Auto Machine Manufacturing Co Ltd
Date established
1909
Date closed
1981
History
CONSOLIDATED METAL INDUSTRIES 1953-1989
Auto Machine Manufacturing Company Ltd 1909-1953
In 1909 William Squire Fowler and his sons (Tom, Fred and Will) set up an engineering business in Auckland. The company was called Auto Machine Manufacturing Company Ltd and was to become the first company of the Consolidated Metal Industries (CMI) group. The company planned to develop and use automatic machinery and equipment.
In 1910 AJ Kemp became involved with the company through the introduction of additional funding. AJ Kemp was to have a long association with the company and succeeded WS Fowler as Manager and as Chairman when WS Fowler died in 1918 and continued as Chairman until 1942.
By 1919 the company was well established and sited in Nelson Street, Auckland.
In 1922, a fourth brother Charles established a branch in Wellington.
In 1928 a Nail Factory was established in Dunedin.
In 1934 the company broadened their interests to include galvanising nails and allied lines.
In 1941 the company purchased the business of PH Venables, Christchurch.
As part of the war effort during World War II production included hand grenades, mortar bombs, smoke bombs and items for the ship building industry.
In 1953 Auto Machine Manufacturing Company Ltd became a subsidiary of Consolidated Metals Ltd which was incorporated as a public company.
Shortly after assuming public company status a joint venture was negotiated with Cyclone Fence and Gate Co Ltd, Christchurch to manufacture and distribute the 'Cyclone' range of chain mesh netting, barbed wire, fencing staples, field fence and farm and residential gates in the North Island. This was the start of a diversification which saw the purchase of companies including The Aluminium Company of New Zealand Ltd (later named CMI Housewares Ltd), Spackman Engineering Co Ltd (later Spartan Engineering Co Ltd), and the establishment of joint venture operations with Broken Hill Pty Co Ltd to manufacture ‘Waratah’ fence standards and Sidney Cooke Ltd, Melbourne to manufacture screws and fasteners.
In 1981 a merger with Cyclone Industries Ltd and Brierley Investments Ltd acquired a 25% shareholding in CMI.
In 1984 acquisition of Tube Fittings Sales ltd, Australia and a 50% owned joint venture the McArthur Group Ltd in the United Kingdom in 1987.
Further acquisitions in the 1980s were a 50% shareholding in Sydney Cooke Fasteners (NZ) Ltd, and the company renamed CMI Screws and Fasteners.
Three other acquisitions in 1986 were WR Twigg Ltd, Addington Engineering Co Ltd and Ernest Hayes (NZ) Ltd.
In 1987 CMI became a wholly owned subsidiary of Brierley Investments Ltd.
In 1988 Fletcher Challenge acquired CMI as part of the acquisition of Winstone Ltd from Brierley Investments Ltd.
In 1988 the company manufactured a wide range of wire based products including; reinforcing mesh, fencing wire, cyclone wire, nails, screws, cadenzas, plumbing fittings, gates and plastic and metal engineering components. The company operated manufacturing facilities in Auckland, Hamilton, Hastings, Wellington, Christchurch, Dunedin and Invercargill. Graham Cleghorn was appointed General Manager succeeding Murray Woods, who retired as Chief Executive.
CMI was integrated wire related activities with Wiremakers Ltd and the divestment of the engineering activities.
Auto Machine Manufacturing Company Ltd 1909-1953
In 1909 William Squire Fowler and his sons (Tom, Fred and Will) set up an engineering business in Auckland. The company was called Auto Machine Manufacturing Company Ltd and was to become the first company of the Consolidated Metal Industries (CMI) group. The company planned to develop and use automatic machinery and equipment.
In 1910 AJ Kemp became involved with the company through the introduction of additional funding. AJ Kemp was to have a long association with the company and succeeded WS Fowler as Manager and as Chairman when WS Fowler died in 1918 and continued as Chairman until 1942.
By 1919 the company was well established and sited in Nelson Street, Auckland.
In 1922, a fourth brother Charles established a branch in Wellington.
In 1928 a Nail Factory was established in Dunedin.
In 1934 the company broadened their interests to include galvanising nails and allied lines.
In 1941 the company purchased the business of PH Venables, Christchurch.
As part of the war effort during World War II production included hand grenades, mortar bombs, smoke bombs and items for the ship building industry.
In 1953 Auto Machine Manufacturing Company Ltd became a subsidiary of Consolidated Metals Ltd which was incorporated as a public company.
Shortly after assuming public company status a joint venture was negotiated with Cyclone Fence and Gate Co Ltd, Christchurch to manufacture and distribute the 'Cyclone' range of chain mesh netting, barbed wire, fencing staples, field fence and farm and residential gates in the North Island. This was the start of a diversification which saw the purchase of companies including The Aluminium Company of New Zealand Ltd (later named CMI Housewares Ltd), Spackman Engineering Co Ltd (later Spartan Engineering Co Ltd), and the establishment of joint venture operations with Broken Hill Pty Co Ltd to manufacture ‘Waratah’ fence standards and Sidney Cooke Ltd, Melbourne to manufacture screws and fasteners.
In 1981 a merger with Cyclone Industries Ltd and Brierley Investments Ltd acquired a 25% shareholding in CMI.
In 1984 acquisition of Tube Fittings Sales ltd, Australia and a 50% owned joint venture the McArthur Group Ltd in the United Kingdom in 1987.
Further acquisitions in the 1980s were a 50% shareholding in Sydney Cooke Fasteners (NZ) Ltd, and the company renamed CMI Screws and Fasteners.
Three other acquisitions in 1986 were WR Twigg Ltd, Addington Engineering Co Ltd and Ernest Hayes (NZ) Ltd.
In 1987 CMI became a wholly owned subsidiary of Brierley Investments Ltd.
In 1988 Fletcher Challenge acquired CMI as part of the acquisition of Winstone Ltd from Brierley Investments Ltd.
In 1988 the company manufactured a wide range of wire based products including; reinforcing mesh, fencing wire, cyclone wire, nails, screws, cadenzas, plumbing fittings, gates and plastic and metal engineering components. The company operated manufacturing facilities in Auckland, Hamilton, Hastings, Wellington, Christchurch, Dunedin and Invercargill. Graham Cleghorn was appointed General Manager succeeding Murray Woods, who retired as Chief Executive.
CMI was integrated wire related activities with Wiremakers Ltd and the divestment of the engineering activities.
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