About
Our Story
Over 50 years of operation has seen LECO Switchgear Limited become New Zealand’s leading manufacturer and supplier of industrial & commercial switchgear and control panels to the electrical industry.
Lynn Electrical Co Limited was formed in 1973 by Les Shrubb and from its early days, has made quality and service the basis on which to form a growing and lasting relationship with customers. Today the company is managed by Les’ son Steven Shrubb, who heads a team of over 100 staff. Now trading as LECO Switchgear Limited.
This New Zealand based company has undertaken many major contracts in recent years, including providing switchboards to the Watercare Wastewater Treatment Plants, Veolia Water, Waterview Tunnel, Sylvia Park Office, Britomart Transport Centre, Auckland International Airport, Air New Zealand Engineering, Auckland City Hospital and Sky City Hotel, Casino, Conference Centre & Sky Tower, Data Processing Centres, etc.
LECO Switchgear is committed to customer satisfaction. The success of the company is due to the quality of our product and our service and the fact that we are well known in the industry.
ln 2008 LECO Holdings bought a reputable established switchboard manufacturer in Hamilton, GAEL Switchgear Ltd. It is now trading as LECO Switchgear Hamilton branch.
In 2010, LECO Holdings established a branch in Christchurch. Its former ownership, Powercentre Distribution and Control had been in switchboard business for over 60 years. It is now trading as LECO Switchgear Christchurch branch.
LECO Switchgear has supplied switchboards to 26 countries throughout the world and operates a range of hi-tech equipment. As a member of Site Safe New Zealand Inc, LECO Switchgear is committed to the development of a culture of health and safety in the New Zealand construction industry. We are committed to staff training to ensure ongoing compliance with Quality Management System in accordance to Bureau Veritas Certification AS/NZS ISO 9001.
Auckland
Steven Shrubb
Managing Director
Completed his Apprenticeship with Turnbull Jones in 1983. He then travelled through Europe extensively until his return in 1986 whereupon he commenced working at Lynn Electrical, taking up the position of Manager of the Distribution Board Division.
He has an extensive knowledge of Switchboard manufacturing and looks after all the major contracts. He is totally responsible for the management of LECO Switchgear.
Phil-Am Balbuena
Engineering Team
BE - ELECTRICAL
Prior to working with Lynn Electrical in Nov 2000, Phil had several years of experience working in high and low voltage switchgear manufacturing companies. He worked in a leading switchboard manufacturer in The Philippines for 3 years and continued working for 7 years with ABB Saudi Arabia and ABB Henderson, New Zealand.
Phil is responsible for the design, engineering, and management of projects mainly for the energy sector, universities, hospitals, Watercare Services, Auckland Airport, data centres and other industrial companies.
Sumelia Van der Linde
Financial Controller
BSA
From South Africa, Sumelia started out of school in the Banking and Financial Services Advise sector, working her way up the ranks whilst studying. She became Bank Manager in 2006 and after 8 successful years progressed to join the C-suite in Head Office Finance. She migrated to New Zealand with her family in 2018 and started with Leco Group since October 2022.
Sumelia is responsible for all financial aspects of the Group, including Accounting and Office Administration.
Dumitru Coman
Production Manager
From Romania, Dumitru started as an electrical fitter at Iproeb-SA Bistrita in 1979 and was a Team Leader in 1991. He migrated to New Zealand in 2001 and joined Lynn Electrical as an electrical fitter in 2002. He was promoted as a Leading Hand in 2004 and in 2017, he taken on the role of a Production Manager.
Dumitru is responsible for switchboard manufacturing, workshop staff and store.
Mark Garnett
Administration Manager
Mark completed his apprenticeship with the HMNZ Dockyard as an Electrical Fitter in 1991. Shortly after this, he commenced employment with Lynn Electrical in 1993 and was soon promoted to the position of Estimator. In 2003, he was appointed as the Administration Manager. He has over 30 years’ experience in estimating and project management.
He is involved with quotation, project management and the general management of LECO Switchgear.
