Move allows expansion

Press, 23 September 1987, Page 37

Move allows expansion

Centenary celebrations for R. B. Denniston and Company,- Ltd, were very appropriately timed for the firm’s Christchurch branch.

They outgrew their premises in Hazeldean Road and moved into more spacious premises at 126 St Asaph Street last December.

The firm, who are engineering supply merchants, have their head office in Dunedin.

Last year when their centenary was due, they were moving their head office from Moray Place to South Dunedin, and so the celebrations were delayed until this year.

“Our move has not only given us more much needed space but it has also allowed us to improve our image,” says

the manager, Mr David Broad. The Christchurch branch was set up in 1967 and is still the most reecnt branch to be set up in the South Island. More are planned to add to those in the North Island.

They opened in Braddon Street before moving to Hazeldean Road.

The new premises are readily accessible and the customer car parking is an added bonus, says Mr Broad.

The Christchurch branch services an area from the Rakaia to the top of the South Island. They have 12 staff, the manager, two sales engineers, three sales reps, four warehouse staff and two clerical staff. R. B. Dennistons import their products from

all over the world.

Gate speed belts came from the United States and Taiwan, chain and gear boxes from Japan, bearings and couplings from Germany and Holland and “Precision” conveyer chains from the United Kingdom. They have a number of agencies in Italy. The firm now specialises in power transmission equipment, a diversification from the days when they began by sup-, plying mining equipment 100 years ago. Mr Broad emphaises that they also supply power tools, which are displayed in their extensive showroom. Bosch and Makita are among their brand names and they stock a full range of angle grinders, jigsaws, and

circular saws.

They recently secured the distributorship of Kango electric hammer drills from the U.K.

“We are major suppliers to all industry,” he says.

“We have built our name on service and place great importance on people and staff.”

R. B. Dennistons stock New Zealand products as well as imported lines. Among these products are Penfold worm gears which are made in Christchurch and they are the South Island distributors for Electropower gear motors which are made in Auckland. Should they not have in stock an item required by a customer, they will have it airfreighted here in as short time as possible, Mr Broad says.