www.engineeringnews.co.nz 31 A WALK THROUGH HISTORY... South Fence Machinery Ltd is a privately owned New Zealand company whose history dates back to the 1930s. Originally known as NZ Fence & Gate Works, the company operated from a small factory at Petone, in the Wellington industrial area, manufacturing wire products for local distribution. Over the years the company – then known as Hurricane Wire Products Ltd – grew rapidly to become recognised in New Zealand as an industry leader in the manufacture of wire based commodities. During the same period the engineering division was established and the design and manufacture of hinge joint field fence machines began in 1977. The machines soon gained international recognition. In 1986, the wire products division of Hurricane Wire Products Ltd was sold and the engineering division became South Fence Machinery Ltd. This enabled the company to concentrate all its resources on the design and manufacture of machinery for the international wire industry. also highlighting the ability of multi axis machines reducing multiple machining operations. With the right machines for the job, South Fence’s 25 staff design and build its wire fence machines for A to Z, using in-house technology and the latest manufacturing techniques to meet its own high quality standards. The MU6300V-L is an impressive unit with both co-directors singing the praises of a machine that also “sings” sweetly as it works. “Accuracy, capacity, versatility.... there’s not really much more you could ask for in a 5-axis machine,” says Mr Neill. The MU6300V-L’s highly rigid trunnion table supports high accuracy 5-axis machining, while the machine’s efficiency and capacity is driven through intelligent technologies that allow excellent 3-axis machining and 5-axis machining with the additional ability of face, end and intricate CNC turning capabilities. Operator access and visibility has been paramount in design and with a large machining range, tools can be changed with the trunnion still in swing position. It’s these types of features that attracted South Fence to purchase another Okuma; the second new machine in the space of a year. “We have an Okuma that is a good 20 years old,” says Mr Neill of the MX55VB. “It still works well but with more business we needed more flexibility so about 12 months ago we bought an Okuma M560V-R machining centre.” The older machine gives as good as it gets, but the pair agree that the new unit has brought significant improvements in speed, functionality and performance. The follow on post sale, as mentioned, is vital for the well-oiled business to keep the cogs of progress in motion. With Okuma still able to supply many parts for its older machines, Mr Neill and Mr Byers know that even their machinery purchases of up to 28 years ago have plenty of life left in them yet. All machinery is fully supported with the very latest cad-cam technology ensuring the very best of Kiwi machinery can be seen on the world and local stage. Above: A selection of the company’s offering of wire fence machinery that is exported to the world.
EN-Jul16
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