Delivering automation to entranceways

Gary and Mel Pepperell purchased the Action Fencing business in 2016 and have been steadily adding to the products and services supplied to the market. With his background in aircraft engineering, Gary looks at the fencing business in a slightly different way from others and is able to solve problems and offer unique solutions to meet customer needs.

Over the past 6 years, they have built a 3-way partnership with Carters Building Supplies as their main supplier and a special relationship with Topuni Timber Ltd who manufacture the posts, strainers, wooden gates and customised wooden gates, which have become an important part of the Action Fencing offering.
Action Fencing offer fencing solutions in Rural, Security, School/Civil, Residential, manual and automated steel and wooden gates. It is in this last area where the relationship with Topuni Timber has really grown, as Topuni Timber offer a custom gate making service, designing and producing gates to the style, size, and purpose desired by the end users. Custom gates are handy to fit odd-sized gateways, stockyards, special uses, and entranceways.
Gary and David Chamberlin, General Manager of Topuni Timber, first met when David was working at Carters about 5 years ago, and since he moved to Topuni they have been able to expand the product offering and services. They now have such a good understanding, that a quick phone call gets a draft design and cost estimate in progress for presentation to the customer. The design is then adapted or approved, cost finalised, and put into production to meet the timeframe of the rest of the fencing work.

Working together – Topuni Timber and Action Fencing

Topuni Timber and Action Fencing together have provided plenty of customer satisfaction, especially with ranch-style gates for entranceways, often chosen in the unique Topuni Timber gate timber, or also popular in a machine gauged 140x45mm timber for very solid and imposing gates.
Action Fencing have been developing a market segment in the evolving lifestyle property real estate space, where people tend to be building their dream home. Mel Pepperell, Managing Director for Action Fencing says their clients recognise the importance of an entranceway in completing their vision. “These customers should have an entranceway that matches their new home. This gives the customer the satisfaction of coming home each day, going up the driveway to see a fantastic ranch style gate and entranceway, and opening the automatic gates from the comfort of the driver’s seat, before continuing onto their dream home.”

Remote locations and solar power

With so many rural lifestyle properties in Northland with long driveways in remote places, Action Fencing gets a lot of calls for solar-powered, automatic gates that complement a rural setting and existing post and rail fencing. With this often comes the need for the installation of solar-powered solutions. Having installed such gates for over six years, Action Fencing has refined their installation process, which often involves a bit of problem-solving specific to each site.
“For the installation of a particular set of Mangawhai solar-powered gates (photos above), we questioned our clients about the required aesthetic, potential maximum usage, and peripheral options they might require such as GSM solutions,” says Mel.
Action Fencing generally use 170 watt to 200 watt solar systems that produce 24 volts to 240 amp batteries which give more than adequate power supply for all eventualities and allows most accessories to run. To reduce the draw on the system, accessories have their own batteries and WIFI connections.
“The solar panel had to be placed in the most suitable spot for maximum sunlight and the operation system protected from weather and insect infestation, which has been something more prevalent in recent years,” says Mel.
“The clients decided upon a keypad and remotes for opening on-site. GSM (Global System for Mobile communication) allows you to open your gates remotely if required; we have even had clients opening their gate whilst on a cruise in Antarctica! A fab test of our system.”
While timber posts are aesthetically in keeping with ranch-style gates, they don’t always maintain their shape over time. To prevent any potential future issues with posts Action Fencing began to use 200×200 HDG steel posts which are 5 to 6ml thick and very substantial. The posts are galvanised locally. Gates hinges have also been refined over time.
“We used to use fixed hinges but now use adjustable thru gudgeons to take up the inevitable change in shape of the gates over time – future-proofing is key,” Mel says. Action Fencing only use New Zealand made gates and Italian Brushless Technology from their trusted suppliers – nothing flimsy or unserviceable following installation, and their supplier back-up is amazing.

Do it once and do it well.

The company has often been called out to service gates that were not been installed by their team.
Mel understands the frustration of clients when Action Fencing are called out to service gates that were not installed by their team. “The problems we encounter in such situations are usually due to use of cheap, inadequate systems and inexperience of prior installers – a lack of foresight and future-proofing. ‘Do it once and do it well’ is our motto!”
“Something else we have developed over the years due to customer security needs is the supply and installation of security cages that protect automation systems from theft… and yes, this does occur! We have worked with our main supplier to design these cages which are unique to our service” Mel says.
Gary and Mel are proud of the Action Fencing team and the great work they are doing in the solar power/automation area. “It’s crucial to have great supply partners to work with and develop best outcomes for our mutual customers. Gary being a qualified engineer helps with that too!”