The Minister of Defence awards of excellence to industry 2006
The Defence Industry Committee of New Zealand sponsors the Minister of Defence Awards of Excellence to Industry on an annual basis. Nominations were called from the New Zealand Defence Force and other organisations with an interest in defence procurement. Eleven nominations were received for the 2006 Awards.
The awards dinner was held in Wellington at Te Papa on Wednesday 18 October. Mr Chris Seed, Acting Secretary of Defence presented the awards on behalf of the Hon Phil Goff, Minister of Defence.
Category A: Award of Excellence to Industry – Contracts for the supply of equipment or provision of services in excess of $7 million
These awards are for major suppliers of equipment or services to the New Zealand Defence Force or Ministry of Defence and may include major subcontractors or service suppliers.
Category A Winner
Eurest New Zealand Limited, Auckland - for the supply of catering services to all RNZAF bases.
Eurest won an award for excellence in the provision of catering and hospitality services on all bases. The company has developed a reputation in the Royal New Zealand Air Force for an innovative approach to the supply of meals. In particular flexibility and adaptability to meet a variety of situations ranging from formal dinners, short notice provision of rations for search and rescue and sudden changes of ration requirements for deployed aircraft.
Read more about Eurest from their website (www.compass-group.co.nz/eurest_defense.html)
Michelle Skevington, RNZAF Operations Manager and John Weeds, (right) Chief Executive Officer of Eurest New Zealand Limited, receiving the Category A award from Chris Seed, Acting Secretary of Defence.
Category A Highly Commended Certificate
PAE (New Zealand Ltd), Linton - for facilities maintenance at Linton Camp.
PAE has proved itself to be innovative and proactive in support of Linton Camp. The service has been characterised by a willingness to do whatever is necessary to ensure that customers receive the service to which they are entitled, and where possible, a little more.
Read more about PAE from their website (www.pae.co.nz)Category B: Award of Excellence to Industry – Contracts for the supply of equipment or provision of services below $7 million
This category recognises subcontracting and supplier companies that provide excellent service in a variety of ways.
Category B Joint Winners
GHD Limited, Auckland and Nikau Contractors Ltd, Auckland – for the filling of fuel storage tunnels at HMNZ Naval Base.
For environmental reasons the Royal New Zealand Navy were required to fill in the unused fuel tunnels at the Devonport Naval Base. They sought tenders for a defined method, at the same time seeking innovative solutions to the problem. GHD, as project consultants, evaluated the suggestions and advised the Navy to accept the proposal put forward by Nikau. This turned out to be faster, cheaper, have much less impact on the environment and better met the safety and community concerns of the local council.
GHD are commended for having the courage to accept such an innovative approach, while Nikau are commended for both the concept and the execution, resulting in an exceptional team approach.
Read more about GHD from their website (www.ghd.co.nz)
Read more about Nikau from their website (www.nikau.org)
Barry Potter (left), NZ General Manager of GHD and John Stil, Director of Nikau Construction Ltd.
Category B Very Highly Commended Certificates
DaimlerChrysler New Zealand Ltd, Auckland – for the supply of vehicle spares and ongoing support to the Army vehicle fleet.
DaimlerChrysler has made considerable effort in the last few years to ensure the supply of spare parts and ongoing support to the Army. DaimlerChrysler has reduced delivery times and been innovative sourcing obsolescent parts. These efforts have resulted in considerable savings and improved fleet availability for the Army.
Read more about DaimlerChrysler from their website (www.daimler-chrysler.co.nz)
Air Affairs, Ltd, Auckland - for the supply of a variety of support services to the Royal New Zealand Navy.
Air Affairs has responded promptly to requests for support of Navy training requirements and has been particularly commended for its after sales support. Air Affairs has also been active in searching for equipment on the world market, which has overcome some Navy training problems, and improved the efficiency and effectiveness of the Navy’s processes.
Read more about Air Affairs from their website (www.airaffairs.co.nz)
Spantech PTY Ltd, Queensland, Australia – for the construction of Explosive Storehouses at Waiouru.
Spantech was contracted by the Army to build storehouses for storage of munitions at Waiouru Army Camp. Spantech worked exceptionally well with the Army and a large group of subcontractors who completed most of the site work under Spantech direction.
Read more about Spantech from their website (www.spantech.co.nz)
Category B Highly Commended Certificate
Microwave Systems Ltd, Wellington – for the supply of cabling for Army vehicles.
Microwave Systems has successfully migrated their services from the Army’s older conventional vehicles to the modern LAV’s and LOV’s. The award follows Army’s recognition that the equipment and services supplied have been of exceptional quality, service times are invariably very short and costs are very low.
Read more about Microwave Systems from their website (www.soundfield.co.nz)
Category C: Award of Excellence to Industry – New Zealand based Subcontractors to Overseas Prime Contractors
This category recognises New Zealand suppliers who have provided overseas prime contractors with a high level of service and provided the New Zealand Defence Force, through the prime, with exceptional outcomes to the contract.
Category C Winner
Donovan Group New Zealand, Whāngarei - for the introduction of new welding techniques for Project Protector Naval vessels.
Donovan Group introduced a process known as “friction stir welding” which has never been used in New Zealand or for shipbuilding. Donovan’s offered it to Tenix for use on the aluminium structures of the Project Protector vessels. The result is a very high quality weld of exceptional strength and minimum sheet distortion. The process and the ability to tailor material sizes has resulted in considerable savings for the Protector Project.
Read more about Donovan group from their website (www.donovangroup.co.nz)
Brett Donovan, General Manager of Donovan Group NZ Ltd receiving the Category C award from Chris Seed, Acting Secretary of Defence.
Category C Highly Commended Certificate
Tenix Shipbuilding New Zealand Ltd, Whāngarei – for the provision of a new welding process for use on Project Protector vessels.
Tenix has adopted the “surface tension transfer” method of welding for the Project Protector hulls, resulting in considerable reduction in cost and time, along with improvement in working conditions and health and safety for welders.
Read more about Tenix from their website (www.tenix.com)
