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Metco Engineering takes supreme award

Metco Engineering from Lower Hutt took out the Westpac Hutt Valley Chamber of Commerce Supreme business award at the Avalon Studios last night (Thursday 7 November).

Metco owners Paul Jessup and Brent Greer were delighted with their success as the company which employs 60 staff continues to innovate and grow.

“We are engineers who have responded to the needs of the customers by developing quality products and components for local and international markets,” says Brent Greer.

Metco also received the award for manufacturing and distribution.

A wide range of organisations were represented in the 11 categories with Unichem Clive’s Pharmacy in Wainuiomata taking two awards for retail and leadership.

Hutt Valley Chamber Chief Executive Mark Futter says the awards reflect the diversity of industry and businesses within the Hutt Valley.

“We are always working to attract new businesses into the valley, but these business awards highlight the need to celebrate the success of business enterprises that are already here and being successful.

“The economic downturn was hard for many who toughed out the tight times and now there is the beginning of an improvement.

“The Westpac Hutt Valley Chamber of Commerce business awards acknowledge those businesses that are on the leading edge of that change,” he says.

The gala awards dinner at the Avalon Television Studios attracted more than 400 people with the two Mayors, Wayne Guppy, Upper Hutt, and Ray Wallace, Lower Hutt, saying the awards were a positive statement about the growth of business in their communities.

Hutt Chamber president Helen Down says the chamber had played an important role in supporting emerging businesses and providing training programmes to establish a firm foundation for new enterprises to grow.

The award winners were:

Westpac Hutt Valley Chamber of Commerce Excellence Award Categories – Finalists

INNOVATION

• Open Polytechnic

NOT FOR PROFIT

• Earthlink Incorporated

MANUFACTURING AND DISTRIBUTION

• Metco Engineering

SMALL BUSINESS

• Hutt City Health Centre

PROFESSIONAL SERVICES

• The Surveying Company (Wellington) Limited

RETAIL

• Unichem Clive’s Pharmacy

TRADE SERVICES

• King Toyota

HOSPITALITY AND TOURISM

• Blue Carrot Catering

SPECIAL CATEGORIES

Sustainability

• Label & Litho

Leadership

• Clive Cannons – Unichem Clive’s Pharmacy

Best Emerging Business

• Bees Blessing

Supreme Awards

• Metco Engineering

Business Excellence Awards 2013 finalists announced

The black tie dinner for the awards looks promising for a variety of Hutt Valley businesses, as an increasing number Hutt Valley Businesses who have entered awards find out who have been named as this year’s finalists in some very competitive categories.

Hutt Valley Chamber of Commerce CEO, Mark Futter believes this year’s Westpac Hutt Valley Chamber of Commerce Business Excellence Awards have revealed an increasing number of companies who are challenging the status quo for a place in the market. Through the platforms of technology, innovative business models, collaborations and partnerships, these small and medium businesses are adaptable and fast-growing.

“The Awards this year will again showcase the successes in businesses and give us an indication of the great things we can expect from them throughout the Hutt Valley in the near future,” he said.

Over thirty Hutt Valley companies and four individuals have been selected as the finalists for the Westpac Hutt Valley Chamber of Commerce Business Excellence Awards 2013. The finalists in twelve categories were announced on 13 September and include businesses across a wide spectrum of industries.

Westpac has been the primary sponsor of the Awards for the last four years that they have been hosted by the Chamber.

“These awards showcase the best of the best in the Hutt Valley business community, which is why Westpac is proud to be a supporter of the awards here and in other areas around the country,” says Rob Hunt, Senior Commercial Manager, Hutt Valley and Wairarapa for Westpac New Zealand.

“This year’s finalists are a reflection of the outstanding local businesses across the Hutt Valley, and we’re looking forward to unveiling the winners later this year at our black tie awards dinner.”

The finalists for the Westpac Hutt Valley Chamber of Commerce Business Excellence Awards 2013 are:

‘Innovation’ – sponsored by GNS Science

• Layer3 LTD
• Open Polytechnic
• Precision

‘Not For Profit’ – sponsored by Upper Hutt Cosmopolitan Club

• EarthLink
• Petone Working Men’s Club
• Special Olympics New Zealand

‘Manufacturing and Distribution’ – sponsored by Telecom Business Hub Hutt-Kapiti

• Howard Material Handling
• Metco Engineering 2002 Ltd
• Real Steel Ltd

‘Small Business’ – sponsored by Gibson Sheat

• Caci Lower Hutt
• My Day Spa
• Hutt City Health Centre
• Whakatiki Concrete & Soil Supplies Limited

‘Professional Services’ – sponsored by Boulcott Hospital

• Driving Miss Daisy Upper Hutt
• Laurenson Chartered Accountants
• The Surveying Company
• Upper Hutt Veterinary Hospital and Cattery

‘Retail’ – sponsored by Upper Hutt City Council

• Pita Pit Lower Hutt
• Rasha Taylor Couture
• Unichem Clive’s Pharmacy – The Happy Chemist

