Manufacturing | Twin Lakes Engineering
Two-pronged approach builds diverse portfolio
The Twin Lakes Engineering story is a classic case of home grown tinkering turned into a successful business. The company was formed in 1987 by Steve Hockly, who began working in his garage with a pair of tin snips and a sheet of steel.
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From there it grew quickly and was later split into two companies — Twin Lakes Sheetmetals and Twin Lakes Engineering. The sheetmetal business primarily manufactures ducting, while the engineering business focuses on structural, architectural and stainless steel work.
Significant contracts
Growth and success
Working with construction giants such as Mainzeal, Fletchers, Holmes, Mckee Fehl and Naylor Love has seen Twin Lakes build a healthy portfolio of jobs, including work on the Beehive and the American Emabassy.
Twin Lakes Engineering and its sister sheetmetal company undertake work throughout the greater Wellington region and up to Palmerston North.
The two companies today employ 20 staff from premises in Blenheim Street, Upper Hutt. “Twin Lakes Engineering specialises in lightmedium metal fabrication,” says Steve’s son David Hockly. “We also specialise in stainless steel work, specialty aluminium detailings and lift frontages. We do a lot of architectural work such as handrails and balustrades, and recently we’ve been doing a lot of seismic reinforcing.”
A recent contract, the Telecom project, has involved more than a year’s commitment, subcontracting to Hawkins Construction.
The company structural steel work, with a recent focus on additional cross braces and beams for earthquake strengthening. It also manufactures high-quality stainless steel furniture components, such as chair arms, for companies like Kadima Furniture in Wellington. Twin Lakes Engineering is highly focused on safety and quality, without compromising on price or workmanship. It has an oustanding safety record. The company has recently purchased a new plasma cutter, which has the ability to cut up to 30mm-thick steel. “It’s faster and more accurate and being able to cut thicker steel allows us to do more work inhouse. We don’t have to outsource as much cutting,” Hockly says. “We’ve got a good production line and have most everything we need. We do the majority of work inhouse, but our strength is the strong working relationships from using other companies where (it is) cost effective.”
The new “green” building to house Telecom is being billed as the most significant of its kind ever built in for central Wellington. It is a fivegreen-star-rated building, utilising the latest in environmental design, including energyefficient lighting, solar panels and possibly wind turbines. Telecom is the anchor tenant for the building, which will involve 12 levels of office buildings and retail outlets spreading from Willis St to Boulcott St. About 1700 Telecom staff, now spread over six leased properties around central Wellington, will be housed in the development, which has been leased for 12 years from mid-2011. Twin Lakes Engineering has been manufacturing the handrails and balustrades, as well as a lot of the seismic bridge work.
“We have a large contract coming up for the Air Force in Ohakea, which will involve comprehensive duct and sheetmetal work. “We aim to improve on what we have and expand and grow into more diverse metal work, such as seismic bracing, structural steel work and building products. There is even potential to expand Freefall Xtreme, with proposed Agroventures sites out of New Zealand.” Twin Lakes has grown from humble beginnings and does not plan to stop there. With plenty of room for growth, the second generation is coming through with the goal to grow and diversify the operation. “The future for Twin Lakes is encouraging. Through technology and the established decades of experience; we plan to grow,” Hockly says. He attributes the success of Twin Lakes Engineering to his father’s strong work ethic.
“The company has succeeded because of Steve “It’s a prestigious job,” Hockly says. “We’ve Hockly’s hard work. He has a problem-solving, been working on this site since December 2010 Kiwi attitude and the ability to get things done. and will continue till the project is complete.” Not to mention a good supportive wife.” Projects like Freefall Xtreme in Rotorua have seen Twin Lakes Engineering go above and Twin Lakes Engineering Limited beyond normal engineering operations. 21 Blenheim Street Upper Hutt Freefall Xtreme is New Zealands only vertical Wellington 5018 wind tunnel. “The structure was developed T (04) 528 8227 by Steve Hockly and is still believed to be the F (04) 528 8131 quietest outdoor wind tunnel in the world,” E office@tle.co.nz — Advertising Feature David Hockly says.
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