Harvie Bell developed a range of gas product all manufactured in Dunedin, the gas production ceased in 2008 favouring wood burning production.
With a rich history of Kiwi craftsmanship, Yunca began in 1979 when Terry Young built his first heater. Demand quickly grew, spurring expansion first nationwide, and then internationally.
Decades later, Yunca is still delivering warmth with the same commitment to design innovation that drove Terry to engineer that first woodburner in the 70s.
Terry Young established Young’s Electrical as an owner operator on 23rd of March 1977.
Terry manufactured the first heater for his family’s 100 year old home.
By 1980, Terry had sold five units to acquaintances in Invercargill.
Following a display at the Southland Agriculture and Pastoral Winter Show he took orders for 151 units, and the business was up and running. At the time the team were making one heater per week, so the team needed to speed up to meet accelerating demand machinery was acquired along with extra staff - bringing production numbers up to six units per day.
Expansion of the first factory behind his old home at 38 Bowmont Street.
Established a network of high performing retail associates throughout the South Island.
First shipment of units bound for Australia with salesman Ron Downy, in November 1982. These were stored in a warehouse in Botany, Sydney.
Further expansion of the factory, after buying the neighbouring home at 34 Bowmont Street.
Purchased 50% of Procote Industries at 18 McNab Street Dunedin [enamelling and powder coating plant] this allowed Yunca to offer a range of colours. Chartered accountant, Ken Rewcastle joined the company and had a pivotal role to play in the early development of the company.
Yunca established a market in the Netherlands with its multi burner.
Purchase of plant and equipment from Champion Appliances and the Yunca Dunedin factory at 2 Donald Street to house the new equipment. Harvie Bell, Operations Manager at Champion Appliances joined Yunca. Harvie was a valued and long serving team member right up until his retirement from the company in 27 yeas later, in 2013.
Development of the Wegj, a radical new concept in design for wood heating with a drop down door.
Yunca’s first shipment was dispatched to the USA, Canada and Greece. Yunca also purchased a further 25% of Procote Industries in 1992, completing the purchase of the remaining 25% from Ralph DeVries in the late 1990s. Ralph stayed on with the company until the age of 65.
Yunca acquired the new factory at 41 Onslow Street, it is still Yunca Holdings HQ today.
Yunca received its first engineering contract to manufacture 18,000 cell hood covers for New Zealand Aluminum Smelters (NZAS).
Yunca Engineering’s second contract for NZAS was to manufacture 22,000 anode clamps for the smelter upgrade.
Established a gas distribution company eventually selling out to Nova Energy in 2010, Nova later sold to Genesis Energy, and they still operate from the site leased from Yunca.
Purchase of the Yunca India site in Southern based state of Goa. Production commenced in 2010, enabling Yunca to re-establish its export market. Mahesh Upadhye is Yunca’s India Operations Manager, and he upholds the company’s commitment to quality.
The first shipment of engineering product was also sent to the UAE in 2006.
A shipment of engineering product was dispatched to Germany with a second shipment leaving in 2013.
Karyna was headhunted to join the company, ensuring Yunca's succession is in experienced, capable hands for the future.
