What does a career in manufacturing look like in 2025? Our team recently found out after an invite to visit from Head of Operations Hayden Briscoe.

And if you ask the team at McAlpine Hussmann, they’ll tell you it looks a lot like opportunity. It looks like learning your trade in a world-class facility. It looks like working alongside engineers who’ve been in the game for 40 years and are still innovating. And it looks like swapping summer internships for lifelong careers.

Building on a foundation laid in 1935, McAlpine Hussmann has spent three decades in Tauranga expertly designing, manufacturing, and perfecting commercial refrigeration and HVAC solutions. Back in 1995, their purpose-built Koromiko Street factory opened its doors to a dedicated crew working long shifts and often installing case internals on-site, supermarket by supermarket. Fast forward 30 years and they’ve shifted operations to 88 Portside Drive, where their products leave the factory floor fully assembled and installation ready, streamlining the process for customers and improving reliability.

Since its inception in Auckland, McAlpine Hussmann has grown to 13 branches nationwide, with the Tauranga branch being the only manufacturing facility in the country. A lot has changed since the jandal and T-shirt era of the early days. Shorts and singlets have been replaced by overalls and steel caps. Manual processes have evolved into precision manufacturing. But the commitment to quality and people remains the same.

The Tauranga site is now a powerhouse of capability. From advanced sheet metal and powder coating to electrical assembly and ISO-standard testing, the facility handles the full lifecycle of a product from design concept to field service. But what truly sets McAlpine Hussmann apart isn’t just the machinery or the footprint. It’s the people.

Over the coming year, the business will welcome new apprentices into the fold.  Some of these are high school students who were given an opportunity to gain some work experience to see if they would like a career in the industry.

When the company looks at a potential apprentice, they’re not just scanning a CV. They’re looking for curiosity. A willingness to learn. A mindset that says, “I care about doing it right.” The behaviours they value most include teamwork, customer focus, respectful courage, accountability, and a drive to keep improving. These values aren’t just pinned up in a lunchroom. They’re embedded in the work.

Every apprentice who completes their training and passes their studies is offered a permanent role. It’s part of a long tradition of growing talent from within. Whether it’s structured apprentice training, the graduate programme, or continuous learning through succession planning and internal promotion, the support is tangible and consistent.

Recently, McAlpine Hussmann’s 2^nd year apprentices attended a three-day training programme at the Tauranga site.  This was to hone their practical skills and give them an opportunity to learn from the company’s local experts.

As well as apprenticeships, McAlpine Hussmann offers engineering students the opportunity to gain practical hours toward their degrees, supported by experienced mentors, and mechanical engineering graduates stepping into commercial HVAC design roles through the summer internship programme. 

Tauranga is growing and so is demand for robust infrastructure and high-quality food retail systems. McAlpine Hussmann sits right at the centre. Their refrigeration and HVAC systems support everything from supermarkets and petrol stations to hospitals, apartment buildings and libraries. Their presence near the country’s busiest port enables them to serve clients across the Bay of Plenty and beyond, while creating long-term jobs for locals.

This focus on sustainability is equally important. McAlpine Hussmann has led the industry in adopting natural refrigerants since 2013, putting New Zealand well ahead of other Asia-Pacific countries. Their products are energy efficient, high performing, and built with sustainability in mind. They’re also the only New Zealand supplier capable of building a Green Star 6 supermarket using locally manufactured refrigeration and HVAC systems.

So, what would McAlpine Hussmann say to a young person wondering whether there’s a future for them in manufacturing? A job in design, production, refrigeration or HVAC is a job that makes a difference. It keeps food safe and fresh. It keeps environments comfortable. It contributes to how our communities live, shop and thrive. And at McAlpine Hussmann, it’s also a place where you’ll be trained, supported, celebrated, and valued.

As the company celebrates its 90th anniversary in 2025, it’s not just reflecting on its past. It’s investing in the future of our region.