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.
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
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
EMEX Industry Show
May, 1982 – HTC first exhibition at the EMEX show in Auckland, promoting Riken.
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
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.”
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
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
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.
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.
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.
1996
Reach for the Sky
Equipment supplied by HTC is used in construction of the Sky Tower in Auckland.
1999
The HTC Team Grows
The HTC team continues to grow.
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
So Good to Trugood
HTC moves premises to Trugood Drive, East Tamaki, Auckland.
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.
2004
A Fresh Look
HTC’s logo, branding and vehicle fleet are given a fresh look. The team continues to grow.
2006
To the Next Generation
Robb Huskinson acquires HTC.
2010
Growing Southwards
HTC expands its footprint to New Zealand’s South Island, establishing its second branch in Christchurch.
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.
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.
2018
Growing Again
HTC Auckland relocates to Andrew Baxter Drive, Airport Oaks.
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.
