Welcome
I’m Allan Breckell,
the hands-on Managing Director of United Products / NZ Bandsaw.
I believe customers deserve practical, honest advice backed by real experience. This page shares a little about my background, how I came to lead United Products, and why I write the technical guides and resources found throughout this website.
My Background
I began my career as a tradesman in the printing industry, completing my prepress apprenticeship after starting in 1980. In 1984, I established my first printing business before going on to build businesses in printing, graphic design and recruitment over the following four decades.
Those businesses taught me that long-term success comes from understanding customers, solving real problems and standing behind the products and services you supply.
United Products / NZ Bandsaw
In 2019, I acquired United Products / NZ Bandsaw, a New Zealand manufacturer of custom-welded bandsaw blades. While the company already had a strong reputation for manufacturing quality, my focus has been on building on that foundation by investing in manufacturing processes, customer education, technical resources and online tools.
Today, we manufacture custom-welded bandsaw blades in New Zealand from premium European coil stock, supplying engineering workshops, manufacturers, timber processors, sawmills, meat processors and home workshop users throughout the country.
Learning the Craft
When I acquired United Products / NZ Bandsaw in 2019, I wanted to understand every part of the manufacturing process rather than simply manage the business.
I went back to the beginning, studying the original installation manuals for our welding, grinding and cutting equipment as though every machine had just arrived from the factory. I worked directly with Ideal-Werk in Germany to obtain original setup information and factory specifications, then recommissioned and fine-tuned our equipment to those standards.
We also worked closely with our blade manufacturing partners, including WIKUS and Håkansson, as well as other manufacturers using the same welding equipment, to compare welding parameters, manufacturing practices and blade performance. That process helped refine our factory settings and improve manufacturing consistency.
That same commitment to understanding the technical detail continues today. Whether researching blade metallurgy, tooth geometry, machine compatibility or troubleshooting cutting problems, I believe good advice should be based on practical experience, reliable manufacturer information and proven workshop practice.
Why I Write These Guides
One thing I noticed early on was that many customers weren’t simply looking to buy a bandsaw blade—they wanted reliable advice.
Questions like:
- Which TPI should I use?
- Why does my blade keep breaking?
- Why is my cut wandering?
- Which blade suits stainless steel?
- How do I measure my blade correctly?
These are questions we answer every day.
The guides on this website are based on real customer enquiries, practical workshop experience, manufacturer data, original equipment documentation and ongoing technical research.
My goal is to help customers make informed decisions before they buy, resulting in better cutting performance and longer blade life.
Industry Experience
Every day I work directly with engineering workshops, manufacturers, timber processors, meat processors and home workshop users throughout New Zealand. Much of my time is spent helping customers solve cutting problems, improve blade life, select the correct tooth pitch and choose the right blade for their machines and materials.
Whether helping a customer identify the correct replacement blade, selecting the best tooth pitch for a new application or troubleshooting cutting problems, I believe practical advice backed by experience delivers the best results.
Beyond Work
Outside of United Products / NZ Bandsaw, I’ve always enjoyed building, restoring and improving things. Whether renovating homes, restoring classic vehicles, maintaining our yacht or tackling practical projects, I’ve always been curious about how things work and how they can be made better.
That interest isn’t really about the projects themselves—it’s about good design. To me, good design isn’t simply something that looks good. It’s something that works well because it has been thoughtfully engineered and refined.
That same philosophy influences how I approach the business today, from refining manufacturing processes and developing online calculators to writing practical technical guides that help customers solve real problems.
Continuing to Improve
The website continues to grow with new technical guides, machine compatibility information, calculators and educational resources designed specifically for New Zealand users.
As both Managing Director and someone still actively involved in the day-to-day operation of the business, I continue to work closely with customers, develop new online resources and look for ways to make selecting the right bandsaw blade easier.
Thank you for visiting United Products / NZ Bandsaw. I hope the information on this website helps you choose the right bandsaw blade and achieve better cutting results. If you can’t find the answer you’re looking for, we’re always happy to help.
Connect
If you’d like to connect professionally, you can find me on LinkedIn.
“I’ve always believed that good design isn’t about how something looks—it’s about how well it works. Whether it’s a product, a manufacturing process or the way we help customers, thoughtful design should make things simpler, more reliable and more effective.”
— Allan Breckell
