Leading the Extrusion Process in New Zealand

1947

New Zealand manufacturers approached the McKechnie UK Board with a proposal to establish a brass extrusion mill in NZ.

1951

McKechnie Brothers (NZ) Ltd incorporated on 27th February 1951.

Five-acre site on Carrington Road within New Plymouth City boundary purchased and site development commenced.

1952

Key staff from United Kingdom led by W Hayes, (subsequent chairman of directors of New Zealand Company), arrive in New Zealand 6th April 1952.

First NZ employee engaged – Ron England 25th July 1952.

1953

Stages in the assembly of the Shaw Extrusion Press (No.1) up to January 1953.

First brass log is cast 17th June 1953.

Shaw Press (No.1) extrudes first brass billet into (1.25” Round Alloy W - C17700) 8th August 1953. An extensive shipping strike in New Zealand waters during 1952 hampered & delayed plant installation.

1954

Section No. 100 extruded in November 1954.

Number of employees reaches 60.

1958

Rufflette brass curtain track production commences.

Lombard Press (No.2) delivered 21st July 1958 following building extensions in September 1958.

Commencement of aluminium extrusion on Lombard Press (No. 2) from imported Kaizer billet. The first extrusion occurred at 3.32pm 18th December 1958.

1959

Employee count reaches 130 by February.

Additional five acres acquired for planned expansion in New Plymouth.

1961

First newsletter published in March.

Rufflette track production reaches 7,000 miles (11,265 km).

Shaw press (No. 1) achieves 300 billets in 24 hours on 23rd May.

Lombard press (No. 2) extrudes 5 tons of aluminium in 24 hours.

Purchase of fifty-eight acres of industrial land at Bell Block July 1961. Original works located within boundaries of the city of New Plymouth were considered too restrictive.

1962

Rufflette track production reaches around-the-equator distance in January.

Carrington Road factory fire July 23, 1962. The fire started in the die-hardening shop, exploded into the roof and spread rapidly into the storeroom.

1963

Development of Bell Block site begins in July.

Vice-Regal visit from Governor-General Sir Bernard Fergusson.

1964

New Lombard press (No. 3) for aluminium installed at Bell Block.

Plant from Carrington Road transferred to the Bell Block site.

1965

Completion of Administration Buildings at Bell Block.

1966

Official opening of the Bell Block factory by Prime Minister Rt. Hon. K J Holyoake on 3rd March.

Copper tube trials commence in July.

1968

Three tonne – 600 kW Birlec furnace for brass melting commissioned.

Brass Ingot Foundry Building, Ball Mill & Rotary Furnace installed.

1969/70

Copper foundry and No. 1 copper mill construction starts.
Loewy-Robertson 2,000-ton piercing Press (No. 4) installed & commissioned.

No. 5 Bay building for Aluminium Extrusion added (2,450m2).
Lombard (No. 2) Press moved from Brass Mill to No. 5 Bay, converted to Aluminium & new extrusion handling system added.

Lombard (No. 2) Press moved from Brass Mill to No. 5 Bay, converted to Aluminium & new extrusion handling system added.

Staff versus Works annual Rugby match at McKechnie’s football ground at the southeastern area of the site adjacent to Okey Road.

1970

No 1 Copper Mill building extension (3,350 m2) and Copper Tube Manufacturing plant installed.
Copper Tube manufacture commenced November.

Copper Tube manufacture commenced November.

Extension to Administration Block.

ARL 29000 Spectro for metals analysis installed.

1971

Standards Association of NZ granted McKechnie Metal Products a licence to use the Standard Certification Mark for its copper tube to NZS.1755.

1972

Copper Foundry building extension erected.

“Sklenar” copper melting furnace and 3 strand vertical log casting machine installed.

No. 1 Copper Mill extended and (No. 2) 33,000lb drawbench installed.

Original anodising plant commissioned in November 1972. Established as “McKechnie Anodising Services Ltd” – and operated as a 50/50 venture between McKechnie and Christchurch Electroplating Company Ltd.

1974

McKechnie Brothers (NZ) Ltd listed as a Public Company in NZ. Shares issued to NZ public.

