 |
In 2000 Howard Norris, currently the Research and Development manager, patented a unique labelling concept. In February 2001 the company Jetstick Ltd was established.
The company was focused on 4 fundamental goals:
- Commercialising the potential of unique “air-shot” labelling technology.
- Increasing competition in the produce labelling field.
- Providing producers with an option to reduce the cost of produce labelling through direct ownership of equipment as opposed to contractual leasing mechanisms.
- Providing producers with flexibility and leverage in label sourcing and label cost negotiation.
During the first two years of the company’s existence it was located in Queensland, Australia with its administrative base in New Zealand. For reasons relating to management control, the company was re-located in entirety to New Zealand late in 2003. It was deemed that a centralised manufacturing, administrative and developmental base was required.
After re-location to New Zealand the labelling equipment was manufactured under contract to a third party engineering company. This function has now been brought in-house with specific tasks out-sourced. Specifically, the move to be more independent in the manufacturing and assembly area was necessary in order to control costs and ensure components were manufactured in a precision manner. Labelling is a function that requires strict compliance to specification
|
|
A group of businessmen, mainly with kiwifruit post-harvest or orchard investments along with Howard Norris invested in the company and are today represented on the Board of Directors.
During the period 2001 to 2004 sales and service agents were appointed in Australia, France, USA, South Africa and Mexico.
The first three years of the company’s operation was primarily focused on technology development and product improvement. During this period, equipment design under- went significant improvement and is now equal to, and in some aspects, better than equipment supplied by competitors.
The Product
By 2005 three key products had been perfected to the stage of commercial production and distribution.
- The In-Line Labeller – This unit is suitable for most packhouse grading and sorting operations and is currently labelling apples, pears kiwifruit, citrus, avocados, melons, persimmon and mangoes internationally.
- The Banana Labeller – Is the only automated labeller designed specifically for the banana industry. The key benefit of this unit is its ability, through air-shot technology, to label irregularly sized ‘clusters’ of bananas.
- The RDL - Rapid Dispenser Labeller. This labeller is specifically designed for the punnet and the pre-packed processed food industry. The key advantage over any existing labelling equipment is that it is able to label products that vary in size and shape.
|
|
The People
- Chairman and Managing Director - Don Atkinson. Chairman ( 1983 - 2007 ) of EastPack Ltd, one of New Zealands largest kiwifruit post-harvest operations.
- Director - Tony Hawken. C.E.O. ( since 1983 ) of EastPack Ltd.
- Director - Mike Clark. Orchardist and Industrial Engineer.
- Howard Norris. Technology Developer and Electronic Engineer. Involved in the initation of fruit colour grading and air-shot fruit labelling.
- Marketing Manager - Rick Hannay. Previously GM of Southern Produce Ltd and European Operations Manager of New Zealand Kiwifruit Marketing Board.
- Technical Engineer - Rhys Davies. Technical background with NCB qualification and EAN experience.
- Marketing & Administration - Baidan Thomas.
|
|
