Overseas sales keep bed maker in good health

Mr Wright was soon making beds using the latest hydraulics and in 1963 turned his talent into a business.

Howard Wright is now a multi-million-dollar company and manufactures a range of electronic and hydraulic hospital beds and stretchers, as well as examination couches and shower trolleys.

Chief executive Bruce Moller says Howard Wright supplies New Zealand ambulance services, private hospitals and a large number of the 22 district health boards with beds and stretchers.

It's crucial for the company to win these contracts, but the market in New Zealand is limited and the company must look overseas, he says.

"Hospitals tend to hang on to beds for 15 years and in the case of New Zealand it's not really a large growing population."

Howard Wright exports about 65 per cent of its products to Australia, Europe, North America and Asia. About 60 per cent go to Australia, where the company supplies both the public and private sectors.

Private healthcare firm Cabrini Health recently announced it will use Howard Wright beds and stretchers in its new Melbourne hospital in a deal worth more than A$400,000 (NZ$449,000) and the company has a pricing agreement with private hospital group Ramsey Health Care, which is expanding into Britain and Indonesia.

Mr Moller says the company is currently vying for public sector contracts in New South Wales and Queensland.

The company, which has 29 staff in New Plymouth and six in Sydney, featured several times at this years's Taranaki business awards, winning the large business, export and engineering awards.

Mr Moller says it's difficult to predict the impact of the recession on business.

"But we're probably a little bit concerned, just like all businesses. The public sector relies on the treasury being relatively buoyant. If the tax take for government reduces thn that will possibly affect the amount of spending able to be done in health."