1975

No. 1 Drawbench (33,000lb) lengthened 400hp SCR drive and improved handling system added.

Personnel Block was erected next to main site entrance.

Powder coating plant is installed in the former copper oxide building at the southeastern area of the site off Okey Road. A new Company “Aluminium Colour Coatings Ltd” was formed to operate the new process.

Clubroom built adjacent to café.

1976

“Coreco” Swarf Drying Building and rotary furnace installed.

North west wing added to administration building.

McKechnie supplied “L” shaped aluminium extrusions for the painted Mural in the circular inner core of the parliament beehive building. The mural was designed by artist John Drawbridge and installed between December 1975 and May 1976.

1977

Fabrication Shop erected and plant installed.

1977

McKechnie Metal Report - August 1977:
NZ Parliament Beehive Mural 1975 - current

Read more

1977 / 1978

No. 2 Copper Mill built and plant commissioned. Officially opened by Prime Minister Rt. Hon R D Muldoon. [15th September 1978]

Shaw Press (No. 1) damaged beyond repair and removed from site.

Lombard Press (No. 2) moved back to Brass Mill to replace the Shaw Press. Converted to brass extrusion, and coil handling equipment added.

1978

“UBE” Press (No. 5 - 1800 US Ton) and gas fired tunnel furnace commissioned for aluminium extrusion (Nov. 1978).

1979

“Precision Cutting” enhancements installed within Fabrication Department.

1980

New company “Alspec aluminium Services Pty Ltd” was formed in Melbourne, Australia to distribute Aluminium products.

Toolroom building erected.

New “Agie” wire cut machines for extrusion tooling installed.

1982

Wire Mill major expansion of capacity. Showa triple drawing block & Takashima wire strengtheners installed.

Anodising plant expansion.

ARL 34000 Spectro for metals analysis installed to replace ARL 29000.

1982/83

Construction of Auckland Office and Distribution facility.

1983

New Aluminium foundry equipment is installed including a new melting furnace, melt preparation and casting furnace & Wagstaff 20-mould Maxi-Cast casting machine.

1984

Lombard press (No. 2) upgraded for brass coil production.

1984/85

Purchase of Jamec Tools Pty Ltd, J D Morris and Pem Tool Company Pty Ltd.

1985

Anodising warehouse extension.

New gas fired Aluminium Ageing heat treatment furnace installed.

NZ Standards Quality Endorsement.

Inaugural Dinner of the McKechnie 25 Year Club held at the Bell Block plant.

1985 / 1986

McKechnie Metal Report - May 1985 & May 1986.

Employee distinction in sport – Ref Metal Report May 1985. Left to right: - Lane Sanger (Golf); David McCallum (Golf); Steve Flaszynski (Bowls); Stephen Robertson (Cricket); Terry Fitzgerald (Motorcycle Racing).

1986

Over Seas Trade Minister Rt Hon Mike Moore presents the New Zealand Export Award to Managing Director Peter Sukolski on left.

1987

Lombard Press (No. 3) major upgrade including addition of extrusion runout puller, “Granco” billet heater, PLC/Automatic control, improved container guiding & pump controls.

New Anodising Building and Plant was commissioned to replace original plant operating since 1972.

New gas fired aluminium log homogenising furnace installed and the electric furnace transferred to Brass Mill to replace the Effco Brass Wire Annealing furnace.

1988

Purchase of Admax Trading Pty Ltd, an Australian distributor of non-ferrous metals.

Name change announced from McKechnie Brothers NZ Ltd to “McKechnie Pacific Limited” – 1st June 1988. McKechnie Metals operates in various international markets, but primarily concentrates on the pacific rim region, and is a wholly owned subsidiary of McKechnie Pacific Ltd.

Alco Ladder production commissioned.

Automation of Lombard Press (No. 3) undertaken, together with associated improvements.

1991

ISO Quality Assured Supplier

Anodising (ISO 9002)

Aluminium Division (ISO 9002)

Aluminium Foundry (ISO 9003)

1992

NZ Standards Accreditation

Brass Extruded Products

Copper Tube Manufacture

1993

40th year of operations celebrated. Free meals provided to all McKechnie Metals staff to mark the occasion.

