INDUSTRY PEOPLE
the University of Waikato, on a top-secret project where
FPD have been tasked with developing hydraulics on a
prototype for a forestry-related application.
“I had just got off a thirteen-hour flight and next minute I was
standing in a field watching this prototype machine work
and giving my two-cents’ worth.
“R & D is becoming more and more a part of our vision,
especially in understanding technology and more efficient
ways to work. We are getting more enquiries coming to us.
“For the University project we’ve had to look at it from two
perspectives; one being that it’s got a practical application,
but also that it’s got to be commercially viable, therefore
priced in such a way that it’s sustainable to produce en
masse.”
Further data from Statistics New Zealand shows that while
the innovation rate (the proportion of businesses who
innovate) had slowed in 2017, that business research and
development spending was up from $1.6b in 2016 to $1.8b in
2017. Businesses surveyed found that barriers to innovation
were a lack of management resources and obviously cost.
Small-to-medium businesses are often not in a position to
spend money on innovation, research and development
but FPD is determined to press forward to keep up with
technological change.
It’s an interesting business model, for what is ostensibly
a ‘hydraulics workshop in the Waikato’ to reveal that the
secret to their success is investment in staff—and yes,
plant—but Andrew spends a good deal of time during the
interview musing about how staff have changed over time
and because of investment
One day recently he was out and about and someone
mentioned to him that they’d met and talked to one of his
staff.
“They were talking about working at FPD and were
enthusiastic, and it came back to me—th at’s a career
highlight right there.”
FPD has been in business 34 years. Andrew Webby took over in 2014 rebranding it to reflect the move to hydraulics.
70
CAM July 2018
w w w. c a m m a g a z i n e . c o . n z