About Owner/Operator Hamish Wight
Hamish is a ‘can-do’ guy who really loves using machines to get things done. That’s probably why he has a digger and a tip-truck, too (just in case you want to hire these).
His story starts from a very young age, when he would spend a lot of time with his Granddad, Jock. John ‘Jock’ Wight founded the Huntly Engineering and Welding Company, Hewco, in 1945 when he was just 22. With New Zealand being so far from international suppliers Kiwis had to make do with what they had. Hewco filled that void by repairing machinery and manufacturing new equipment using local components or adapting existing items that were in plentiful supply.
Hewco’s creations
Hamish’s Dad, Derek, has a reputation for overcoming challenges, too. He has a farm, on which he has a huge workshop. At 66, he still spends hours tinkering away.
With such positive entrepreneurial and creative role models, it’s easy to see why a progressive, problem-solving approach is part of Hamish’s DNA. As Hamish says, he loves ‘cool things’ and is ‘always thinking of new ideas and ways to do things’.
Probably the most spectacular of these creations was the ‘Twin-Six’ motor scraper. It was extremely ingenious in its design and execution featuring a Fordson engine front and rear. The transmissions were electro-pneumatically shifted – true Kiwi ingenuity.
Hamish has inherited his Granddad’s ethos and passion for engineering, problem-solving and improving on the existing.