Manufacturing from 1938 and still going strong. 

A Southland business that has spent generations working on the region’s homes, farms, and businesses is marking a major milestone, with a legacy that has quietly helped shape the way New Zealand builds.

Marshall Industries is celebrating ninety years in business, a journey that has seen the company become a familiar and trusted name across Southland and Otago, while also playing a pioneering role in the country’s roofing industry.

Originally established in 1938 as Owen Marshall Plumbing Ltd, the business was responsible for a major innovation in New Zealand construction. The company was the first in the country to develop and produce continuous long-run corrugated roofing iron, designing and building its own machinery in Invercargill using local tradespeople.

It was a breakthrough that changed how roofing was manufactured and installed across New Zealand, setting a new standard that is still widely used today.

The company also led another national first, developing continuous spouting systems and manufacturing twenty machines locally, in the 1940s, which were then distributed across New Zealand, Australia and the Pacific Islands.

Managing Director Tom Marshall says these milestones reflect a long history of practical innovation driven by the needs of the industry.

“There has always been a strong focus on finding better ways to do the job,” Marshall says.

“That early innovation came from local knowledge and skilled tradespeople right here in Southland, and it is something we are incredibly proud of.”

Alongside this legacy of innovation, the business has continued to deliver roofing solutions across the region, protecting homes, farm buildings and commercial properties through decades of growth, change and Southland weather.

Marshall says reaching ninety years is something the whole team is proud of, but it is also a reflection of the community that has supported the business for so long.

“This milestone really belongs to the people who have supported us along the way,” he says.

“Our customers, the builders we work alongside, our suppliers and the many staff who have been part of Marshall Industries over the years have all played a part in getting us here.”

While materials and building styles have evolved over time, one thing has remained constant.

“The focus has always been on doing the job properly and standing behind our work. Roofing is an important part of any building, and people place a lot of trust in the team doing that work.”

Across its history, the company has worked on thousands of roofs, becoming part of the built landscape of Southland and Otago.

Southland Chamber of Commerce Chief Executive Sheree Carey says businesses reaching milestones like this highlight the strength of the region’s local economy.

“Reaching ninety years in business is an incredible achievement,” Carey says.

“Marshall Industries is a great example of a Southland business that has grown alongside the region and contributed to its development over many decades. Businesses like this are an important part of the fabric of our community.”

For Marshall Industries, the anniversary is also a chance to recognise the people behind the work.

“Over the years, there have been generations of tradespeople, apprentices and team members who have taken pride in the work they do,” Marshall says.

“We are very grateful for the support we have received from the community and the construction sector across Southland and Otago.”

While the anniversary offers a chance to reflect on the past, Marshall says the team is focused on continuing that work into the future.

“We are proud of the history behind us, but we are just as focused on the future and continuing to support builders, homeowners and businesses across the region.”

Marshall Industries will mark the milestone with a series of community-focused initiatives throughout the year, celebrating the people, projects and partnerships that have shaped the business across generations.