Radio New Zealand - Te Reo Irirangi o Aotearoa

NZ company develops fences for export markets

Updated at 7:31 am on 2 September 2008

Distance and the high dollar has forced a New Zealand fence company to design specific products for customers around the world.

Euro Corporation started 11 years ago selling nails and number 8 fencing wire to the rural sector.

Now the company has two manufacturing facilities and 15% of its product, including several innovative fencing systems, is sent offshore.

Recently it won emerging exporter of the year at the Air New Zealand cargo export awards.

Randall McKenzie says Euro has developed a number of products such as a soft wire fence to stop horses hurting themselves, and launched them through the Mystery Creek field days.

Other products include a batten-less fence and a netting fence for docking.

However, export growth has been hampered by high steel prices and a shortage of steel and wire products due to the boom in commodity prices.

There's also been unprecedented domestic demand, as customers try to stock up before prices increase.

Mr McKenzie says distance and the high New Zealand dollar has forced the company to design specific fences for customers around the world.

Euro is looking at exporting to the Middle East, South America and Africa.

Copyright © 2008, Radio New Zealand