100 | nzdairy RURAL SERVICES » Read Industrial Ltd • from page 98 their customers and to their staff. They recently had three generations of one family working within their company. They employ the grandson of the owners of the first dairy shed they built in Kaikoura for the Harnett family. And, some of their customers are themselves the fifth generation of their own families to deal with Read Industrial. Lisa sums it up best, saying, “I think our staff are part of the Read legacy in that it’s not only a family business – but…a family’s business.” The passion to manufacture or build much of what they need in-house has buffered Read Industrial against the supply interruptions its other counterparts deal with every day. “Having that control in the foundry has become very powerful in the last few years,” Steve said. “To not have to out-source things is very important to us.” Phil adds, “ We also invest heavily in stock that is held on-site here. Most accountants would probably have a fit if they saw what we hold. But, that’s what has kept us going in the last two years. There is still not much wastage here either. Everything is kept because it might have another use. It can often also be re-cycled through the foundry. We get a lot of farmers looking for things, and they go to Noel or Steve. Noel loves going hunting for them.” Moving forward, automation is the word on everyone’s lips in order to stay ahead of labour and environmental challenges. There is also a move towards milking sheep, goats and even deer as well as a number of dairies for raw milk sales. The additional steel-work needed for automated dairies has also created manufacturing energy for the Read family. Read Industrial has never actively pursued international work, but it has completed works in 10 countries, including the United States, and the United Kingdom. That work has often been generated by young international travellers, who have worked on dairies in New Zealand and returned to their homes having experienced ‘the Read way’. “Customers can only buy cheap so many times in a row,” Phil said. “Just because ours is simple, doesn’t mean it’s necessarily cheap. Because in the long run, quality is best, and that’s what stands the test of time.” Camden Group – named after a London flat brothers Leo and John Donkers lived in – owns and operates six large-scale dairy farms on the Central Canterbury Plains, around 60km south of Christchurch in New Zealand. Leo Donker’s relationship with Read Industrial stretches back five decades to their original family farm at Oxford. “It’s not only the family, it’s the relationship the Read family has with their staff that makes it easy for me,” Leo Donkers said. “Because they have so many long-term staff that know the business and that are passionate about it, we get a continuity of service that not only comes from the top of the business, but which also carries through to its technicians and service people. “That’s why they have been our preferred supplier for all our milking plants. We’re very happy with the product, the service and the relationship we have with Philip, Steve and Noel.” Read Industrial prefers to employ locally and Phil says they remain open to local talent. “We’ve always struggled to get people coming into our business that see it as a real career. I don’t see what we do as any different to being an electrician or a mechanic. We need skilled staff, and this industry should be respected as such,” Phil said. While it’s been 100 years since the business was launched from a Papanui garage – and more than five decades since its move to Rangiora (19651966) – Reads remains a rare commodity in a fast-paced world. A time-honoured business that has never wavered from its course to serve and to support its clients. Rainer Irrigation – Proud to support Read Industrial Ltd Boost productivity, improve herd health, reduce somatic cell count and do it all with less labour input! If you’re struggling to get extra hands on the farm, one way to reduce the pressure is to turn to automated systems that will reduce your workload. WETIT teat sprayers can make preventing mastitis much easier. m My WETIT automated teat sprayer saves me 30 minutes a milking. I [OV\NO[ UV[OPUN ^V\SK IL HZ LɉJPLU[ HZ TL HUK JLSS JV\U[ ^V\SK YPZL I\[ P[ OHZ Z[H`LK SV^ 5L]LY SVVRLK IHJR – Dayne Addison, Waikato Hard to ÄUK Z[HMM& 9LK\JL ^VYR PU [OL TPSRPUN ZOLK with automated [LH[ ZWYH`LYZ WETIT teat sprayers are a market-leading, tried and trusted product suitable for installation “in race” or in addition to your rotary shed. Call us today on 0800 4 WETIT HUK ÄUK V\[ OV^ H >,;0; Z`Z[LT WH`Z for itself in just six months! 0800 856 544 | info@wetit.co.nz | www.wetit.co.nz CALL US FOR MORE INFO! Licensee of We congratulate Read Industrial on their 100th anniversary South Island specialists in milking parlour design and construction High cow flow efficiency Permanent and low maintenance Rotary or herringbone design All surfaces are easy to clean Call today for n on-site design consultation 0274 270 557 Nigel Hodges Permanent and low maintenance Rotary or herringbone design All surfaces are easy to clean Call today for an on-site design consultation 0274 270 557 Nigel Hodges www.ruralbuilding.co.nz High cow flow efficiency Permanent and low maintenance Rotary or herringbone design All surfaces are easy to clean Call today for an on-site design consultation www.chapmandairy.com Licensee of Perman nt and low maintenance Rotary or herringbone design Nigel Hodges www.ruralbuilding.co.nz 0274 270 557 Quality Innov tive Milking Sheds
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