What Metalform does

Metalform (Dannevirke) Ltd is a New Zealand-headquartered, third-generation family-owned full-service contract manufacturer and brand owner, founded in April 1961 by Bryce Easton in Dannevirke and currently led by CEO Campbell Easton with his father Geoff Easton serving as Director of R&D. The company operates from 74 Miller Street, Dannevirke with 100-120+ employees and delivers an integrated Concept to Reality (C2R) process covering 3D CAD design, FEA, robotic sheet metal processing, machining, mechatronics and electrical integration, powder coating, rotational and injection moulding, fabrication, assembly, procurement, and logistics — all under one roof.

Metalform runs two complementary revenue streams. The first is contract manufacturing for international brand owners, including the Permobil K450 electric paediatric wheelchair (designed in-house and distributed worldwide by Permobil AB of Sweden since 2006), FrostBoss frost protection fans (deployed on 6 continents in Metalform's longest-standing partnership), Phoenix Fire Pumps (continuous partnership since 1998), and Matrix Toolport automated tool vending solutions distributed through Iscar's global network. The second is a portfolio of five proprietary agricultural and rural product brands — Tow and Fert (liquid foliar spray machines), Tow and Mow (ATV-mounted mowers), Tow and Collect (manure/debris collectors), PondStir (effluent management systems), and Springarm (stainless steel ballcock arms) — sold direct-to-customer via regional e-commerce sites across New Zealand, Australia, the UK, the USA, and globally, supplemented by an Australia-based field service team.

The go-to-market mix combines direct B2B sales for contract work, channel-partner distribution for export-bound products, and direct-to-consumer e-commerce for owned brands. Pricing is quote-based and not publicly disclosed, consistent with custom manufacturing. The company has no public listing, no parent company, no subsidiaries, and only one disclosed funding event — a NZD $181,911 Callaghan Innovation grant in September 2020. Revenue figures are not publicly disclosed.

Name

Metalform

Legal name

Metalform (Dannevirke) Ltd

Website

https://metalform.co.nz

Company type

Private

Founded year

1961

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Metalform is a New Zealand-based, third-generation family-owned full-service contract manufacturer and brand owner, providing integrated design, fabrication, assembly, and logistics for international enterprise clients while selling five proprietary agricultural product brands globally via direct e-commerce.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Contract Manufacturing / Sheet Metal Fabrication

NAICS

Custom Roll Forming (332114), Metal Coating, Engraving (except Jewelry and Silverware), and Allied Services to Manufacturers (332812)

SIC

Metal Forgings & Stampings (3460)

akta.pro primary industry

Metal Forming & Fabrication Machines (Presses, Bending, Shearing, Stamping) (IMAHADAC)

Keywords

• Contract manufacturing
• Sheet metal fabrication
• Design for manufacture
• Agricultural equipment
• Product assembly services

Headquarters

HQ city

Auckland

HQ country

New Zealand

HQ region

Oceania

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Contract Manufacturing Services: Metalform serves as a full-service manufacturing partner for other brands, providing design, prototyping, production, and logistics. They work with leading international brands including Permobil (wheelchairs), Phoenix Fire Pumps, FrostBoss, and Toolport.
2. Own Product Brands: Metalform develops and manufactures their own product lines including Tow and Fert (liquid fertiliser sprayers), Tow and Mow (mowing solution), Tow and Collect (debris collector), PondStir (effluent management), and Springarm (ballcock arms). They handle manufacturing, sales, marketing, and global distribution.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Metalform is a full-service contract manufacturer based in Dannevirke, New Zealand, providing end-to-end product development and manufacturing through its proprietary Concept to Reality (C2R) process. The company delivers design, engineering, prototyping, fabrication, assembly, electronics integration, powder coating, and logistics services for external brands, while also designing, manufacturing, and globally distributing its own portfolio of agricultural and farm equipment brands including Tow and Fert, Tow and Mow, Tow and Collect, PondStir, and Springarm.

