Weddel’s World 1983 – June

Weddel’s World

WESTFIELD
TOMOANA
KAITI – in conjunction with Gisborne Sheepfarmers Freezing Co. LTD.

QUARTERLY NEWSLETTER

ISSUED BY
W.& R. FLETCHER (N.Z.) LTD

JUNE, 1983

Coal conversion means big savings

Tomoana Works’ conversion to coal is nearing completion.

THE THIRD and final stage in the Tomoana Works’ conversion from oil to coal-fired boilers is due for completion in July.

Tomoana’s General Manager, Mr Michael Sanders, said work began off-site last October with the first boiler being converted between Christmas and New Year and the second soon after. It was decided to leave the third boiler on oil, until after the peak killing season, to avoid disrupting production.

Coal is the cheapest heating fuel available and an estimated annual saving of more than $600,000 was a major consideration in the decision to convert the boilers.

Mr Sanders said: “There is a lot of interest throughout the country in pulverised coal as a fuel for firing boilers. A number of varied industries are using coal fired boilers, but the installation at Tomoana would be one of the biggest in the country.”

Outward appearances have changed very little, although it is likely the sight of trucks unloading huge quantities of coal will become a familiar one.

An enclosed coal receival system was installed to allow trucks to unload at the boilerhouse. From there, the coal is transferred to day bunkers, then to an attritor for pulverising.

The capacity of the boilers has not been downrated by the conversion from oil to coal. The process of pulverisation requires large machines which grind the coal to a consistency something like talcum powder. In this form, it burns very quickly because of the enormous surface area available to the oxygen.

Because gases coming from coal fired boilers carry a lot of ash, an effective collection system is necessary to prevent ash from escaping to the atmosphere.

Mr Sanders said some steps have already been taken to conserve energy.

At present, bulk steam from the boilers is used to heat water, dry wool, cook in the rendering department and provide heating for the works. Exhaust steam from processes such as rendering, is recycled to make hot water.

He said that further methods will be implemented in the future.

BELOW: A view showing two of the newly installed coal units which are now operating in the huge Tomoana Works’ boilerhouse. The coal retorts and a pulverised coal feed can be seen in the centre of the picture.

Lamrap takes market priority

LAMRAP, a flexible plastic wrapping system which has been operating on trial at the Tomoana Works during the 1982-83 season, won its developer three awards in the 1982 competition of the Flexible Packaging Association of the USA.

Tomoana is the only freezing works in New Zealand using the system and has been reaping the considerable benefits of its technical superiority.

Quality Control Manager, Denis McClenaghan, says the current season’s production will total about 400,000 carcases, most of them destined for the United Kingdom. Next year, there will be double that number and movement into markets such as the Middle East, West Germany and Switzerland.

“The product is already being sold at a premium over the stockinette wrapped product. Because of their superiority, it is foreseen that these carcases will ease priority in shipping programmes for markets which demand higher quality,” he said.

The system places a patented bag of plastic friction film, called Fricfilm, on a lamb carcase and heat shrinks the bag, forming a sealed transparent envelope.

The process helps prevent deterioration and weight loss during storage and shipment, resulting in fresher, higher quality carcases being placed on foreign markets.

Fricfilm is so named because the outer surface of the bag has a rough texture which does not become slippery when frozen and prevents stacked carcases slipping and possibly injuring workers.

The Lamrap packaging line mechanically conveys all grades of carcases through orientation and removal of gambrells, placement of the shaped and printed bags, to the final heat shrinking stage.

Packaging manufacturer, the AHI Plastic Film Company, was awarded a gold medal for “achieving a technical breakthrough,” a second gold for the “high standard of its international marketing” and a silver for the “technical construction of the bag.”

Photo caption – WITH a simulated carcase encased in Lamrap and their awards, are Glen McDonald (left) and Peter Dempsey of the AHI Plastic Film Company.

Korea buys NZ beef

W & R FLETCHER (NZ) Ltd concluded a contract to sell 1829 tonnes of boneless beef, worth about $8 million, to South Korea.

Export Manager, Bruce Bishop said it was the first time New Zealand had sold boneless beef to Korea.

“Korea’s previous tenders have been exclusively for bone-in beef, and because of New Zealand’s inability to supply, they have been awarded to Australia. With Korea likely to include boneless beef in all future tenders, we see it emerging as an important beef market for New Zealand,” he said.

Mr Bishop said the contract followed a recent visit to New Zealand by a South Korean delegation, which included the Korean Minister of Agriculture, who said during his visit that his country was keen to increase trade with New Zealand.

The contract is part of a 3000-tonne boneless beef tender approved by the South Korean Government and the sale will be co-ordinated by W & R Fletcher, who will supply the meat together with several other processors.

Kaiti makes record kill

KAITI Works will set a new, personal record this season with a kill of more than one million head of sheep and lambs.

General Manager, Mr Jack Baker, said: “The millionth carcase was killed on Friday, May 27 and present indications are that we will kill over one million lambs by the end of this season.”