‘Trade Services’ – sponsored by Crowe Horwath (NZ) Limited

• Hammond Transport Ltd
• King Toyota
• Quickstart Auto Electrical Ltd
• Hospitality and Tourism Sponsored by Hutt News
• Blue Carrot Catering
• Mediterranean Food Warehouse Lower Hutt
• Cobar Restaurant

SPECIAL CATEGORIES

‘Sustainability’ – sponsored by Hutt City Council

• Label and Litho Limited
• Leadership (Individual) Sponsored by Westpac
• Arts a Go Go! Performing Arts
• E.Sime Group Limited
• Harbour City Funeral Home
• Unichem Clive’s Pharmacy – The Happy Chemist

‘Best Emerging Business’ – sponsored by Grow Wellington Ltd

• Bees Blessing

Exporting pays dividends for Kiwi firms

Kiwi companies that export had a bigger jump in revenue last year than those trading locally. According to a study by global workplace provider Regus, 65 per cent of New Zealand businesses exporting products to overseas markets saw revenues rise during 2012, above the international average of 59 per cent.

However, only 55 per cent of companies operating locally in New Zealand had an increase in revenue. That was still higher than the international average of 47 per cent.

Wellington manufacturer of sheet metal and various components Metco Engineering’s export revenue rose around 20 per cent last year.

Managing director Paul Jessup said the increase in turnover was because of larger volumes of sales.

“It’s a bigger market, exporting, isn’t it?

‘We export, but not directly – our customer’s export, so we’re selling components to them that they’re exporting.

“We’ve seen a big jump with Japan over the last three months particularly with hardware for windows such as stays, and Australia mainly with the building sector and commercial fitouts.”

John Henderson, Asia-Pacific director of Regus, which counts companies such as Google and GlaxoSmithKline among its customers, said it was aware of many obstacles Kiwi businesses faced when setting up an international presence, “such as paperwork and property costs and the difficulties in establishing an image and brand in another country”.

“However, with more exporting companies reporting increases in profits and revenues than those who stay home, we can definitely see the potential for businesses to expand abroad.”

Almost 40 per cent of the New Zealand respondents also said that managing local taxation and regulation issues was one of the biggest challenges to firms beginning to export.

While revenues rose more for exporters, so did profits.

Again, 46 per cent of Kiwi export companies reported a rise in profits, compared with only 42 per cent of locally focused companies.

The most profitable market New Zealand companies identified was one of the closest, with almost two-thirds naming Australia, followed by 46 per cent saying China was one of the most profitable and 44 per cent South-East Asia.

1969 Camaro Rebuild

This was the scene immediately after Parry’s crash in Masterton.  Not a pretty sight.  Fortunately with our wonderful family, crew and friends on hand the car was removed quickly and put into storage.  The crew not wanting Parry to see the car in its very badly damaged state set to work the next day in stripping down the car.  Reusable bits were kept, broken bits were put to one side and a list compiled of exactly what was needed to get the car back on the track.

Story courtesy of Parry Hunt Enterprises. Read more here.

Sheet metal firm forges strong growth

Manufacturing in New Zealand is hard enough as it is, but Lower Hutt firm Metco Engineering manages to do it better than China.

The 35-person firm specialises in sheet metal manufacturing and engineering and makes all manner of componentry for 350 to 400 customers, including local fire engine manufacturer Spel, Upper Hutt manufacturer Acma Industries and United States defence giant Lockheed Martin – which last year began a $144 million contract to warehouse, service and repair army equipment at Trentham Army Camp.

One of its larger customers is Swedish lock manufacturer giant Assa Abloy, for which it makes stainless steel window stays.

Director Paul Jessup said about two years ago Assa Abloy had signalled it would have to move the window stay manufacturing to its operations in China.

“We put up our hand and said let us do a cost comparison against China. We were pricing against their own factory. We ended up sourcing our stainless steel out of Taiwan and buying our material at the same cost as the Chinese, so we were able to compete.

“We’ve also got low overheads, we don’t have a lot of admin staff, which is key.”

A shelf in the company’s Taita factory is home to an assortment of metal objects produced by Metco staff and its machines, including metal enclosures for LCD screens in military vehicles, gun silencers, and guttering parts.

The company does one-off jobs or product runs up to 10,000, depending on what the customer needs, and considers itself a broad-based manufacturer, offering design services right through to production and light assembly.

“We’re constantly developing our customers’ products and trying to improve the efficiency and quality of materials to keep the costs of their products down so they can be competitive.

“If they’re competitive that keeps us in business as well as them. That’s key to manufacturing in New Zealand, having good partnerships between suppliers and customers.”

Jessup and business partner Brent Greer previously worked for manufacturer Interlock Industries in Miramar. They left in 2002 to buy Metco, and three years later picked up the window stay work when Interlock’s parent company Assa Abloy shifted its design team to Brisbane.

The company is growing each year, Jessup says, and is negotiating at present to buy another local firm with 30 staff.