Behind the Door: Kevin’s Journey from Bulder to Ulti Group Craftsman
At Ulti Group, we often talk about the importance of what happens “behind the door.” Usually, we mean the insulation, safety, speed, hygiene, and thermal performance that make our specialist access solutions work hard for high-performance sites. But sometimes “behind the door” is about people – the craft, care, and culture that bring those performance claims to life.
This is the story of Kevin – based at our Kerikeri hub in the Far North – and how his decades of hands-on experience, paired with Ulti Group’s supportive culture and engineering standards, help deliver reliable, energy-saving door systems for customers across Aotearoa.
From Fitter-Tuner to Door Craftsman
Kevin began his career as a fitter-turner – a trade built on accuracy to the millimetre, mechanical know-how, and methodical problem-solving. That early grounding taught him how every part must fit and function over time, not just on day one. He later moved into the building industry, where he spent more than 35 years across a wide variety of projects. For over two decades he ran his own business, balancing clients, sites, budgets, and deadlines – the relentless reality many tradespeople know well.
Eventually, Kevin made a choice: slow down the pace, not the purpose. He and his partner moved north to Kerikeri for a better lifestyle – expecting calmer rhythm, not necessarily a new spark. What he found at Ulti Group surprised him: a team culture that reignited his enthusiasm for precision work, learning, and shared success.
“I’ve never worked in a culture quite like it – and it’s great. It’s something I really enjoy.”
Why Culture Matters in High-Performance Manufacturing
Joining Ulti Group wasn’t just about finding a job; it was about joining a value-aligned team – craftmanship, pride in work, and respect for one another. In Kerikeri, Kevin found variety, collaboration, and accountability: the right environment to do his best work and keep learning.
That culture shows up in the finished product. When a door leaves our Kerikeri workshop as a complete kitset – prepped to be installed quickly and correctly onsite – it carries not only engineering and quality checks, but also the pride of the team who built it.
“Building doors from scratch to a finished kitself, ready to go out the door and be hung on the wall – and seeing it moving up and down in a shop somewhere – that’s great.”
What Kevin Builds: From Rapid Doors to Sectional Systems
Kevin is a key part of our manufacturing team, fabricating a wide range of Ulti Group solutions, including:
- Ulti Roll rapid doors for fast, safe, and efficient access
- Ulti Fold for robust, space-efficient performance
- Condoor doors for heavy-duty industrial use
- DuoTherm insulated high-performance systems for demanding thermal control
- Sectional doors in 40mm and 80mm options – an exciting and fast-growing part of our range
The sectional doors have captured Kevin’s attention recently. They’re designed for strong insulation, durability, and ease of use – ideal for facilities prioritising energy efficiency without compromising day-to-day operations or visual appeal.
“They’re a fantastic door. I’m still getting my head around them, but they’re great.”
And he’s straight up about the hard stuff too. The DuoTherm is his most intricate build – precise and involved – which is exactly why we value his focus and adaptability on those projects.
Why It Matters for Customers: Energy, Safety, and Uptime
For our customers in cold storage, logistics, food production, and retail, doors aren’t just doors. They’re critical infrastructure that:
- Conserve energy through better insulation, reduced air exchange, and reliable sealing – vital for temperature-controlled zones
- Improve safety with engineered movement, controlled speeds, and compliant protective features
- Increase efficiency by reducing wait times, streamlining traffic flow, and minimising maintenance-related downtime
- Protect uptime and product quality with durable construction and fit-for-purpose materials
Kevin’s precision and our process discipline translate into real results on site: less condensation, fewer energy losses, faster access, and doors that perform day after day.
Inside the Kerikeri Workflow: Kitset Done Right
Behind each finished kitset is a consistent manufacturing approach:
- Material prep and component accuracy – attention to tolerances every step
- Sub assembly and fit checks – ensuring everything aligns and moves as intended
- Thermal and mechanical integrity – from seals to hardware to controls
- Finish, pack, and documentation – making installation smooth and predictable
This approach reduces installation time and risk onsite and supports lifetime performance. It’s one reason Kevin encourages customers, partners, and recruits to visit:
“If anybody is interested in coming to Kerikeri and checking out how we build doors and how we get them ready for installation on site, come on up and have a look.”
The People Behind the Product
What stands out most about Kevin is his energy and openness to learning – even after decades in the trade. That attitude is exactly what we foster across Ulti Group. We back our people with clear standards, practical training, and modern tools, and we make space for continuous improvement, because better process equals better outcomes for customers.
Kevin’s story is one of rediscovering purpose through teamwork – slowing the pace while lifting the quality. It’s also a reminder that a high-performance door is the the sum of hundreds of decisions, each made by people who care.
Choosing the Right Door: Where Kevin’s Experience Guides the Build
Every site is different. Kevin’s cross-trade background helps us match the right solution to the right application:
- Logistics & warehousing: Ulti Roll and sectional doors to balance speed, durability, and energy control
- Cold storage & food production: DuoTherm and insulated sectional systems for thermal integrity, hygiene, and reliability
- Retail & commercial: Sectional doors (40mm/80mm) and Ulti Fold for visual appeal with performance under the hood
- Heavy industry: Condoor doors for rugged environments where uptime is everything
That fit-for-purpose mindset is central to Ulti Group’s mission: conserving energy, increasing efficiency, and saving lives through high-performance access solutions.
Why Ulti Group?
- New Zealand expertise, built locally: Our Kerikeri team manufactures with NZ conditions in mind, supporting faster lead times and better service.
- End-to-end support: Design advice, project coordination, installation, service, and preventative maintenance – from one trusted partner.
- Safety and compliance first: Standards-aligned engineering and documentation that stands up to audits.
- Continuous improvement: We’re always refining – adopting better materials, smarter controls, and more efficient processes.
- Culture that delivers: A supportive, straight-up, and driven team where people like Kevin thrive – and customers feel the difference.
“Behind the Door” Is a People Story
Ulti Group is known for high-performance doors. But performance starts with people. Kevin’s journey shows how experience, pride, and a strong team culture translate into tangible outcomes on site: tighter thermal performance, safer traffic, and smoother operations.
So, next time you see one of our doors moving up and down in a distribution centre, supermarket, or processing plant, remember: there’s a story behind it. It’s the story of proffesionals like Kevin who build with care, and a team that stands behind every door we deliver.
See It for Yourself
If you’re considering a new sectional door, upgrading to DuoTherm for better temperature control, or standardising rapid doors across sites, we’d love to show you what “behind the door” really looks like.
- Get in touch about visiting our Kerikeri facility
- Book a visit to our Auckland showroom
- If you can’t make it to Auckland or Kerikeri, book a virtual showroom visit
Get in touch today and discover why customers across New Zealand trust Ulti Group to protect people, products, and profits.