Chin Fong
Business Services Manager
BBus, NZIM, NZCE/Dip. Electrical
Chin previously had worked in the low voltage switchgear at A&G Price, GAEL Switchboards, Merlin Gerin and Schneider Electric when he migrated to NZ. He started off with Lynn Electrical as an Electrical Engineer in 1994. He was involved with projects like Watercare Wastewater Treatment Plants, AT Britomart Transport Centre satellite stations, SkyCity Auckland, Air New Zealand Engineering, etc. He specialises in outdoor control panels.
Chin is responsible for looking after our clients in Preventive Maintenance and Services.
Hamilton
Rob Preston
Branch Manager
Over 50 years in the electrical industry of which 20 years was spent in Project Management and managing Electrix Ltd Waikato branch. Whilst with Electrix Ltd, Rob was involved in dairy company projects, lime works, power stations and commercial installations throughout the Waikato region, Bay of Plenty region, New South Wales state and Indonesia.
Joined GAEL Switchgear Ltd in 1999 to assist in design and management of small commercial distribution boards through to large commercial and industrial main switchboards and motor control centres. ln 2008 GAEL Switchgear Ltd becomes part of Leco Holdings Ltd group of companies and in 2023, it becomes part of LECO Switchgear.
Steve Northcott
Project Engineer
After serving with an electrical contracting company for 11 years as a project manager, it was time for a change. In 2001, he joined GAEL Switchgear Ltd as the Workshop Manager. He is responsible for switchboards to be delivered to clients are on time and with the assurance that that it was thoroughly tested and be trouble-free for years.
In 2009, Steve joined the management team to continue serving the clients in his new role of designing and pricing switchboards, to many different requirements from small standard units to the complex control MCCs. No job is too small or too large. His motto is no problem that is too big, just a challenge to overcome.
Christchurch
Ravineshwar Lal
Branch Manager
BEng Tech
From Fiji Islands, Ravi worked as an Electrical Draftsperson for 4 years at VEL Engineering, Building Services Consultancy after graduating from University of The South Pacific. He brings with him experience in AutoCAD electrical drafting. He joined Lynn Electrical as Junior Electrical Engineer in 2011. He was involved in engineering for projects like Parakiore Recreation and Sport Centre, Justice Precinct Christchurch, Pak N Save Papanui, Lincoln University, AG Research Facility Lincoln, Shirley Boys and Avonside Girls School, Christchurch Cashel Square, etc.
In 2016, Ravi joined the Christchurch branch from Auckland office. Now he is responsible for sales, estimating and engineering, besides the general management.
Managing Director Statement
Commitment
LECO Switchgear Limited is a leading manufacturer and supplier of Industrial and Commercial Switchgear and Control Panels to the Electrical Industry. Our emphasis is on Quality and Service, which help LECO Switchgear customers to remain competitive by improving their quality and productivity.
Lynn Electrical was formed in 1973 and from that time, has made Quality and Service the basis on which to form a growing and lasting relationship between the company and its customers. This commitment to customer satisfaction and quality has earned Lynn Electrical an excellent reputation in the commercial and industrial construction areas for quality products and reliable service.
Today, LECO Switchgear, following Lynn Electrical practise, is still committed to growth and customer satisfaction, which is brought about by our ability to listen to our customer needs, and requirements and to remain flexible no matter how small or large the project may be.
Mission statement
To focus on the Quality Design and
Manufacture of Switchboards
to meet our Customer needs
Quality Policy
LECO Switchgear. Limited is committed to a corporate system designed to consistently maintain the specified quality of the company’s products, thereby ensuring satisfaction of customer expectations, continuity of market penetration and acceptable company productivity and profitability.
Every Employee is required to ensure that the administrative and operating standards, specifications, processes, and procedures inherent in the system are always adhered to and in all instances.
As Chief Executive I accept responsibility for upholding the company’s Quality Assurance Program in all respects and for ensuring that its Quality Policy is in no way neglected, ignored or obstructed.
Steven Shrubb
Managing Director
