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McKechnie has a proud history of extrusion in New Zealand, dating back to 1947 when we began with our brass extrusion mill. Today, as pioneers in aluminium extrusion in New Zealand, McKechnie continues to embrace the latest technological and manufacturing advances.
Explore McKechnie's history and discover our key milestones.
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.
Purchased a five-acre site on the New Plymouth city boundary and began development.
1952
Key personnel from the United Kingdom, led by W Hayes, arrive on 6th April.
First NZ employee, Ron England, joins on 25th July.
1953
First brass log cast on 17th June.
First brass billet extruded on 8th August (1.25” Round Alloy W - C17700).
Extensive shipping strike in 1952 delayed plant installation.
1954
Section No. 100 extruded in November.
Number of employees reaches 60.
1958
Rufflette curtain track production begins.
Lombard press (No. 2) delivered on 21st July.
Commenced aluminium extrusion on 18th December at 3:32 PM using imported Kaiser billets.
1959
Vice-Regal visit from Governor-General Sir Bernard Fergusson.
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 in 24 hours.
Fifty-eight acres of land at Bell Block acquired for expansion.
1962
Rufflette track production reaches around-the-equator distance in January.
Factory fire on Carrington Road on 23rd July.
1963
Development of Bell Block site begins in July.
1964
New Lombard press (No. 3) for aluminium installed at Bell Block.
Equipment transferred from Carrington Road to 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.
1970
Extension to Administration Block.
ARL 29000 Spectro for metals analysis installed.
No 1 Copper Mill building extension (3,350 m2) and Copper Tube Manufacturing plant installed.
Copper Tube manufacture commenced November 1970.
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.
Clubroom built adjacent to café.
1976
“Coreco” Swarf Drying Building and rotary furnace installed.
North west wing added to administration building
1977
Fabrication Shop erected and plant installed.
1977
McKechnie Metal Report - August 1977:
NZ Parliament Beehive Mural 1975 - current
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 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 installed including a new melting furnace, heating furnace & Wagstaff 20-mould 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 Aluminium Ager installed.
1985 / 1986
McKechnie Metal Report - May 1985 & May 1986:
Employee Distinction in Sport
1987
Lombard Press (No. 3) major upgrade including addition of puller, Granco billet heater, PLC/Automatic control, improved container guiding & pump controls.
New Anodising Building and Plant commissioned.
New gas fired homogenising furnace installed and 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.
“McKechnie Pacific Limited” name change – 1st June 1988.
Alco Ladder production commissioned.
Automated Lombard Press (No. 3) together with associated improvements.
1993
Major upgrade to Lombard Press (No. 3), adding belt conveyors and a new saw.
Re-established Wellington sales office in December.
900kW induction melting furnace installed in the aluminium foundry.
1994/95
A 4,000 m² extension, Bay #6, completed in 1995.
Sutton Aluminium Press (1830 US TON, No. 6) commissioned in March 1995.
1998
Tardis 1062 Dross Press installed to recover aluminium from dross.
McKechnie Metals Pacific Pty Ltd operations sold.
Kelly Control System installed on Press 6, optimizing extrusion.
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 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.
Mesh stretching operation commissioned.
Anodising effluent control partially upgraded.
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 2 removed from site.
Brass foundry & Coreco swarf drying plant removed from site.
Brass wire effluent treatment mill (IX Plant) converted for nickel extraction.
2004
CNC router installed & upgraded in Fabrication.
Fabrication welding bay relocated to old brass wire.
Bulk acid & caustic storage upgraded.
Site roads concreted for heavy metal runoff control
CNC machining centre installed in fabrication.
2008
New remelt furnace installed. McKechnie is the only aluminium extruder in Australasia to have an onsite remelt facility.
2009
New Powdercoat plant commissioned on the main site
Windows and Doors venture commissioned.
Mazda / Ford bumper bar fabrication
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 Enviromark Diamond certification and CEMARS product certification (now known as Toitū Enviromark Diamond and Toitū carbonreduce product certification). Learn more about our Toitū certifications.
2017
Installation of the new "Giulia" extrusion press begins.
2018
First aluminium billet is produced 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.
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.
