Precision Performance

8 March 2026

Edward Speechly, Senior Design Manager at Wyma Solutions

At home on the farm

For Edward Speechly, his earliest exposure to machinery was knocking about agriculture machines during his childhood days on the farm and also earthmoving machinery as his Grandad ran a contracting company out of Oxford. From there, in his teenage years, he developed an interest in motorsport and go-karts and the various engineering facets that go with that.

This early appreciation must have stuck as he went on to study design along with English, maths and sciences at St Bede’s College, followed by a Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering with First Class Honours at the University of Canterbury.

Revving up for the future

Towards the end of his degree, Edward spent a four month stint in a mechanical engineering role at Pace Innovations – a Brisbane-based engineering contractor with a strong heritage in the motorsport industry. 

While there, he was reacquainted with his earlier passion, becoming directly involved in motorsport and race winning engineering solutions – Edward was of course hooked and on returning to NZ and completing his degree he doubled down on his intent to pursue an engineering design career.

Optimisation and safety

Optimisation and safety are all-important part of engineering in race vehicles and today Edward’s design and management approach working for the food processing industry draws on these key design principles.

Eclectic experience

“I started at Wyma Solutions in the early days of the graduate programme and was given great exposure to many aspects of the business from Procurement and After Sales, through to Design, Project Management and Fabrication,” Edward Speechly says.

Next, he spent some time away from Wyma, riding out the unsettling times of Covid and focusing on consulting engineering. During this period, Edward worked on structures for various mechanical equipment – plant as diverse as diesel storage, stationary and transportable tanks, marine rope handling equipment, building-related elements and pump station upgrades.

Backed with a wealth of experience from these diverse roles, Edward decided to continue his career back within the fold of the ever-growing family at Wyma.

Wyma – the epitome of local & global reach

Wyma Solutions is a design and manufacturing business to be reckoned with.

The agricultural post harvest plant design and manufacturing company has its main base in Christchurch with a second in Prague and smaller offices dotted around the world.

Wyma designs, creates and installs stainless steel food plant solutions for companies throughout New Zealand and right around the planet.

One international example, and its largest undertaking to date, is a landmark carrot facility in Saudi Arabia. 

Late in 2025, the Nawami Agriculture Company in Saudi signed a landmark agreement with Wyma Solutions for a new, fully automated carrot washing and processing facility – valued at a cool 18 million NZD.

Another international project of many was for MR Farms in Canada, a huge undertaking that Edward oversaw.

Expanded roles and increased responsibilities

Precision solutions are required for every piece of food-processing plant – custom designs that incorporate and integrate individual pieces of equipment in the line and take into consideration a project’s unique environment, conditions and needs.

Efficiency and optimisation are central considerations for every piece of plant and processing line leaving the Wyma premises – including carrot lines, onion lines, potato lines, and fruit lines, to name only some.

Example layout of Wyma manufactured and integrated machinery

Four years on and today Edward Speechly manages a team that processes a staggering 500 plus individual designs per year, most shaped in stainless steel.

Our alloy’s future – an inside perspective

“The SS manufacturing industry is fast to pick up on new technologies to stay competitive in the market – Wyma is a great example of this, including its recent acquisition of a high-tech laser welder,” says the Senior Design Manager.

An important part of his role is making sure Wyma’s engineers have access to any and all relevant industry knowledge. 

“Equally important is Wyma’s sharing back of advanced technical knowledge that it acquires around stainless steel – and the NZSSDA is a vehicle for this,” he says.

A challenge to consider

“Proving compliance of stainless steel is currently a challenge in New Zealand – due to the withdrawal of AS/NZS 4673, attributed to funding, I believe. It would be great to see the inclusion of new laser welding methodology to AS/NZS 1554.6 as well.

Hygiene – a growing consideration

“Another factor to consider for Wyma, and likely other businesses too, is addressing a requirement for increased hygienic design from the food processing facilities or their parent companies, which makes the case for the use of stainless steel even stronger.

Lean duplex stainless steel

“In the near future, I hope to see Lean duplex stainless steel becoming more readily available.”

(This is a cost-effective, high-strength alloy with a balanced ferritic-austenitic structure, featuring lower nickel content than traditional duplex steels.)

“Lean duplex stainless steel has a similar cost per kg to traditional stainless steel alloys but has a nominal yield strength of over twice the common 304/316 stainless steel – 450 MPa vs 200Mpa,” he says. 

“The main hurdle is demand which is driven by industry knowing when and how to make the best use of it.”

Knowledge is always key

Edward says that a wider knowledge of stainless steel’s chemical and performance characteristics is the most important thing to ensuring broad optimisation of the alloy generally. 

“For stainless to be selected for use in design, it must be cost effective, and this is only achievable when engineers are able to make informed decisions by having the relevant information to hand. 

“For example, the upfront cost of stainless steel is more than carbon steel, but when you factor in handling and surface coating and the full life cycle cost of the equipment the equation becomes more complex,” he adds.

The Blue Book is gold

“The NZSSDA’s Blue Book has shown how useful a single reference book is for particular areas of the stainless industry and I’m looking forward to seeing what comes from the Green Book which will be aimed at helping the water infrastructure industry.“It’s vital to make sure knowledge is positioned in the right place to encourage continual learning and the adoption of new related technologies while balancing the ever-essential need for compliance,” Edward says.

Sharing is caring

“The NZSSDA’s AGM in August 2025, with guest speaker Patrick Fenemor from HERA, was a perfect example of this – conveying a wealth of knowledge around the complexities of welding stainless steel correctly.”

Edward adds that experience-sharing like this assists the industry to optimise processes and the use of stainless steel at every viable opportunity.

“I see Wyma as having high potential to add value to the engineering profession within New Zealand but also internationally. 

‘Ground-breaking’ research

“In addition, I can see great potential in collaborating more closely with the University of Canterbury, research, development including testing being conducted there on the structural performance of stainless steel for seismic design – this is something I am excited about.

“We have a brilliant manufacturing and R&D facility here in Christchurch and it would be great to share knowledge where possible – any development in the space around the durability and structural performance of stainless steel will mutually benefit Wyma, the engineering profession, and the consumer.

“In fact, we currently have a first meet up and tour through the Wyma facillity with the Structural Engineering Department’s Dr Ke Jiang.”

An increasing part of Edward Speechly’s role as his career progresses is realising his place as both a technical decision maker and a leader of other up-and-coming engineers – this includes keeping an eye on the big picture and allowing the knowledge he gains to be directed to new and upcoming talent. 

“For us at Wyma, this means a strong focus on people, knowledge and optimising the use of stainless steel.”

NZSSDA – conduit for knowledge and advancement

“The NZSSDA has been the conduit between myself and relevant work in the industry and I look forward to a long and productive future with this vital Association.”

Older drivers don’t leave the track – they just go faster

In a full circuit moment, today Edward Speechly continues his motorsport involvement – though now in a rather simpler fashion – he often spends a Sunday at the Ashburton Grass Kart Club, blending farm and fuel.

“So, a case of back to my roots, ha-ha,” quips Edward.

Thank you to Edward for sharing his insights in this interview, and Wyma Solutions for providing the images used in this article.