NZ Dairy Spring 2021

| 85 nz dairy Pumpn out the work and keeping compliance Shane Phillips took the plunge to establish Pumpn Ltd in 2004, and the team has grown rapidly ever since. Richard Loader DAIRY SERVICES » Pumpn Ltd W ith no two days the same, and the need to make rapid changes to carefully planned days when a customer requires urgent repairs on a piece of farm machinery, the staff at Pumpn Ltd often refer to their boss as Captain Phil- lips, as he navigates hectic waters. From growing up on a Waikato dairy farm milking cows every morning and time spent in the water, effluent and engineering industry, Shane Phillips took the plunge to establish Pumpn Ltd in 2004. Only 25 at the time, Shane was offered a lot of cowshed repair work until he built a trusted reputa- tion with the local farmers. Perfectly coinciding with the dairy industry’s growth, Pumpn became increasingly involved in pump work and plumbing new dairy sheds. Now operating out of a purpose built facility in Otorohanga township, Shane steers his ship with a crew of eighteen staff, operating mainly within a 6o kilometre radius. “We’re always available to look after our locals,” says Shane. “We do quite a bit of work in the Morrinsville area because several Otorohanga farmers have farms there as well. There are also occasions when we travel further afield for customers who we have an existing relationship with or where our expertise and products have been sought.” While Pumpn’s customer base tends to be predominantly the dairy industry, the company also installs and services water reticulation systems for the sheep and beef industry and is starting to do irrigation work for local kiwifruit orchards. Essentially a farm service and manufacturing business, specialising in pumps, effluent systems, freshwater systems and irrigation, 70% of Pumpn’s work involves on-farm projects. Except for the pumps, Pumpn manufactures all effluent products including stirrers, Torpedo travel- ling effluent cannons, effluent screens and certain sprinklers, in its workshop “We have the Otorohanga agency for the Grund- fos range of pumps,” says Shane. “We do a lot of fresh water dairy shed reticula- tion, stock water systems and mineral injection systems. We also do quite a bit of general farm maintenance engineering, everything from broken diggers, front-end loaders and feedout wagons.” Customer satisfaction, keeping the customer happy and providing a good service and product, backed by the companies that supply Pumpn’s non- manufactured range of products, rates very highly in Shane’s book. “Every job is customised to suit the customer. One installation doesn’t fit all and so we will always be mindful of the customer getting the best result. We have a great team with a great team culture and they have built up the experience and expertise to deliver great results. We also have some highly loyal customer who we enjoy working with.” Shane is also very much the friendly face of the business and with his background growing up on his parents’ dairy farm can talk the same language as his customers. “They will come and talk farming and I will know exactly what they’re talking about because I’ve been in the trenches. With that experience I can go in and suggest ways their system can be improved. You need to know and understand the industry if you are manufacturing or selling product.” “We also do quite a bit of general farm maintenance engineering, everything from broken diggers, front-end loaders and feedout wagons.” PUMPN LTD 40 Turonga St, Otorohanga. Ph: 07 873 8673 www.yardmaster.co.nz Pumpn Ltd is a proud member of the A COLLABORATION THAT WORKS, PROVEN EFFLUENT PRODUCTS PLUS LOCAL KNOW HOW Reid & Harrisons Trevor Foley with Shane Phillips of Pumpn, Yardmaster Dealer of the Year 2018 & 2019. REID & HARRISON