Graeme Rickard Graeme Rickard is Action Plastics general manager. The company is a privately owned New Zealand-based business which has been operating in the plastics industry in Christchurch for over 35 years. Rickard explains that under Brook Engineering its founder Jeff Brook and his team began producing custom mouldings and soon expanded to include an injection moulding branch, now operating as Action Plastics. “The Action Plastics team can take an idea or concept through the complete process from initial discussions to design drawings, product development, rapid prototyping (3D printing), tooling and product manufacture,” says Rickard. Action Plastics is now recognised as a industry leader and a global expert in its field by the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment and also Callaghan Innovation. “We have the equipment to mould all types of thermoplastics, from single custom parts to high cavitation and over moulding,” points out Rickard. “Our design team uses modern 3D computer aided design (CAD) systems which enable it to morph ideas into 3D solid images which can then be shared with clients over the internet in real-time. “This allows the client to have hands on input right throughout the design and build process.” Action Plastics production techniques ensure quality products are consistently manufactured to the highest standard and offers a variety of services to meet all commercial, industrial or private requirements. Other services include professional advice, product assembly, packaging and dispatch and storage. 20 Annual Directory 2017 Greg Brinsden Greg Brinsden is Rinnai NZ’s research and design manager. He commenced his career with Rinnai in 1987 and three years later he was appointed to his current position as the company launched its gas fireplace range into international markets. In this role he is focused on leading the team which develops Rinnai products from infancy through concept stage into design, testing, manufacture and finally implementation. He specifically takes an interest in the manner in which the consumer interrelates with a product through its complete lifecycle. He believes that design brings a balance between engineering and that which the user really wants from a product. Through the company's association with Better by Design, Brinsden and his research and development team are continuously developing new skills and using Stanford University techniques to identify what is important to consumers. This, coupled with the support and technological backup from the wider Rinnai Corporation team, ensures that the safest and most advanced products are made available. Brinsden’s career began as a toolmaker with D McL Wallace. Later he became a production manager manufacturing a diverse range of products including Cleveco/Murray marine yacht fittings, Wallace milking equipment, Davies industrial pumps and Hydralink fluid couplings. His foray into the gas industry took off with Tartarini automotive alternative fuels which saw CNG and LPG car conversions pioneered in New Zealand. Iain Hosie Iain Hosie is the founder and managing director of Revolution Fibres. He heads the technical, research and development team, nanofibre customisation service and sales and marketing activities. Previously Hosie had over 10 years’ experience in environmental science and toxicology, government policy, regulation, research and development, and marketing and public relations. Currently he is a passionate advocate for nanofibre and its endless possibilities Jayson Spittal Jayson Spittal is the senior dairy engineer at Synlait Milk. A key focus in this role, which he has enjoyed for the past three years, is driving and leading the implementation of capital projects. In 2013 the company’s initial public offering (IPO) raised funds to support a major capital expansion programme, which included a third large-scale, infant formula-capable spray dryer, a 22,000sqm drystore and a blending and consumer packaging facility. Spittal was heavily involved in this IPO as well as other capital projects of which the last two were completed in late 2015. Currently the company has launched its next growth phase and Spittal will play an important role in the success of a three-year programme which will see approximately $300 million invested in additional capacity for infant formula manufacturing, consumer packaging, infrastructure requirements and value added cream manufacturing. Spittal is committed to learning and sharing his knowledge with others in the business. He recently completed the Kellogg Rural Leadership Programme, which strengthened this commitment and contributed to his leadership development. He says his trade-based background and well-rounded and early exposure to all aspects of manufacturing engineering have stood him in good stead at Synlait. in many sectors. In conjunction with co-founders Simon Feasey and Michael Perrett, Hosie discovered the potential of nanofibre to create functional and advanced textiles. “The market gap was clearly the lack of nanofibre manufacturing businesses,” says Hosie. “We saw a technology with huge potential trapped in laboratories and set a goal to take nanofibre to the global marketplace.” Under Hosie’s leadership Revolution Fibres has endured the challenges of a high-tech startup, particularly high setup costs, research and development hurdles, and managing a platform technology. Revolution Fibres is now a recognised leader in nanofibre production, with growing exports in a wide variety of markets. “We have a good platform and a strong team,” concludes Hosie. “Our focus is now on growing revenue through our products, specifically in cosmetics and composites sectors where we are experiencing strong export growth.” Jason Harper Jason Harper is Jonel Hydraulics’ South Island manager. The company has provided precision ram reconditioning, custom-built hydraulic cylinder manufacture, cylinder servicing and hydraulic repair and servicing throughout New Zealand and the Pacific for three decades. Harper opened Jonel’s Christchurch operation in 2012 with a mission to provide South Island customers with the same quality of service experienced elsewhere. In this role he quickly attained renown as the consummate sales professional looking to provide the best service and advice to customers. In little over four years he succeeded in turning the company into a well-recognised name in the industrial sector, with customers from Invercargill to Picton and everywhere in between. His focus on health and safety has also been instrumental in leading his team to uncompromising excellence. “A lot of our North Island customers understand our service proposition and have been very happy to use us in the South Island as well,” says Harper. Harper started his career at AW Harper and did his time as a fitter and turner servicing water pumps and other equipment. He then spent seven years with Goughs TWL as its South Island engineering and welding specialist. WHO'S WHO
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