REBUILDING a City’s Kitchens
Misco Joinery, a family business run by Glenn Colenso and Mike Chernishoff has been operating from its semi-rural location in Marshlands, just out of Christchurch, since 1988 and currently design, manufacture and install around 20 kitchens a week, mostly new kitchens for builder clients.
They have considered themselves pretty lucky through both the recession and the quakes. Work did slow says Glenn but we have some very loyal building company clients that kept the wheels turning and now we are so busy that we are referring work to other joiners.
The company runs a CNC nesting set up with a Biesse router and edgebander. While satisfying their current requirements they are in the process of upgrading to the latest generation Biesse to accommodate future expansion.
“We will keep our existing machinery,” says Glenn, “both for back up and parts but we are purchasing a new Biesse Skill 1836 and a Biesse Roxyl edgebander with a view to increasing our productivity and capacity. The edgebander will have a return system and we will be able to run both machines with just the one operator which will effectively save a man while also improving our through put speed.
“We use Cabinet Vision software from design to manufacture and have done so for a long time. Phil Smith (from Joinery It who supply Cabinet Vision) has been very good to deal with. We recently just added Cabinet Vision’s Label IT to our system for better tracking of parts and process, I talked to Phil, he hooked it all up, and it was sorted – it’s like having a good mechanic.
“We also use them if we need to add hardware to our library, for instance if Hafele bring out a new carousel or flap stay or whatever, we simply ring Joinery It, they get the specs off the Hafele people, include it in our library and it’s ready to go.
“The rebuild is only really starting to happen now and I think will maybe peak in 3-4 years and carry on for some time after that. We intend to capitalise on that by positioning ourselves to be part of it. Which means having the machinery, software, staff and systems in place.
“Staff is likely to be an ongoing issue as everybody gets busier, we are currently looking to take on 4 new staff and are likely to need more in the future. We look to employ local first and primarily need good staff with the right attitude to fi t in with our system and ethic. It’s not rocket science, the machinery and software largely do it all for you – you just need to ensure you have the right colour and right amount of panel.
“The quakes have bought about a significant shift in the mind set of many of our clients.
Previously anyone looking to renovate or install a new kitchen wanted to do it and had planned for it, in the last couple of years people are installing kitchens because they have to. They have often undergone significant stress sorting out insurances, dealing with the earthquake commission and organising their rebuild, by the time they arrive at our designers desk they have often had enough of the whole process which means we have to be little more proactive with our advice and patient in letting them discover what they want.
“It is certainly an exciting time and a busy time for all of us – it’s not often you get to rebuild a city – it has obviously generated a lot of stress but has also shown the resilience of the people of Christchurch.”
As it turned out we visited Misco Joinery about a year early as they are currently in the process of building a new factory in Kaiapoi which they expect to move into complete with upgraded machinery next year. The move was planned prior to the quakes but would seem extra well timed now given what would seem to be a busy time ahead for the city’s kitchen manufacturers. We spoke to Glenn Colenso of Misco Joinery about their set up, the last couple of years and the coming rebuild.
Misco Joinery
80 Mairehau Rd
Christchurch
Ph 03 383 4384
www.misco.co.nz