Cookes

What Cookes does

Cookes is a New Zealand-based specialist distributor of industrial lifting, rigging, and rope equipment, operating as a wholly-owned subsidiary of NV Bekaert SA, a Belgian global steel wire transformation group. Founded in 1924 and operating for over 100 years, Cookes is headquartered in East Tamaki and serves industrial, construction, transport, marine, and commercial fishing customers across New Zealand with a product portfolio spanning Grade 80/100/120 lifting chains, wire rope, fibre rope (including HMPE/Dyneema), synthetic slings, shackles, hoists, winches, height safety equipment, marine accessories, and transport load-restraint products. The company is the authorised New Zealand distributor for premium international brands including RUD (Germany) and CrosbyIP plate lifting clamps, and offers complementary services including testing, inspection, non-destructive evaluation, on-site proof load testing (via a JWA partnership using water load testing), rigging, height safety installation, custom net manufacture, and bespoke webbing.

The business model is hybrid B2B distribution: transactional e-commerce sales through cookes.co.nz for standard products, enterprise field sales for larger industrial accounts, and recurring service revenue from inspection, recertification, and compliance documentation. Pricing is per-unit or per-metre for hardware, with quote-based pricing for complex configurations and optional paid add-ons such as colour-coded certification tagging. The company maintains a Knowledge Centre, active social channels (LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube), and an online SlingPro Configurator, indicating a digitally-enabled approach beneath a traditional industrial surface. Cookes does not develop proprietary technology; its value is in distribution, certified supply, and nationwide service coverage.

Name

Cookes

Legal name

NV Bekaert SA

Website

https://cookes.co.nz

Company type

Private

Founded year

1924

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Cookes is a New Zealand distributor of industrial lifting, rigging, rope, and transport equipment, serving construction, manufacturing, transport, marine, and fishing sectors. Operating as a subsidiary of NV Bekaert SA, it distributes RUD and CrosbyIP brands and provides testing, inspection, and rigging services nationwide.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Industrial Lifting and Rigging Equipment

SIC

Wholesale-Industrial Machinery & Equipment (5084), Wholesale-Machinery, Equipment & Supplies (5080)

akta.pro primary industry

Lifting Attachments & Material Handling Accessories (Fork Attachments, Slings, Rigging) (IMAHABAJ)

Keywords

• Industrial lifting equipment
• Rigging solutions
• Wire rope supplies
• Height safety systems
• Load restraint equipment

Headquarters

HQ city

East Tamaki

HQ country

New Zealand

HQ region

Oceania

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Hardware and Equipment Sales: Cookes generates primary revenue through the sale of lifting and rigging equipment including lifting chains, wire rope, fibre rope, synthetic slings, shackles, hoists, winches, material handling equipment, transport equipment (tiedowns, lashing chains), and marine/fishing equipment. Sales occur through e-commerce and sales representatives with per-unit and per-metre pricing.
2. Testing and Inspection Services: The company offers testing and inspection services for height safety equipment, lifting chains, transport chains, hardware, synthetic slings, wire ropes, and fibre ropes. Services include non-destructive evaluation and certification.
3. Rigging and Installation Services: Cookes provides rigging services for chains and fittings, wire rope rigging, fibre rope rigging, load testing, height safety system installations, net manufacture, and bespoke webbing services.
4. Load Monitoring Equipment: Sale and servicing of load cells and load monitoring measurement equipment.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Cookes distributes industrial lifting, rigging, wire rope, fibre rope, height safety, transport load restraint, and commercial fishing equipment in New Zealand. The company supplies Grade 80/100/120 lifting chains, shackles, synthetic slings, hoists, winches, and material handling products, acting as the authorised New Zealand distributor for RUD (Germany) and CrosbyIP plate lifting clamps. Beyond product sales, Cookes provides testing, inspection, certification, rigging, installation, and proof load testing services nationwide.

