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Fletcher Reinforcing to relocate from Petone to Levin

Fletcher Reinforcing to relocate from Petone to Levin


Horowhenua's strategic business location has prompted New Zealand's largest construction company to move part of its operation to Levin.

Fletcher Reinforcing, a subsidiary of Fletcher Building, will relocate its lower North Island bar processing facility from Petone to Levin in March 2015.

Fletcher Reinforcing is the leading reinforcing processor in New Zealand and is currently involved in some of the largest infrastructure and commercial projects around the country.

The new facility will be established on South Road (State Highway 1) at the old Loaded Hog bar and brewery site, currently undergoing renovation, and will be ready to distribute reinforcing steel structures to construction sites around the region by the end of March next year.

Steel Distribution general manager Hamish McBeath said the plan is to develop an industrial hub in Levin for its business and that Horowhenua's location will allow the company to extend its distribution reach from Wellington's city centre to central North Island areas as needed.

Mr McBeath says the process is being made smoother by the continual support of Horowhenua's Economic Development Board and Horowhenua District Council, including developing connections with local industrial companies that can help Fletcher Reinforcing grow its business.

Economic Development Board chair Cameron Lewis says the move is very exciting for the town and wider district.

Mr Lewis says Fletcher Reinforcing has seen Horowhenua as not only a strategic business location with a ready network of existing industrial businesses, but also offering lower operating costs and wonderful lifestyle opportunities for staff.

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"I look forward to more firms relocating to take advantage of our ideal location to service the whole lower North Island, as well as take advantage of the current and upcoming significant roading upgrades nearby."

Fellow board member and Homestead Concrete Homes sales manager Daniel Lawry says Fletcher Reinforcing's relocation will greatly benefit the Horowhenua community.

"To have a corporate national company recognise the opportunities in our district and be prepared to invest money and create employment opportunities will be a great boost for our local economy in more ways than one."

Board member and Stevensons Structural Engineers managing director Evan Kroll says that Fletcher companies have very good ethics and support education and training of their staff.

"This will help the employment pool of people in the construction industry and with positive flow-on effects for local training providers, as well as local suppliers and service companies."

Horowhenua Mayor Brendan Duffy says to have one of New Zealand's leading blue-chip companies shift part of their operation to Levin is a major endorsement for the district.

"It is also a good example of Horowhenua's Economic Development Board realising an opportunity and helping facilitate. It probably wouldn't have happened otherwise."

Along with the refit of its new facility, Fletcher Reinforcing will invest over $1 million in new processing machinery, with the new capacity and technology enabling orders to be processed faster.

Its services include design, producing the steel reinforcing bars and then placing them on site ready for concrete to be poured.

ENDS

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