Top 15 Material Handling Equipment Suppliers in New Zealand
Searching for a reliable source of forklifts, conveyors, trolleys or lifting gear for your warehouse or site? The roundup below pinpoints fifteen suppliers recognised across New Zealand for solid product ranges, credible after-sales support and proven safety records. Whether you’re fitting out a green-field DC, replacing a tired pallet-truck fleet or hiring extra kit for seasonal peaks, these names are the ones most buyers check first.
Before we dive into the company profiles, you’ll see how we built the shortlist and which equipment categories matter most—storage systems, mobile trucks, bulk-handling lines and automation. We’ll also share tips for matching a supplier’s service footprint and compliance know-how to your operation, so you end up comparing lifetime value rather than headline price. By the final section you’ll have a concise comparison sheet and the confidence to ring-fence two or three candidates for a site visit and quote.
1. Richmond NZ (Richmond Wheels & Castors)
Richmond keeps Kiwi factories and warehouses rolling, thanks to decades of wheel, castor and trolley expertise.
Company at a Glance
Auckland HQ; branches nationwide; 60+ years engineering handling solutions.
Key Material Handling Product Lines
Castors, conveyor rollers, pallet jacks, drum handlers, worksite trolleys.
Service & Support Highlights
Same-day despatch, on-site assessments, custom builds turned around fast.
Ideal Customers & Use Cases
Food plants needing stainless castors; logistics hubs upgrading manual handling.
Why They Stand Out
NZ’s widest castor range plus in-house engineers for one-off projects.
2. Astrolift
Astrolift fuses proven kit with smart automation, helping Kiwi warehouses move stock faster and cut manual risk.
Company at a Glance
Tauranga-based importer-integrator since 2004.
Core MHE Range
Conveyors, scissor lifts, pallet wrappers, dock levellers, pallet trucks, AGVs.
Value-Added Services
CAD layouts, install, training, preventative maintenance.
Notable Work
FMCG conveyor line and big-box dock-leveller rollout.
Differentiators
Turn-key automation backed by on-staff engineers.
3. Cookes (Bridon-Bekaert Cookes)
Cookes has supplied certified lifting gear to Kiwi industry for over a century.
Company at a Glance
Ten-branch national network; NZ’s largest lifting and rigging specialist (est. 1908).
Material Handling Specialties
Spreader beams, chain slings, plate clamps, winches, height-safety kits.
Compliance & Certification Services
Mobile proof-load testing, RFID tagging, AS/NZS inspections and recertification.
Typical Industries Served
Ports, civil, mining, heavy manufacturing.
Standout Strength
Full compliance management, saving customers downtime and WorkSafe headaches.
4. Material Handling Solutions (MHS)
Christchurch-born, MHS keeps forklifts moving nationwide and downtime low.
Company at a Glance
Independent supplier since 1997; stocks new and used units from 1-t walkies to 16-t giants.
Fleet Options
LPG, diesel, electric forklifts, reach trucks, order pickers, telehandlers.
Sales, Hire & Lease Plans
Short hire, full-maintenance lease or rent-to-own finance.
Support Infrastructure
24/7 mobile techs, big spare-parts shelves, Worksafe licences.
Unique Selling Point
Finance flexibility tailored to seasonal peaks.
5. AB Equipment
Company at a Glance
TIL Logistics subsidiary; 18 branches and 100+ mobile tech trucks nationwide.
Brand Portfolio
Toyota, BT, Raymond forklifts, Tigercat forestry gear, Vermeer loaders.
After-Sales Ecosystem
OEM parts, telemetry fleet monitoring, 24/7 breakdown cover, operator training.
Customer Profiles
3PL warehouses, timber yards, horticulture pack-houses.
Why Choose AB
NZ’s widest service footprint, multiple brands under one contract.
6. Universal Handling Equipment (UHE)
UHE builds material-handling kit right here in Palmerston North, so minor tweaks don’t blow out cost or lead-time.
Company at a Glance
Est. 1970; exporting NZ-made gear around Australia and the Pacific.
Product Suite
Conveyors, castors, trolleys, drum rotators, pallet wrappers, racking.
Competitive Edge
In-house CAD fabrication, low-VOC powder coat, rapid spares supply.
7. Crown Equipment Corporation NZ
7. Crown Equipment Corporation NZ
Company at a Glance
Global forklift innovator; branches in Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch.
Warehouse Solutions Range
Electric counterbalance, reach, order picker and VNA trucks; InfoLink fleet analytics.
Service Programmes
Integrity Parts & Service, planned maintenance, lithium-ion battery stewardship.
Real-World Savings Example
Customer cut aisle cycle time 30 % with Crown TSP VNA.
