When CEO Jeff Tanner and his family purchased Pukepine in 1998, they had a vision for the future built on a family legacy of sawdust in their blood.
Over two decades, that vision has evolved into a highly automated operation at their Te Puke facility using AI technology, optimisation systems and sophisticated scanning equipment to maximise timber recovery from every log.
“My grandfather first started saw milling, then my dad, brother and I bought this company in 1998,” Jeff says. “If I look at the journey and what we’ve created, it’s really exciting.”
But advanced production technology is only as good as the IT infrastructure supporting it.
A few years ago, Pukepine’s environment was unreliable with slow systems, constant outages and network issues no one could identify. The company had grown accustomed to these frustrations as simply part of doing business.
BTG came on board in 2021 after conducting an independent assessment of Pukepine’s IT environment.
What they found was remarkable complexity spanning from Windows XP to cutting-edge AI systems – old and new technology that all needed to work together seamlessly.
“We were quite a complex site,” Jeff says. “We needed an innovative approach to keep alive some old systems that rely on legacy operating systems while also maintaining a modern platform.”
BTG stabilised Pukepine’s network, migrated servers to the cloud and implemented robust backup systems.
The transformation included stabilising the network that connects different machines and hosting systems on a reliable platform with full visibility through a single dashboard.
BTG also tackled a challenge that telcos said couldn’t be done – installing fibre to Pukepine’s remote Kerepehi distribution centre, located about a kilometre from the main road.
The feasibility study and subsequent installation brought high-speed connectivity to a facility previously limited by poor rural internet.
“That solved a massive problem for us. For years we’d been putting up with it,” Jeff says.
The fibre installation was particularly crucial as Pukepine embraced cloud technology.
Jeff admits he was initially resistant, concerned that a single cable cut could shut down the entire sawmill. However, the stability of fibre connectivity and BTG’s cloud architecture changed his perspective.
“If something goes wrong with a server, BTG just switch over to another one in the cloud. Whereas before you might have accepted losing a day somewhere along the line, now in a few seconds your problem is resolved,” Jeff says.
The transformation has been dramatic. Systems that were once unreliable now run smoothly with minimal downtime.
Cloud hosting provides business continuity that wasn’t possible with aging on-site servers.
Remote access enables suppliers from the United States to maintain and upgrade AI technology that teaches machines to identify timber defects and optimise every cut.
“We installed a new planer and scanner about 18 months ago – The scanner was the first of a new model with the latest AI ,” Jeff says.
“We’re now doing up to four times the volume we were previously doing. We had 30 people over two shifts doing this manually. Now we have 10 people on one shift doing twice the work.”
BTG now provides comprehensive end-to-end support including fibre connectivity to both key locations, hosting 14 servers across their data centres, 24/7 IT support and ongoing strategic technology planning as the business continues to evolve.
The expertise BTG developed optimising Pukepine’s Accredo ERP system has since benefited other clients across different sectors, including residential construction and food distribution.
BTG works closely with Pukepine on infrastructure requirements for new equipment installations and has even reverse-engineered hardware to keep legacy systems running.
“While we don’t hold equity in each other’s businesses, BTG and Pukepine are somewhat joined at the hip,” Jeff says.
“I look at it as a partnership where we’re working together to achieve outcomes that are good for both of us. When I want to do something we can’t do in-house, BTG is always there to make it happen.”
BTG’s Bay of Plenty Business Development Manager Ted Ebbing says the relationship demonstrates BTG’s approach to complex challenges.
“We take the time to listen and learn the business of our clients before we jump in with advice and ideas,” Ted says.
“If you’ve got problems you’re just accepting in your business, we can potentially overcome those and enable you to be more efficient,” Ted says.
“BTG has been the enabler to help Pukepine do a lot more with their automation and it’s been reliable.”
