Our History

Starting from a backyard shed and a desire to “sell good quality tools at a fair service with good back-up service”, Roy Huskinson and family have built an innovative, customer-focused, long-term-oriented enterprise. HTC brings the best specialised tools and equipment from leading international manufacturers, to help New Zealand industry to power progress.

1981

“The Hydraulic Tool Company” is founded by Roy Huskinson.

Roy Huskinson secures the Riken Japan agency for New Zealand and registers “The Hydraulic Tool Company”.  After a successful career in Sales, Roy takes the great leap from employment to business ownership.

 

1981

1982

First Day of Trading

Monday 2nd February, 1982 – the first day of trading for “The Hydraulic Tool Company”.  With his own car in for repairs, Roy set out in his wife’s 1972 Fiat 500, loaded up with new Riken equipment and went off to see potential clients in Auckland.  Roy recalls, “It was not a successful day as I received nil orders and on the journey home, the tiny car broke a half shaft and me, the Fiat and tools, representing all the money we had in the world, came to a halt!”  Roy managed to push the car home and spent the next day fitting a new half shaft so his wife Ishbel could return to work and keep the family fed.

 

1982

1982

HTC Outgrows the Garden Shed

31st March, 1982 – After that eventful first day, Roy quickly found supportive customers at NZ Rail and NZ Steel and success for Riken.  He moved the business from the garden shed to the John Shaw building in Halsey Street, Auckland.

 

1982

1982

EMEX Industry Show

May, 1982 – HTC first exhibition at the EMEX show in Auckland, promoting Riken.

1982

1982

Ishbel Huskinson Joins the Business

July, 1982 – Business is growing quickly enough for Ishbel to leave her job at a bank and join Roy in the business.

1982

1982

HTC Begins its Hire Business

August, 1982 – Roy received his first Rental Order from Air New Zealand for equipment to help with the testing of door and roof structures for their 747 hanger.  More rental business followed from Caxton Board Mills in Kawerau, encouraging Roy to invest in and promote the company’s equipment for Hire.  In time the Hire Catalogue becomes a growing publication, promoting HTC as the “One Stop Shop for Industrial Hydraulic Tool Sales, Hire and Service.”

 

1982

1982

Visit to Japan

September, 1982 – Roy visits Japan to receive training from Riken.  While there, Roy makes contact with other Japanese tool makers, to broaden HTC’s product range.

1982

1983

HTC Service & Repairs Established

Roy employs a new serviceman to do repair work and purchases a hose crimper to assemble hoses in-house.  This marks the start of HTC’s successful Service department and broadens the company’s offerings to customers.

1983

1983

Hydraulic Tool Hire Established

HTC establishes a new division called “Hydraulic Tool Hire Limited” to represent the growing diversity of equipment offered by the business to customers, on a Hire basis.

1983

1983

The Beginning of “Big Lifting”

HTC is contracted by NZ Steel Mining to lift excavator mechanicals to facilitate a trunnion bearing change.  The job required the use of 4 x 50 tonne cylinders with check valves powered by two large hand pumps & hydraulic torque wrench. The mining company repeated the job a further three times over the next 15 years.

1983

1983

Growth Prompts a Move

Roy and Ishbel moved the business to Lorien Place, East Tamaki and employed more staff to help with the growing customer base and offering of products and services.

1983

1988

John Boyd Joins the Team

John Boyd joins the business as a Sales Engineer.  John builds a reputation for customer service and sales excellence and continues to “show how it’s done” in to the 2020’s.

1988

1992

Lift, Shift, Bolt and Repair

HTC services a growing range of customers, helping to lift, shift, bolt, repair and construct a variety of industrial plant, roading and infrastructure.  Some of HTC’s specialised equipment is even deployed by the Fire Service.

 

1992

1996

Reach for the Sky

Equipment supplied by HTC is used in construction of the Sky Tower in Auckland.

1996

1999

The HTC Team Grows

The HTC team continues to grow.

1999

2001

New General Manager Appointed

After completing overseas travels and work placements, Roy and Ishbel’s son, Robb Huskinson, returns to New Zealand and takes over the running of the family business from Roy.

2001

2001

So Good to Trugood

HTC moves premises to Trugood Drive, East Tamaki, Auckland.

2001

2002

20 Years of Trading

The business celebrates 20 years of trading.  A now-retired Roy is shown here reminiscing in front of the “original head office and workshop”, his backyard shed.

2002

2002

Calibration Goes Mobile

HTC launches the first mobile Torque Calibration service in New Zealand.

2002

2004

A Fresh Look

HTC’s logo, branding and vehicle fleet are given a fresh look. The team continues to grow.

2004

2006

To the Next Generation

Robb Huskinson acquires HTC.

2006

2010

Growing Southwards

HTC expands its footprint to New Zealand’s South Island, establishing its second branch in Christchurch.

2010

2010

Advisory Board Established

An Advisory Board is appointed, chaired by Noel Davies, to guide HTC’s executive team and support the company’s growth aspirations.

2010

2012

Durapac Brand Introduced

Durapac is launched to the New Zealand market, with HTC appointed as the Official Distributor.

2012

2013

Bridge Street Lift

HTC supports the Stronger Christchurch Infrastructure Rebuild Team (SCIRT) /Fulton Hogan Bridge Street project.  HTC supplies and manages the use of the computer-controlled Durapac Sync Lifting System to lift South New Brighton’s Bridge Street bridge as part of the Earthquake rebuild efforts.

2013

2014

Modernising HTC Marketing

HTC’s logo, branding and marketing materials are refreshed and the Hire and Sales divisions of the company are combined under one name – HTC Ltd.  Calibration continues to grow, supported by a series of new promotional flyers.

2014

2014

Right On Track

HTC secures the agency to represent Geismar, an international leader in railway installation and maintenance equipment.  This was a significant milestone for the business, enhancing HTC’s ability to service the New Zealand railways.

2014

2018

Growing Again

HTC Auckland relocates to Andrew Baxter Drive, Airport Oaks.

2018

2020

New General Manager – Daniel Brice

After 12 years of service to HTC, initially starting in the Torque Calibration lab and working his way through the various operations of the business, Daniel Brice is appointed as General Manager, HTC.  Robb Huskinson assumes the role of Group CEO, overseeing the expanding operations of GroupHTC.

2020

2021

Ashburton Bridge Lift

HTC assists the repair of the Ashburton Bridge, damaged during severe flooding.  The lift involved the use of the Durapac Sync System, which safely coordinated multiple lifting points from a computer-controlled master unit.

 

2021

Our Values

"Sell good quality equipment, at a fair price with good back up and service"

Our Team

See who our team are and what they specialise in.

20+ Reasons to Choose HTC

The team at HTC are constantly looking for new opportunities to help our customers.
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