Page 5 - OPE March 2020

Steelfort shifts production to China
IT’S WITH A sympathetic outlook
that we report that, after almost 75 years’ manufacturing and having battled the inevitable for some time, Steelfort has confirmed that it will stop making LawnMaster lawnmowers in Palmerston North and instead source production from China from July.
John McOviney, Steelfort MD and
son of company founder Frank, admits candidly: “Moving LawnMaster production to China is a decision that we as a company probably should have been made 5+ years ago.
“Whilst we have tried to make efficiencies over the last few years such as streamlining production systems, working a 4-day week etc, we have found it increasingly more difficult to reign in the costs.
“Under this administration with minimum rates of pay, business compliance requirements, further health and safety legislation, we don’t see costs
Avondale Mowers and Chainsaws
Marion and Jon Nickel
09 828 9438 avondale_mowers@xtra.co.nz 2 St Georges Road Avondale
Chainsaw & Mower Services 2015 Ltd.
Lisa and Gavin Hill
06 868 44 55 office@candm.nz
345 Palmerston Street Gisborne
Cyclone Outdoor Power Equipment
Anthony Duncraft
03 332 9588 link2cyclone@xtra.co.nz 47 Hawdon Street, Sydenham
Grasslands Outdoor Power Equipment Ranui Russell Young
09 833 9479 ranui@grasslands.co.nz 570 Swanson Road Ranui Auckland
Point of Sale
CLIPPINGS
Local and International News
LEAF BLOWERS ARE “BAD FOR NATURE”
OUTDOOR POWER IS “bad for
nature”, according to Germany’s Ministry for the Environment (MfE), which has specifically warned against the use of leaf blowers amid growing concerns for insects and the environment.
Germany’s MfE has said that leaf blowers are too loud, pollute the air and that their use can be fatal to insects.
Leaf blowers can be “fatal to insects in thefoliage”,theministryisreportedtohave said.
“There is a risk that small animals are absorbed or blown and thereby damaged,” As a result, leaf blowers should not be
usedunlesstheyare“indispensable”,said the ministry, adding however that it was not planning to ban their use.
It is unclear whether the MfE was referring to petrol- and battery-powered blowers.
I-Mech Mowers and Chainsaws
Kim Vuletich
09 372 4096 imech.machinery@xtra.co.nz 25 Tahi Road Ostend, Waiheke Island
Martyn’s Outdoor Power & Equipment Centre Pty Ltd Leeza Smith
03 355 9323 info@martyns.co.nz 151 Roydvale Ave Christchurch
Thompsons Lawnmowers & Chainsaws Robyn-Ann Rumney
07 348 4441 info@thompsonmowers.co.nz Cnr Old Taupo & Sunset Roads Rotorua
Whangarei Chainsaws and Mower Services Martin Luff
09 438 1143 office.chainsaw@xtra.co.nz 20 Porowini Ave Whangarei
Xero integration
coming down, and to be realistic, it probably won’t change under any future Government.
“LawnMaster products have been manufactured in New Zealand since
1946 and were the only remaining lawnmowers manufactured domestically, so this decision was not made lightly and I personally have wrestled with this for quite some time, however manufacturing
in New Zealand, apart from service type industries, has struggled for 25 years, so we are just indicative of the problem.”
Having worked hard to assist all affected personal to find employment either within the company or with other organisations, John McOviney says the consumer will see no difference in the LawnMaster range of mowers, except for their country of origin.
www.steelfort.co.nz
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MARCH 2020 NZ OUTDOOR POWER EQUIPMENT 05
Written, supported and Australian owned for over 25 years.