Major upgrade of Lombard Press (No. 3) extrusion handling system. Belt conveyors and a new saw added. Commissioned Dec 1993.

Re-established Wellington sales Office Dec 1993.

NZ Standards Accreditation

Fabrication and Assembly of Aluminium Products (ISO 9002)

Aluminium Remelt and Casting (ISO 9002)

Extrusion and Finishing Aluminium Products.

“Standards Mark” Licence obtained.

Baghouse (image below) for Aluminium foundry installed, including a new 900kW induction melting furnace for aluminium (I Pot).

1994

Extension to Fabrication Building (2 bay addition at rear of site).

Turnstile at homogensing furnace installed.

New marketing and distribution facility Auckland.

TRADENZ “Export Excellence Award” received.

National Winner Telecom / Chamber of Commerce “Employment Creation Award”

TELARC Laboratory Registration awarded for DR brass analysis and product testing facility.

1994/95

4,000m2 building was erected in 1995. Bay #6.

Press 1830 US TON/SUTTON Aluminium Press (No. 6), handling equipment & electric ageing furnaces installed. First extrusion Feb 6th 1995. Commissioned March 1995.

1996

Fabrication Shop extension (920m2) completed May 1996.

Combined Baghouse for Brass & Copper foundries installed.

CNC Automatic Machining Centre (Forso drill) purchased for fabrication.

1997

Automatic Packing Machine (Pezzorgna Armando) installed in Aluminium Warehouse.

Powder Coating Plant purchased and located at Connett Rd facility.

Brass Wire Down coiler installed to enhance market opportunities.

1998

Tardis 1062 Dross Press installed for extracting Aluminium from ash (dross) after raking off from the melting furnace.

McKechnie Metals Pacific Pty Ltd Operations sold in July by UK owner McKechnie PLC, and the name was changed to MCK Metals Pacific.

The Company gained certification to International Standard ISO 9001: Quality Management Systems – Requirements. September 1998. Covers the design, manufacture and supply of aluminium billets, extrusions, fabricated precision machined components, including anodising and powder coating surface finishing.

Kelly Control System installed on Press 6 for pressure maximization & isothermal extrusion. Commissioned August 1998.

1999

Automation of Copper Tube Manufacturing (Twinsaw & Texas installation).

Aluminium packing upgraded and automated.

2MW Induction melting furnace (C Pot) installed in copper foundry.

Dangerous goods shed installed.

No 2 Copper Mill walls partially sound proofed.

Reciprocating compressors replaced with quieter screw compressors.

Methven Tap makers of Dunedin combined with HMC of Auckland.

1999/2000

Press 4 slack-water tank relocated to outside foundry building.

No. 1 Copper Tube Mill Drawbench PLC installed.

Upgrade of power supply to D Pot Furnace and Loewy Press (No. 4) pumps.

Loewy Press (No. 4) main ram replaced.

2000

US Filters Brass wire pickling effluent treatment commissioned.

Security Mesh stretching operation commissioned.
 

The Company gained certification to International Standard ISO 14001: Environmental Management Systems – Requirements with Guidance for Use. July 2000. Covers the management of environmental impacts and aspects associated with the design, manufacture and supply of aluminium billets, extrusions, fabricated precision machined components, including anodising and powder coating surface finishing.

Anodising effluent control partially upgraded.

Equipment storage barn decommissioned.

Methven Tap makers of Auckland sold.

Equipment storage barn decommissioned.

Methven Tap makers of Auckland sold.

2001

Nickel removal process for anodising effluent installed & extensive R&D commenced by KiwiTech.

Cantilevered hydraulic loader installed for C Pot copper melting furnace.

Canopy at copper foundry installed for unloading containerized charge material.

Site storm water control measures implemented for Brass & Copper foundries.

Pine forests removed to enable commencement of landscaping projects.

2002

US Filters Brass wire pickling effluent treatment plant automated.

Copper Division sold to MM Kembla NZ Ltd.

