About Donald Engineering
Donald Engineering Ltd began in 1974, with Colin Donald (then 21), making grain crushers in the farm shed. In 1976, the business had grown so much that Colin employed an engineer and mechanic and purchased the Wright Car Garage in Salford Street, Edendale, where the business operated from for the next 34 years. That same year, Donald Engineering built the first rotary milking shed in the South Island and since then has built more than a thousand rotary and herringbone sheds.
The original rotary milking shed design was based off a North Island model, using steel as the base of the platform. After fourteen years of a steel design, Colin decided to design his own rotary platforms and Donald Rotary Platforms was born. Using concrete platforms proved a smart innovation in the market. The first rotary sheds built by Donald Engineering were 17 bail sheds, two years later they constructed a 36-bail shed and now sheds are up to 100 bails.
Donald Engineering builds rotary platforms that can be constructed as a kitset and shipped throughout New Zealand and the world. Over one to two weeks, a team of Donald Engineering expert staff can install a rotary platform. Because of their reliability, ease of shipping, and installation, Donald Engineering platforms are now throughout Australia and the United States.
Colin and his son, Rob, went into a partnership in 2008. In 2010, Donald Engineering became an agent for Read Milking Systems, so they can service even more of their customers. Donald Engineering currently employs anything from between 10-20 staff, depending on the dairy industry, with the longest-serving staff member having been with Donald Engineering since 1985.
The purpose-built building on State Highway 1, South of Edendale, provides engineering services to the dairy industry throughout Southland. The large workshop is ideal for engineering repairs and maintenance, and where Donald Engineering construct ATV Trailers and cattle or sheep ramps for farmers throughout New Zealand. Along with offices, there is also a spare parts department, where customers can buy items including components for milking sheds, drive belts, bearings, hydraulic fittings, hoses and pipe fittings.
Donald Engineering is part of the New Zealand Milking & Pumping Trade Association (MPTA). With staff who are registered Milking Machine Testers working across Southland. Donald Engineering and associated service agents now help farmers across Otago, Southland, and Canterbury.
Rob Donald
Rob is the son of Colin Donald and has grown up around the workshop. From a young age Rob helped out at the workshop, whether it be sweeping floors, painting welds or learning how to weld.
His first full time job was as a labourer for Colin, and after a few years moved to Christchurch where he gained experience working for another engineering firm. He has also had 2 years experience working in the mines in Western Australia as a Boilermaker repairing mining equipment.
Rob and his partner Alana returned to Southland in 2008 where Rob went into partnership with Colin. Since then Rob has managed the build of many rotary platforms throughout New Zealand and the United States and is well versed with the requirements of managing these builds.
You can usually find Rob at the Southern Field Days or Mystery Creek Field Days along with the team from Read Industrial.