As New Zealand’s food and beverage industry grows in scale and complexity, the pressure on plant reliability and contamination control has never been higher.
Motion is helping manufacturers meet these challenges head-on – with integrated solutions, predictive service, and a hands-on engineering team.
Clean, consistent, compliant – these are the non-negotiables for food and beverage production in New Zealand. And as production lines run longer hours and pack more output per shift, equipment and component reliability grows from a mere maintenance issue to a commercial imperative.
At Motion, this reality is well understood. The company has deep experience supporting the unique demands of food producers, wineries, dairies, and beverage processors across the country – and has shaped its services accordingly.
“Food and beverage is a big part of our business,” says Courtney Ireland, General Manager – Value Added Products at Motion. “It’s probably even more important for us in New Zealand than it is in Australia. Our customers in this sector are dealing with real pressures around hygiene, uptime, and traceability – and we’re working alongside them to provide systems and components that meet those needs, from hose assemblies to sealing solutions.”
That work spans frontline support and proactive product development. In one case, Motion developed a metal-detectable seal compound that can be picked up by foreign matter detection sensors, preventing contaminated batches from reaching the public.
“As those lines run faster, and the tolerance for risk gets lower, our role becomes even more critical,” says Neil Hulme, General Manager – Industrial Products. “We’re not just dropping off parts. We’re thinking about how to extend the life of that part, how to reduce the chance of contamination, and how to help that customer get the most out of their production.”
The company’s technical footprint goes well beyond product supply. “There’s no one in New Zealand that does what we can do in its entirety,” says Hulme. “We’ve got technical teams that can design and manufacture solutions in-house, including a team of qualified engineers. We can mobilise that expertise across every product we supply and every industry we serve – including the highly regulated, high-pressure environment of food production.”
That capability shows up in little ways that make a big difference.
“If a lubricant’s running into a food line, we know what grade it needs to be and which global approvals it must meet,” Hulme says. “That’s something we talk through with the customer – where the product is going, which export markets they’re supplying, and what certifications are required. We work backwards from there.”
With 31 branches across New Zealand and a national team of field service technicians, Motion backs up its design capabilities with on-the-ground support. Predictive maintenance tools like vibration analysis, hose tracking, and condition monitoring help customers plan around shutdowns rather than being blindsided by them.
“Even though Motion in New Zealand is relatively small in the context of the global Motion business, we’re able to access the technical and supply capability of a global business to support local customers across the country,” says Ireland.
As New Zealand’s food and beverage producers grow to meet global demand, Motion is helping ensure their operations grow with them – cleanly, safely, and with engineering to match.