Fast track fertiliser from new Ballance Huntly store

Safety, efficiency and sustainability are the key features of our new Huntly Service Centre, which promises to deliver faster service, better access and close-to-home convenience for local customers.

Ballance has invested over three million dollars in the new purpose built 2500 m² store, which opened last week, including new equipment and machinery that will increase fertiliser load-out efficiency and provide significantly faster delivery times to carriers and customers.

Ballance Agri-Nutrients CEO, Mark Wynne, says that the new site reaffirms Ballance’s commitment to Huntly and the Waikato – a region where the co-operative already has strong ties with the community.

“The new service centre has been designed with our customers in mind,” says Mr Wynne.

“Everything from site location, which provides easier access to bridges that service the region, to plant layout and equipment have been chosen to provide our customers with the best possible service and product quality.”

Sustainability has played a big part in site design, creating a layout that manages stormwater through rain gardens, and that minimises dust at the truck loadout point. Huntly Service Centre Manager, Shane Harris, said that ensuring a safe environment for both the team working at the site and anyone picking up the product was another key consideration.

“The new layout will minimise the interaction between customers and operational plant and equipment – such as front end loaders.

“We’ve given thought to how we manage people and traffic on site, to maximise safety and minimise wait times for customers.” Mr Harris says that new equipment like the dual blender system will create significant benefits, by allowing one blender to be loaded by the operator as the other is loading out a customer.

“The combination of an efficient site layout, new dispatch plant and improved storage creates better product delivery for our customers and keeps the fertiliser in the best possible condition,” says Mr Harris.

The new service centre is located at 237 Tregoweth Lane, Huntly.