Following our recent South Island focus event in Christchurch, members of Abel’s Auckland team had the opportunity to visit some of our South Island customers. We visited Victor Hydraulics, a valued Abel customer and a long-established name in New Zealand’s hydraulics industry. While Craig Whitehead, an Abel ERP Consultant based in Christchurch, works closely with the Victor team in his role as their Abel Account Manager, the visit provided the Auckland team with a valuable opportunity to see Victor’s operation first hand.
Powering Performance in the Hydraulics Industry
Victor Hydraulics designs and manufactures hydraulic cylinders and provides associated systems and services, supporting customers across a wide range of industries where reliability and performance are critical. Their work includes supplying parts and assemblies as well as technical expertise that supports the safe and efficient operation of heavy equipment.
Operational Realities on the Ground
The visit provided insight into how the business has evolved and what is required to support continued growth without compromising service quality. Seeing the operation first hand highlighted the importance of accuracy, visibility, and responsiveness in day‑to‑day operations, particularly in managing inventory, production, and customer orders.
Key insights from the visit
Two observations stood out:
- Operational visibility underpins day‑to‑day execution
Seeing how inventory, production, and customer orders interact highlighted the importance of accurate and timely information in supporting reliable outcomes. - Consistency depends on discipline and expertise
Observing the operation reinforced the level of technical knowledge and operational discipline required to deliver consistently in a manufacturing environment like this.
For the Abel team, seeing operations like this first hand provides valuable perspective that helps inform our thinking as we continue to develop Abel over time.
Reflecting on the visit, Estelle Williams, Finance Manager at Victor Hydraulics, shared her views:
“We at Victors find these visits invaluable, as they strengthen communication through deeper understanding and connection. We see Abel as a key partner in our success. This visit has reinforced how we can better leverage the system to identify issues earlier and resolve them more efficiently.”
Strengthening partnerships
Visits like this allow the wider Abel team to see customer operations first hand, informed by both the customer and colleagues who work closely with them.
A big thank you to the team at Victor Hydraulics for welcoming us on site and generously sharing their time. We look forward to continuing our work together and supporting the operational demands of their business as it evolves.
