LAMINEX BOOSTS PRODUCTION 50%

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29384, 10 December 1960, Page 11

LAMINEX BOOSTS PRODUCTION 50%

A remarkable 50 per cent, increase in total output was achieved in 10 days of concentrated activity in mid-November by the Laminex Pty., JAd., Christchurch. This was the culmination of a year of successive production boosts to meet the spiralling demand for the company’s products—Laminex and Lami-wall.

Production has been stepped up in stages throughout the year until at the' end of October the rate was almost double that of a few months previously. But even this was not enough to keep ahead and the November change-over involving intensive programming embracing engineering services, raw material procurement and personnel training was put into successful operation. The benefit of this move will be apparent in the immediate faster flow of Laminex on to the market. But rapid expansion is nothing new to a company that has experienced a ten-fold increase in sales since production began seven years ago. No Protection Back in 1953, Laminex pioneered the manufacture of decorative laminates in this country. The factory was established in the days of free import and although it has not experienced any form of protection even under import control, the company has continued to flourish. Far-sighted planning has enabled the company to continue to expand and meet the increasing demand for decorative laminates. It also has the distinction of developing an entirely new interior building product, Lami-wall (Laminex wallboard) which has received enthusiastic acclaim from all sections of the building industry. Laminex and Lami-wall are

products essentially of New Zealand manufacture, although small quantities of imported raw materials are still necessary. This is a dwindling factor however, and in the foreseeable future laminated plastics will be wholly made of New Zealand raw materials.

Another achievement is the price factor. New Zealand-made Laminex compares favourably with the prices ruling in other parts of the world, even without making allowances for lower material and labour costs in other countries, and is complete evidence that a well-run industry in this country can compete with foreign interests. Export Industry

If is worth noting that decorative laminates were featured in. the recent Japanese Exhibition touring New Zealand and Australia. The very latest decorative effect having pride of place was extraordinarily similar to the exclusive Laminex pattern “Fantasia” which Laminex introduced in this country two years ago. “Fantasia” and the other highquality Laminex and Lami-wall decoratives are now flowing freely on to the New Zealand market. Future plans include the development of an export industry and the manufacture of several new, heavy-plastic products. The company looks forward to a particularly prosperous era and to continuing happy relationships with its trading associates.—P.B.A.