Cover story: Alpine Buildings, Taupiri

Fifth-generation farmer Robin Singh Ark shares how a purpose-built Alpine shed transformed the way his ag contracting business operates

Robin Singh Ark knew his existing shed setup wasn’t working when it came to protecting valuable farm machinery. But it was a rogue possum that proved the final straw, resulting in a brand-new Alpine Shed that now takes pride of place in the farm infrastructure.

As the fifth generation working on the family farm on the outskirts of Hamilton, Robin branched out from dairy farming to start his ag contracting business during the Covid months of 2020.

“It had become really difficult to get contractors in at the specific timing that crops were ready or when grass needed mowing,” he explains. “Sometimes you had to wait weeks for the timings to work – and then unexpected weather would ruin that schedule. It was becoming an increasing issue in terms of efficiently managing production,” he says.

“So we purchased our first baler, a McHale Fusion 3 Plus, which we made work on our existing Massey Ferguson 7614, and that was the start of ARCA Agriculture.”

Alpine Buildings — A tidy external downpipe system ensures Robin knows exactly where the water’s flowing to

What started as a practical decision quickly evolved into a thriving side business servicing nearby farms, including the second family property run by Robin’s brother Nigel, as well as neighbouring relatives and local clients.

The fleet has evolved to include a MF 7718S, MF 5712S, a McHale Fusion 4 Plus, Kverneland triple mowers, rake and tedder as well as Lemken power harrow, Maschio rippers, Hustler sprayer and SAM Spreader.

With such an impressive line-up of quality brands, Robin is pleased to continue his excellent relationship with both Power Farming and Piako Tractors.

Today, Robin balances fulltime dairy farming with running the contracting operation – and that means having machinery that’s ready to go at the right moment. In farming, timing is everything.

A Family Farm Built Across Generations

The Singh Ark family has farmed this land for generations, with Robin now proudly carrying the baton as the fifth generation on the property. Alongside his parents, Gurdave and Gurgena, and brother Nigel, farming very much remains a family effort.

Robin grew up around the cowshed and spent a decade working as a mechanic at Power Farming in Morrinsville before returning to the farm fulltime. That mechanical background has shaped the way he approaches machinery ownership and maintenance.

“As anyone with farm machinery knows, the initial investment is huge, and ongoing costs aren’t small either,” he says. “If you can protect your gear properly and maintain it well, it’s going to last longer and work better when you need it most.”

The old storage setup simply wasn’t cutting it. Machinery was squeezed into ageing open-fronted sheds, with implements sticking out into the weather and with little room for servicing or organisation.

And then came the possum incident.

“One of the possums got into the baler,” Robin laughs. “That was pretty much the final straw.

“It took us an hour to get it out of there and it had caused damage to the wiring. That was an expensive lesson.”

The old five-bay sheds have since been repurposed into calf-rearing facilities lined with Plasback Tuffboard, while the machinery fleet now sits securely inside the purpose-built Alpine shed designed specifically around the needs of the business.

Designing a Shed Around the Way You Work

Robin had a clear vision from the beginning about what he wanted his new shed to achieve.

Rather than simply building the biggest shed possible, the focus was on creating a space that genuinely improved workflow, productivity and long-term flexibility.

“The size, the height and the depth were the biggest things,” he explains. “I wanted something futureproof that would work with bigger gear down the line as well.”

Initially, Robin thought an 18m-deep shed would be enough. But after repeatedly revisiting the plans with the Alpine team, the design evolved.

“We probably went through eight different designs before landing on the final version,” he says. “At 18 or even 20 metres deep, you couldn’t really fit two machines attached together in front of each other properly. Going to 24 metres gave us that flexibility.”

The result is an impressive 30m long x 24m deep clearspan Alpine shed with a 1.5m overhang, three 5.5m-high doors and a roofline reaching 7.5m at the apex.

The generous height means Robin can easily house taller equipment like his Kverneland mowers, rakes and tedders without needing to lower machinery every time it’s parked.

“It’s so nice to have that feeling of space when you walk in,” he says. “There’s room to move, room to work and room to grow.”

Why Clearspan Design Matters

One of the standout features of the shed is its clearspan design. Without internal poles interrupting the floor space, Robin has complete flexibility when it comes to parking machinery, storing supplies and planning future workshop areas.

“It makes everything more user friendly,” he says. “You’re not trying to work around poles or awkward spaces.”

The extra depth also allows tractors and gear to be stored as a duo, maximising storage efficiency while still leaving room for servicing and maintenance work.

At the moment, the shed comfortably houses three Massey Ferguson tractors, a McHale Fusion 4 baler, Kverneland mowers, rakes and tedders, various ground working equipment and bale wrap and fertiliser supplies.

And there’s still room ample left over.

