All trussed up and ready to grow

PlaceMakers opens new industry-leading frame and truss plant in Hamilton area to better serve construction boom.

Around 100 local builders and staff gathered to celebrate the unveiling of PlaceMakers’ newest frame and truss plant in Te Rapa, a move that’s part of the company’s next step in its plan to upgrade and optimise its manufacturing network across the country.

As the building industry faces the largest construction boom in 40 years, PlaceMakers is ensuring its frame and truss plants have the equipment, skilled staff and capacity to provide its customers with the materials they require.

“The new site is strategically located to enable PlaceMakers to serve a wider geographic region, including Waikato, Bay of Plenty, Coromandel and South Auckland, improving our overall efficiency,” says PlaceMakers national estimating and manufacturing manager Robert Grimmer. “Having larger, tactically placed frame and truss operations allows us to move production from one plant to another if required, without compromising our customer’s needs.”

Roberts says the new the 2,500 m² facility and 7,500 m² yard will be industry-leading in terms of equipment, systems, processes and people. It will have two new automated framing machines and at least one state-of-the-art Razer linear saw, which ensures accuracy and precision, employs the latest printing technology for component marking and completes four times as many cuts as manual saws.

“Investment in this advanced machinery makes it easier and quicker for our customers to build with PlaceMakers Frame & Truss,” he says.

The fully enclosed, automated machines are also much safer to use and reduce waste significantly – PlaceMakers has cut waste timber by 40% compared to 2010.

“Capacity across the national network has been increased by 25% and, as the industry runs hot, it’s important we keep our customers building by delivering on time and in full – this new location is a key part of that equation,” says Robert. “We’re already seeing record manufacturing months and this new facility will provide two to three times more capability to accommodate future growth in the region.”

The new plant will replace the existing one in Mount Maunganui, with all staff at that location offered the option to re-locate. As the market grows, there will also be further employment opportunities available locally.

In accordance with PlaceMakers’ commitment to the environment and developing sustainable building practices, the new purpose-built facility will use “green” initiatives, such as daylight harvesting, energy efficient lighting and water-saving systems to minimise PlaceMakers’ carbon footprint.

The new site will open in mid July and, once its operations are under way, PlaceMakers will host a formal opening ceremony for staff and customers.