Investment to boost industry

Press, 14 August 1980, Page 13

Investment to boost industry

New Zealand Drum Makers (Christchurch), Ltd, which has just begun production at its Blenheim Road plant as the South Island’s only maker of steel drums, hopes to provide a considerable boost to local industry. “In: fact, we like to -think of ourselves as’ a substantial investment in the future of the South Island,” said company’s Christchurch manager (Mr Alasdair Chisholm).

“Of course, the high freight rates between the islands have been one of the major reasons for establishing ourselves in Christchurch.”

The plant is designed to

produce more than 300 drums a day of either 200 litre or 60 litre capacity — both of which can be made on the same assembly line. Another two machines are expected from Auckland later to be fitted into the line, while an oven is coming for lining the drums for chemicals and food products. The drums are capable of holding a wide variety of goods, such as petroleum products (petrol, diesel, all the oils and chemicals); tallow from the freezing works for export; honey, which the Honey Marketing Authority and private firms are shipping all over the world; linseed oil for

export; sherry and other wines and spirits, for which a lot of steel drums are now used because the cost of the traditional oak barrels has become prohibitive; cooking oils, molasses, glucose and many other foods. All the drums are made to international standards of different gauges, depending on their use — for instance, heavier gauge for drums to contain petroleum or explosives. “We anticipate employing six to seven people here and by producing 300 drums a day, we will be able to guarantee a continuity Qf supply for our clients,” Mr Chisholm said.

“We also hope that most of our customers will be in Canterbury, close to Christchurch, thus, again reducing freight rates. But other clients in the South Island also will benefit from this reduction in transport costs. “The cost of sending the materials for the drums to us will cost more while the cost of labour should be about the same to that in Auckland. “But the actual saving on the freight of the completed drums will result in a- substantial saving to the customer — hence, a great benefit to industry in the South Island in all ways.” Another significant fac-

tor is that the general manager of this privately owned company, Mr Danny Glozier, a one-time New Zealand boxing title holder; and the South Island manager (Mr Chisholm) are both South Islanders, of Invercargill. Mr Chisholm, who was “born and bred” on the South Island, worked for seven years up north and has now come back to' run the Christchurch plant.

Also, Mr Ross Thomas, who is the manager and technical expert of the Auckland plant, was born in Dunedin, as was the company engineer (Mr Melvil Still).

“The reaction from local industry to us moving south has been encouraging enough to allow Mr Glozier to go ahead with this investment,” Mr Chisholm said. “Mr Glozier’s company in Auckland has been going for about 12 months and has been in full production since last February.

“The Auckland plant is about the same size as the one in Christchurch but has additional equipment, such as the presses for the drum lids which are shipped here. “The capacity of the Auckland plant is 2000 a week, with the ability of increasing this to meet demand — as is the Christchurch plant “Mr Glozier and other Auckland executives make frequent trips to Australia and the United States to keep in touch with developments in this international industry. “We have leased our factory premises from the electrical importers, wholesalers and manufacturers, A. R. Harris, Ltd, at 291 Blenheim Road.

“Their help in the selection of contractors and suppliers, and the assistance of their staff and management has greatly reduced the time needed to set up our manufacturing plant here,” Mr Chisholm said.