Sage advice helps RailBlaza on its journey to export success
Industry
Mounting systems manufacturer
Location
Silverdale
“I can’t imagine running a business without EMA membership.” – Mike Edgington
“As time has gone by and I’ve moved into senior roles where there is no dedicated HR service, I’ve come to rely on the EMA.”
From payroll and HR help to employment agreements and health and safety training, Auckland outdoor mounting systems manufacturer RailBlaza uses the full range of EMA services.
Overview
The RailBlaza story begins back in 2010 when entrepreneur Ross Pratt was looking for a simple solution to a very specific problem.
While riding a quad bike around his lifestyle block, he became frustrated that tools would slip off his bike, so he designed a mounting system that would meet his needs.
His solution was the StarPort, a device with a range of accessories that can hold anything from fishing rods to cellphones and drink bottles.
Its ease of use became a key point of difference from competitors and grew the company into an international export business that employs 26 people and supplies a diverse range of user-friendly mounting systems and accessories to the marine, RV and farming sectors.
The company exports most of its products overseas, with 60% to the US and 25% to Europe.
RailBlaza General Manager Mike Edgington, who joined the company in 2010 when it was a new start-up, says the company has built steadily and survived the Covid period quite well, with the company’s main route to the US markets through Panama remaining unaffected.
In fact, Edgington says the company more than doubled in size during this period as the enforced travel restrictions around the world left many with time and money to spend on accessorising their boats or RVs.
This success has resulted in more than 100 RailBlaza products now being available in over 40 countries, with the company 100% vertically integrated across design, tooling and manufacturing.
RailBlaza sponsors three professional bass anglers, Ott DeFoe, Bradley Roy, and Bill Lowen, who also help the company to develop new products that make to make it easier for adventure lovers to enjoy the great outdoors.
Making use of the membership
Edgington says he was first exposed to the EMA’s services in the early 1990s during a training course and has been signing up businesses he has worked with ever since.
“I’ve used the EMA AdviceLine service for many years and it’s always well-staffed with knowledgeable people,” he says.
“It’s a great service. I can’t imagine running a business without EMA membership.
“As time has gone by and I’ve moved into senior roles where there is no dedicated HR service, I’ve come to rely on the EMA.”
Edgington has tapped the association for assistance across most of the services it provides.
That ranges from using the AdviceLine to discuss issues such as how holiday pay is administered when a staff member is on ACC, or what to do when a staff member is not complying with the company’s health and safety policy.
Edgington says he also regularly sends staff along for health and safety training, particularly the two flagship EMA courses Health and Safety Representative – Stage1 Essential Training, and Supervision – An Introduction.
In addition, EMA legal consultant Lisa Oakley has recently worked with RailBlaza to deliver HR and ER strategy development.
Making use of the networks
The EMA was even able to deliver export advice after RailBlaza was preparing a Declaration of Conformity (DoC) on one of its products. A DoC is a document stating that a product meets the standards to which it must legally adhere. The EMA was able to suggest Dr Llewellyn Richards, former IANZ chief executive and member of the EMA’s Trade & Foreign Policy Committee, to provide assistance.
Edgington also managed to get along to some of the Smart Factory Showcases, run in partnership with Callaghan Innovation, the EMA and Beca, including the GYRO Plastics showcase. These are great opportunities to collaborate and share ideas while networking with other manufacturers.
As an export-focussed business, Edgington says that RailBlaza has had extensive engagement with Export NZ, the specialist export advocacy arm of the BusinessNZ network of which the EMA is also a part.
He is also member of Advanced Manufacturing Aotearoa’s Auckland Regional Business Group, which represents manufacturing businesses and local partner organisations, as well as local and central government.
While RailBlaza certainly taps into the full gamut of services and connections that the EMA provides, Edgington says AdviceLine has been the service he turns to time and again.
“The AdviceLine really is the gold. There are no wait times and I like just talking to one person to get the advice I need. It’s value for money.”
