New Composite Blade Facility under construction

The neighbouring site of the current Headquarters in Hastings, Hawkes Bay will soon be home to our new composite blade facility.

The blades are an important component of the machine because their design minimises noise emissions and maximises fuel efficiency, whilst delivering excellent coverage. "The new blade factory is a significant investment in technology, manufacturing and people that will allow us to continue to grow“ said NZFF’s CEO Andrew Priest.

The Blade Development Facility Manager, Russell Dykes, is taking the lead on the expansion. With a background in Engineering & Operations, Russell says “introducing new robotic technology to the mix is an exciting advancement for blade production”. Sourced from Italy, sanding & trimming robots will be joining the facility. Their role is a crucial element in the continuous improvement of our composite blade production. Additional automation will be used to convey the blades through the production process.

Local Hawkes Bay company Atkin Construction commenced construction of the building in March this year. The new factory development also includes new staff facilities: car parks, courtyard, staffroom and changing rooms.

The walls are up, the roof is being assembled soon and the new blade factory will be due for completion around September 2023. Signalling an ongoing commitment to continuous improvement to create better fans and help protect more growers’ investments from frost long term, locally and around the world.