Property & Construction | Harris Home Fires
Marking 125 years of Woodsman home heating Henry Harris, the Christchurch man who founded the Canterbury company in 1887. The Ferva now stands alongside the Woodsman range, as one of leading examples of the success of the company’s investment in research and development during its 125 year history. Harris Home Fires, based in Christchurch, is now recognised as the country’s leading New Zealand owned and operated manufacturer and designer of wood burning fires.
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Richard (left) and Evan Harris are one half of the family owned Harris Home Fires
It seems fitting that while Harris Home Fires, developers of the highly successful Woodsman range of fires, marks its 125th year in 2012, the Canterbury based fire manufacturer is using technology even older than itself to launch a new generation of wood burner, one which not only keeps you warm but recharges your cell phone.
Utilising thermoelectric technology, which was pioneered by Estonian physicist Thomas Johann Seebeck in 1821, and calling on its experience in developing the Woodsman range, Harris Home Fires has designed a free standing wood burner which creates enough power to run a two-speed fan without a mains supply or batteries. The Ferva Corsair comes with, in addition to the fan which is used to distribute heat more evenly, a USB portal which supplies enough electricity (5VDC @500mA) to power or charge most USB devices. The new generation of Harris “smart fires” was developed under the direction of Richard Harris the great-great grandson of William
That recognition can partially be attributed to the design and build of its own Woodsman range of wood burners in the 1980s, itself a testament to the company’s research and development programme and a trait seen very early on in the company’s 125 year history. When William Henry Harris opened his doors in 1887 his best selling items were tin baths, milking buckets and milk churns, along with foot warmers and cake tins. Today the company uses state of the art computer operated machinery to manufacture sheet metal components for companies throughout New Zealand. Since 1887 the business has changed dramatically. In the mid 1960s Harris Home Fires began manufacturing wood fires for others. The majority of the business these days is in the manufacturing of the Woodsman range of wood, multi-fuel and oil fires.
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108 | July/August 2012 www.canterburytoday.co.nz
Managing director Evan Harris says their range of more than 40 wood, multi-fuel and oil fires includes insert, zero clearance and freestanding models in both traditional and contemporary styles, and offers a heating solution to suit any home. “The aim of the company is to unite the newest combustion technology with modern design. Our fires offer high efficiency while meeting today’s strict emission standards.” It is meeting these stricter and changing emission standards, that has led the company to invest more in research and development. And not just with a wood fuel source. “It was through researching the development of a gas fire range that we came across the technology which has allowed us to design and build the Ferva wood burner,” Evan says. Richard Harris says they didn’t invent the technology which allowed them to build the Ferva but applied the technology in a way it never had before. He says the development of the Ferva fire is a reflection of the commitment of the family to the company. “Every generation gets the business and keeps adding to it, helping to keep the company relevant.”
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27 Dakota Crescent Wigram Park Christchurch City Phone: 03-343-3100 or 0800 26 25 24 Fax: 03-343-3989 Email: salessi@profilecutting.co.nz
As well as producing its own line of fires, Harris Home Fires is the exclusive national importer and distributor of a range of EFEL fires from Belgium.
Are pleased to be chosen to supply …
W.H. Harris Ltd Hot & Cold Rolled Flat Product • • •
We congratulate them on their milestone Thank them for their support And wish them another successful 125 Years
R.C. MACDONALD LTD 1B / 337 Harewood Road Bishopdale Christchurch 8053 Barry Bunting / Glenn Bunting Ph 03 360 3340