Convex Plastics Limited
Convex Plastics Limited is a company which has innovation in its bloodstream. From 1976 when entrepreneurial founder David Fredericksen started making plain plastic bags on a machine he built in his garage, to the present day when the company manufactures and supplies internationally a range of sophisticated and award winning packaging solutions, innovation has been at Convex’s core.
As a trained engineer David had the skills to build that first machine, however it took more than a year and would not have been achieved without support from local businesses which donated components, gave manufacturing support and even permission to use engineering equipment at night.
On receipt of a substantial order for plastic bags, David’s initial plan to make a living building and selling machines soon morphed into a vision of having a company manufacturing plastic packaging.
David soon realised that he would need to extrude his own film and the first of many plant purchases was an extruder. The name Convex was then chosen to reflect the two main pursuits of the business – converting and extruding. David’s late wife Jennifer played a pivotal part in the early development of the company, using her IT and financial skills to ensure that the business had strong financial control and quoting software systems which were developed in-house. Today, ownership of Convex is shared between David, Owen Embling the company’s managing director, and Tony Letcher its chief financial officer.
Convex’s head office and main manufacturing plant are based in Hamilton, with sales and distribution centres in Auckland, Christchurch and Sydney. The company also owns a business in Auckland, which produces lower-cost non-food packaging. More recently Convex has made the bold step of creating a presence in Santiago, Chile.
Convex is very proud of its fully-equipped plant, with its extrusion, conversion and printing technology, as well as a state-of-the-art research and development laboratory. The jewel in the crown is a machine so big it has its own custom made building, and which produces large colour printed bags for pet food, with soon-to-be integrated handles.
The presence of a laboratory and scientists at Convex is testimony to its commitment to finding innovative solutions for customer’s packaging and printing problems. A particular area of focus, and one which is tied in with the company’s philosophy of environmental responsibility, is the development of environmentally friendly, truly bio-degradable packaging alternatives for customers. Their products GREEN SACK rubbish bags, ECONIC coffee bags and biodegradable films are examples.
Innovative thinking has also resulted in the creation of a number of packages, lids and packaging films designed to extend the life of food products, including fresh vegetables, fruit and salads. An example is Convex OPTI-FRESH breathable film which is used to great effect in FMCG meal solutions, keeping salad greens fresh until combined with other components.
It is Convex’s expertise with servicing the food industry that has encouraged it to see Chile as a natural market, as Owen Embling explained. The company took advantage of the New Zealand Trade and Enterprise Beachhead scheme to have a good look at Chile, and realised that with its Mediterranean climate and strong horticultural industry, it is a good target for Convex’s food packaging products. Owen’s description of valleys filled with fresh cherries just waiting to be tenderly wrapped in Convex’s cherry liners was certainly compelling!
Clearly, Convex is a good example of a company whose management has an integrated approach to running the business – from sourcing, training and keeping skilled employees, to having an eye for costs and sustainability through the value chain, to constantly seeking out innovative solutions to client’s needs. Schemes such as the mentoring of high school students to create entry level employees and the operation of a post-consumer waste recycling scheme are proof that innovation in the company is not limited to product design.
This integrated approach is also reflected in Convex’s legal requirements, which according to Owen Embling makes Tompkins Wake a good fit. Owen tells us that like most corporate clients Convex would rather solve a legal problem quickly and pragmatically, and where possible avoid costly and negative wrangling. At the same time he appreciates having someone knowledgeable in his corner. Recently that has meant help with an employment law issue offshore, a business acquisition and a trade mark stoush with a competitor. In each case Convex has appreciated receiving specialist advice from Tompkins Wake lawyers, all based on a joint problem solving, cost effective and business-centred approach to arrive at a successful outcome.
Here at Tompkins Wake, we appreciate Convex’s ongoing drive to grow, innovate and to offer customer focused products. We also love their strong commitment to their Waikato origins. Convex have learned to weather storms in their industry and the economy, and shown strong resilience. We think their future is looking great.