COMPANY HISTORY
In 1946 the late Mr Frank McOviney, an immigrant who came to New Zealand from
Yugoslavia (Croatia), established the business now known as Steelfort Engineering
Company Limited.
His associate company Terrazzo (NZ) Limited had been producing kitchen bench tops
for a growing housing market since 1936 and seeing the upsurge in Stainless Steel as
the new material of the time, he employed three sheet metal tradesmen to fabricate
sink bowls for his “Terrazzo” bench tops. These three personnel finished their
employment with the company upon their retirement some forty years later.
Early photograph of Steelfort building located at 46 Victoria Avenue, Palmerston North.
This facility was used until relocated to 500 Rangitikei Street. Circa 1960.
Total Steelfort and associate company, Terrazzo NZ Ltd, staff. Circa early 1960s.
In the same year (1946), Mr McOviney acquired the reel mower manufacturing
business of Fuller Engineering. This business would strengthen the existing
manufacturing base and would become the forerunner of the “LawnMaster”
brand that today receives global recognition in the Outdoor Power Equipment industry.
General view of the stainless steel fabrication workshop.Circa 1963.
Far right: Jim McCartney (workshop foreman).
Steelfort confined its lawn and garden activities to manufacturing steel mowers
for the next twenty one years and it wasn’t until 1967 that the company released
the first LawnMaster rotary type mower on to the New Zealand market.
General view of lawnmower production in Victoria Avenue workshop.Circa 1963.
Far right: Vern Giles (workshop foreman)
Reel mowers being packed for despatched. Circa mid 1960s.
Expansion came quickly over the next few years and in1968 it became necessary
to relocate to a new 40,000 square foot manufacturing facility on the outskirts of
Palmerston North. The 1970s saw major growth in New Zealand and over the next
ten years Steelfort expanded its activities to employ in excess of sixty five staff and
established the company as a major supplier to the stainless steel and outdoor
power equipment sectors.
The 1980s saw a marked change in the direction of the New Zealand economy
and with a change of government in 1983 the country was exposed to world
markets which necessitated a change in strategic direction for the company’s
business.
Signage for the first stage of the current Steelfort facility at 500 Rangitikei Street, Palmerston North.
Aerial view of the Steelfort facility at 500 Rangitikei Street, Palmerston North. Circa 1983.
Under the guidance of the Founder's son, Mr John McOviney, Steelfort looked to
diversify its interests and embarked on a programme of not only growing its
manufacturing base but identifying internationally recognised products that
would combine well with its manufacturing acitivities.
With the acquisition of Protech Engineering in 1986, Steelfort not only added an
additional 45 people to its staff, but also obtained several notable world brands
and expanded its manufacturing base to include commercial finned tube heat
exchangers and acquired substantial experitise in support of the dairy industry.
Today, Steelfort employs a versatile skilled work force with competencies in
modern manufacturing practises that allows it to compete internationally as well
as offering a broad range of exclusive franchises that support a strong diverse
company.
Steelfort now operates from its site in Palmerston north that encompasses a
Manufacturing facility of 11,000 square metres and a Distribution Centre
covering 7000 square metres.
