New Zealand, Auckland

Prime Minister opens facility
200% increase in manufacturing capacity
Order times slashed from 9 to 6 months

New Zealand-based Intermech Ltd, pioneer and exporter of compressed natural gas (CNG) refuelling technologies, is expanding its capabilities with the official opening of a purpose-built, state-of-the-art factory in Auckland. The new factory will enable the company to immediately increase production capacity by 200 percent. Product development will be also be enhanced with the expansion of the company’s research and development department, which is also located at the new premises. Intermech general manager Rajeev Dadhe says the new facility is not only significant to the company’s operations, with order-to-delivery times slashed from nine to three months, but is evidence of the increasing global demand for CNG and Intermech products.

Intermech designs, manufactures, and markets a range of compressed natural gas (CNG) compressors and related equipment used at filling stations for vehicles fuelled with natural gas. Atlas Copco acquired Intermech in 2005 in response to the increasing global demand for alternative transport fuels. The company operates under the Oil-free Air division of the Compressor Technique business area.

A vehicle fuelled with CNG reduces carbon emissions by a quarter compared to a petrol or diesel vehicle, and thus represents a viable, low-emission energy source for metropolitan centres, especially those with high-density populations like Dehli, Beijing and Bangkok.

NZ's Prime Minister Helen Clark opened the facility with a small ceremony attended by international dignitaries and customers representing some of Intermech’s 22 overseas markets, including Thailand, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Indonesia and China.