Specialist cranes lifting a 38-tonne power press at Hayes International. Photo / Stephen Parker
Specialist cranes lifting a 38-tonne power press at Hayes International. Photo / Stephen Parker
Two large cranes and a specialist crew ensured the safe arrival of some monster machinery at the Hayes International workshop in Rotorua last week.
Hayes International specialises in the design and manufacture of roll-forming machinery for the production of roofing and wall cladding profiles, with two new power press machinesbrought in to produce advanced technology in roofing tiles.
Hayes International managing director Wayne Kennedy said the presses are designed for pressing metal into tiles with a special hidden fastening system, producing a new product for their group of companies.
"We have had the presses brought over from Tauranga and we are going to complete the project here. This is the single largest piece of equipment to come into our factory, weighing 38 tonnes. The other press is a smaller press for making a smaller product and weighs 16 tonnes," he said.
"They're part of a system going to the USA in about six months' time, in the next port order. We had to employ a specialist contractor from Auckland who specialises in this type of equipment movement. This was a major logistical exercise involving a 100-tonne crane, a 50-tonne crane, two transporters, road pilots, bridge permits, and they were required to be off the road by 7am."
Mr Kennedy said this particular system was a leading-edge development in metal tiles with hidden fastening.
"We haven't been involved in the metal tile pressing industry before. This is first project of its kind in New Zealand to produce this kind of technology. This is a much more advanced type of metal tile system."
Mr Kennedy said there was a large market for this specific type of hidden fastened tile system in the United States and he hopes to see the technology in New Zealand in the future.
"This is the first in a number of projects we hope to complete. Once we get the system proven and developed and the samples created then it could well come to New Zealand."
