About Techion Group
Techion Group is an "on-site" diagnostic technology company based in Dunedin New Zealand. The company has focused on the development of innovative diagnostic tools and smart management systems primarily in the areas of internal parasite and facial eczema management.
The company's core product is the FECPAK unit which originated as a system designed for testing sheep and goats but has undergone further refinements and is now suitable for testing cattle and horses. This innovative product was the result of a desire to provide farmers with accurate, quick and reliable FEC information on the farm.
Techion Group has also developed a high volume diagnostic lab where it provides contract testing services for research consortiums and other industry service providers. The company is active in the management, design and technical direction of these research projects.
Techion Group Mission Statement
"To be global leaders in providing technology and management systems for superior on-farm production and profitability".
Greg Mirams – Managing Director
After graduating from Lincoln University with a Diploma in Agriculture and Farm Management, Greg spent 3 years in the UK as a project accountant before returning to New Zealand in 1992. Greg established FECPAK in 1993 and remains at the helm today, supported by a small focused team based in Dunedin, New Zealand. Through his time at Lincoln University and practical farm experience, Greg identified a need for an accurate, quick and reliable method of measuring FEC (faecal egg counts) to assist with better on-farm management of parasites. Farmers around the world now use FECPAK technology within their farming operations. FECPAK is also used by many researchers and governmental agencies around the world for industry trials into internal parasite management. FECPAK have now developed a wide range of products and services that include diagnostic tools for managing facial eczema, accessing drench resistance and measuring phenotypic variations within a flock for the breeding of resistance to parasites.
Greg was also the technical manager on the large scale consortium S³ Project (Sheep Sustainability Strategy) that explored practical parasite management and genetic solutions for farmers. He also set up and managed the TechNZ funded Cattletech Project which focused of improving on-farm cattle parasite management. Greg was also a co-developer of the Greenprint Project, which is a consortium supply chain management initiative. More recently Greg was a participant in the EU funded project Parasol, where FECPAK's technology was trialed on 8 farms across the UK which resulted in farmers lowering their chemical inputs and improving their animal performance.
Greg is a current member of the WormWise extension & review committees, which is the national consortium for the promotion of best practice parasite management. In recognition of Greg's achievements the New Zealand Society of Animal Production awarded Greg with the Sir Arthur Ward Award in 2005, for his efforts in the communication and application of principles of animal production.
In December 2006 FECPAK was purchased by PGG Wrightson and traded as a separately branded business unit within the corporate group.
In July 2010 FECPAK was purchased back by Greg. Greg has formed a new company Techion Group Ltd which has added the FECPAK products and services range into the new business. Techion, meaning technology in action, has been established to work with industry to ensure technology products are delivering on farm.