Product overview

Cookes is a New Zealand distributor of industrial lifting, rigging, and rope equipment, operating as part of the global Bekaert group. The company offers a comprehensive portfolio organized into five core product categories: Lifting & Rigging Equipment (including Grade 80/100/120 lifting chains, shackles, synthetic slings, hoists, and material handling), Commercial Fishing Equipment (marine accessories, cray fish, longline, trawling gear), Wire Rope & Fittings (crane ropes, fishing ropes, end terminations), Fibre Rope (poly, HMPE/Dyneema, nylon, and Fineline braids), and Transport Equipment (tiedowns, lashing chains, towing recovery). The company distributes established third-party brands including RUD lifting products, CrosbyIP plate clamps, and Fineline ropes. Beyond product sales, Cookes provides complementary services including testing and inspection, height safety installations, non-destructive evaluation, rigging services, proof load testing (nationwide water load testing), load monitoring, custom net manufacture, and bespoke webbing. An online SlingPro configurator tool supports product specification.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Lifting and Rigging Equipment
• Height Safety Equipment
• Commercial Fishing Equipment
• Wire Rope and Fittings
• Fibre Rope
• Transport Equipment
• RUD Lifting Products
• CrosbyIP Plate Lifting Clamps
• Fineline Ropes
• Testing and Inspection Services
• Height Safety System Installations
• Non-Destructive Evaluation (NDT)
• Rigging Services
• Proof Load Testing
• Load Monitoring and Measurement
• Net Manufacture
• Bespoke Webbing

Quantifiable outcome

• Water load testing eliminates need for steel deadweights, reducing logistics complexity and operational disruption

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• JWAcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCookes partners with JWA to deliver nationwide water load testing services for cranes, davits, and lifting structures. The partnership enables Cookes to offer on-site proof load testing without steel deadweights, providing full compliance documentation through a single provider.
• RUDcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCookes is the authorised New Zealand distributor for German manufacturer RUD, offering the RUD ICE-120 range of lifting chains in sizes 4mm through 16mm, as well as RUD lifting and lashing points. RUD provides Grade 120 chain technology with 50% higher Working Load Limit than G80 chains.
• CrosbyIPcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCookes is the authorised New Zealand distributor for CrosbyIP plate lifting clamps. Cookes service technicians are trained and equipped to service, repair, replace worn components, and recertify CrosbyIP clamps, providing a complete compliance pathway for operators.
• BekaertcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCookes is a Bekaert company. Bekaert is a global market and technology leader in steel wire transformation and coating, headquartered in Belgium. The partnership provides Cookes with backing from a major global materials technology company.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Liftex: US manufacturer and distributor of synthetic and wire rope slings, lifting products, and rigging hardware. Comparable in offering engineered lifting products plus testing/inspection services across multiple end markets.
• Bullivants: Australia- and New Zealand-based distributor of lifting, rigging, and safety equipment, with a comparable product range spanning chains, slings, hoists, and height safety. Direct competitor to Cookes in the trans-Tasman market with similar B2B field-sales and distribution model.
• Bishop Lifting Products: US distributor of rigging, lifting, and safety products serving industrial, energy, and construction markets. Comparable in product breadth (chains, slings, hoists), customer segments, and inspection/testing service offering.
• All Lifting & Safety Equipment: Australian/NZ distributor of lifting gear, rigging equipment, and height safety products. Closely comparable to Cookes in product mix, customer base (industrial, transport, construction), and reliance on certified equipment distribution.
• Mazzella Companies: US-based distributor of lifting and rigging products, overhead cranes, and material handling equipment with value-added services including inspection and rigging. Highly comparable business model combining hardware distribution, services, and engineered solutions.
• Pacific Wire Rope: New Zealand wire rope and lifting equipment supplier offering cranes, chain blocks, and rigging services. Directly overlaps with Cookes' core wire rope, chain, and fittings categories within the same NZ geography.

Broad incumbents

• RUD Ketten Rieger & Dietz: German manufacturer of lifting and lashing points, Grade 120 chains, and related rigging products. Cookes is RUD's NZ authorised distributor, making RUD a principal supplier whose broader global product line directly overlaps with Cookes' offering.
• Bridon-Bekaert: Bekaert's steel wire and rope manufacturing division (parent group of Cookes). Highly comparable on product technology and rope/chain categories; operates at global scale as a manufacturer whereas Cookes is the NZ distribution arm.
• The Crosby Group: Global manufacturer of rigging, lifting, and material handling hardware under brands including CrosbyIP. Directly comparable as the principal whose plate lifting clamps Cookes distributes; offers broader global product portfolio.
• Columbus McKinnon: Global manufacturer and distributor of hoists, cranes, lifting chains, and material handling products. Overlaps with Cookes' core lifting categories (hoists, winches, chain, rigging) but operates as a broad incumbent with manufacturing scale.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks4 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCqaInQPPjh2Y5PCgTiGx4Hw
• Facebookfacebook.com/CookesBBRG
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/cookes
• Instagraminstagram.com/cookes_bbrg

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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 Cookes