Product overview

Metalform is a full-service contract manufacturer offering both proprietary brands and contract manufacturing services. Their proprietary brand portfolio includes five core agricultural products: Tow and Fert (liquid foliar spray machines), Tow and Mow (tow-behind mowers), Tow and Collect (debris/manure collectors), PondStir (effluent management systems), and Springarm (ballcock arms). Beyond their own brands, Metalform provides contract manufacturing services for external clients including Permobil (power wheelchairs), Phoenix Fire Pumps, FrostBoss (frost protection fans), and Matrix Toolport (automated vending solutions). The company offers end-to-end manufacturing from concept to reality under one roof, including design, prototyping, production, and logistics.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Tow and Fert Versatile liquid foliar spray machine for commercial farmers and growers that dissolves solid urea in its tank, keeps ultra-fine particle fertilisers suspended in liquid, and enables spraying of weed spray and small pasture seeds with quick return on investment.
• Tow and Mow Tough, reliable tow-behind mower that attaches to any ATV for easy paddock or section mowing on farms and lifestyle blocks.
• Tow and Collect Efficient tow-behind collector for horse manure, alpaca manure, goose droppings, tree nuts, and other debris, saving hours of manual work on farms and lifestyle blocks.
• PondStir Hyper-efficient effluent management system for dairy farmers that achieves powerful stirring motion using a fraction of the electricity of conventional systems and installs without builders.
• Springarm Stainless steel ballcock arm with a high-tensile spring that flexes when knocked by livestock, solving farm water tank issues on New Zealand farms.
• Phoenix Fire Pumps World-class portable fire pump solutions for specialised industries and less fortunate countries, manufactured by Metalform for Phoenix Fire Pumps via the C2R process.
• Permobil K450 Electric Paediatric Wheelchair Electric paediatric wheelchair designed by Metalform and distributed globally by Permobil AB of Sweden; tens of thousands sold worldwide providing independence to children who require mobility assistance.
• FrostBoss Frost Fans Frost protection fans that use warmer air in inversion layers to protect crops from frost damage, manufactured by Metalform and distributed worldwide by FrostBoss.
• Matrix Toolport Automated Vending Solution Automated tool vending solution combining electronic integration with sheet metal hardware to manage high-cost tip tool assets in warehouses and machine centres, distributed globally through Iscar's network.

Quantifiable outcome

• FrostBoss products protecting crops on 6 continents
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Permobil ABcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2006Metalform partnered with Permobil AB of Sweden (one of the largest electric wheelchair manufacturers in the world) as worldwide distributor for the K450 electric paediatric wheelchair. Metalform's R&D team re-designed the chair to use Permobil's standard electronics and modular accessory range. Now tens of thousands of K450 chairs are sold worldwide.
• IscarcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorIscar, the world leader in tip tool supply, recognized the value of Toolport's automated vending solution and chose to distribute this product through its worldwide network. Metalform provides end-to-end capability from R&D through to final assembly.
• Phoenix Fire PumpscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSince 1998, Phoenix Fire Pumps and Metalform have shared a mutual partnership. Mike Harrison brings firefighting expertise to develop world-class portable fire pump solutions. Metalform's C2R process shortened design and prototype iteration cycles. Metalform's design horsepower, manufacturing and assembly resource is key to Phoenix Fire Pumps' success.
• FrostBoss (NZ Frost Fans)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMetalform's longest standing partnership involves equipment protecting crops on 6 continents. The two companies shared the vision of taking a low-volume product to international market through clever design and manufacturing refinement. Metalform adapts materials to reduce cost and suit harsher chemicals used in the industry, ensuring smooth and constant supply chain.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Compac Sorting Equipment: NZ-based designer and manufacturer of fresh produce sorting machinery, sold globally. Similar integrated design, sheet-metal fabrication, mechatronics, and global B2B distribution profile to Metalform's contract manufacturing business.
• Fisher & Paykel Healthcare: NZ-based integrated medical device designer and manufacturer with global distribution, combining own IP-led products with contract manufacturing. Highly comparable profile: NZ roots, integrated design-to-assembly model, family-ownership heritage, and global OEM partnerships.
• Skope Industries: NZ-headquartered commercial refrigeration manufacturer with integrated design, fabrication, and own-brand distribution. Comparable as a mid-sized NZ manufacturer combining metal fabrication with branded consumer/commercial product sales.
• Steelmor Industries: Australian sheet metal fabrication services provider serving industrial and OEM customers. Directly comparable in core metal forming, fabrication, and contract manufacturing capabilities.

Broad incumbents

• Breville Group: Australia-headquartered designer and global distributor of branded kitchen appliances. Comparable own-brand-plus-OEM manufacturing model and global D2C distribution, though at materially larger scale and consumer-end focus.
• Pact Group Holdings: ASX-listed ANZ contract packaging and manufacturing services provider. Comparable as a contract manufacturer serving major consumer brands across Oceania, though materially larger and packaging-focused rather than fabricated metal products.

Regional players

• Filson Filters: NZ-based designer and manufacturer of industrial filtration equipment. Comparable NZ-headquartered, integrated design-and-fabrication manufacturer serving B2B industrial customers.
• Howard Precision Metals: US-based precision sheet metal and machining fabricator serving OEM customers. Comparable contract metal fabrication services model and mid-market scale, though operating in North America rather than Oceania.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@metalform-nzl
• Facebookfacebook.com/metalform
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/metalform-dannevirke-ltd

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Metalform