When Clifford Jackson, manufacturing manager for Best Bars, the industry leader in the development and supply of towing solutions and automotive accessories, first described their requirements for a new plant to Geoff Ebdon of NZ Duct & Flex, ‘excellence’ was the key word to ensuring the project delivered to his requirements.
Firstly, Best Bars actively endorses its environmental policy and seeks to ensure that all suppliers and contractors also operate to environmental standards that comply with the company’s policy.
As well as the attention to environmental issues, and dedication to R&D, Best Bars has invested in future growth with this new purpose built headquarters and production facility in Wiri, Auckland.
CEO Stephen de Kriek says: ”Being a new building, we have been able to start from scratch and design everything with a view to improving efficiencies and quality based on the many years experience shared among our team.”
NZ Duct & Flex is a market leader in the supply of ducting, being able to supply, from stock, all the ducting installed between 160mm and 550mm diameter.
This stock holding meant they were able to accommodate the changing deadlines that such large developments invariably produce and were delighted to win the contract to supply the new Best Bars’ site.
“We used our standard ducting, all sourced from Danish based JKF Industri. We had the hoods and a few branch pieces manufactured locally, but everything else was ‘off the shelf’,” said Geoff Ebdon, GM of NZ Duct & Flex.
“Ability to adapt and meet the ever changing needs of the customer is critical for a project as big as this. Working in the same space with many other contractors can be a challenge but the end result is that you must meet your time commitments.
“It’s not your customer’s fault the concrete floor is a week late or that there are people in the way when you arrive to start your work. That’s just how things are and we simply work around it, though I have to admit, having your own warehouse with over $1m worth of ducting parts at your disposal, means you can be real flexible,” said Geoff Ebdon.
Best Bars required maximum future proofing in the system, so the fans were also brought in from JKF Denmark. Each model in the new JKF fan series has a very large air volume range, so the three units were connected to the power supply via variable speed drives.
Currently all three are operating at well below maximum extraction but this can be increased at the touch of a button to take account of future extraction needs.
Most of the extraction was set up for robotic welders, but to ensure the flexible welding capability required by Best Bars, NZ Duct & Flex also supplied and fitted six three-metre reach fume arms and connected them to the main system.
These again come from Europe and are stocked in 75mm, 100mm, 125mm and 160mm diameters. So if Best Bars decided tomorrow that they wanted to expand production, the company can add to the ducting and supply almost anything else they require within an hour’s notice, if required.
“The project was installed over three months to suit Best Bars’ schedule, but additional work has also been done since the factory started production to accommodate plasma cutters and other items”, said Neal England, NZ Duct & Flex’s engineering manager.
Best Bars’ Clifford Jackson said: ”I am delighted with the overall quality and functioning of the system. The project was scoped many months prior to installation and NZ Duct & Flex were able to understand the changes required, and keep up with project timing to ensure our overall project plan was successfully achieved.
“The team at NZ Duct & Flex accommodated all our needs and were highly professional in their approach.
“Geoff and Neal were always available and willing to help with advice and guidance.”
Email alison.campbell@nzduct.co.nz