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When David and Katrina Birchall needed a double dog box for their two Huntaways, Mainline’s customisable service was the answer.

Waikato-based Lowline cattle breeders, David and Katrina Birchall needed a new dog box to transport their two Huntaways. The height of the farm dogs meant the usual size of dog box was too cramped and small. Now, thanks to Mainline’s customised dog box design, the Birchall’s canine companions travel in style and comfort.

Cam Besley, Mainline’s workshop manager, worked with the Birchalls to create a dog box that would tick, well… all the boxes.

The project brief was for a sturdy and durable dog box that was also light enough to be removed from the vehicle easily.

“It had to be well vented and have a removable divider between the two compartments,” says Cam.

Mainline’s standard double dog boxes are lightweight and ideal for ute decks, trailers and vans, but the challenge was to build a box that would allow for the size of the dogs. Huntaways are a taller breed than many other dogs.”

Designer dog boxes

Cam initially designed the double dog box on Solidworks, Mainline’s manufacturing software. This allowed for alterations to be easily made to the design following customer input. Solidworks also determines the overall weight of the item, which is crucial when manufacturing something intended to be easily lifted by one person.

The Birchall’s dog box was fabricated from 3mm aluminium tread plate and fully TIG (tungsten inert gas) welded to ensure the seams were strong. The floor was welded in and all front panels were bolted so they could be easily removed for cleaning.

Delivery was made and the Birchalls’ dogs now ride in style and comfort.

Projects fit for purpose

“Working with Mainline was great,” says David. “We had no problems with the customisation process at all.”

Trisha King, Mainline director, welcomes customisable projects. “The best thing about being able to make a product to an individual customer’s specifications is that we know we’re creating something one of a kind and 100% fit for their specific purposes.”

“Happy customers are what we like,” she says. “Happy customers create positive feedback and we know we’ve achieved our goal.”

Customised to your dog’s needs

Mainline double dog boxes come in two standard sizes – medium and large. The medium-sized dog boxes fit well-side utes, while the large fits flat deck utes. Double dog boxes feature galvanised sheet metal, plywood floors and rear vents. They are lightweight at 20kg and have handles fitted for easy lifting and securing with tie downs.

The Birchalls’ box is a Premier design. For customisable boxes, contact Mainline to discuss your requirements and pricing.

When Toll Petroleum needed a trailer tank to relieve the load while theirs was being built, Mainline’s Bluey saved the day.

Paul Topper of Toll Petroleum found himself in a bind when customer demand for small fuel deliveries exceeded his capacity to supply. The Whangarei-based fuel and oil additives provider needed an extra trailer tank to fill the gap.

Toll and Mainline have enjoyed a long relationship. Mainline has been manufacturing the company’s tanks for years, so it was New Zealand’s leading manufacturer of fuel storage tanks that Paul called for assistance. And help came in the form of Bluey.

“Bluey is one of our trailer tanks,” explains Mainline’s director, Trisha King. “She came about when one of our customers thought it’d be a good idea to have one available occasionally.”

Road trip for Bluey

Bluey is a 1600L tank and is painted Mainline blue. “I offered her services to the guys at Toll Petroleum and they came down the next day to pick her up,” Trisha says. “It was great to be able to fill the resource gap for them. They’re loyal customers and it’s always nice to be able to offer help where we can.”

Bluey was the extra vehicle enlisted to deliver smaller volumes of fuel to customers as required.

“We service a lot of customers that have exceptional seasonal needs,” explains Paul. “They have a fuel storage tank on the farm but often it’s not enough to see them through to the next truck delivery. We’ll head out with a tank like Bluey to top them up in those between times.”

Bluey spent four weeks in Whangarei and delivered 60,000L of fuel. “With numbers like that, Toll Petroleum had a very heavy delivery load and we’re rapt Mainline and Bluey could help,” says Trisha.

“We’ve always enjoyed working with Mainline,” says Paul. “They’re very helpful and very flexible. We needed a hand and Mainline sorted us out.”

In preparation for an influx of visitors to the Hamilton New Zealand Temple (Mormon Temple) grounds for the annual Christmas lights display, Mainline manufactured a gleaming handrail to accompany a set of stairs.

Every December, up to 100,000 people descend on the Temple to visit the Christmas lights. This festive spectacular has become a regular event on the Hamilton calendar, with locals and tourists alike flocking to Temple View during the final month of the year.

In 2017, the Mainline team were tasked with the manufacture of a handrail to be installed alongside a set of stairs on the Temple grounds. With a change in parking location for visitors coming to the Temple, groundsman Matai Parata said the set of stairs was going to be the main access route for families.

The stairs connect the new Stake Centre where Sunday chapel services are held with the Temple grounds. Lit at night, with LED lighting, spotlights and white strip lighting, the stairs are almost a feature of their own. Now they come complete with a handsomely manufactured stainless-steel handrail.

Made up of 32 linear/metres of 50ø stainless tube, 21 bends and 16 stanchions, the handrail was manufactured and delivered in five sections and assembled onsite by Mainline’s sheet metal workshop manager, Cam Besley and senior tradesman, Patrick May.

Cam said the job wasn’t without its challenges. “We needed to get accurate measuring for starters because each set of steps were a different height and length. We also needed to keep a plumb line through all the bends, while following the concrete edge.

“Prefabricating each stanchion in the workshop proved tricky at times too with differing heights and base plate angles,” Cam said.

Mainline Director, Trisha King said she was extremely pleased with Cam and Patrick’s work and professionalism on the project. “Without their expertise, Mainline wouldn’t be able to do jobs like this,” said Trisha.

Mainline also has a very happy customer in Matai and his team.

“Mainline were excellent,” said Matai. “The handrail took about four weeks to manufacture and install. In fact, Mainline did it ahead of their time. It is very good.”

The result is a gleaming, stainless steel handrail with a Mainline touch, that guides visitors safely through the Temple grounds.

Need fabrication and welding expertise? Contact the Mainline team today.