He said the kill was a historic milestone for the works, which highlighted the effectiveness of the new mutton slaughter complex and was the result of a total team effort. “Thanks must go to the freezing workers’ union, the trade unions, refrigeration engineers, the clerical workers’ union and staff supervisors. Without their co-operation, it wouldn’t have been possible,” he said.

On the effects caused by a drought-stricken season, Mr Baker said: “Despite the daily, weekly and monthly records, the drought did create a backlog and farmers were not always able to get their stock killed quickly. However, we have proved that in a normal farming year, we should be able to cater for farmers’ killing requirements without any difficulty.

“It is our anticipation that in the future, we will continue to realise kills well in excess of a million.”

MANAGER-designate of Weddel Montreal, Iain Burnett, visited Head Office, Tomoana, Westfield and Kaiti Works during a two week stay in New Zealand recently.

He will assume his new position later this year, and is meanwhile familiarising himself with meat export operations in New Zealand and Australia.

“I joined the organisation in 1954 and since then have worked mainly in South America and the United Kingdom, where I am now based.

“The Montreal branch imports meat and canned goods for the Canadian market. My visit is a background to New Zealand and Australia’s operations and the business they do with Canada,” Iain said.

Iain and his wife, Shirley, have two children, Stuart 21, and Margaret, 16. When his work is not regularly taking him out of England, he enjoys playing golf.

WRF first to ship to Tahiti

EARLY this year, W & R Fletcher (NZ) Ltd became the first New Zealand meat exporter to ship, rather than fly, chilled meat to the Tahitian market.

Assistant Export Manager, Stuart Mills, announced the change on his return from a tour of Tahiti, Rarotonga, Apia, Pago Pago and Fiji.

“For many years, Tahiti has been a traditional buyer of chilled meat which has gone up weekly by air. In January, we were the first to supply meat by sea containers.

“Because of cheaper freight rates, the end price to the consumer is less and we expect other companies to follow our example before long,” he said.

Prime location for Pension Fund building

RECENTLY completed was a striking three-storied office block in Greenlane, Auckland, built on behalf of Fletcher (NZ) Pensions Investments Ltd.

This nominee company, which handles investments for the W & R Fletcher pension fund, joined forces with Blueport (ACT) NZ Ltd Pension Fund Nominees Ltd late in 1981, to develop this prime office space.

Designed and built by Fletcher Development and Construction Ltd, the building has a nett lettable area of about 36,500 square feet, together with 95 parking spaces.

Group Property Manager, Andrew Malinowski, reports that the building is on a 21-year lease, with three year rent reviews, to Fletcher Development and Construction Ltd, a wholly owned subsidiary of Fletcher Challenge. It is jointly owned by the Fletcher and Blueport (ACT) Pension Funds.

The property is located close to the Greenlane motorway turn-off and forms part of new development on the corner block of Great South Road and Greenlane. The block is being developed as an office park, a Foodtown shopping complex and housing area with contemporary town houses fronting Mapua and Marewa Roads.

The town houses are under construction and about half have already been completed. The two smaller office buildings, also part of the office park, will be built before long, as will the Foodtown complex which will include a large supermarket of at least 30,000 square feet and some 20 speciality shops.

The office is a mere 10 minute drive from Auckland’s city centre, en-route to Auckland International Airport and accessible to the industrial area of Penrose.

Suburban office park locations have proved successful overseas and a similar trend is taking place in Auckland, with office developments becoming frequent in the Greenlane area.

Photo caption – ABOVE: An artist’s impression of the new Pension Fund office building which was recently completed in Greenlane, Auckland.

Waikato cadet wins UK scholarship

EVERY year, W & R Fletcher (NZ) Ltd sponsors a winner of the United Kingdom farm cadet travel scholarship. This year’s top cadet is Greg Glover, 21, of Hamilton.

Greg has worked on three farms in the Waikato region and attained his Diploma of Agriculture at Massey University. He is vice-chairman of his Young Farmers Club and has sporting interests in rowing, rugby, scuba diving, duck shooting and trout fishing.

The company raised its sponsorship to $1000 this year, and this will allow Greg to travel in the U.K. for six months, hosted by farming families, studying dairy feeding management, arable alternatives to dairying that could be used in New Zealand, prospects in farm ownership and management for U.K. young farmers.

The purpose of the scholarship scheme is to broaden cadet’s knowledge of agriculture, industrial and social conditions, and to promote goodwill between New Zealand and U.K. farmers.

For Greg, winning the scholarship was the realisation of a goal. “I have heard about it since I started the cadet scheme five years ago and I’ve slowly been moving towards it ever since,” he said.

On his return to New Zealand next year, Greg hopes to work on farms, move on to sharemilking and own a farm in about 10 years.

Photo caption – W & R FLETCHER’S Auckland Provincial Livestock Manager, Bill Macmillan (right), presenting the sponsorship cheque to this year’s U.K. farm cadet, Greg Glover.

‘Rewarding’ career spans 20 years.

