Precision machinery

Press, 27 November 1986, Page 28

Precision machinery

The production of berry fruit harvesters is just one facet, although a very successful one, of PECO’s operation. The company is a manufacturer of precision machinery and a tool and die maker, using the latest technology. PECO was started as a

small press tool manufacturer by an engineer, Mr Peter Pelz, 40 years ago. He sold out to the company’s present managing director, Mr Syd Goldsmith, in the early 19705, and its dies, moulds and machines are now seen as far afield as Malaysia, Singapore, the United States, Britain and France.

New Zealand had long been at the forefront of international research and development efforts in many areas of manufacture, farming and horticulture, Mr Goldsmith said and our engineering workforce was recognised internationally as skilled and innovative.

“It is a combination of these factors which has led to the emergence of New Zealand as a supplier of innovative equipment to the world,” he said.

An indication of the company’s success has been its need for everlarger premises. PECO began on a very small site in St Asaph Street. In spite of expansion there, the company moved in 1959 to its present Moorhouse Avenue premises, where the workshop area has again been considerably extended to its present 930 sq m.

The company prides itself on providing both designing and precision engineering skills to tackle a client’s requirements. An

example is the familiar red plastic poppy seen on lapels throughout the country each “Poppy Day.” The company carries out general jobbing work as well as tool-making. Its range includes plastic moulds, timber fingerjointing machines, rollforming machines, wear simulators for wool, carpet and other products, automotive batterymaking machines and hob-top forming machines, as well as its range of harvesting machines. It is also the South Island agent for Traub automatic lathes and Sulzer blowers and vacuum systems.