Advancing Manufacturing Aotearoa spotlights Howick’s New Zealand-made capability

⏱️ 1 min read

In a recent feature, Advancing Manufacturing Aotearoa (AMA) takes readers inside the factory of Howick Limited to explore how a New Zealand manufacturer has quietly become a global force in construction technology.

The article looks at the philosophy behind Howick’s success, from its commitment to designing and manufacturing every machine in New Zealand to its focus on precision engineering and long-term reliability. Today, machines built in their Auckland factory are exported to more than 80 countries and used by construction companies around the world to manufacture cold-formed steel framing with speed and accuracy. 

As CEO Nick Coubray explains, New Zealand’s geographic isolation has shaped a mindset that favours ingenuity over scale. 

“New Zealand really innovates above our weight, because we have to. We're far away. We do small market things. We're not building millions of things, we're building hundreds or tens of things. And that forces us to think differently.” 

The article captures this philosophy in a simple line that sums up the Howick approach: 

“Instead of chasing scale, the company focused on precision. Instead of competing on price, it focused on reliability.” 

The AMA feature also explores how this thinking translates into real outcomes for customers - from millimetre accurate framing to open digital workflows and long-term partnerships built around continuous innovation. In other words, Howick “aren’t waiting for the future of construction. They are helping shape it.”

Read the full article to see how Kiwi engineering and a different way of thinking about manufacturing are helping reshape how the world builds.