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Stabicraft Marine is the largest trailer boat manufacturer in New Zealand,
turning out more than 600 exceptionally-crafted boats a year from our
state-of-art factory in Invercargill. A business is only as good as its people
and that's why at Stabicraft we only have the best: |
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Tradesman, turned boat
builder, turned businessman. In 2007, Paul Adams was named a member of the NZ
Order of Merit for his services to business. The honour is a fitting tribute for
the man who 20 years ago pioneered positive buoyancy boats, transforming New
Zealand's marine industry.
In a classic rags to riches tale Adams gave up his
day-job, nervously signed up for a $1000 overdraft and set-out to make a whole
new kind of boat.
In a backstreet workshop, equipped with engineering nous and a
commitment to sound construction, Paul built the first rigid hulled aluminium
pontoon boat - a Stabicraft 3.5m dinghy.
While it's quite obvious Stabicraft
boats have evolved greatly since, Paul's commitment then, as it is today, is
first and foremost to safety and stability.
"We pride ourselves on making a boat
that enables our clients to embark on adventures with the confidence that, even
in the worst conditions, they will get home," Paul says.
It's been many years
now since Adams' handled the business end of a welder, but he's no stranger to
the factory floor either as he casts an expert eye over the manufacturing
process.
Stabicraft adopted and worked to US Coast Guard approved safety
standards almost from the outset - quite simply because for many years there was
no New Zealand equivalent standard. |
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Our sales manager Sean McColl
knows Stabicraft Marine inside and out having signed on as boy Friday in 1994.
The then 20-something had been working for Honda Cars in Invercargill as a car
groomer when a friend suggested there was a job going.
"I didn't even know what
Stabicraft was when I was driving down Bluff Road for the interview. I didn't
know what I was looking for. I ended up walking into the old smoko room."
A
fanatical fan of most sports and a keen player of soccer, Sean hadn't had too
much to do with boats.
"When I started I was basically the only person in the
office apart from Paul Adams, the company founder.
As the company grew my role
has changed."
Today he's charged with filling the shelves of the company's first
showroom with quality marine products for the Southland market, as well as
helping introduce Stabicraft boats to yet another new market - the USA.
His
wife Kim, daughter Rachel and son Sam have two dogs, two cats, two goldfish and
share a genuine love of the outdoors. His 1994 choice to leave an
internationally branded company to build another has certainly paid off.
Together Sean McColl and Stabicraft Marine have come a long way but one thing
hasn't changed. Although he now he has a day skipper ticket Sean still doesn't
own a boat - and with access to a showroom full of latest models who could
restrict themselves to just one? |
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Maurice O'Rorke could possibly
be the perfect employee - he's never taken a sick day, he arrives early each
morning, turns up on Saturdays, and he's as loyal as he is hard-working.
But don't try telling him that - our project manager doesn't like that sort of
fluffy nonsense.
A plumber by trade, Maurice initially ran his own business before honing his
management skills in supervisory roles. He was snapped up by Stabicraft in 2002.
His ability to get the job done meant he was the right man for the helm of our
Marine Park development - an 8 acre purpose-built facility at our Bluff Road
site. Stage one, featuring an extended factory and new service centre, was
completed in 2008.
"I enjoy doing project work - seeing all the pieces come together to achieve an
overall result," Maurice said.
Stabicraft was an innovative company to work for, with managing director Paul
Adams a key component to success.
"Paul's drive really sets Stabicraft apart from the opposition."
Away from the office, racehorses and vintage trucks feature.
Maurice has enjoyed "a reasonable bit of luck" breeding racehorses. Now his
focus is restoring a 1934 Dodge Pickup - and, like everything else, you can
guarantee it will be a job well done. |
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Marine manufacture has taken production manager Clint Aitken halfway around the
world, then back again.
A panel beater by trade, the proud-Taranaki boy, moved to the USA in 1995 to run
the Cobra Kayaks factory in Los Angeles where a staff of 40+ turned out a range
of roto-moulded kayaks.
Seven years later he returned to New Zealand to set up a franchise in
Christchurch; which he sold in 2007 to Aquatxs Watersports, with a condition he
stay on for three years.
