Ashburton Implement Services was started In 1951 by 4 local men Bob Burnett,
Bob Woodham, Cyril Bonnington and Maurie Wall. The company has always
remained a private company and is now 100% owned by the Woodham family.
The Chairman of Woodham properties Ltd is John Woodham grandson of one of
the original founders Bob Woodham. Their first building 58 years ago was the old
Wright Stephensons building in Havelock Street where the Trading Society car
park is today.
Andy Ruck is the current manager of AIS, Chris Price is the workshop manager,
Hamish Wilson is the sales manager and Steve O’Neil is the parts manager.
The company also has a mower division in East Street catering for
lawn and garden needs. It is managed by a long time employee Geoff
Wall. The AIS company also has branches in Nelson, Invercargill and
Gore.
In 1997 the company with much input from its staff designed new
premises at 22 Robinson Street on the Riverside Industrial Park.
A.I.S sells farm machinery parts and accessories. It also services
heavy industrial, agriculture, road transport and construction equipment.
The company recently purchased Premier Machinery to give them an on
site general engineering arm. |
The company has a 20 metre service pit to service large buses and
trucks. The unit has a brake testing machine which enables clients
to get a pre brake test before they go to the testing station for a
certificate of fitness.
Combines, Bailers, Mowers, Windrowers, Tractors, Forklifts, Trucks
and Buses are all serviced by the workshop staff at A.I.S. Another
of the services that the company has introduced in recent years is
pre-harvest checks. A client can get a thorough pre-harvest check
on their farm machinery and then be a lot more confident that their
machinery will not break down in the middle of harvest.
The company
is well renowned for its after sales service and is one of the reasons
why its clients now extend from Wanaka in Central Otago to Kaiopoi
in North Canterbury.
In the workshop most of the staff are qualified
service technicians ably assisted by 5 apprentices. |
17 of the workshop staff assembled in front of the machinery display outside the
premises of Ashburton Implement Services Ltd at 22 Robinson Street Riverside Industrial Park in May 2009.
They are a friendly group at A.I.S, call in and ask if you can have a
look around and see how they do things. They will make you welcome and
I’m sure you will be
as impressed as I was. |
