Creating a Bright Future Together
Welcome to Daiken NZ
We believe the future is created from the actions we take today. At Daiken New Zealand we are committed to improving these actions so the future will be brighter for the local community, customers, suppliers, employees and shareholders.
Our policy is to keep developing the quality of our products and always exceed industry standards. We also commit to being environmentally friendly and exceeding customers’ needs and expectations.
As a performance-driven organisation we monitor, benchmark and strive to continuously improve our performance, products and systems. We are also proud of our health and safety record and are committed to maintaining our high standards.
Dr Yasuo Yoshida
Managing Director, Daiken New Zealand Limited
About Daiken New Zealand
Daiken New Zealand is a joint venture between two Japanese companies Daiken Corporation and Itochu Corporation.
Daiken has a strong focus on sustainability and is one of Japan's leading building materials manufacturers. Through its ambitious research and development efforts, Daiken is continuously working to develop the newest materials, concepts and technologies.
A general trading company, Itochu is a truly global enterprise with 135 overseas offices, 18 domestic offices and 651 subsidiaries and affiliates. The forest resources and product department alone has an annual turnover of US$7.5 billion.
Our plant, just north of Christchurch, has always had a close relationship with Japan. Since the early days of production Japan has been its biggest export market. And thanks to the Japanese insistence on consistent quality, an enduring culture of technical know-how and product excellence has been developed.
Plant History
The establishment of the plant put New Zealand at the forefront of industrial wood utilisation technology. Below are key milestones in the plant’s development.
1974 - Canterbury Timber Products (CTP) issue a prospectus to raise finance to build the first MDF plant in the Southern Hemisphere.
1975 - Construction begins on what had been a quiet North Canterbury farm.
1976 - First MDF comes off the production line. Later that year blowline blending with UF resins is pioneered at the plant and remains a worldwide standard for MDF manufacture.
1977 - Official plant opening by the Prime Minister Robert Muldoon.
1979 - Prestigious Furniture Industries Research Association of Great Britain chooses Customwood as the best international fibreboard product.
1982 - Joint venture company Laminex Customwood Pty Ltd establishes the first MDF plant in Australia at Wagga Wagga.
1983 - CTP staff help commission the first MDF plant in mainland China.
1985 - Carter Holt Harvey buys the New Zealand plant.
1986 - CHH staff help commission the first MDF plant in Chile.
1994 - Second production line added (9 foot wide) and focuses on the new MDF phenomenon called ‘thinboard’.
2000 - New Zealand plant is the first outside Japan to meet the new Japanese low formaldehyde emission standards.
2001 - Develops ultralite panel for USA market.
2009 - Daiken Corporation and Itochu Corporation establish Daiken New Zealand Limited, having purchased the plant from Carter Holt Harvey.
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Customwood FAQ's
What can I do to ensure a safer workplace regarding wood dust?
In order to ensure a safe working environment, when machining timber or wood panel products, priority should always be given to limiting the volume of dust. Dust extraction equipment should be fitted to machinery and w...
