Making their own beds

Over 50 prisoners from Auckland, Waikeria and Spring Hill Corrections facilities are to build cell furniture from beds, tables and chairs to grilles.

CIE Engineering will be an integral part of this project: hundreds of beds, tables, chairs, desks and grilles needed for the Mt Eden Prison redevelopment project. A typical cell is furnished with a bed, desk, chair, shower and toilet.

After 120 years of service the replacement of Mt Eden Prison began in October 2008, with the new facilities set to be completed in 2011. “There has been a staged production of merchandise destined for the new cells,” says Engineering Sector Manager Mark O’Neill.

“The prisoners are training on the job, under strict guidelines towards NZQA qualifications in welding, engineering, fabrication and working with stainless steel.

“Prisoners in the pre-cast yard at Auckland built the moulds for the beds and they will be cast there from flexible mortar. All the work is being done in-house, meaning the prisoners can see the process from start to finish.

“This is the first time flexible mortar will be used in this type of application and the benefit is that it allows more complex shapes to be cast, and a smoother finish for the final product.”