Specialising in crafting worldclass fireplaces, including indoor and outdoor gas and wood products, Escea has firmly established itself as a market-leader in the fireplace industry. With distribution channels spanning New Zealand and exporting to Australia and North America, the company’s dedication to continuous improvement and customer focused innovation has led to their global success.
Founder and CEO Nigel Bamford’s vision of producing industry-leading fireplaces in Dunedin remains unchanged – with access to a skilled local workforce, Escea fosters in-house talent ranging from Product Designers and Engineers to Customer Support, Marketing Teams and world class manufacturing operators.
This in-house strategy allows Escea to work smarter and faster. Proximity between teams allows them to adapt quickly to feedback in the market, deliver product solutions faster, and easily bring new ideas to life – without the typical delays and challenges of working with offshore teams and manufacturing facilities.
“It’s this unrelenting focus on always doing our best and constantly improving that makes our team so good at what they do,” says Bamford. This dedication has certainly contributed to the longevity of the business and the longstanding reputation of the Escea brand.
And it’s not just fireplaces that this approach extends to – its charitable arm, the Fire for Life initiative, reaches out to touch the lives of those in need across the globe.
The Fire for Life Cooking Stove is a portable, lightweight, and safer alternative to traditional open fire cooking methods in the developing world. Escea designed the stoves to require less fuel, emit less smoke, and significantly reduce the risk of accidents. The project took its first steps towards making a difference in Syrian displacement camps, in partnership with ReliefAid, and in 2023, was recognised with three awards at the NZ Best Design Awards. To date, Fire for Life has helped over 5,000 families, and for Escea, this is only just the beginning.
From its roots in Dunedin to its impact on the global stage, this company’s journey is a powerful local story that demonstrates how businesses can leverage innovation and local talent not only to thrive commercially, but also to effect meaningful change in communities worldwide.
17 Carnforth Street, Green Island, Dunedin
