Tuesday, 29 July 2025 09:55

Bremworth launches $6M expansion of cyclone-damaged Napier plant

Written by  Staff Reporters
Bremworth chief executive Craig Woolford. Bremworth chief executive Craig Woolford.

Listed carpet manufacturer, Bremworth is undertaking a $6 million expansion at its Napier plant more than two years after the site was heavily damaged by Cyclone Gabrielle.

The company says the expansion marks a key stage in its return to full domestic production of its woollen yarns and a boost to local employment.

Bremworth chief executive Craig Woolford, says the investment is designed to ensure greater efficiency, product and quality control and significant lead time improvements, while avoiding excess capacity.

He says they plan to operate three shifts 24 hours a day, every weekday and will hire up to 40 new staff to accommodate expected demand.

"As a result of the cyclone, most of our Hawke's Bay facility was taken offline.

"To maintain carpet production, we introduced a hybrid yarn supply model which saw increased quantity of our yarns processed externally, including offshore. Rather than just reinstating everything, we've taken the opportunity to rebuild smarter - in the process, allowing us to ramp up yarn capacity as demand grows," says Woolford.

More like this

Cyclone Gabrielle lessons from Young Grower of the Year

If there was a silver lining in the tragedy that was Cyclone Gabrielle, for New Zealand Young Grower of the Year, Grace Fulford, it was the tremendous sense of community and seeing first-hand what good leadership looks like.

Featured

Peter Reynolds Awarded Horticulture NZ's Bledisloe Cup

Potatoes New Zealand has congratulated Peter Reynolds of TA Reynolds Ltd in Pukekohe on being awarded the Horticulture New Zealand Bledisloe Cup, recognising a lifetime of service and contribution to New Zealand horticulture.

Sharemilkers Credit DairyBase Tool for Staffing Decisions

Signing up to a benchmarking tool is not about competition, but about improving collectively, says Ximena Puig and Alvaro Luzardo who are 50-50 sharemilkers at a 164-hectare (effective) dairy farm in Eketāhuna in the Lower North Island.

National

Machinery & Products

 

 

» Latest Print Issues Online

The Hound

True Reflection?

A fair question has been raised about how member-funded organisations should conduct themselves when taking a public position on any…

Civil Circus!

OPINION: It really is getting harder to lampoon government bureaucrats when they do such a good job of it themselves.…

» Connect with Rural News

» eNewsletter

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter