Family business up for the job
KiwiRail Project Engineer Niclas Wagner says one of the great pleasures he gets from his role is working with local contractors. Family business Diamond Civil has been on the Wairarapa job from the start, trenching and installing ducting which Niclas describes as the ‘bread and butter’ of their work.
But they’re doing much more – picking up the latest digital technology, including high tech software used by some of the big contractors.
Diamond Civil Contract Manager Ian Wood explains how the Wairarapa work is opening up opportunities.
“It’s the biggest contract we’ve ever had, by a sizeable margin.
“For the first time we are actually profitable. We’ve been able to replace gear, upskill our guys. It gives us certainty.”
Ian says he’s been able to invest in GPS equipment for the machines – the software that loads 3D designs into the excavator, and tells the operator exactly where the gear needs to go. It works out the depth of the trench and where they’ve installed the asset.
He says he’s not much into technology himself, and son Jesse sorts out the data side of things.
“This contract with KiwiRail has changed my view. I’m a bit old school, but Jesse has helped us digitise. We’re off paper, doing everything on devices now. KiwiRail has encouraged us to embrace technology.
He says the engineering guys are easy to get along with. “They listen to us, we listen to them. There’s no middle-man. We’re even part of the design process – Niclas and I will walk over a section together, look at the plan, and use what we can see to modify design where it’s needed.”
There's not much 'fluff' in the family business.
“I am the management team. Jesse, my oldest son is the ops manager. Andrew Saxby, who has been working in the rail environment for nearly 40 years looks after the health and safety side of things. My youngest son, and son in law work for the company, and my daughter is in the process of picking up the office work from my wife. It’s a proper family business, and family is how we treat everyone who works here.”
Diamond Civil is currently a team of around a dozen. Niclas at KiwiRail says the plan is to engage small contractors like Diamond Civil, so they can grow and gain experience, and take on other bigger jobs in the future.
“Working with smaller contacting businesses makes it all a bit more personal, Niclas says. “Things can be more flexible on both sides, there can be a bit more give and take to get the work done in the best way for everyone.
“We know the Wairarapa contract is a big one for Ian and the team and are really pleased in the way they’ve taken it on. The quality, and detail of their project management is top rate, and their commitment to health and safety right up there.