With some help from Allied Machinery Services, label and electronic equipment manufacturer Wedderburn has moved to larger premises in Mt Wellington, doubling the size of its premises in the process.

Kyla Kelly, national label manager at Wedderburn, says the move comes as a response to growth in its labels business. She says, “Last year we had seven per cent growth, and this year our turnover is up 10 per cent already. The label industry is not as recession sensitive as other types of printing. There is always one sector doing well and we cover a range of labels from food manufacturing to pack house and horticulture.”

The company had a couple of day’s downtime while Allied Machinery Services moved the Wedderburn machines, reassembling them in the larger factory. She says, “We had the first equipment up and running within two days, the first label press up within four days and the last, which was moved two days later and still operating up to the morning of relocation, in six days.”

AMS regularly services Wedderburn’s equipment. Kelly adds, “AMS did a fantastic job. They handled everything, dismantling to decommissioning as well as arranging transport. They also assisted in ensuring all key construction was set as required. This included the layout of UV ducting, compressed air and power requirements. Everything was marked out on the factory floor exactly where they were to be placed and AMS also built some new storage for us.”

Wedderburn will take possession of an additional new label press soon. The family-owned business has 45 staff in Auckland and has put three staff through print apprenticeships in the last four years, with a fourth starting this month.