ALMOST 20 years ago, Alan Edwards joined the Tomoana Works as an office boy. He is now Works Manager at Kaiti and has held positions in nearly all the company’s main locations. He was a clerk and test clerk at Tomoana for six years before he became assistant to the Works Manager in 1959. Alan then transferred to Wellington where he was product and sales co-ordinator for W & R Fletcher. In 1967, he moved to the production department where he was involved in the meat side.

For two years until 1972, Alan was Production Manager of the cannery, small-goods and other meat aspects at the Westfield Freezing Company.

Transfer

Until his transfer to Kaiti late last year, he was Works Manager at Tomoana.

“My career with the company has been very rewarding, particularly in the last 10 years, when l have been associated with large development at Tomoana. The welcome at Kaiti was very warm and I am sure we can look forward to many years of successful operation,” Alan said.

He enjoys playing golf in his spare time and during his holidays with his wife Myra, son, Stuart and daughter Geraldine, goes deep sea fishing in the Hawkes Bay.

Some London faces

EVEN if the names are familiar, the faces may not have been until now. Pictured are personnel, headed by Mr Archie Bedford, of the London Overseas Division. Standing are (from left): John Brazier; Carlos Martinez; Neil Bridgland; Eddie Schwarzbard. Seated are (from left): Susan Gillett; Division Head, Mr Archie Bedford; Mrs Hazel Hughes.

Obituaries:

Mr Frank Martin

IT IS with regret that Weddel’s World reports the death of Mr Frank Martin, general manager of Gisborne Sheepfarmers Mercantile Co Ltd, until his retirement in 1979.

Following distinguished service in Egypt, Greece and North Africa in the Second World War, Mr Martin went to Gisborne as wool and overseas shipping manager, with the then Gisborne Sheepfarmers Frozen Meat and Mercantile Co Ltd, in 1951.

In 1959, he became assistant general manager and a year later, assumed the chief executive role. At the time, he was also general manager, secretary and a director of Gisborne Sheepfarmers’ Freezing Company – partners with the Vestey organisation in the Gisborne Refrigerating Co, of which he was also a director.

Sincere sympathy is extended to his wife, Mary and daughters, Helen and Diana.

Mr Kevin Hurley

MANAGEMENT and staff extend sincere sympathy to the family and friends of Kevin Hurley, livestock buyer at Westfield Works, following his recent, sudden death.

He is survived by his wife, Gladys, and three grown-up children.

Retirement

BEST wishes for the future are extended to Westfield Works’ employment officer of 31 years, Frank Burns, who has retired early because of ill-health following a heart attack last year.

Frank joined Westfield in a clerical capacity in 1952 and held various positions, including transport manager, before taking up his employment position. He will be greatly missed by fellow staff members.

His successor is Roger Leigh, who is also security manager.

Westfield identity retires

FRIENDS from all facets of the Westfield Works gathered at a farewell luncheon given to mark the recent retirement of Industrial Relations Manager, Dempsey Young.

Dempsey’s 45-year career with the works embraced many different jobs, from cooling floor labourer to assistant works manager, meat, in 1974, before he was appointed as industrial manager in August, 1981.

In his farewell address, Westfield’s General Manager, Gordon Taylor spoke of the respect in which Dempsey was held by all, from union workers through to management and added that Dempsey had been at Westfield for so many years, he was regarded as the work’s “father figure”. A very handsome presentation was made from staff and friends, to be enjoyed in his retirement.

Pictured is Dempsey Young (right), with Westfield’s new Industrial Manager, Robert Dockary.

Five tackle marathon

FIVE Tomoana employees recently completed the tough Fletcher Challenge Marathon around Lake Rotorua.

Over a distance of 26 miles 385 yards, Leon Davidson, a second-time marathon runner, threw caution to the winds and set a hot pace to come in at three hours 19 minutes. Ray Bernie, who was running in his first marathon, silenced doubters by finishing strongly in three hours 22 minutes.

Tony McKenna, the fastest of the group, beat the three-hour mark by two minutes.

Garry Minton, another first time marathoner, suffered some injuries in his training build-up, but finished respectably in four hours one second. Brian Steele, an ex-All Black and seasoned competitor in eight marathons, jogged non-stop to finish in three hours 56 minutes.

All are members of the local Hawkes Bay Fletcher Marathon Clinic and hope to have a bigger company representation competing in next year’s event!

Photo caption – PICTURED (left to right) are: stock booking clerk, Leon Davidson; beef house computer clerk, Ray Bernie; calibrating staff member, Tony McKenna; industrial manager, Garry Minton; maintenance staff member, Brian Steele.

Black Friday dark indeed

RECONSTRUCTION of damaged buildings at Kaiti Works is expected to be completed late next month.

Kaiti’s General Manager, Mr Jack Baker, said work was proceeding smoothly and he expected the plant, which was also damaged in the fire on May 13, to be operational soon after Weddel’s World went to press.

Damage incurred was estimated to be in excess of $500,000.

Annual picnic enjoyed by all

WESTFIELD staff and families enjoyed a lunchtime barbecue, races, lolly scrambles and getting together at the annual picnic, held at Totara Park, Manurewa recently.

Despite the damp weather, the Westfield Weddel’s World correspondent reported the day to be a success.