A Dunedin engineering company has landed a contract worth more than $1 million supplying 260 signs for the rebranding of more than 200 Shell petrol stations and buildings around the country, featuring the recently launched Z Energy logo.
Allan's Sheet Metal and Engineering Services, in Otaki St, beat stiff competition nationwide to win the tender to supply three types of the signs, out of a total 15 components put out to tender, the balance of which went to North Island firms.
Allan's, which initially had to work seven days a week to get the contract under way, has 24 weeks to complete the work, and is delivering about 12 signs a week, which vary from large structural steel frames topped by the logo to "lollipop" stands.
Allan's manager Tony Oaten estimated 80 tonnes of aluminium in 2mm and 3mm sheets, plus steel framing and galvanised frames, would go into the work.
Mr Oaten said about 10 staff - rising to 15 at peak times - were working on the Z project at any given time. The extra work had prompted the hiring of a further six staff, bringing the number of staff to 26 full-time equivalents.
"It is hard to get big projects like this. We're pleased that this one came south," Mr Oaten said.
The contract was well in hand, with staff settling in to 10 to 12-hour week days and a half-day on Saturday but able to look forward to a fortnight's break over Christmas.
Many of the completed units weigh up to 3 tonnes and comprise eight separate panels - at 12 finished signs per week the company's automated laser cutter was working hard to deliver the necessary 96 panels. Dunedin firm Procote Industries, in McNab St, Kenmure finishes the Z signs in a powder-coating of indigo-blue and white.
While Allan's had all the equipment on hand for manufacturing the signs, a technical hitch was overcoming some metal distortion problems after the galvanising process.
Allan's was generally involved in architectural stainless steel work and light engineering, but lately had got more work from the construction sector, securing contracts on the new Countdown supermarket in South Dunedin and the Otago Settlers Museum redevelopment, Mr Oaten said.
Greenstone Energy, a partnership between the New Zealand Superannuation Fund and listed infrastructure company Infratil, acquired the downstream business of Shell New Zealand in April last year.
Greenstone has committed $60 million to launching the new brand, with the signs destined for 210 retail service stations, 90 commercial truck stops, offices and other operations. The overall rebranding includes 14km of new canopy and 36,000cu m of old signage being recycled.
• During the past year Z Energy increased its market share from 24% to 32%, selling about two billion litres of crude oil and 500 million litres of refined products.
