74 | nzdairy DAIRY SERVICES » Don Chapman Waikato Ltd The business is based in Morrinsville, the heart of dairy country in the region. Karen Phelps In September, the team at Don Chapman (Waikato) Ltd, were nearly three-quarters through a 70 bale rotary at Te Aroha. Owner of the business, Shanan White, says the project has progressed very well. When a project starts Don Chapman Waikato liases closely with the excavation company to ensure the prep and final levels are to the requires specifications. The company then takes care of all the building work from the structural steel and roofing, reinforcing, concrete, walls doors and windows to the pipework, rails and gates all ready for the machine fitters and electrician to fit off. The business is based in Morrinsville, the heart of dairy country in the region. Shanan purchased the business from its founder Don Chapman in 2013. Along with the 70 bale project the company has also recently completed a 54 bale shed in Kopu and one in Mangakino and are currently working on a 54 Rotary in Whatwhata as well as a 50 Bail in Karapiro. “We’ve also built one that’s a bit different from most; a 48 Parallel Double Up at Te Kawa. They are also currently working on several feedpads and effluent systems throughout the area. Last year, Shanan says, the work flow was reasonably quiet until October when demand began to pick up noticeably. The dairy sector is in a better space on the back of two years of solid pay-outs and positive forecasts for this to continue ahead and while a focus for many farmers is to reduce debt, some find it the right time to invest in new capital equipment. And the projects are already lined up well into 2026, further indication that the sector is in a more positive space. He’s also happy with the current size and situation of the business, describing it as a scale that is quite manageable. Having two construction managers, taking care of the day to day, also means Shanan can focus on A consistently high standard of work procuring more work for the team. It is not all on-farm work either, with a commercial project, an extension to a workshop space, at Kerepehi completed a couple of months ago. Shanan doesn’t tend any longer to be actively on the tools, leaving the on-site work to his team of competent builders. “I’m more in the future, driving the business forward through engaging with clients about potential projects ahead. A big part of what I do is to help clients find solutions with their existing dairies and advice on options for new sheds. This includes liaising through all the planning and consenting phases as well as organising the code of compliance at the completion of the project” Once a decision has been made as to how best to proceed, an inhouse Quantity Surveyor steps in to provide detailed costings, to ensure work is within the budget scope. A project schedule is then developed to ensure that once work gets underway, all the necessary project steps are aligned to work efficiently. These days the bulk of work are green-field sites, which means that the team don’t have to work around existing plant. This makes an enormous difference to how efficiently the project proceeds. “It also means we can spread the workload out through a longer period than just when the herd is dried off.” Shanan says he’s pleased with where the company is positioned in the market and he hangs his hat on the quality of the Chapman Dairy product they provide. “We’ve certainly grown a strong reputation on the back of the consistently high standard of work we deliver. Farmer clients know they’re getting the best value for money, from a team who understand how important their project is and have the man power to complete projects on time.” Mainland Engineering proudly supports Don Chapman Waikato Ltd Residential Commercial Rural Lifestyle House floors, Driveways, Patios, Footpaths & Specializsed Footpaths. Enquire for fencing and retaining walls. Industrial areas, Footpaths, Shed floors, Concrete roadways and more. Cow, chicken and goat sheds, Feed pads, Rotary platforms. Silage, maize, palm kernel, grass and fertiliser bunkers. We can also build the whole herring bone cow shed, as well as pole sheds. Morrinsville, Waikato, NZ | Barry Andersen 021 403 727 | andersenconcreteltd@gmail.com METAL ROOFING NEW ROOFING RE-ROOFING COMMERCIAL DOMESTIC 1699 PIAKO ROAD, MORRINSVILLE 3372 TIM ARMSTRONG - 027 592 3234 | barlowroofing@xtra.co.nz Manufacture, supply & installation of Farm Dairy & Livestock Handling Facilities New builds, extensions & upgrades Agricultural & General Engineering No obligation, free competitive quotes www.leask.co.nzPh: 07 889 77693442 State Highway 26 Morrinsville
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