From Americas Cup to Dinosaurs – SAFE’s Evolutionary Growth Pains
The Maintenance Engineering Societies Kaeser Compressors Network Evening series has provided a firsthand view of the
evolutionary change taking place across New Zealand manufacturing and engineering as industry adapts to the modern
world. The struggles facing industry were never more evident than the recent third annual evening held at SAFE
Engineering in Drury.
A family owned business since first coming to Drury in 1973, SAFE’s global reputation for forging, heat treatment and
metallurgy spans two centuries of technology and innovation, buts its very location, staring at the headlights of
Auckland’s urban sprawl casts this 44 year old site as a dinosaur.
The problem facing General Manager and MESNZ Chairman Barry Robinson is the huge forging plant and its impact on the
neighbourhood. According to Barry, the area was a wilderness in the 1970’s and no-one was around to hear the thump of
the gigantic forges. But with the largest piece of kit being a 1200T crank forging press, the site is completely out of
kilter with the future designated use of Drury as a new suburb. The math of moving the plant simply does not stack up,
posing a huge dilemma not only for the family, but for the industrial clients who rely on the now rare capacity. Do not
just think old school engineering here when talking about these juggernauts, the forged high tensile rudders for Team
New Zealand’s America Cup campaign are just one example of the plants capability. Shut the forging plant and there
simply is no alternative for curly solutions in New Zealand.
It’s not all old technology at SAFE, with the company definitely participating at the pointy end of innovation. From its
64KW solar power array to additive powder forging and 3D metal printing, it is no surprise to see companies like Team
New Zealand and Rocket Labs on SAFE’s client list.
Whether it is the old school plant, the world leading technology, or simply the Robinson family reputation for providing
a hearty feed, just under 100 attendees enjoyed the hospitality and live forging displays at the Kaeser Compressors
Network Evening, the discussions and interaction lasting well past the official closing time.
The MESNZ Kaeser Compressors Network Evenings are hosted to showcase local operations and provide networking
opportunities for engineers across all regions of New Zealand. The evenings offer the opportunity to take a look at the
host operation and discuss common issues and solutions in a relaxed after work environment. Open to interested members
of the public, the nights are well patronised. As well as learning firsthand about the capabilities of the host company,
the attendees enjoy much appreciated light refreshments and the chance to network.
The Maintenance Engineering Society is active across New Zealand, providing professional development opportunities for
maintenance engineers and manufacturing operations to network and share innovations and experiences; both at a national
level at their annual national conference or at these regional events. The 2017 National Maintenance Engineering
Conference will be held at the Claudelands Event Centre, Hamilton in November.