Tauranga-based Oasis Engineering – the world's New Zealand energy and fuel transfer specialist
Export award-winning, Tauranga-based Oasis Engineering continues to expand its international market as a specialist manufacturer delivering world-leading solutions to those pushing the boundaries of energy and fluid transfer to benefit humanity and the environment.
The company initially began as the maintenance division of a soft drink brand but was separated during a restructuring during the 1980s. The new company quickly established a strong reputation as a machine shop that reliably produced high-tolerance precision machined parts in difficult-to-work materials such as stainless steel and titanium. This led to work manufacturing valves and couplings that were required for the new and emerging Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) fuel market for a major CNG supply company and this quickly expanded to every major CNG supplier and to every significant CNG market in more than 40 countries.
Today, Oasis Engineering is part of the ELAFLEX Group of Companies of Hamburg and is manufacturing precision CNG, LPG and Hydrogen reticulation products for the world market, with approximately 80% of production going to the USA, 10% to other world markets and 10% to the local New Zealand market. The company is well placed to meet the demands of emerging markets, including Hydrogen and Methane for heavy transport vehicles and renewable Natural Gas, with sales doubling within the last two years. Oasis also produces specially designed high-quality fluid couplings for the milk industry trailers.
This state-of-the-art manufacturer is fully accredited to ISO 9001:2015 with product testing facilities, including a Hydrostatic test rig rated to 4000 BAR and an Environmental Test Chamber rated between -800C and +1850C. A new addition will be a Hydrogen product test laboratory which is scheduled to be commissioned by the end of the year.
Meeting the demands for the highest precision and ultimate efficiency from day one, the company invested early on in an Okuma CNC machine and today this high-tech machine shop has fourteen Okuma CNC Machines including Multi-tasking CNC Machines, 5-axis Machining Centres, CNC Lathes, Bar Feeders and Robotics. “Okuma has always been at the centre of our precision manufacturing machine shop, providing unparalleled reliability, easy programming, time-saving multi functions and the highest quality output, coupled with the high level of service backup directly from the manufacturer,” said Managing Director Kevin Flint.
Keeping abreast with future products and meeting the demands of special applications and solutions for clients, is a team of ten engineers in the internal design office covering industrial design, hydraulics, environmental and future product development. ELAFLEX Germany also supports the design centre in product development. The design team also looks into and implements design changes and recommends improvements for clients to increase efficiency or improve the manufacturing process.
Some of the latest Oasis products include Hydrogen quick couplers, cylinder valves, ball valves and trailer load/unload manifolds.
Kaizen methodology plays an important part in increasing productivity in the manufacturing plant and teaching people to perform experiments on their work using scientific methods to identify waste processes. Kaizen is an ongoing daily process in all areas of the business that produces measurable outcomes.
The team of skilled engineers at Oasis Engineering has many years of experience working with different materials, including stainless steel, titanium, brass, aluminium, and engineering plastics. Oasis Engineering has provided precision contract manufacturing services to external clients worldwide since its inception.
Overall, the company employs some 50 personnel and has at least two apprentices under training at any time, with one or more taken on each year. This is leading to a high retention rate of skilled labour.
“Following the long-term relationship that recently retired Okuma General Manager Fred de Jong has built up with this outstanding company, it will be a pleasure for me to continue with this close relationship to ensure that the right machines always meet their requirements and market needs,” said newly appointed Okuma New Zealand Manager Karl Medley. “The newly appointed Okuma Service Engineer will also play an important role in further strengthening our services in this area,” he said.