Key Advantage
End-to-end ecosystem—equipment, telematics, training—under one roof.
8. Toyota Material Handling NZ
Company at a Glance
Factory-backed division of Toyota New Zealand with ISO 14001 accreditation and service agents from Whangārei to Invercargill.
Flagship Products
Traigo electric forklifts, BT Reflex reach trucks, automated guided forklifts (AGFs).
Safety & Innovation
System of Active Stability (SAS), I_Site telematics, optional lithium-ion power packs.
Support Services
WorkSafe-aligned operator licensing, fleet health audits, rapid overnight parts.
Differentiator
Japanese reliability married to the most extensive dealer network in the country.
9. Hyster NZ (via Adaptalift or Gough)
Company at a Glance
Heavy-lift material-handling specialist distributed via Adaptalift (North) and Gough (South); up to 52 t.
Key Product Categories
Container handlers, reach stackers, high-capacity forklifts, tyre manipulators.
Industry Applications
Ports, steel mills, precast concrete, intermodal depots.
Service & Engineering
Custom mast/attachment design, remote monitoring, rebuilds, 24/7 support.
Why They’re Notable
Handles the heaviest loads on NZ market while keeping WorkSafe compliance front-and-centre.
10. Handling Equipment Canterbury (HEC)
10. Handling Equipment Canterbury (HEC)
Company at a Glance
Family-owned South Island outfit since 1993, specialising in safe lift and site gear.
Product Assortment
Chain blocks, lever hoists, gantry cranes, height-safety PPE, rigging hardware.
Added Services
In-house destructive testing, RFID tagging, compliance documentation packs.
Ideal Customers
Maintenance contractors, farmers, emergency services needing fast certification.
Distinctive Feature
South Island’s quickest recertification turnaround and friendly phone support.
11. Wheelco
Company at a Glance
Rotorua supplier of wheels and transport hardware with national courier reach.
Material Handling Inventory
Basket trolleys, electric pallet trucks, dollies, hand stackers—usually in stock.
E-Commerce Strength
Live inventory, overnight delivery, bulk pricing online.
Customer Use Cases
Removalists, retail storerooms, event crews needing low-cost gear.
Why It Makes the List
Sharp prices plus slick click-to-cart ordering.
12. MasterMover NZ
Company at a Glance
Auckland distributor of MasterMover pedestrian electric tugs; holds stock and demo units.
Flagship Models
MasterTug MT 2-30 t, compact SmartMover, plus ATEX explosion-proof versions.
Productivity & Safety Benefits
Single operator shifts multi-tonne loads, cutting strain injuries and fumes.
Typical Industries
F&B, pharma cleanrooms, aerospace, hospitals.
Competitive Edge
Patented load-control coupling outperforms forklifts on ramps.
13. Hirepool
Company at a Glance
Nationwide rental giant; 70+ branches; 65-year history.
MHE Fleet for Hire
Pallet jacks, walkie stackers, builder’s hoists, scissor lifts, material lifts.
Rental Terms & Support
Hourly to weekly hire, damage waivers, delivery/collection.
Typical Users
SMEs needing short-term gear, event crews, construction subs.
Standout Benefit
Capex-free access to certified gear at short notice.
14. Komatsu Forklift NZ
Company at a Glance
Global construction brand’s dedicated forklift arm; Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch branches.
Equipment Offering
IC cushion / pneumatic forklifts, electric counterbalance units, narrow-aisle reach trucks and hybrid models.
Service Framework
Komtrax telematics, factory-trained technicians and fixed-price service plans.
Case Study Snapshot
Hybrid FH-series reduced fuel burn by 25 % for an Auckland importer.
Unique Point
Hybrid engine tech slashes emissions and lifetime running costs.
15. Pacific Hoists NZ
15. Pacific Hoists NZ
Company at a Glance
Hamilton warehouse; NZ agent for Hitachi, Vital and JDN hoists.
Main Product Lines
Manual, electric and air chain hoists, lever hoists, beam trolleys, capstan winches.
Compliance & Support
AS1418 load tests, stocked spares, on-site rigger training.
Customer Segments
Food plants, utilities, hazardous-area sites.
Key Differentiator
Premium global brands with local stock reduces downtime.
How We Selected and Ranked These Suppliers
Sifting through the crowded material-handling marketplace wasn’t a game of “pick the biggest brand”. We compared more than forty contenders, then scored each one against a weighted matrix that reflects what Kiwi buyers actually ask for: breadth of kit, service reach, safety credentials and forward-looking tech. The goal was to surface suppliers that can deliver forklifts today, certify a spreader beam tomorrow and still be around in five years to honour the warranty.