• Copper Mills 1 & 2 cleared of copper tube manufacturing equipment.
• Extrusion Press 4 removed from site.
• C Pot induction furnace & casting equipment removed from site.
• Copper foundry baghouse removed from site.

Mesh stretching operation sold & relocated in Australia.

Brass division sold to Consolidated Extruders Ltd.

Pyrolysis furnace installed in Powder coat mill.

Smart Aluminium, Regency Aluminium, Accord Industries & Jamec Pen sold.

Distribution network throughout Australia sold for Brass, Copper & Aluminium.

Rail siding at Bell Block closed.

2003

Native bush planted near rail siding.

Brass Wire production Mill removed from site.

Brass Rod production Mills removed from site.

Extrusion Press No. 2 removed from site.

Brass foundry & Coreco swarf drying plant removed from site.

Brass wire effluent treatment mill (IX Plant) converted for anodising seal process rinse water nickel extraction.

2004

CNC router installed & upgraded in Fabrication.

Fabrication welding bay relocated to old brass wire location.

Bulk acid & caustic storage upgraded.

Site roads concreted for heavy metal runoff control

CNC machining centre installed in fabrication.

MCK Group agreed to sell its NZ Aluminium Extrusion business and Australian Indent business to a Consortium that included Senior

Managers of MCK Metals Pacific. The new entity is called MCK Metals Pacific Ltd.

2007

Annual Field Days display.

2008

New remelt furnace installed. McKechnie is the only aluminium extruder in Australasia to have an onsite remelt facility.

The Company achieved the requirements of the Enviro-Mark®NZ Certification Programme to the Diamond level. August 2008. Enviro-Mark Solutions Ltd are a Subsidiary of Landcare Research NZ Ltd.

2009

New Powdercoat plant commissioned on the main site.

Corporate name change from MCK Metals Pacific Ltd, to McKechnie Aluminium Solutions Ltd.

Windows and Doors subsidiary business venture commissioned - Open Windows + Doors.

Mazda / Ford bumper bar manufacturing commenced in fabrication mill.

Finance Minister Rt Hon Bill English visits the plant November 2009. 

2011

Prime Minister Rt Hon John Key visited June 2011.

2012

McKechnie acquired OMEGA® Windows + Doors from Larry Hoyle (who founded OMEGA® in 1978). Since then, McKechnie has invested in the people and products to make OMEGA® suites the most innovative, modern, and effective products, recognised across New Zealand and internationally.

2016

McKechnie becomes the first Aluminium Extruder in the world to gain third-party product certification to CEMARS "Certified Emissions Measurement and Reduction Scheme". This confirms that the Company has measured the cradle to grave life cycle greenhouse gas emissions incurred and are committed to managing and reducing the emissions intensity of the products.

Our environmental performance continues to be audited against ISO 14001 and to Toitū Enviromark Diamond level requirements. Toitū Carbon reduce product certification is audited by independent agencies to ensure the principles of carbon reduction are maintained. Learn more about our Toitū certifications.

ISO 9001 Quality management certification is audited annually to ensure the company products meet customer expectations and commitment to quality is identified.

2017

Installation of the new "Giulia" Extrusion Press (No.7) begins.

2018

First aluminium billet is extruded on the new press.

2019

Final performance handover of the "Giulia" press from Italian supplier Turla. McKechnie is home to New Zealand's largest and most technologically advanced aluminium extrusion press, increasing plant capacity by 30-40%.

2020

In January 2020, during our summer shutdown, a fire devastated a portion of our factory, but our team's resilience shone through as we worked tirelessly to rebuild and maintain customer orders. We emerged stronger than ever, committed to delivering the same quality and service.

2021

Second powder-coating line installed and commissioned to increase our powder coating capabilities.  

2022

Whiting Holdings New Zealand advises acquisition of McKechnie Aluminium. Transaction completed end of July 2022. Ultimate Holding Company – Amari Australasia Holdings Inc.

2025

Replacement of original powder-coating line to Gema powder-coating technology – includes the RMC fast colour-change booth and dust collector proposal provides reliable, market-leading performance and quality.