Farra Positions Itself for the Future
Evolution in industry is inevitable and keeping up with the engineering impact is vital for survival. Cast your mind
back to the skills, tools and processes from your own beginnings and change is obvious. How we machine, weld, prepare,
fabricate, protect and maintain has changed radically without even mentioning manning levels and skills shortages. So
what are some of New Zealands founding engineering companies doing to stop becoming a dinosaur statistic? The
Maintenance Engineering Society (MESNZ) took the opportunity to find out more when it brought its Kaeser Compressors
Network Evening series to Dunedin’s Farra Engineering.
With a 100 year history, Farra Engineering is well represented locally and globally with some impressive engineering
feats and capability. New Zealand industry however has little respect for history and successive governments have made
an art form out of ignoring industries future needs, leaving businesses to look after their own futures and the human
infrastructure required to support the business. From the markets it participates in, to the age and capability of its
plant and the people that it brings into the business, Farra are working hard to remain a force for the future. The
moment you walk through the door the evidence is inescapable; in house built architecture, staff-created artwork and
modern layouts open out to a sprawling complex mixing traditional large capacity machining plant with digital sheet
metal centres, high technology powder coating line and massive fabrication capacity.
The skills shortage experienced throughout the country is no different in Dunedin although the key issue for CEO Gareth
Evans is not the smart skills but the core apprentice trade skills that are paramount in the area. Here too, Fara is
taking a leading role in solving the issue, participating with a local manufacturing group in an initiative to promote
trades careers to school leavers.
The MESNZ Kaeser Compressor Network Evening series 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. There is no cost to attend and non-MESNZ can attend up to 2 meetings.
Readers can find the latest schedule by going to http://www.mesnz.org.nz/activities/network-evenings/
The Maintenance Engineering Society is active across New Zealand, providing 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 2018 National Maintenance Engineering Conference will be held at
the Energy Events Centre, Rotorua on November 13-15