A septic tank and advanced treatment system manufacturer, will open its new administration offices in Izone
5 July 10
Moving to Izone two years ago has been good for Oasis Clearwater Environmental and its sister company Austin Pipes – they’re both expanding!
Later this month Oasis Clearwater, a septic tank and advanced treatment system manufacturer, will open its new administration offices in Izone. Austin Pipes is a concrete pipe manufacturer and the first company in the Southern Hemisphere to install the latest world-leading pipe manufacturing technology.
Managing director Lew Austin says they’re investing around $3 million into both businesses. “The investments will give us the edge over competitors,” he says. “If the political talk about increased investment in infrastructure comes off, then we will be in a position to take full advantage.
“We made the decision to move to Izone because we needed a lot of land for our operations. We now have a 2.5 hectare site in a well designed business park next to a large town which can fulfil our growing needs.”
Lew says one of the biggest surprises about moving to Izone was the local council. “By nature small businesses just want to get stuck in and get going and they (Selwyn District Council) were supportive of that – they are proactive!”
Both companies use local South Island raw materials and supply the wider New Zealand market. “We’re competitive in the North Island with competing companies in their own towns in the North Island.”
Lew believes Austin Pipes’ investment in new plant could provide the edge needed to enter the Australian market. Technicians from Germany are currently installing the plant and it will be fully operational by the end of September. “We’re the first company in the Southern Hemisphere to introduce the technology which is used in Europe and the US. There is the potential for us to export to Australia, however I’m certain others will follow suit.”