Waikato Business News August/September 2018

26 WAIKATO BUSINESS NEWS August/September 2018
Waikato perfect for
Taranaki firm’s expansion
From page 24
well as future-proof expansion
- ultimately it will be able to
accommodate about 30 staff,
in addition to the 60 currently
in Taranaki.
The formerly empty ground
floor has been fitted out and
leased to Rosser Underwriting,
and includes garaging,
an equipment storage area
and workshop created for
BTW’s needs.
BTW occupies the middle
floor while the top floor has
been converted into two city
Collins
apartments; one for the firm’s
visiting staff, and the other tenanted.
It helped that they could do
the consenting, surveying and
engineering themselves, with
Livingstone Building used as
the prime contractor. The renovations
to the building, which
was constructed in the 1970s,
came with their own challenges.
“Once Livingstone arrived
on site we couldn’t use the
top floor because it was being
re-roofed and renovated from
a single, large, dated apartment,
into two executive apartments,”
Grant says.
“Our Waikato staff showed
real character during the refurbishment
phase. Some days we
had 10 to 20 tradespeople on
site and our staff sitting in here
with earplugs working away.”
BTW was established 45
years ago as a land and hydrographic
surveying firm. Over
time it grew its services to
include engineering, planning
and environmental science.
Collectively, that gives it
the capacity to take on a range
of tasks under one roof, as a
Proud to be the preferred flooring company with
Livingstone Builders and the BTW Group new build.
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one-stop-shop for subdivisions,
engineering projects and
the like.
One way BTW has kept
ahead of the game is by investing
in advanced technology.
That started in the early
years, when they were surveying
offshore for the Maui field,
with its complex demands.
“The company had to be
right up with the play with
technology, and also had
computer programmers on its
team,” Grant says.
“Over the years we've
always invested in technology.”
Even the ubiquitous theodolite
is not what it was - these
days it is robotic, so the operator
can leave it, walk around
the site and have it record the
operator’s position.
BTW also utilises 3D laser
scanners that can measure millimetre
accuracy. They create
cloud points and convert them
into 3D surfaces for analysis
and design purposes. With that
comes the need for serious
computer grunt. Ten years ago,
very few clients had the computing
power to consume this
3D data; these days architects,
BTW BUILD
engineers and design professionals
rely on this level of
data and accuracy.
Investment also runs to
drones that can measure features
to within centimetres and,
by using them, large areas can
be surveyed during the day and
processed overnight.
The firm’s ability to offer a
range of services and respond
quickly to clients’ needs sees
them eyeing a bright future in
Waikato.
“The opportunities here are
exciting and what employees
are looking for,” Grant says.
“We're not restricted, and
we have a talented team that all
get involved.”
GA Pickford Roofing providing quality,
innovative roofing in Waikato.
The Team at GA Pickford Roofing are proud to be
associated with Livingstone builders and the BTW Group.
Proud to be
preferred supplier of
Aluminium joinery for
the BTW new build
Regal Joinery
102 Kent St Hamilton
Phone: 07-847 9882
regal.joinery@xtra.co.nz
111c Kent Street, Frankton
0800 766 3349
J3473P
J5785P