Auckland based KANDO Innovation headed by Keith Blenkinsopp is a New Zealand manufacturing inspiration in innovation and success with world leading design and technology leading to major export sales in the competitive international markets of America and Europe.
KANDO Innovation began with drive and an objective to make New Zealand and international markets safer, more efficient and confident, leading to a safer workplace through the development and implementation of the latest technology. Leveraging the latest in engineering, automation, machining, vision technologies and more, the idea was to maximise competitive advantage whilst meeting the challenges of safety, skilled labour shortages and minimising downtime and wastage in industry.
Advanced Okuma CNC machines and robotics today play an important part in this strategy with the first Okuma machine purchased in 2019 and now with an additional four machines following the Okuma Monozukuri philosophy in “The Art of Making Things Better’. KANDO’s Managing Director Keith Blenkinsopp commented “The investment in Okuma is always the first we look at due to design, unparalleled service, robustness, precision and user-friendly programming.”
KANDO Innovation is the home of the Guardian Bandsaw and the world’s first and only automated mussel opener each developed with engineers working closely with industry leaders on innovative ways to automate and improve repetitive manual and potentially dangerous processes. The Guardian Bandsaws are manufactured in a range of sizes to meet the market demand in the meat industry and supermarket butcheries and these machines incorporate world leading safety technology to keep workers safe.
Today the company employs more than eighty personnel plus ten in the USA and has an in-house design team of twenty covering such disciplines as software, mechanical, electrical and industrial design. KANDO has a positive approach to training with five apprentices under training in machining, fabrication and assembly operations.
The latest innovation from the KANDO design team is a meat membrane skinner which incorporates world leading safety vision technology that is designed for the meat industry and about to be released. This advanced machine will be welcomed by the industry due to its safety features and innovative technology.
With exports already a major part of its manufacturing output KANDO Innovation is poised for further major expansion and has geared up ready for the rapid uptake of its tested and proven Guardian Brand Bandsaws and the latest membrane skinner machine with advanced orders from the USA and new markets opening up in Europe.
“Once we build and install the systems and technologies for our clients, the same team that was first engaged with the customer to capture and incorporate the lessons for success, are involved in the installation, training and on-going service and support,” said Keith Blenkinsopp.
Newly appointed Okuma New Zealand Manager Karl Medley, said, ”This is a proud and innovative Okuma machining shop that will be a pleasure to work closely with in further developments following on from the amazing work of my predecessor.”
