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The Methven visit

Big Daddy George Methven

The Methven Visit 

A group of us went on a site visit to Methven on Rosebank Road in Auckland

The company has been around for ages now, started in 1886 by a chap called George Methven in Dunedin. It went through the usual 'business through the ages' malarky. Registers, deregisters, mergers, sold, buy-outs, acquistions, more buy-outs, re-register, expansions etc. They even had time to make ammunitions during World War 2. Good on you Methven.

These days they're based in Auckland with offices in the UK, China, USA and Australia. They specialise in both mains pressure and good ol' NZ 3rd world style trickle pressure. The latter being quite a monopoly, catering for Housing NZ, and producing magical tapware that makes our indecent living standards at least acceptable. Methven also do 'Nefa' valves and 'Steriline' medical tapware.

Technology wise not a lot has advanced in tapware. Its still the same process from over 100 years ago, thats not to say they don't have cool toys. 

• They have one very lucky robot arm that gets to tickle not 1, 2 or 3, but 4 linishers. The humans only get one each! 
• They also have the Southern Hemisphere's most advanced nickel and chromium plating system(their words, not mine), this is not hard though as plating is a fairly simple but not particularly healthy process. 
• Methven are very proud to mention that use only de-zinced brass, which is safer for people to drink from, unlike the cheaper Chinese made tapware you get from Bunnings and Mega Mitre10. Though I still run the tap before drinking anything from it. 
• They cast their own brass, and recycle their swarf.
• Methven also make their own plastics with their very own injection molding machine. 
• They use Ceramic cartridges that they get from France as its too expensive to get into making their own, and unlike some things made in France(e.g. Peugeot 205GTi) these are quality AND reliable.
• They apparently have group showers to test their products, which would be great if it was like a Tui ad (and they have some fine looking women working there) but alas I'm only dreaming.

Since their AMP management buy-out Methven have turned into a design led company, with their own design team. They are producing slick award winning designs with the Tahi, Infusions and SatinJet technologies, but I find it hard to get excited by taps. Especially rectangular ones. Strangely I prefer the surgical taps.

Methvens new millenium focus is towards a sustainable, design led global company that happens to be based in little ol' New Zealand.

Big thanks to Methven and former Unitec student Gemma Rassie for the tour and afternoon tea.