Southland man Barry Hayes has turned an idea into a business not only guaranteeing electricity supply for his own commercial nursery, but also powering people all over New Zealand.
After buying a diesel generator to provide back-up power for his
Makarewa business, Hayes saw a gap in the market and with Balfour
dairy farmer and friend, John Titter, they began importing
generators in 2007 on a commercial basis. It was at this point
Cowpower Generators came into fruition and the rest, as they say,
is history.
These days Hayes says Cowpower is one of New Zealand’s leading
suppliers of generators to hundreds of dairy sheds, and in
industrial and commercial businesses from vineyards to salmon
farms, right across the country. “The interest has surprised me.
It’s been hard work, but we’re pretty happy with how it’s going,”
he says.
While Hayes might be busy operating the country’s largest
geranium and fuchsia nursery, he finds Cowpower increasingly
requiring more of his attention. “Demand continues to be steady.
It’s going very well as a product that, I believe, is essential for
many operators.”
From scheduled power cuts, to the effects of weather extremes,
Cowpower can ensure the work doesn’t stop, with its generators
providing the continuous electricity supply many businesses rely
on, he says. “I think generators are the way of the future and I
just don’t think people can afford to be without them. After all,
the cost is so small in comparison to the cost of the loss to your
business.”
Hayes points out with the recent lack of rain around New Zealand
and the implications this has on power supply in the months to
come, generators are likely to become even more essential.
He says 75 percent of Cowpower’s clients are dairy farmers and
explains one Southland dairy farmer in particular has two
generators, able to be moved between his six cow farms.
Furthermore, Southland’s first robotic dairy shed uses a Cowpower
generator for automatic electricity supply and another generator
has been dispatched to Pleasant Point for a new robotic dairy
shed.
“Cowpower’s automatic generators are recommended by milking
system supplier Lely to support robotic cow sheds. They work very
well,” he says, and Southland’s first robotic milking dairy farm
owner Bill Overgaauw agrees.
“As soon as we get a power cut the Cowpower generator kicks in.
We might use it four or five times a year. Sometimes the power is
out for a few minutes, sometimes a few hours. Once it was out for
days with heavy snow,” says Overgaauw.
Milking cows 12 months of the year and 24 hours a day means
there is no room for equipment shut-downs and thanks to Cowpower,
he says, there haven’t been any issues. “We really rely on the
generator as a back-up. There’s no problem getting it serviced and
Cowpower is always good to deal with. As soon as you ring they come
out to the farm.”
While Hayes sees robotic dairy sheds as the way of the future,
he says generators are a crucial part of all dairy operations. “I
honestly believe having a generator on any dairy farm is vital.
It’s a necessary bit of machinery all farmers should have.”
For instance, in the dairy industry a power cut could cost lost
milk production and have an adverse effect on animal health, he
says. He also suggests it could affect the distribution of effluent
which, under ever increasing environmental controls, could cost
farmers dearly. For other businesses he says it can mean the loss
of refrigeration and spoiled product, no irrigation for sensitive
plants, or a complete shutdown of operations. “The other thing to
remember is if there is a major power problem, you’re not going to
be able to hire a power generator because there just aren’t the
supplies around. Having a generator is really all about peace of
mind.”
Cowpower also supplies industrial and construction companies,
welding businesses and concrete companies – really anyone needing
mobile power, Hayes says. “It could be a business working in a
remote area, or providing a back-up supply for retail outlets, some
IT companies have generators to ensure 24-hour supply, while Mount
Cook Salmon at Twizel has five Cowpower generators to support its
supply needs.
“Our generators will suit any business that would find itself in
trouble if it were to lose power. It’s the unpredictability of
power supply making these generators so effective.”
Cowpower generators are diesel powered and can provide single or
three-phase power for energy-dependant businesses. Hayes suggests
generators are an investment for your business. “It’s a form of
insurance. The cost of not having a generator far outweighs the
cost of having one and with the increasing occurrence of extreme
weather events, generators are really becoming an essential part of
any business.”
Generators have also been in demand because of the excessive
costs of accessing power in remote areas. “When the actual costs of
putting in a new transformer or line are between $80,000 and
$100,000, a generator starts to look attractive,” he says.
Especially for remote water supply, in places like Malborough
and Twizel, Cowpower generators were being used for centre-pivot
irrigation. “A couple of generators went out this summer for grain
dryers, where they would only be used for a couple of months, but
updating their present transformer and lines would be too
expensive.”
Once you’ve made the decision to invest, installation is easy
and inexpensive, he says. “The generators are ready to go once they
leave here. A registered electrician is required to install a
transfer switch to the mains. Then it’s just a matter of turning
the generator on and flicking the transfer switch, and you’re all
go. It’s very simple.”
No permits or paperwork are necessary and whether it’s a
nursery, or a cowshed, the specifications are the same, he says.
You get the luxury of a continuous supply of electricity – no
stress, no worries – and your business can continue to operate
without interruption. Of course, once you’re on board, Cowpower
prides itself on great after-sales service.
“We won’t walk away from any problem – we want to fix it. We
have a large stock of spare parts for our generators and if a
problem develops, we’re going to sort it out.”
For those clients outside of Southland, Cowpower will also
consider sending a technician to them if the need arises, he says.
“However, for the amount of generators we’ve got out there around
the country, we have very few problems.”
Hayes is proud of what Cowpower has achieved from its Southland
base and he’s looking forward to the future. “I’d like to think we
will continue what we have been doing. Why change something that’s
this good and works this well?”
For the latest reviews, subscribe to our Farm
Trader magazine here.
Photography: Mary Witsey