When I first saw the sign Bus & Truck Bodyworks I was not sure what
they did. Owner Keith Johnstone and Julie-Ann Wederell soon enlightened
me. Keith worked for several years with Ritchie’s Coach lines. Five
years ago he saw the need to start a business that specialized in painting
and panel beating large vehicles. Their building on the Industrial
Park has been custom built for them and their spray booth at 14.5 metres
is the largest in Mid Canterbury.
They paint and panel beat Trucks, Buses, Caravans, Motor Homes and
Boats.
They do complete modification to Motor Homes and fibre glass repairs
to all vehicles. They also paint and repair farm machinery and are suppliers
to ATS shareholders. They import many panels and use only the best paints
in the world PGG Delfleet and Sikkens which
have a 5 year guarantee. They are authorised seat belt installers and
are also qualified to do insurance work.
Standing alongside a bus that the Bus and Truck Bodyworks team is working
on is from left. Darryl, David, Aaron, David, Michael, Paul, Butch, Keith
and Julie-Ann.
How many parts do you think there are to a trailer? I always though
a trailer was just a large wheelbarrow on a set of wheels but that was
before I met Alasdair Cleland one of the Directors of CM Trailer Equipment.
The other 2 shareholders are Mark Havis and James Taylor. They took over
the business from the late Colin Millichamp who started the business
by buying and wrecking land rovers. Colin was unfortunately killed in
a farm accident and the directors have kept his initials in the company
name in honour of their founder.
The tow bar, the drawbar the axle the wheels the tail lights and all
the many components of those parts is what keeps 12 staff of CM Trailers
at the Riverside Industrial Park busy. They distribute to retail clients
all over New Zealand and offer a 24 hour turnaround. |
I
took a look through the distribution plant and each part was neatly filed
in its place. While out the back I also learnt that they also supply
trailer tyres and springs. CM Trailer Equipment assembles and distributes
all the parts required for any trailer up 3 1/2 tonne.
Standing by a limestone rock in front of their distribution warehouse
at Riverside Industrial Park is Logan Ford, Alasdair Cleland, Mark Havis
and Wayne Adams.
I had driven past these premises many times but never knew what they
did. I soon became well informed by the 3 Co Managers of the factory
Luis Calles, Roy McCleery and Sharyn Amos. The history of the company
is on their website www.smithattachments.com
Briefly the company was foundered by Ian Smith who worked from his garage.
In 1982 he went into partnership with Ray and Pam McCormick but Ian has
since retired.
What then are the attachments? I would never have guessed it for one
thing they are attachments to motorcycles.
They are manufacturing engineers who manufacture bull bars for off road
motorcycles as well as manufacturing small farm trailers that are attached
to motorcycles. They even make the mudflap kits for the motorcycles.
Smith Attachments estimate they supply about 75% of the motorcycle bull
bar market in New Zealand.
The company also specialise in sheet metal work. While I was there they
had just completed making a stainless steel table for a restaurant.
Their latest product is Aluminium Motorcycle Bullbars.
So that is the attachments. If its attached to an off road motorcycle
or if sheet metal fabrication is required then Smith Attachments is the
place that can supply it. |
The Team from Smith Attachments outside their factory. Back. Sharyn,
Rob, Matt, Luis, Mark Seated: Marty, Logan, Alex, Roy.
If we take the time to look and listen then
we learn something new everyday. I had
no idea what powder coating was until I
met Max Cawte. Ashburton Powder
Coating is a family business owned by
Max Kath and Hayden Cawte. Max
worked for some time with Designline
before starting his powder coating business
in 1999 and sandblasting last year.
Powder coating is the surface treatment of
steel, aluminium their alloy's cast iron,
galvanised and zinc coated steel, and is a
environmentally friendly safe, durable and
a very cost effective coating option.
Some of the items powder coated are
wrought iron furniture and gates , motor
bike, bicycle frames ,automotive car, truck
parts, mag wheels, truck rims,
aluminium extrusion, house hold handles
door knobs.
When I went through the factory they were
powder coating some antique bed ends.
The article is powder coated and put in an
oven at a temperature up to 200 degrees.
The biggest oven the company has is 6.5
metres and is one of the largest in the
South Island.
What impressed me was the quality and
durability of the finished product.
Standing outside the Riverside factory are Don, Darrell, Chris, Sheldon
and Max. |
