Chain & Rigging: Keeping Industry Safe and Strong
For more than 40 years, Chain & Rigging Supplies has been a trusted name in New Zealand’s lifting and safety industry. WiriLink sat down with Business Manager Sean Gallagher to find out about their move into the business district.
Based at 14 Hobill Avenue, Wiri, Chain & Rigging Supplies ensures that everything from industrial cranes to construction harnesses meets the highest safety standards.
“People’s lives are at risk. If you’re lifting a big, heavy item, you need to make sure the chain, or shackle is compliant and has been tested. You don’t want to drop a machine; and more importantly, you don’t want to injure anyone” says Sean.
Chain & Rigging Supplies, originally founded in 1982, was acquired by Eltrade Industries Limited four years ago. Chain & Rigging Supplies spent many years based in Penrose before moving to its current Wiri premises in March this year.
“We’re now closer to our main hub, as well as our customers in civil construction, transport, and freight. The site here gives us more space, easier access to motorways, and room to grow.”
Chain & Rigging’s work covers three main areas: sales, testing, and on-site inspections.
The sales division provides a full range of lifting and height safety equipment, including shackles, slings, chains, master links, hooks, personal protective equipment (PPE) and more.
“Every sector has lifting requirements – civils, engineering, marine, manufacturing, cranes, transport to name a few. If it lifts something, it needs to be tested.”
“We also handle inspections of harnesses and working-at-heights gear. We sell the gear, but we also make sure it’s fit for purpose.” We have an inhouse height safety specialist who can assist with this.
In-house, the company operates a dedicated testing facility, where any item designed to lift weight, from a simple hook to a complex rigging system, is inspected and tested. We also have a 150 Tonne test bed for proof loading and destruction testing. For clients who can’t bring their equipment in, Chain & Rigging sends trained technicians out to site.
“We’ve got three fully equipped vans that go to manufacturing and construction sites. Some of our clients can’t afford downtime or can’t move their equipment, so we test it there. These visits are usually booked in advance.”
Every test and inspection is recorded in an equipment register that our customers can access, which ensures compliance with industry safety standards.
“Each lifting item has a unique number and inspection cycle. We maintain those records so clients can prove compliance and stay ahead of their re-test dates.”
In the lifting and rigging industry, precision and vigilance save lives. Lifting gear and harnesses wear down over time.
“Chains can stretch under heavy loads, and once that stretch passes a certain tolerance, it’s no longer safe. Slings also fray and get small cuts that affect integrity. You’ve got to be able to identify those defects quickly. If an item fails inspection, it’s either repaired or scrapped immediately.”
“Items that don’t pass are removed from the register. That way, there’s no chance it could accidentally be used again. Our reputation depends on knowing exactly what’s safe and what isn’t.”
That niche has helped the company carve out a loyal client base across Auckland and beyond.
Sean is particularly proud of the team that makes it all happen.
“Most of our technicians have been with us for years. They’re trained, knowledgeable, and they don’t move on to the competition. That loyalty says a lot about the culture here.”
Looking ahead, growth is very much on the agenda.
“We moved here to give ourselves room to expand. We want to develop our people, grow our footprint, and continue serving Auckland and Waikato. And if the opportunity comes up elsewhere, I know the group would jump at it.”
But for now, the focus is local.
“We want to support local businesses and work with the people around us. “We use local freight companies, local mechanics, it just makes sense to keep that connection strong. You’ve got to start with where you live.”
If you want to learn more about Chain & Rigging, visit them at their store at 14 Hobill Avenue, call 0800 024 247 or email sa***@****************co.nz.
Check out their online store for more and monthly specials: www.chainandrigging.co.nz
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