Chief executive of Fletcher's infrastructure and construction, Mark Binns, believes the manufacturing and distribution plant at Opawa Rd in Christchurch might resume operations within a fortnight. Photo / Supplied
Execs to brief international investors on damage to firm's Canterbury operations.
Fletcher Building is trucking wallboard from the North Island to quake-torn Christchurch.
Fletcher's Winstone Wallboard manufacturing and distribution plant at Opawa Rd in Christchurch will not operate for about another fortnight until all plant and equipment has been checked.
Mark Binns, chief executive of Fletcher's infrastructure and construction divisions, said
the plant might be operational within about a fortnight.
In the meantime, emergency supplies were being carted south, he said.
Winstone has run out of its technical bulletin providing guidelines for carrying out remedial work to plasterboard wall and ceiling surfaces after earthquake or wind damage.
Fletcher suffered damage at Laminex, two Fletcher Construction sites and at its PlaceMakers stores in Christchurch.
Three top Fletcher Building executives toured Christchurch this week, before leaving New Zealand to update international investors on the earthquake.
Chief executive Jonathan Ling, infrastructure and construction chief executive Mark Binns and investor relations general manager Philip King inspected manufacturing, warehouse and sales stores across the city on Monday.
"We visited our businesses and also had a look at the damage and destruction across the city. Just about everyone was back at work, which is amazing given what people have gone through since last Tuesday," King said.
Fletcher has PlaceMakers stores in Antigua St, Cranford St and at Riccarton as well as its Winstone Wallboards operations.
Since late last year Fletcher Construction has been working with the Earthquake Commission but the repair programme is on hold while they identify urgent needs and try to make buildings safe, secure, sanitary and weathertight.
Fletcher said several of its Christchurch buildings were damaged but production capabilities should be maintained without major disruption.
The PlaceMakers store in Riccarton opened last week for emergency services needing timber, plywood and building materials, with the priority being to support the recovery and rescue operations. The site suffered minimal damage but the immediate scope of operations was to provide materials to aid rescue teams, Fletcher said.
"PlaceMakers are working on building stocks of tarpaulins, building wraps, plywood and other materials required to provide shelter and expect be in a better position to serve the wider public within 48 hours."
King said he and Ling leave today for Australia, Britain and the United States to give investors an update after the half-year results were issued last month.
Damaged
* Winstone Wallboards plant.
* PlaceMakers Antigua St.
* PlaceMakers Cranford St.
* Laminex, Waltham.
* Two Fletcher Construction sites.
Source: Fletcher Building
