“With Bonfiglioli we truly get the best of both worlds: local stockholding, great customer service and the benefits of global expertise from a multinational,” says Cory. “The Bonfiglioli New Zealand team is small but agile – if we experience a breakdown, we often receive same-day service and someone from the team will arrive on-site to do what it takes to get the equipment back up and running or deliver a part.”
Cory also notes that the company prefers to work with suppliers who can provide insights that help aid the design process. “Over the course of our relationship with Bonfiglioli, Paul has recommended gearboxes and mounting arrangements that we had not previously been familiar with and offered technical advice based on global applications he had seen within the Bonfiglioli group.”
Bonfiglioli’s global presence – particularly in Australia – has also been helpful to Lakeland Steel as the company is currently going through a period of significant expansion. “As the borders begin to reopen, we are looking to take on more Australian projects and it has been comforting to know that we will be able to experience the same quality of products and level of customer service when working with Bonfiglioli Australia,” he says.
While the New Zealand timber industry is booming, Australia has taken a significant knock from the bushfires of 2019, with experts estimating that up to 100,000 hectares or 10% of the country’s softwood plantations were destroyed by the devastating fires.
Lakeland Steel’s long-term relationship with Bonfiglioli New Zealand makes them uniquely positioned to capitalise on this strategic opening.
“Not only do we have the capability to increase output while retaining quality standards because of the production advantages offered by using the 300M Planetary Series, but we have the peace of mind of dealing with a supplier across borders who are familiar with our requirements,” he concludes.
