sales director and part-owner, who was visiting New Zealand in search of an agent here. “I’d dealt with them over the years, and after that initial approach there followed trips to Italy to seal the deal,” Jesse says. “Having qualified sheet metal workers and experienced factory staff means we can make the custom flashings and roofing products that older homes often need.” The company uses New Zealand Steel products, including Colorsteel, with the branch helping customers and roofers consider factors beyond the initial price. These include product suitability and warranties, which can vary depending on a property’s proximity to various environments and locations such as coastlines and commercial areas. Freeman Roofing can also undertake warranty checks before a project and post-manufacturing, enabling roofers to provide the relevant New Zealand Steel warranty to their customers. Customers are also taking more interest in where products come from and the reasons behind material choices. “We help customers understand their options so they’re choosing the right product for where they live. We talk to them about why we use New Zealand-made steel and why that’s important.” Freeman Roofing is a member of the Roofing Association of New Zealand (RANZ), giving the company access to technical knowledge and support as the industry and its requirements evolve. The company attends the association’s annual conference, which brings manufacturers and roofers together to share knowledge and keep up with industry developments, machinery and any changes affecting their work. While part of a national company, the Dunedin branch has the freedom to deal with customers in a way that suits the local market. “People like dealing with people they know, who know the local environment.” “Roofing is a big investment, so we take the time to understand what our customers need and help them choose the right product for the job.”
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