About Us
Find out more about Wood Solutions
We are a member of the Master Joiners Association and our Manager Andrew Bellamy was past President of the Master Joiners Federation and still plays an active role in the running of the Master Joiners Association.
OUR PHILOSOPHY
OUR HISTORY
Woodworks Southern Ltd (trading as Wood Solutions), has a long and proud history with roots back to the early 1900’s.
The Wood Solutions name was formed following the purchase of the company in 2001, prior to that the Company was a division of Naylor Love Construction and the factory had occupied the site at Sturdee Street since 1910. During this long history the company has secured its reputation both in the commercial and residential sectors and is known for both its high quality and service.
Wood Solutions, due to its long history in the industry has all the necessary systems, machinery and a stable workforce in place to undertake any type of timber joinery work. These factors have allowed us to work on many challenging projects in Otago, throughout New Zealand and on occasions internationally. For over 20 years Wood Solutions has had staff based in Queenstown, installing and consulting with clients. This cements the company’s commitment to the region making us one of the longest established joinery company’s in the Central Otago Region. Wood Solutions now supplies over 70% of its production into the Central Otago area.
OUR NEW ECO-FRIENDLY FACTORY
In January 2018 Wood Solutions moved into a purpose set-up factory with over 3000m2 space to increase its efficiency and production capacity. The new factory is a work environment which is clean and bright with a mix of energy efficient and good natural lighting. The new, large extraction systems allows separation of shavings from the dust. This process allows Wood Solutions to supply to local farms for animal bedding and the like. The system also includes a smart system that sensors machines in use and adjusts power consumption to suit. These features coupled with the re-circulation heat recovery system pushes clean air back into the factory and reducing heating costs. These systems help lower the environmental impact and make Wood Solutions one of the most state of the art factories in the South Island.
An in-built dust extraction is fitted to all workbenches. This high-powered system allows floors to be vacuumed rather than traditionally swept. Acoustic, sound absorbing panels are fitted throughout the factory making for a cleaner, quieter and overall pleasant work environment, meaning the Production Team can focus more on creating exceptional joinery.
A specialist side load (German-made Hubtex) forklift allows maximum efficiency with all martials available at all times, increasing productivity and decreasing the required storage space for stock materials.
Wood Solutions has a wide range of stock including sheet material, hardware and over 100 packets of timber thus making Wood Solutions the largest stockists of specialty timber in the lower South Island. This ability allows additional efficiency with a competitive advantage through stronger buying power.
Machinery at Wood Solutions include: two CNC routers, an automated edge bander, a wide twin-belt drum sander, a 4 sider and all other numerous joinery machinery. This range of machinery allows for all aspects of joinery to be manufactured with a high level of precision and quality.
MANAGEMENT & ADMINISTRATION
The Management and Administration team consists of the General Manager, Office Manager, Office Assistant/Kitchen Designer, two Project Managers and two Production Supervisors. A close working, highly experienced team working with a specialty, comprehensive business package coupled with CAD based Microvellum design and production software. This allows for precise accurate information for clients and production staff. We have over 150 years of combined experience in the industry.
TRAINING & INDUSTRY
Training is an important focus for Wood Solutions with strong relationships with secondary schools offering Gateway opportunities to school students, allowing them to get an idea of the company and what the trade involves. The company has close contact with the Southern Institute of Technology (SIT) assessing high achieving Pre-Trade students. These relationships combined with other recruitment processes provide us the ability to hand select motivated, enthusiastic and talented people. Woods Solutions constantly has between 2 and 4 apprentices in training. This philosophy and the work environment ensure that Wood Solutions has a stable and skilled workforce for the future ahead.
BUILDING CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY TRAINING ORGANISATION
Wood Solutions is involved with the Building Construction Industry Training Organisation (BCITO) at a local and National level with our General Manager chairing the National Advisory Group (NAG) for the industry. We are an active trainer committed to the industry ensuring high quality, skilled trades staff. Wood Solutions has a school scholarship scheme to promote technology-based subjects which is awarded to a high achiever within Years 12 and 13 each year.
MASTER JOINERS
Wood Solutions is a member of the Master Joiners MJ (New Zealand’s largest industry body) and plays an active part within the industry. This involvement includes regular industry meetings and annual conferences. Our General Manager is a past National President and still serves on the MJ National Executive, visiting factories and suppliers throughout the country.
These commitments from the company assist the industry and allow Wood Solutions to be at the front of the information chain and latest developments along with building strong relationships and connections with suppliers and other joinery manufacturers throughout the country.
JOINERY MANUFACTURERS FEDERATION COMPLIANT TIMBER JOINERY
Wood Solutions is a certified manufacturer and member of JMF NZ Ltd. We produce high quality exterior timber doors and windows to meet the NZ standard NZS:4211 with E2 compliance. This ensures high thermal performance, long lasting, eco-friendly exterior timber joinery.
These commitments from the company assist the industry and allow Wood Solutions to be at the forefront of the latest industry developments along with building strong relationships and connections with suppliers and other joinery manufacturers throughout the country.
PRODUCTION TEAM
The Production team of 19 in Dunedin consists of both male and female qualified joiners, apprentices and skilled labourers. Staff include specialist leaders in different areas of the joinery and timber machining process, coupled with a range of flexible skilled trade staff and labourers that can be shifted to assist as production requirements change.
In Queenstown we have two full time qualified joiners with combined 35 years experience in joinery manufacture and installation. Both staff have fully equipped vans and provide top, quality service. Wood Solutions has a satellite branch in Queenstown to assist the team with storage of stock and products along with some machinery and specialist equipment.
Wood Solutions is proud to have a loyal and dedicated team with a history of long service. Almost half the staff have worked within the company for more than 10 years.
LOGISTICS
Wood Solutions handles 90% of joinery delivery internally to allow control, increase service and reduce risk of damage. Wood Solutions have two trucks with a 30m3 purpose set-up furniture truck for joinery deliveries. Drivers have worked in the trade giving additional experience to how products are manufactured and transported thus reducing product damage.
SUBCONTRACTORS
Our subcontractors (e.g. furniture finishers, top fabricators, metalwork manufacturers) are all well-established, reputable companies with whom we have dealt with for many years. They are experts in their crafts who know the standards that we work to. With the same focus, the work they do integrates perfectly into our joinery further enhancing the overall product.