Listed in: Technology
La Nuova: A new spin on innovation
From a family dry-cleaning business in Inglewood to New Zealand’s most advanced AI-powered laundry, La Nuova proves how innovation and smart finance can work hand in hand.
0 minute read
Founded in 1959 by a dairy farmer with a side hustle in dry cleaning, La Nuova has grown from a small regional service into one of New Zealand’s most advanced commercial laundries. Now led by Managing Director Brad Craig, the third generation of the founding family, the business processes up to 50 tonnes of laundry each week – serving clients across hospitality, healthcare and heavy industry.
A new cycle begins
Coming out of COVID, demand was rising but labour was tight. Rather than slow down, Brad and the team chose to reimagine the business. The goal wasn’t just to survive a tight labour market but to future-proof the business entirely.
In 2022, La Nuova committed to a bold $5 million dollar automation project, importing world-leading robotics and AI technology from Europe – some of it never seen before in New Zealand – to create a cleaner, safer, smarter operation.
Set to auto
Inside La Nuova’s Inglewood facility is more like a precision-engineering workshop than a laundry. At its heart is a sophisticated AI-assisted sorting line that uses RFID readers, X-ray scanners and smart cameras to identify, categorise and move garments through every stage of the process. From the first scan to the final fold, each item’s journey is tracked and optimised for accuracy and efficiency.
The technology doesn’t just save time – it reduces errors, energy use and repetitive manual labour. And crucially, it’s created opportunities for staff to step into higher-skilled roles focused on quality control, logistics and technology management.
The result is a business that’s running cleaner and leaner than ever, capable of taking on larger contracts while maintaining the family values it was built on.
Powered by partnership
Bringing a project of this scale to life required a banking partner that understood both the ambition and the complexity involved. BNZ’s Andy Potter, a long-time business partner to La Nuova, immediately recognised the potential impact of the automation upgrade – not only for the company but for the wider Taranaki economy.
With BNZ’s unique structure, the process moved quickly. Asset-finance specialists and credit decision-makers work side by side, meaning La Nuova had direct access to the people making the calls. That proximity and trust allowed Brad to move decisively and keep the project on track through each phase of installation.
For Brad, that kind of partnership turned a complex financial challenge into a manageable, collaborative process.
Tailored to tomorrow
To deliver the right funding model, BNZ combined traditional lending with specialist asset finance and a flexible CreditPlus facility – allowing La Nuova to move cash between accounts, manage timing differences and reduce interest costs as the project progressed.
With support from BNZ’s Dean Magon, the structure provided stability through periods of high capital outlay and ensured the company could focus on implementation rather than paperwork.
The tailored solution demonstrated how agile finance can empower ambitious regional businesses to invest in their infrastructure with confidence.
Pressed for progress
Today, La Nuova operates at full capacity – faster, cleaner and safer than ever before.
The new technology has reduced energy use, improved product tracking and elevated quality control standards across the board. Staff retention is up, productivity is increasing, and the company is on track to triple its revenue in the coming years.
For BNZ, La Nuova is a model of what happens when innovation meets partnership – proving that even the most hands-on industries can reinvent themselves and press on toward a smarter, more sustainable future.
Related articles
Phoenix Recycling Group: The bright future of New Zealand’s circular economy
Phoenix Recycling Group is reshaping how we think about resources. By processing metal scrap into vital resources for sustainable infrastructure and renewable energy, it’s driving change and supporting a resilient future.
How tech can create business opportunities
Trying to expand your small business? Embracing technology is just one of the ways to make yourself more flexible and therefore more available to clients.
Give your team a mindset advantage to rebound and innovate
How to develop a culture of positivity that empowers your workforce to thrive amid uncertainty.
Finance options for business
Find out more
This article is solely for information purposes. It’s not financial or other professional advice. For help, please contact BNZ or your professional adviser. No party, including BNZ, is liable for direct or indirect loss or damage resulting from the content of this email. Eligibility criteria, terms and establishment fees apply to CreditPlus facilities. Security and insurance required.