Nor'West News: November 08, 2016

NOR’WEST NEWS Tuesday November 8 2016 5
News
Rubberware factory opened
• By Sam Pickering
A NEW rubberware company
opened in Wigram last week in a
bid to boost the dairy industry.
Skellerup celebrated the
opening of its new $60 million
company with Prime Minister
John Key dropping by to see the
new 19,000m 2 facility.
The company had struggled
after their old site in Woolston
sustained damage in the earthquake.
Skellerup chief executive David
Mair said he was confident
the factory will be a platform for
future growth.
“People said we should move
to China, that didn’t actually
stack up. So the great thing
about this is there is a really
good future here in Christchurch.
“We are 4.7 million people at
the bottom of the world. Most
people don’t know us. Yet we
are winning business in the US
because our products are better
and we can deliver better,” he
said.
The facility was acquired by
Skellerup in May 2013 from Wigram
Business Park developers
and Ngai Tahu property.
Skellerup staff said they were
stoked to be staying in the city
during a tough period after the
earthquakes.
BIG OPENING:
Prime Minister
John Key, Sir
Selwyn Cushing
(above) along
with CEO David
Mair (far left) at
the opening of
the new dairy
rubberware
company
Skellerup last
week.
PHOTOS: ALEX
PARSONS
OPEN FOR
BUSINESS:
The Hughes
family (left t0
right) – Sue,
Shelley, Chris,
Geoff and
Jonny with
Deputy Prime
Minister Bill
English cut the
ribbon to open
Switched On’s
new premises.
Move for business complete
FAMILY-OWNED Switched
On is the first business to move
to the new Belfast Business Park
and was opened by Deputy
Prime Minister Bill English last
Tuesday.
The move brings the buiding
company together for the first
time, after being accommodated
in old, villa-style offices in Shirley
and Wainoni since the earthquakes.
General manager Chris
Hughes said the new building
was a milestone in Switched On’s
35-year history in Canterbury.
“This is our first ever purposebuilt
building. It’s an investment
in our staff and the region. We
started out here and we’re confident
that Christchurch’s future is
bright,” Mr Hughes said.
Designed by Walker Architecture,
with interior design by
Redesign Group, the building has
been crafted to reflect the trades
that make up the business.
Features such as text-artwork
made of screws; natural timber
walls; exposed ceilings; and metal-mesh
lights further enhance
the building’s unique, industrial
look and feel.
Switched On’s builders, electricians
and painters have fitted out
the entire building themselves,
starting with a pre-cast concrete
shell in February.
“Our team have put a lot of hard
work into this build. We’ve used it
as an opportunity to not only give
our staff a more modern working
environment, but to also show off
what they can do. Their attention
to the finer details has been really
impressive,” he said.
It’s 1965 and The
Everly Brothers are
playing a gig in Wellington.
Will it be Bye Bye Love
for Don, Phil and their fans?
BLUE SKY BOYS
Written by Ken Duncum. Directed by Donna Buchanan.
Wednesday 9th – Saturday 12th November
8pm Nightly
Gloucester Room, Isaac Theatre Royal
Bookings: 0800 842 538
or online: www.ticketek.co.nz
Bookings fees apply
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30 Main North Rd,
Ph 352 4581
520 Cranford St,
Ph 352 0515
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