ChCh firms win $8m defence contract

Canterbury manufacturing companies have taken advantage of an $8 million defence contract to provide transport-based equipment for the army.

The New Zealand Defence Force has taken possession of five container-handling systems, ordered from Swing Thru NZ of Christchurch.

The systems were built by Timaru's B J Scarlett Engineering for a total project cost of about $1.8m.

Army spokesman Colonel Phil Collett said the equipment included a fuel dispensing system upgrade, new heavy transport trailers, shipping container-handling systems and maintenance support cranes.

"This equipment will allow us to better support operations by improving maintenance as well as our ability to transport equipment and vehicles," Collett said.

Swing Thru NZ managing director Geoff Kidd said it specialised in the design of container-handling systems for customers in the road transport, military and rail sectors.

The container-handling systems could vary considerably depending on the customer and how they used containers, Kidd said.

Swing Thru NZ had an increasing range of handling designs which could be carried on the back of a truck.

"You can convert a flat deck truck into a container- handling system in less that 10 minutes," he said.

Swing Thru had also organised defence project builds for delivery to Singapore, the United States and the United Arab Emirates.

- © Fairfax NZ News