“There’s space to set up a full workshop eventually, plus pallet racking and shelving down the back,” Robin says. “That was always part of the plan.”

Built for Kiwi Conditions

For Robin, choosing Alpine ultimately came down to two key factors: quality and reliability.

After contacting around 10 different shed companies across New Zealand, Alpine stood out immediately.

“The communication was spot on right from the start,” he says. “I never felt pressured into anything. It was more about them listening to what I actually needed the shed to do.”

One of the biggest drawcards was Alpine’s timber construction combined with heavy-duty structural steel rafters.

“Everything else around here is timber, including the house, so I really liked the idea of a timber framed shed,” Robin explains. “It’s quieter when it rains, easier to work with and simpler when you want to add things later like shelving, benches or wiring.”

Alpine’s sheds use pre-dried quality timber framing, reducing moisture content by up to 60 percent. That means lighter, straighter timber that’s easier to install and less prone to warping over time.

The structural steel rafters themselves are another standout feature. Constructed from 5–10mm thick hot-dip galvanised steel for superior rust protection, they’re designed specifically for New Zealand farming conditions and built to stand the test of time.

“Even lifting the rafters during the build, you could see how solid they were,” Robin says. “The strength of them was pretty impressive.”

Bird-Proof Rafters: A Small Detail with Big Benefits

One feature Robin particularly appreciates is Alpine’s bird-proof rafter system.

Anyone who has worked around rural sheds knows the frustration of birds nesting overhead and covering machinery, feed and equipment in droppings.

Alpine’s enclosed rafter design eliminates nesting spaces and helps keep the interior cleaner and more hygienic.

“It’s one of those things you don’t necessarily think about at first, but it makes a massive difference once the shed is in use,” Robin says.

Protecting expensive machinery from moisture, droppings and contamination helps maintain resale value and reduces unnecessary cleaning and maintenance.

The Alpine Difference

For many farmers, the thought of managing a large shed build can feel overwhelming. Consents, contractors, timelines and deliveries all add pressure to an already busy workload.

Robin says Alpine simplified the entire process.

“They just made it easy,” he says. “Everything was straightforward – the quoting process, the communication, the timelines. There wasn’t all this complicated fine print to sort through.”

Alpine’s in-house team handled the building consent process from start to finish, removing a major administrative burden and ensuring the project met all council requirements, including 50-year building consent standards.

“They pointed us in the right direction at the right time and if there were any issues during the build, they sorted them quickly.”

The delivery process was equally well organised, with all shed materials meticulously itemised, labelled and delivered in coordinated loads for efficient handling onsite.

“The truck drivers were fantastic,” Robin says. “They brought everything right into the paddock, which isn’t always easy with rural deliveries.”

Each Alpine kitset undergoes triple-checking for quality control before dispatch to ensure every component is included and clearly labelled for streamlined installation.

Working with local company TC Shed Builders, who are familiar with Alpine was another definite asset.

More Than Just Storage

While the shed’s primary role is machinery protection, it has already transformed the way Robin works day to day.

“It gives us flexibility,” he says. “When the weather’s right, we can go. Everything’s organised, protected and ready.”

Concrete flooring throughout much of the shed has created a clean, practical workspace for servicing and organisation, while the two separate open front bays allow heavier groundwork equipment to be parked without damaging finished surfaces.

Robin also invested in extensive lighting throughout the building.

“The lighting’s unreal,” he laughs. “Night basically becomes day in there.”

Remote-controlled doors have also proven a surprisingly valuable feature during busy periods.

“I didn’t realise how handy it would be just pressing once and having the doors open automatically while you’re driving machinery in.”

It’s all part of creating a workspace that supports efficiency rather than slowing it down.

Supporting the Next Generation

The shed represents more than a storage solution. It’s an investment in the long-term future of the family operation.
Robin currently milks around 200 cows while also running ARCA Agriculture and managing silage production across both family farms. During peak season, the business produces around 700 bales while servicing local clients with a focus on reliability and timing.

“I don’t want to get too big,” he says. “The goal is still to be able to provide excellent quality work and customer service.”

That mindset aligns closely with Alpine’s own philosophy as a third-generation family business built around long-term relationships, reliability and practical rural solutions.

With more than three decades of experience designing sheds specifically for Kiwi conditions, Alpine focuses on creating customised buildings that are durable, functional and built to serve farming families for generations.

For Robin, that shared understanding matters.

“When you’re dealing with a family business that understands farming and understands what you’re trying to achieve, it makes the whole process easier,” he says.

Standing inside the completed shed today, surrounded by machinery protected from the elements and ready for the next season, there’s a quiet sense of satisfaction.

“It’s definitely futureproofed us,” Robin says.

“You walk in here now and you know everything’s got its place. We’re ready for whatever comes next.”