Aquatyx added RHIB inflatables to the line-up and moved the business to
Auckland, so it wasn't difficult for Clint's Southland-born wife Melissa to talk
him into moving South once the handover period was up.
Clint is a keen multi-sporter veteran of the Coast to Coast team event, who
plans to compete as an individual in 2011.
While initially a lifestyle move for the Aitkens and their daughters, Catalina
9, Jorja 7 and Sequoia 5, it promises to be professionally rewarding too.
"I think Stabicraft is a very well-run company, I believe in the QCDSM procedure we
are implementing - and I have been made to feel very welcome."
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The combination of theoretical
and practical skills makes Jamie Wilson a natural design manager.
After graduating from Victoria University with a degree in industrial design,
Jamie worked in design for two years before returning to studies to earn a
diploma in mechanical engineering - in the process becoming a rare beast who is
able to negotiate the eternal conflict between 'form and function'.
"I can communicate with people at both ends of the spectrum."
The decision to retrain was motivated because few New Zealand businesses at that
time could afford to employ a full-time designer.
His industry experience includes nine years at Infact Ltd, a high technology
product design consultancy in Christchurch, and a year with Hamilton Jet. His
last two years consultancy work has been market research based, and involved
implementing value chain persona and voice of the customer programmes for marine
industry clients.
Such programmes have become a crucial part of business design, Jamie says, as
it's by studying customers, and how they use products, that designers can begin
to respond to the needs of people who don't yet know what it is they need.
The challenge of leading Stabicraft's design management was all the lure needed
to entice the Cantabrian and his family to Invercargill.
"It is the potential for me to be able to a have an impact and help grow a
design-led, customer-centric business. I have not come here for a job - that is
not what I am about - it is about being able to have an impact and provide an
environment for excellence and innovation for the whole Stabi team.
"We have a great product, I'm hoping to create sophisticated simplicity in the
systems behind the product to ensure they continue to kindle excitement in the
industry, and offer real value for our customers."
Jamie's wife Kim and their son Max joined him on a Southern adventure where
they're relishing access to the outdoor opportunities Southland has to offer,
from tramping, fishing (fly, surf & boat) and golf to mountain biking. |
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You can take a man out of the
South, but you can't take the South out of the man!
Born and bred in Winton, Southland (New Zealand), Sales Support Manager Simon
Swale is a southern man as passionate about Stabicraft and what our brand
stands for, as he is about life, family and friends, fishing, rugby and
recreation.
Having spent considerable time running the family farm, working a six year stint
for international timber exporters CraigPine and with the almost-compulsory OE
under the belt, Simon joined the Stabicraft Marine team in December 2005.
"I was on the lookout for a sales position down south. When I got the chance of
working for a company like Stabicraft, with boats and in sales - well I jumped
at it".
"It had my name on it, I reckon", Simon said.
When Simon and his wife Gillian, with three children between them, made the move
back to Invercargill, it was no real hardship. Family ties and friends,
grass-roots rugby, the great outdoors lifestyle, fishing on-hand and a job you
love to boot - what more could a southern man ask for?
With an innate enthusiasm for anything to do with people, boats and fishing,
coupled with more than just a little technical know-how, Simon is perfectly
suited to his role at Stabicraft Marine. He runs the busy showroom and is
the key liaison between boat owners and our factory production team. |
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Adam Marshall brings a strong
retail background to our team, combined with a thirst for knowledge.
He joined us as a 19-year-old from Warehouse Stationary in Invercargill where he
progressed from an afterschool role as a 15-year-old to a full-time specialist
salesman in the store's print centre.
Adam's role is to help ensure our dealers and retail customers get the best
service, after the resurgence of demand in the marine industry in late 2010
threatened to swamp our sales team.
One of Adam's first projects is revitalization of our retail store, creating a
customer experience that showcases our history and build quality - including
introduction of factory tours so Stabi fans on holiday can visit the home of
Stabicraft.
Adam is a keen waterskier and snowboarder, who is looking forward to learning
about boats - particularly ours. |
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