Aluminium firm hits milestone
An Invercargill businessman says the secret to continued growth is treating the right staff well.
Thwaites Aluminium Ltd has marked 30 years of operations after opening its doors in 1989, and many of the staff have been there for more than 10 years.
Managing director Alvin Thwaites said he had been lucky enough to pick up good staff. ‘‘I wouldn’t be where I am today without them.’’ It cost a lot to be training new staff all the time, he said.
Tom Irvine joined Thwaites in that first month of business, and said he was proud to see it grow over the decades. The key had been good management and staff respecting each other, he said.
The manufacturing industry seemed strong at the moment, but time would tell how much of an impact the Covid-19 pandemic would have, Irvine said.
Thwaites said business had changed dramatically through the years.
He recalled when the company got computers – a new machine and two days’ training cost $15,000. However, the use of computers had allowed quoting capacity to double.
The company works with aluminium joinery, fencing and doors. Thwaites said the options for one product, such as windows, had increased tenfold since 1989. ‘‘The mind boggles,’’ he said.
The business was busy at present, but Thwaites had his reservations about the coming months. ‘‘I’m concerned some businesses are just catching up with preCovid orders now.’’
He thought Southland would fare better than areas such as Queenstown that were more reliant on tourism.
Ultimately, Thwaites put the strength of any business down to people.
Of the team, Steve Crighton and Alison Harvey had been at Thwaites for more than 20 years; Debra Russell, Robert Byres and Warren Ford for at least 10.
‘‘I try to make it interesting and treat them well,’’ Thwaites said. ‘‘I have probably been a bit lucky as well.’’