Jenkin® are manufacturers of exterior cladding, specialising in clear wood and finger-jointed products.

Phone us between 8am - 5pm:
0800 25 44 61
info@jenkin.co.nz

Jenkin Timber - manufacturers of horizontal wooden wall cladding products and trimboard building supplies

History

 

Harry starts building after convalescing when he returned from Gallipolli. His Grandfather and great grandfather were builders and had a joinery factory in Cornwall, England. Harry’s father left England in 1874 and started building in Auckland, in his joinery factory in Ponsonby.

“Harry was described as a tough old bird who helped a lot of people. The word got around that he did a good job at a fair price. His reputation won him contract building work repairing government houses - and his honesty and reliability lead to more work and more staff…”

  

First joinery started with a universal woodcutter under Harry’s home.

“Joinery started with a universal woodcutter under a lean to from Harry’s garage.” He wasn’t scared of new ways of doing things - a quality that’s been passed down over the generations…”

   Jim Jenkin, Harry’s son joins as an apprentice. “During the war years Harry’s business produced joinery for Avondale Hospital and the US Army. (Pre-cutting army huts)”   Factory at Mt Albert and partners in timber mill.  
  H.Jenkin & Son partnership formed and building started at Carr Rd.   New factory at Carr Road, Mt Roskill. Jim now Managing Director. Wide range of joinery products produced.  

Expanded into fingerjointed timber. Installed finger-jointer No.1.

“In 1956, clear 12 x 1 was difficult to obtain in the lengths wanted for kitchens and cupboards. Finger-jointing was a natural progression. Over the next decade mechanical and electronic technology transforms the business of finger-jointing.”

   Major modernisation of plant and systems. Installed finger-jointer No.2 and Gubish moulder.  
  Jenkin were one of the first to use finger-jointed pine in New Zealand. In 1968 we pioneered the specialised manufacture of sashes and doors.   Gary Jenkin, Jim’s son, starts work. Finger-jointer No 3 added.  

Jim Jenkin and Murray Seagar pioneer the 10mm mini joint, saving 4% in waste material

“When some companies ran the risk of not trying anything new - Jenkin took the leap. Jim and Murray’s passion for new machinery and problem solving remains very much a part of the company culture.”

   Finger-jointer No 5 was the world leading Dimter – one of the first of its kind in New Zealand.  
  First exports to Australia (fascia and billiard table legs.)   Dehumidifier kiln pioneered mouldings to Darwin. Managing Director, Jim Jenkin, visits USA and Germany to inspect woodworking plants and machinery.   Company name change to Jenkin Timber. First exports to Japan. Now capable of designing and producing virtually any moulding a client requires.   Exports double in two years, reaching one million per annum. Jenkin Timber receive Export Award from the Minister of Trade.  
  Concourse land Purchased. Site works.   Concourse factory building commences.   Gary Jenkin, now Managing Director.   Major investment in technology includes large Dimter finger-jointer (No.6) and Weinig 180b and 120a. Export drive continues.  
 

New tool room in operation. Repositioning in factory improves work flow.

“Substantial increases in exports to Australia and Japan between 1991 - 1994 feed the growth and focus of the company. Profit was poured back into major upgrades in plant and technology. Our Tru-Pine products have now proved themselves generation after generation.“

   Tradenz Award for doubling our exports between 1992 - 1996  

Major Extensions at The Concourse.

• Implementation of Marketing Department and increase in local representation.
• New local distribution centre constructed.
• Advanced optimising saw installed.
• Woodbending plant installed.
• FutureProof (LOSP) Treatment Plant fully upgraded to state of the art mechanics and software.
  The latest GreCon Dimter
finger-jointer installed. (No 7)		  

 

 “The Jenkin Operation continues
to grow with the addition of a new
4000m2 extension to the factory.”