New Plymouth-based McKechnie Aluminium is now home to New Zealand’s largest and most technologically advanced aluminium extrusion press. 

The Italian press, named ‘Giulia’ literally means ‘youth’ and its broader meaning is ‘new’ and ‘prosperous’.

McKechnie Managing Director Mr Pramod Khatri says: “This significant investment is part of our strategy to grow our business and futureproof our customer base, employees and local community. McKechnie has been manufacturing, exporting and creating employment opportunities in Taranaki for 60 years now. This investment will give us the opportunity to continue for another 60.” 

McKechnie also exports a sizeable share of its production to Australia and has been doing so for nearly 31 years.

The sizeable investment is welcome news for the local economy, particularly in the wake of the Government’s 2018 announcement to cease offshore oil and gas exploration.

“This state-of-the-art aluminium extrusion press is a very exciting addition to Taranaki’s, and New Zealand’s, manufacturing capability,” says Mr Khatri.

The press has increased the plant’s capacity by between 30 and 40 percent. This has been done by enhancing the company’s capability to produce larger-sized products and complex profiles previously possible only through imports.

“For our New Zealand customers, it means they don’t need to source some of the bigger products from overseas suppliers,” says Mr Khatri.

The benefits for customers of having their aluminium product manufactured in New Zealand are multiple, including reduced working capital, shorter lead times, certainty of delivery, assured quality and high environmental performance.

“Our product has the lowest carbon footprint of all aluminium extrusions produced in Australasia. McKechnie is the only aluminium extruder with a re-melt facility, which means a high proportion of our product is made from recycled content,” says McKechnie Chief Operating Officer Mr Scott Fuller.

McKechnie’s New Plymouth plant is ISO9001 and ISO14001 quality and environmental certified. It is also the only Australasian aluminium extruder, and the world’s first, to have gained third-party CEMARS environmental certification, which is based on stringent European standards.

Installation started in October 2017 and the first billet was produced in March 2018. Final performance handover from Italian supplier Turla was in July 2019.

“After an intense period of commissioning, the new press is performing well. We’re looking forward to growing our business and continuing to provide our customers with high-quality, low-carbon aluminium products for their projects,” says Mr Khatri.