Award-winner McKay secures Ward Chandler

Whangarei's McKay Group has taken over Auckland company Ward Chandler Electrical.

Electro-technology experts, Whangarei's McKay Group, has acquired its third company this year, having taken over Auckland company Ward Chandler Electrical.

The acquisition of the electrical contractors comes as news that the Northland company has just scooped an Award of Excellence to Industry from the Minister of Defence in recognition of the company's outstanding commitment to the defence industry.

McKay was nominated in September for the electrical installation of the Integrated Platform Management System and the Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning system on board the Anzac Class Frigates, as well as upgrades, maintenance and defect rectifications on the Inshore and Offshore Patrol Vessels.

McKay was also a finalist in Category B - the provision of superior services to Defence.

The award was presented at the recent Annual NZDIAC Defence Industry Awards in Wellington.

Growth is the name of the game for McKay this year as the group's latest acquisition of Ward Chandler Electrical comes just months after McKay signed a $1 million contract with personal care and hygiene company, Asaleo Care, for the upgrade of the Kawerau Paper Machine Driver Upgrade, which manufactures toilet tissue.

The contract was the first to be awarded to McKay's Bay of Plenty branch after McKay brought the ex-Downer-Tenix business in Kawerau in July earlier this year.

The full design and build contract is scheduled for commissioning next April.

The McKay Group also acquired Auckland-based automation and electrical design company, Cervina Marine, in October.

Ward Chandler's 70 skilled employees will be fully integrated into the McKay Group of companies and will deliver projects in the greater Auckland region, with Mark Borland, Ward Chandler's current owner, staying on with McKay as part of the NZ Executive in a senior project management role.

Ward Chandler Electrical was formed in 1961 by David Ward and Morrie Chandler.

Managing director Mark Borland joined Ward Chandler Electrical in the mid-1970s and became a co-owner in 1986. Upon David and Morrie's retirement in late 2006, Mark took over the business in its entirety.

"The acquisition was a natural fit as McKay and Ward Chandler have very similar values and similar history," said Lindsay Faithfull, McKay's managing director.

"At this time I would like to acknowledge the work of the founders of the Ward Chandler business, David Ward and Maurie Chandler, and the continuation of their work by Mark Borland," he said. "McKay is very proud to be able to continue the proud traditions of their foundations and are excited by what the combined organisations can achieve into the future."

The company has established operations in Northland, Auckland, Waikato, Bay of Plenty and Connecticut, USA. The group now consists of McKay NZ, McKay USA, MGE New Zealand, Cervina Marine, Maintainer and Ward Chandler Electrical.

McKay, established in 1936, now has more than 300 frontline employees.

The company was founded by Tom McKay and then bought by the Faithfull family, with the late Joe Faithfull having joined the company in 1944.