Ibex comes up with cool idea

By ELLEN READ

A family firm started more than 20 years ago has become a world leader in refrigeration technology.

Ibex's core business is to supply equipment to abattoirs and, though that's still going strong, it is the company's new division which is attracting international interest.

It has developed technology that takes the headaches out of chilling and freezing food after manufacturing.

Ibex's TCS (temperature control system) is a refrigerated filing cabinet.

The system starts at the end of the production or packing lines and makes sure the product remains in a controlled environment through to automatic stacking on pallets.

Any chilling, freezing or heating is done by computers controlling airflow, temperature and humidity inside an insulated chamber which the products pass through.

While that might sound simple enough, the software behind the Ibex system is anything but and this is the company's advantage.

"I guess we're Helen Clark's dream company - a technology company and we export knowledge," said general manager Jonathan Engle.

Ibex does the design, engineering, software and project management but contracts out the building of the complete system.

"We focus on selling technology, solutions not manufacturing them," said Engle.

The TCS innovation - which Engle says puts it five years ahead of global competitors - allows the food manufacturers to set and forget the systems that keep foods such as yoghurt, icecream, pasta and meat in perfect condition after packaging.

The first TCS was sold to a Brisbane company last year and a second is now on the way to Australia.

Engle said there had been considerable global interest and Ibex was likely to expand significantly over the next year.

But he is determined the company's knowledge base will remain in New Zealand.

With 10 local staff, Ibex is a small company for its achievements and Engle said its compact size had helped with the success.

"One good thing about being a small company is that we're constantly evolving. We can move and change easily," he said.

A grant from Technology New Zealand allowed the company to build a product test unit to check the thermal properties of customers' products.

Each customer has different requirements because of different packaging, products and sizes.

"We have a mini system housed in a fully lined refrigerated container, complete with its own computer system," he said.

"With technology that can cost several million dollars to buy and install, it's vital that customers get a first hand view of the benefits it can deliver before they commit to purchase."

Another advantage to the system was that it used less energy than other systems, saving the user money on their power bills.

Formerly known as Systems Products, the company moved into purpose-built premises in East Tamaki in 1999 and was renamed Ibex.

It has been a major player in the meat processing industry for the past 20 years, specialising in designing and producing freezing works equipment.

As well as the Auckland office, Ibex has one in Australia and is setting up a company in Brazil, where Engle said, interest in the TCS system was high.

"Brazil has the biggest beef kill in the world so exporting is crucial for them. Our product control system is ideal to help them ensure their beef meets stringent international food safety regulations."

Ibex