Mr Ullrich called on Prime Minister John Key to open the new Ullexco Extrusion Plant in Te Rapa, Hamilton. While things were still tough, particularly in its New Zealand operations, Ullrich’s investment was part of a total $10 million expansion project to help the company compete internationally. 

The project would reduce waste, making Ullrich products more environmentally friendly and also increase  production capacity. The old plant had since been dismantled and sold to a company in India.

Mr Ullrich said while the company was 100 per cent New Zealand owned there was increasing investment overseas as competition from cheap Chinese product poured through the ports.
There was ‘‘no fairness’’ in competing against Chinese aluminum products being sold at material cost price.
‘‘If we had not been in business for the last 80 years we would be out of it by now,’’ he said.

Pace Engineering Ltd Managing Director Steve Day said "we were delighted that our company was chosen as the preferred engineering contractor for both the NSW installation as well as the Te Rapa installation. We have specialist skills in the metal extrusion industry and have been associated with Ullrich Aluminium for a number of years. This move really enhances the Ullrich vision of being more effective and efficient with their manufacturing operations".  

Gilbert Ullrich, John Key, Steve Day