Between 19 and 21 June 2024 saw the first annual Conference and Trade Show for the Advanced Textile Association NZ (ATA NZ), formerly OFPANZ.
The event this year was held at the Rydges Hotel, in Christchurch. It was attended by a wide range of fabricators involved in the technical textiles industry.
Throughout the three days, there were trade show and workshop sessions, aimed at supporting and developing a better understanding of the industry.
This year Carr New Zealand again ran a stand at the trade show for our range of Leister Hot Air welding equipment, eyelet machines and consumables.
Mark Hiscocks and Americo Blanco were the company representatives at the show.
It was a great opportunity for our staff to connect with customers and spend time building relationships.
The conference culminated in the Annual Awards Dinner, which was held at the Cardboard Cathedral. The awards evening saw numerous businesses and people acknowledged for outstanding work in a wide range of technical textile applications.
Carr New Zealand has had a long-standing involvement in the Apprentice of the Year Award, and this year we again supplied a Leister Hot Air Welding Tool to the winner. As in the past, the winner had a choice of either the Triac AT Fabrication Kit or the Solano AT.
This year the Apprentice of the Year award went to Tegan Hayes of Vexus Upholstery in Invercargill, for her unique, functional and stylish Go-Kart seat cover. Tegan chose the Solano AT as her prize – a fantastic tool well suited to upholstery work where clearly her talents and passion lies.
The awards evening was thoroughly enjoyed by all and planning is now underway for next year’s Conference.
If you are part of this industry and are interested in joining ATA NZ please contact Amanda Newport:
The overall winner, Tegan Hayes receiving her Solano AT Heat Gun from Mark Hiscocks (left) of Carr New Zealand, with Karl Burke from Hanga-Aro-Rau Workforce Development Council, and CEO of MAST Academy, Chris van der Hor.