MINUTES OF NELSON/MARLBOROUGH BRANCH TRAINING AND NETWORKING EVENT
Time & Date: 2:30pm, 19 June 2024
Location: Envision Factory, 30 Waters Avenue, Blenheim.
Welcome:
Members were welcomed to the Envision Aluminium joinery factory on arrival.
Attendance:
Nisha Shaji, Dave Mehlhopt, Matt Campbell, Gavin Harding, Anant Gohil, Gemma Riley, Sonya Shah, Hamish Smith, Phil Eves, Paul Guile
Apologies:
Nick Hill, BOINZ, Hamish Harper, Chris de Wet, Sam Archer, Alysha Hutchison, Julian Morriss, Jeff Atkinson, Dhyanom Gala.
Guests:
None present.
Previous Minutes:
Minutes of the previous meeting held 17 April 2024 at Founders Park in Nelson were sent to BOINZ for loading on the website and will be available in due course.
Matters Arising:
Nothing raised.
Correspondence In/Out:
Nothing raised.
General Business:
Nothing raised.
Board Representative Update:
None in attendance.
Building Code Issues:
Nothing raised.
Site Visit:
In lieu of a guest presentation, members were given a guided tour of the new Envision Aluminium joinery factory in Waters Avenue which opened in April 2023.
The building is not very large, at approximately 1150m2, but by starting with a clean sheet, they have been able to lay it out for maximum efficiency.
The joinery is designed from parameters taken off the architectural drawings and input into the design software. The software designs the frames and glass for the appropriate location in the building and selects the appropriate extrusions and glass for each window to comply with the building code requirements and NZS4223. The system sends a clear warning if the parameters are outside the regulations or standards, and the design can be tweaked to ensure it complies.
The aluminium extrusions are sourced from APL, the largest supplier in Australasia, based in Hamilton. The materials required for the week’s work are delivered and stored in racks on Sundays to minimize disruptions.
Extrusions are then taken to a computer controlled double saw which very accurately cuts them to length and labels them. The cut components for the job are stored in individual mobile racks and wheeled around the factory to the next workstation, which is generally the punching machine where screw holes and various other holes are punched in the extrusions.
Next is the CNC machine which cuts the holes for locks and latches. This is fully enclosed and cuts to an accuracy of 0.01mm! The bits are cooled with special oil which is collected after use and recycled after filtering out the metal particles. Aluminium swarf is also collected for recycling.
The following stages include various assembly tables where the frames are put together, fitted with reveals, then glass and fixing beads, then hinges, catches and locks.
At all stations, progress is recorded so the status of a job can instantly be checked on the computer system to ensure that delivery times are being met.
The factory mainly supplies builders in Marlborough, but also has an increasing presence is Nelson and further afield.
Next Branch Training and Networking Event: scheduled for 21 August 2024 at TBC.
Special thank you to:
The Envision Aluminium team for allowing us access to the factory and providing a great tour.
The site visit concluded at 4.45pm.
Paul Guile
Nelson/Marlborough Branch Secretary
