Pushing the boundaries of possibility
Lunds Joinery is a leading manufacturer of custom commercial, architectural and residential joinery. Their work combines innovative design, quality craftsmanship, modern machinery and beautiful materials to produce works that merge functionality and art.
Since opening its doors in 1956, the team at Lunds have become the custodians of a rare skillset: creating pieces that seem nearly impossible. Whether you want a curved oak benchtop that seems to defy physics or a full fitout that pays homage to the site, Lunds can make it happen.
“We like to do work that others might have refused because it was too technical or the shapes are too challenging, and we often produce something the client never thought could be achieved,” Jamie Macgregor, Director said.
When it comes to what Lunds can produce, your imagination is the limit. They’ve created fitouts for lodges, bars, high-end houses with bespoke detailing, and wheelchair-accessible swings for local schools. A recent highlight was the Gibbston Valley Winery fitout. “This was a very high-end front-of-house fit-out with a solid oak curved bar,” Jamie explained. “We won awards for it because the bar was curved in two directions and no one could really figure out how we made it.”
Lunds Joinery has a rich history. The company was officially incorporated in 1956, though the Lunds have been in the industry since the late 1800s. The company has been handed down through generations; three years ago, Jamie took the lead.
Before Jamie’s time, the business had been administered through the family’s construction company, but Jamie wanted to bring all business functionality in-house. Working closely with Leech & Partners, he was able to set up everything—bank accounts, the general ledger, accounting software, payroll, and more—without having to stop the day-to-day flow of business.
“We had to handle the transition very carefully so the business could continue to operate and maintain continuity”, Jamie explained. “Leech & Partners made it easy. Nick Walls’ advice throughout the process was invaluable. We also worked with Georgia Goodman to set up all the systems like Xero and payroll so that it functioned like the well-established company it was from the outset. It went so well; we’ve had no hiccups.”
Supplying beautiful custom pieces has become tough over the last few years. Supply chains have stalled and slowed, prices of materials have increased dramatically, and finding staff has been a constant struggle. But Lunds Joinery has risen to that challenge, harnessing the opportunity to try new approaches. “These challenges encouraged us to change how we build and what materials we use. We invested in automated machinery to do more with the staff we have and to optimise the use of materials. And we’ve done more prefabricated work, which is just like what we’ve always done but on a bigger scale and lets us help clients throughout the South Island.”
Looking to the future, Lunds is expanding its prefabrication options and producing a new line of timber windows. “Our big objective for the near future is to launch that product and then expand prefabrication options to include the windows in large structures.”
