Rhys Knauf

Industrial Plant Services Lead/Senior Project Manager, Safety Engineer

As industrial Plant Services Lead at TEG Projects, Rhys is a TÜV Nord Certified Machine Safety Expert with more than 13 years of experience delivering complex industrial projects across New Zealand. Including projects across Utilities, Food & Beverage, FMCG, Pulp & Paper, and Chemical Manufacturing, he combines deep technical knowledge with structured project delivery to achieve outstanding results for clients.

Specialising in brownfield upgrades, asset replacement, and plant safety improvements, Rhys is known for his practical, solutions-driven approach and ability to navigate highly regulated environments. His background in multidisciplinary capital project delivery in industrial plant services – developed through his time at Beca – underpins his focus on risk management, process integrity, and engineering excellence. Rhys’ collaborative communication style ensures clear alignment between clients, contractors, and internal teams from concept through to commissioning.

Key projects include:

For Silver Fern Farms: Rhys led a programme of Ammonia Safety Improvements across four North Island Silver Fern Farms sites, involving upgrades to ammonia detection, control, and ventilation systems to meet IIAR and AS/NZS 5149 standards. Rhys also managed the Te Aroha Wastewater MCC7 and bore upgrade, overseeing the design and construction of a new building and electrical cabinet to meet NZS 3000 requirements. In addition, he led the development of a non-potable water bore system and a staged approach to implementing a new Water Treatment Plant, supporting site operations with a reliable potable water source.

For Fonterra: Rhys led the design management and stakeholder liaison for the Hautapu Wastewater Treatment Facility biosolids loadout project. This involved overseeing the design of a 55-tonne overhead solids hopper and truck loadout system, including a weighbridge, as well as assessing technology options and developing the Basis of Design documentation to achieve alignment between stakeholders and designers. He also managed an emergency pipe bridge replacement project, which involved constructing an underground service tunnel to restore and protect critical electrical infrastructure essential to site operations.

Specialist fields of activity are:

• Leading TEG’s Industrial Plant Services function, supporting clients with safe, efficient, and reliable plant performance

• Equipment design, front-end scoping, and strategic problem-solving, supported by a strong understanding of project delivery processes

• Confident public speaker with experience leading large groups in discussion and defining outcomes

• Specialised in brownfield improvements and retrofitting new equipment to existing plants

• Skilled in 3D design, modelling, and drawings using SolidWorks – creating detailed BOMs and high-quality workshop drawings for fabrication, assembly, and installation

• Strong focus on risk management and compliance (IIAR, HSNO, AS/NZS 5149)

• Expertise in process and utilities infrastructure