Evaluation Criteria
- Product coverage across at least one of the four recognised MHE groups—storage, bulk, industrial trucks or automation (matching the common “What are the 4 materials handling equipment?” query on Google).
- Demonstrated national footprint or, for specialists, a dominant regional presence with mobile service crews.
- Documented compliance with WorkSafe NZ, AS/NZS 1418 and related standards, plus in-house or partnered recertification services.
- After-sales muscle: genuine parts stock, preventative-maintenance plans, operator or rigger training.
- Evidence of innovation—custom engineering, telematics, hybrid power or sustainability initiatives.
Research Process
- Analysed public catalogues, Worksafe improvement notices, MBIE award lists and import records.
- Cross-checked case studies, repeat contract wins and customer testimonials for reliability and service depth.
- Mapped service-truck locations and parts depots to ensure realistic response times north and south of Cook Strait.
- Filtered finalists through PAA queries and “people also search for” phrases to confirm they answer real buyer intent.
Key Categories of Material Handling Equipment Explained
Before you start phoning suppliers it helps to nail down which flavour of material handling equipment will actually shift the needle for your site. Below are the five core categories recognised by WorkSafe guides and most OEM catalogues, plus a snappy checklist to keep all the spec sheets honest.
1. Storage & Racking Systems
Think pallet racking, drive-in racks, mezzanines and carton-flow lanes. In New Zealand the make-or-break issues are seismic compliance, load-beam ratings and the availability of certified rack inspectors. Modern systems come with clip-in safety locks and barcode locations that feed straight into your WMS, shaving seconds off every pick while keeping auditors happy.
2. Bulk Material Equipment
If you’re shifting grain, sand, fertiliser or waste, conveyors, screw feeders and bucket elevators are the workhorses. Throughput is calculated in t/hr, but don’t ignore belt material and dust-containment skirts—both critical for meeting NZS 5206 air-quality rules and reducing clean-down time.
3. Industrial Trucks & Mobile Equipment
Forklifts, reach trucks, walkie stackers and pallet jacks sit in this bucket. Choosing between electric, LPG or diesel hinges on duty cycle, indoor vs outdoor use, and the cost of battery charging vs fuel. Many buyers now spec telematics so they can track hrs/run and flag under-utilised units.
4. Automatic & Semi-Automatic Systems
Automated guided vehicles (AGVs), AS/RS shuttles and robotic palletisers promise round-the-clock uptime. Up-front CAPEX is higher, yet Kiwi case studies show payback periods under three years when labour is tight. Always insist on local integrator support and spare-parts stock to avoid offshore delays.
5. Manual Handling Aids
Trolleys, lift tables, drum rotators and vacuum lifters reduce strain injuries and tick the boxes in the Manual Handling Code of Practice. Look for ergonomically positioned handles, foot brakes and, where possible, spring-assisted lifts to keep push/pull forces under the recommended 300 N.
Buying Checklist: What to Compare
| Spec/Feature | Question to Ask Supplier | Why it Matters in NZ |
|---|---|---|
| Load capacity (kg) | Does the rating include attachments? | Overloading voids warranty and breaches HSWA 2015. |
| Aisle width (mm) | What’s the minimum safe turning circle? | Drives warehouse layout and storage density. |
| Power source | Lithium-ion, lead-acid, LPG or diesel? | Impacts running cost, emissions and ventilation needs. |
| Maintenance window | How long for routine service? | Planned downtime = fewer 3 a.m. call-outs and overtime bills. |
| Compliance docs | Are AS/NZS certificates supplied? | Proves equipment meets local safety standards out of the box. |
| Life-cycle cost | What’s the $/hr over five years? |
Helps compare hire, lease or buy options on equal terms. |
Choosing the Right Supplier for Your Operation
Securing the best deal on material handling equipment is about more than ticking off a spec sheet. Start by matching gear type to your workload—high-throughput FMCG sites lean toward automated conveyors, while seasonal pack-houses may favour short-term forklift hire. Next, weigh a supplier’s service promise against your risk profile: a 24/7 mobile-tech fleet or rapid parts depot can save thousands in unplanned downtime, especially if you operate south of the Strait.
Before signing anything, whittle the long list down to two or three contenders and:
- Book an on-site assessment so they size equipment to real aisle widths and floor loads.
- Request a life-cycle cost model (
$/hrover five years) rather than a bare purchase price. - Ask for evidence of WorkSafe NZ compliance audits and operator-training programmes.
Finally, if your warehouse also stocks fishing nets, RV parts or other specialist lines, consider complementing new MHE with locally held outdoor and industrial gear from Action Outdoors for a true one-stop supply chain solution.