Thirty-one businesses have been named finalists in the South Canterbury Chamber of Commerce Business Excellence Awards 2013.

The finalists in each of the seven categories of the awards were officially announced yesterday. The awards are organised by Aoraki Development Business and Tourism (ADBT). "The Business Excellence Awards are the premier business awards for our region, and it's been fantastic to see the quality of entries we have had for the awards this year," ADBT chief executive Wendy Smith said. "Looking at the list of finalists, you will see some of the top businesses in their sectors. "Becoming a finalist, winning a category or becoming the supreme award winner at the awards is a huge endorsement for your business and creates a fantastic promotional opportunity. "It can be tremendous recognition for the hard work and dedication of your staff." The gala awards evening will be held on August 30. The finalists in the Construction Industry Award section include: Barrett Joinery, Chris Broadhead Building, High Country Carpentry, Thompson Construction and Engineering, Todd Mudie Group...

Mainland Minerals will break the earth at its new site on Monday – the first company to move to the new industrial area in Meadows Rd, Washdyke.

Director and operations manager Andy Ross said the company was moving from leased premises on Hilton Highway and putting up a large purpose-built building with a warehouse area and office block, along with a bunker-style building for bulk storage. Work on the 3600-square-metre site starts on Monday. The company, with 10 staff, saw an opportunity when the area was rezoned heavy industrial from rural, Mr Ross said. "The turning point was pretty much when we looked into it [the rezoning] more. We jumped on it." The expansion was an exciting development. "It does earmark the fact the company is moving forward, and the fact we've been able to branch out and buy our own land. "We're pretty much the first people to turn over the dirt since it has been rezoned industrial." Several companies had shown an interest in the Meadows Rd area, he said. 

Construction is being carried out by Thompson Construction and Engineering, which also built a building for the company in Waipukurau a year ago...

One of Temuka's newest buildings is taking shape northest of the town's river. It is the third in a series of expansive neighbouring sheds built by Thompson Engineering and Construction of Timaru.

Each building is an average 6500sqm, and they are being used for agricultural-related storage. The buildings are owned by Temuka Transport. Thompson Engineering director Vaughan Thompson said the newest building would measure nearly 7000sqm and include an office block. Work on the buildings started in late 2011, with the latest project due for completion in July...

South Canterbury's Thompson Precast Ltd is offering farmers a practical storage solution to help maintain quality and consistency of stock feed.

The company's concrete Y Panels are used in silage pits as well as grain and fertiliser stores to separate products protecting from contamination.

Thompson Precast Ltd Director Michelle Thompson says changes in agricultural processes means the old soil lined silage pits contaminate feed and cause a loss of quality, particularly prudent with increasing feed costs and more intensive farming styles coming into practice.

“Since the advent of wintering barns and increase number of dairy conversions, we have seen a need in the agriculture industry to protect feed quality as much as possible,” she says. “With rising demand for feed putting pressure on prices, the farmer needs to maximise the return he gets from his supplementary feed including that grown on-farm. This has led to the development of our Y Panels with input from a structural engineer (IPENZ). Benefits of use include maintaining feed quality and consistency, and prevention of water damage and ground contamination to retain the energy (ME) in the feed so the farmer can retain this for the cows.”