New Ballance service centre improves East Coast capability

Ballance Agri-Nutrients is reinforcing its commitment to the East Coast with a new purpose-built $3.5 million service centre in Gisborne.

Development of the custom-designed service centre will better service the growing farm nutrition needs of a wide range of Ballance customers throughout the region from Wairoa, in northern Hawkes Bay, to East Cape.

Customers of Ballance subsidiary Altum will also benefit with their orders to be processed and despatched from the new purpose-build site due to open on 1 July.

Three key features of the new service centre are improved access, faster turnaround and the capability to store a greater range of bulk products on site. Importantly, the service centre will offer improved mixing and blending services to the region.

The design has been carefully developed by Ballance to maximise ease of use and can easily be used for new builds in other regions.

Ballance Supply Chain Development Manager Neil Miller said the move from Crawford Road to Aerodrome Road just outside Gisborne puts the service centre closer to its customers and is easier to access.

"Customers, spreaders and the carriers will have better access to the service centre which will help improve the experience for everyone," says Mr Miller.

A bigger site has also provided Ballance with an opportunity to upgrade its fertiliser delivery capability.

"Essentially this means we can fill orders more quickly, up to three times faster than we could at the former site."

The new service centre will have two blenders, each capable of processing 2½ tonnes of fertiliser per minute. Twin blenders also provide the ability to double blend specific mixes.

"We will be able to blend and screen twice which means a more homogenous product for our customers ensuring an even application of all nutrients," says Mr Miller.

The new bulk store design allows for storage of a wider range of products, bulk and bagged, to meet the nutrient requirements of the region.

"We're committed to the market on the East Coast and our new service centre will improve the experience for everyone who comes through the gate."