Wellsford and Woodburn in business link

Press, 25 February 1981, Page 11

Wellsford and Woodburn in business link

Bv..

JOHN HUTCHISON

Ain San Francisco ?- Wellsford, New Zealand, and Woodburn, Oregon, might have seemed, a few years ago, to be unlikely towns to play hosts 'to a joint' manufacturing venture. Now they are linked, through the enterprise of a businessman from each town, and the catalytic assistance of the New Zealand Development Finance Corporation. The relationship began when Mr; Fred 7 ' Gundner, of Woodburn’s Abiqua Sales, Inc., was introduced to Mr Richard Izard. Mr Izard was in the .United States looking for someone to join him in making cutting tools. The timing was just right; Mr Gunzner wanted an overseas enterprise, and the D.F.C. was newly established in the United States, to find and facilitate such ambitions for the furtherance of New Zealand export production.

“We met Mr Chris Parkin of the D.F.C., a proposal was detailed, and the D.F.C. gave tentative approval.” said Mr Gunzner. “Mr Parkin cleared the project with New Zealand officials, and 90 days later the whole project was approved. “Mr Gunzner, who pioneered the automated manufacture of carbidetipped blades for portable electric saws, began to build the automated machinery for the Wellsford plant. .

In November, 1979, the whole production line was packed neatly into a container and shipped to New Zealand. ALAcu-Edge, Ltd, in Wellsford, it has now been in work, for six months, employing 25 people who turn out 1000 saw blades a day. Mr Guzner said Acu-Edge now had markets, in New Zealand, Europe, Australia, and Asia and was already showing a profit. Mr Parkin, of the D.F.C. believes the Abiqua-Acu-Edge connection, although a relatively modest venture. can show the way to other joint opportunities, with the cutting-tool industry a good- example. His office in San Francisco is assisting a small trade mission to explore those possibilities. Three Californians in the industry will accompany Mr Gunzner to New Zealand in March to have a look at cutting-tool manufacture.

Mr Gunzner says New Zealand “offers tremendous opportunities for American manufacturers,” especially in small tools, electronics, and food processing. He points to D.F.C. incentives — financing of equipment, export tax relief, and assistance in developing new markets — as particular attractions.

Wages are reasonable, technical expertise is readily available, export shipping is excellent, “and the people are friendly,” he says. ■ •