Whanganui's Extol Mastercraft Engineering stocks Trade N Go gas cylinders

Extol's Marty Esau with some of the Trade N Go cylinders.

A Whanganui engineering firm has partnered with a gas supplier to provide returnable gas cylinders for small-scale users.

Extol Mastercraft Engineering in Mosston Rd was in partnership with SuperGas for five years, owner Geoff Bonner said.

"CoreGas bought SuperGas last year and has invested in new gas bottles and equipment and brought the system over from Australia," Bonner said.

"With the new Trade N Go system, you pay a deposit on the bottle and pay for the gas. It's good for people who don't need a high volume of gas but still have a use for it."

The Trade N Go system does not require users to buy the cylinder or pay a monthly rental for the gas bottle. Other systems have required a monthly rental on the bottle, regardless of how much gas was used and how long the bottle lasted.

"Home handymen, plumbers, people into hobbies are using it," Bonner said.

CoreGas provides acetylene, argon, carbon dioxide, MIG shielding gas and oxygen in the Trade N Go range.

Extol has been in business for 16 years, the past five at its current Mosston Rd site. The company makes "anything and everything", including general engineering, sheet-metal work, stainless-steel fabrication, laser and waterjet cutting, Bonner said.

The company employs about 25 staff in Whanganui and has a branch in Palmerston North.