INDUSTRY PEOPLE
vehicles. They were previously four to five times higher,
“The conversation usually starts ‘You probably won’t
now within a tolerable level.
have one of these…’ and I say: ‘I probably will’”, says
Vanessa, “because we’ve got the weird and
Colin explains that even earthmoving
the wonderful, we’ve got the jigs and patterns “The conversation usually machinery needs to be Euro compliant.
because the people who had the place before starts ‘You probably won’t “They’ve got to be using quite sophisticated
we bought it made all the jigs and patterns.” have one of these…’ and exhaust systems to reduce the emissions.”
That’s Vanessa all the way. She is the I say: ‘I probably will’ “, says As an example, machinery that is within
consummate salesperson. During this Vanessa, “because we’ve got an enclosed space needs to have safer
interview, Vanessa convinced me that mufflers the weird & the wonderful…” emissions because of the impact it would
were where it was at, and I considered
otherwise have on workers’ health.
the thought that maybe, somewhere, I’d missed out on
“Because our core business is the older machines,
something wonderful and exciting.
we are not immediately seeing dealing with the more
Mufflers, she says, are exciting. Considering how much
modern technology. Further down the track we may have
a part of every kind of automotive piece of equipment or
to adapt and be part of that.”
machinery they are, the scope for variety is vast.
The Farringtons are clearly driven, but not by profits
“What excites me is that I’m on the phone for sales and I
only. Their modus operandi is more grounded in satisfied
have that first point of call,” she says animatedly. “There’s
customers, good modern equipment, happy staff and
these guys in the field, they’ve got a machine
building a reputation as the best damn
that’s broken down. It’s one they use 24/7, “We aim to make it as muffler place in New Zealand (Vanessa would
they’re in a bind because it’s broken. It’s like painless as possible.”
say, The World).
we can solve their problem.
Musket Mufflers and the Manawatu Muffler
“I like providing a service, people really want you,” says
Centre may be in Palmerston North, but they are truly an
Vanessa. “And for most of our clients it’s a grudge purchase.
international company making a big mark on the muffler
They’re grateful they can get their machine running, but it’s
world.
not something they anticipated or really wanted to spend
money on. We aim to make it as painless as possible.
“Most people only ever need one muffler fabricated. We can
do that. But we now service overseas orders for hundreds
of motorbike amufflers. The motorbike side of things has
really taken off,” says Vanessa.
“We are pretty much the only ones in New Zealand and
globally for that matter that produce the range of motor
bike mufflers that we do, this gives us a real edge.”
“There’s a business here with a huge range of skills, for
example someone dropped in a box of rusty bits today and
where else would you be able to get this fixed? We are able
to just hand to one of our guys and they have to skills to
repair quite a complex unit. The work is very specialised.”
On the tour later on, we visit the jigs and patterns room.
There’s a jig and pattern for every scenario, all kept from
the previous owner. It means the “wheel” is not being
reinvented on a new job, just perfected.
There’s a fairly large investment in new equipment, too.
Walking through the workshop, there’s piles of bagged-
up mufflers for motorbikes waiting for shipment to the
UK. There’s plenty of old stuff awaiting refurbishment and
plenty of shiny new parts too.
Technology, as it advances at break-neck speed, is sure to
have an impact on things, but not right yet for them, Colin
explains.
“Technology will change the role of the business eventually.
A lot of the machines now are under the Euro Five Directive.”
A fully equipped workshop and experienced staff mean Musket
The Euro Five Directive aimed to have diesel vehicles
Mufflers puts out quality work.
within a better tolerance of emissions, in line with petrol
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CAM December 2018
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