Rotorua, New Zealand based company Hayes International was founded by Tom Hayes in 1960 and this private company became part of the Bradbury Group of Kansas, USA in 1999.

Today the New Zealand Company is internationally known as a market leader for quality and performance with in excess of 1,820 Hayes machines exported to more than 90 countries worldwide.

Hayes originally started producing corrugated sheet machines for roofing and cladding, however products produced by this amazing 64-year-old New Zealand manufacturer today include Panel Mills, Purlin Mills, Stud Mills Roll-Forming Accessories, Purlin Mill Accessories, Auto-Curvers, Folding Machines, Coil Handlers and more recently Finished Product Handling Equipment including automated Purlin Stacking Equipment.

“In purchasing a Hayes machine our clients get the best in the industry in terms of reliability and performance which also provides them with a competitive advantage with whole of life cost, reduced machine down time and waste minimization,” commented Managing Director, Nick Looijen. “90% of our business is repeat customers or direct referrals from existing customers with our principal markets being Australia, UK, USA and New Zealand” he said.

Okuma has been an integral part of this advanced manufacturing business with the first Okuma CNC Machining Centre purchased in the early 1970’s. Since that time a further ten precision CNC Machining Centres and Lathes have been added to the Hayes  machine shop including the latest Okuma Double Column CNC Machining Centre Model MCR-A5C 25 x 65 resulting in the highest precision component output and significant production benefits. The Okuma Double Column machine producing 5.6 metre purlin chassis sections has reduced production time of 5 days to one shift with complete accuracy.

“The Okuma machines provide us with complete accuracy of the highest quality standard with significant time savings making us internationally competitive,” said Nick Looijen. “We have experienced staff and the Okuma machines are easily programmed yet we take full advantage of Okuma’s specialised training especially with new machines to ensure that we take full advantage of each machine’s capabilities,” he said.

Engineers and apprentices under training are excited with the new machines enabling them to achieve new skills and expand their personal development.

With the advantage of an in-house design team using the most advanced software in industrial design, electrical, hydraulics and engineering disciplines the company can change designs, expand product development etc. with time savings and accuracy to provide precisely what the customer requires and expects. With more automation the lead times are being drastically reduced in the manufacture of major plants and equipment with rapid replacement parts for worn components on roll-forming lines  shipped directly to customers wherever they are in the world.

Hayes International also assists customers on upgrading their roll-forming machinery to improve efficiency, add features or update specifications. This has many advantages  over purchasing a new machine according to the company, including lower up-front costs, shorter manufacturing lead time and reduced down time etc. providing customers with greater flexibility and options.

Upgrade options can be many and varied such as additional guards for a machine to meet local regulations when changing locations, additional punch heads for Hayes purlin mills forming stations for sloping eaves or sigma purlins, coil handling or upgrading the control system for efficiency, improved control or vision. Coil handling can be added or adapted to existing equipment and machine lines.

Today the company employs more than 90 personnel with a strong commitment to apprenticeships with six under training at any time. It has a commendable record of staff retention with more than 20% with 20 or more years of service and one long serving member of 43 years and offers many incentives particularly on safety and workplace training.

Export sales for Hayes International now represent approximately 95 % with the remaining 5% to New Zealand customers.

“It is exciting for Okuma to be working together in partnership with Hayes International as the company continues to expand and develop new precision products for world markets and we look forward to the future in tandem,” said Okuma New Zealand Manager, Karl Medley.