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Our history of innovation
and commitment
Welcome to Power Electronics New Zealand's 21st birthday celebration! As we mark this significant milestone, we want to extend our heartfelt gratitude to everyone who has supported us over the years – our customers, referrers, the Salvo family from Spain, and our dedicated employees. Your trust and partnership have been the cornerstone of our success.
[WATCH: Our Managing Director, Mark Duncan,
reflects on our 21 year journey]
A journey of growth and innovation
2003: The beginning
Power Electronics New Zealand began its journey in Christchurch in 2003, to provide AC motor control solutions to the NZ industrial market. Initially named Drive Dynamics, the company was founded by Mark Duncan and his business partner David O’Donoghue who is now Managing Director of Power Electronics Australia.
A few months after kicking things off, Brent Sheridan joined us as a fellow director of the business and from there, we have steadily grown over the past 21 years. With a vision to provide exceptional service and support, we quickly expanded north, establishing a North Island office in Napier.
Our early days - motor control excellence
Our initial focus was on motor control products. We introduced the V5 soft starter, V2 soft starter, SD200 (up to 9kW), and SD400 (up to 22kW). Over the years, our motor control range grew in capacity and sophistication, setting the stage for our continued evolution.
Our longest-standing customer is ElectraServe in Ashburton. Mark had already been dealing with them for a few years in his previous role, so when we started the business, we showed them a sample of the V5 soft starter. Graeme Church immediately jumped on board, and we gave ElectraServe exclusive access to our products for their irrigation market for their region. It was a big risk that Graeme took coming on board with us.
21 years later we are still going strong with ElectraServe.
2014: Expanding into Power Quality
The need for improved power quality on the NZ power network led us to partner with Sinexcel in 2014, adding power quality solutions to our offerings. This collaboration allowed us to incorporate advanced technical innovations, further enhancing our product range and service capabilities.
2019: Embracing renewables
A significant turning point came in 2019 when we ventured into the renewable energy sector, recognising its critical role in New Zealand's push towards 100% renewable power generation. Our third-generation utility scale inverter products have since propelled us to the forefront of this growth market, enabling us to support sustainable energy solutions.
Close behind ElectraServe are Peter Jensen from Talley’s in Motueka, Ritchie McCann from International Panel and Lumber in Greymouth and Ideal Electrical Suppliers in Nelson and Greymouth. These guys took a risk supporting us as a brand-new business.
It’s great to still be dealing with them 21 years later.
Our team: The heart of Power Electronics
Our success is deeply rooted in the commitment and expertise of our team, which now numbers 15. Many of our staff have been with us for a long time, contributing significantly to our journey:
Andy Buckley
Engineering Manager
14 years
Jason Curtis
Renewables Support Engineer
12 years
Carol East
Office Administrator
14 years
Pat O'Dea
National Sales Manager
8 years
Such stability is a testament to our supportive and dynamic work environment. We're proud that so many of our team members have chosen to build their careers with us.
[WATCH: Our National Sales Manager, Pat O’Dea, shares his journey from customer to team member]
It has really been a journey of service and support. We have built the business on providing high levels of service and technical support and as a result, we have a loyal customer base. There is no way Power Electronics NZ would be in the position we are today or would have even made it to 21 years without the exceptional team we have on board.
Reflecting on our legacy
From our early days in Christchurch to our current position as a leading provider of motor control, power quality, and renewable energy solutions, our journey has been marked by continuous innovation and dedication to our customers. Our close relationship with the Salvo family – Amadeo, Lalo and David has been instrumental in our growth, allowing us to bring cutting-edge products to the New Zealand market.
As we celebrate this milestone, we are privileged to have built long-lasting relationships with both our customers and our team. Watch Mark sit down with Blair from ElectraServe as they discuss their long-lasting relationship:
[WATCH: Mark sit down with Blair from ElectraServe as they discuss their day one relationship]
Looking ahead
As we look to the future, we remain committed to delivering innovative solutions and exceptional service. We are excited about the possibilities ahead and look forward to continuing this journey with you.
Join us in celebrating 21 amazing years and reflecting on our shared journey. Check out our special video messages and learn more about our history and vision for the future.
Thank you to everyone who has been part of our 21-year journey. Our great staff, our customers who have entrusted your business to us and the Salvo family in Spain. Here’s to another 21 years of growth, innovation and success.
