about

About

MHM Automation designs and supplies innovative engineered solutions to the primary and logistics sectors globally.

Our vision

To design and supply innovative food processing and packaging systems to the world.

Our Values

values

We are BOLD

values

We are Aspirational

values

We are in it Together

values

We Stand by it

We are
BOLD

We solve problems, we are hardworking, courageous and straight forward.

An expectation of behaviour: hard work, resilient, solution focused, get the job done

We are
Aspirational

We innovate, we think differently, we can do better.

An expectation of behaviour: we innovate, we ask questions, we are confident and we solve problems.

We are in it
Together

We are one team; for our workmates, clients and shareholders. We are proud of our diversity and our people. We do what we can to support and encourage a great work environment and excellent outcomes.

An expectation of behaviour: stringent health and safety standards, team work and support, honest and respectful behaviour.

We
Stand by it

Integrity is key to everything we do. We are honest and proud of our work.

An expectation of behaviour: attention to detail, integrity, always accountable and responsible, we own our behaviour.

Our Story

Our story began in 1884 in Christchurch, in the South Island of New Zealand. Today, we have evolved into a technology and automation led business, designing and delivering systems to many of the leading food processing companies globally.

A company founded on invention; from the very beginning, our journey has been one of continuous improvement and innovation.

The New Zealand story is one of elite primary production. As a small country, our arable lands and agricultural prowess proved viable, as the close of the industrial revolution marked the beginning of global expansion. Today, little has changed; New Zealand’s export industry is still focused on products from the primary sector.

Our company’s history spans more than 140 years and sits alongside the story of New Zealand’s development. MHM Automation exists to support the global food processing sector, through the design and supply of innovative, world-leading processing and handling equipment.

MHM and our legacy brands have helped shape the New Zealand and Australian engineering and manufacturing sectors. Years of acquisitions, growth, milestones, and perseverance saw the original group of businesses move to a single focused organisation: MHM Automation.

Today, MHM Automation is part of the global Fortifi Food Processing Solutions group.

Operating in more than 15 countries on five continents, Fortifi provides full-lifecycle automated solutions to the food processing industry. Working collectively with our partners at Fortifi, we can improve a single line or automate an entire food processing plant, anywhere in the world.

History

MHM Automation’s roots in the New Zealand manufacturing and engineering sector stretch back more than 140 years. This timeline traces our evolution from a local to a global company.

2024

MHM Automation became part of the global Fortifi Food Processing Solutions group, which also includes our sister companies Bettcher Industries and Frontmatec.

2023

Wyma was acquired to further diversify the business into post-harvest vegetable and fruit handling, and gain an established footprint in Europe.

2021

Southern Cross Engineering (SCE) was acquired to expand and further diversify our manufacturing engineering capabilities.

2020

Mercer Group was re-branded as MHM Automation to reflect the growing importance of automated technologies to the group and to align the three operating entities – Mercer Stainless, H&C and Milmeq – as one business.

2018

Milmeq was purchased to extend automation capabilities into chilling and freezing and Haden and Custance was rebranded H&C Automated Solutions.

2017

The BetaVac and AiCo product ranges were moved into Haden and Custance.

2016

Haden and Custance was purchased by Mercer Group.

2009

Mercer Technologies was split between Mercer Medical and Mercer Stainless, with three companies formed under the Mercer Group: Mercer Stainless – industrial fabrication and design, including AiCO and BetaVac machinery; Mercer Products – suppliers of kitchen, laundry and bathroom equipment; Mercer Medical – medical equipment, incubators, cleaning equipment and sterilisers.

2008

Purchased Duratech Wholesale and integrated it into Mercer Products.

2007

Purchased InMotion Engineering, in Australia.

2004

Purchased Equipment Maintenance Ltd, owners of the BetaVac brand, and integrated it into Mercer Technologies.

2004

Mercer Technologies division was established, integrating Mercer Medical and AiCo Products, and to focus on new R&D projects.

2003

Medisys was purchased and a new division of the business was established: Mercer Medical.

1998

AiCo Materials Handling was purchased and integrated into Mercer Stainless.

1990s

Robots were introduced into Haden and Custance product handling systems for the dairy industry. Milmeq pioneered the development of large-scale plate freezers for the meat processing industry.

1988

Broadway Industries purchased South Island Dairy, fully integrated Silver Dolphin and J Mercer & Sons, and started trading as Mercer Stainless Ltd.

1980

South Island Dairy purchased J Mercer & Sons in 1980 and continued trading under names J Mercer & Sons and Silver Dolphin.

1970s

Haden and Custance moved into providing solutions for manufacturers including palletising. Milmeq (then known as Realcold) developed automatic chilling and freezing tunnels for the meat and dairy industries.

1965

Haden and Custance was established.

1959

Mercer Group Limited (MGL) was first listed on the New Zealand Stock Exchange.

1952

Milmeq had its beginnings in New Zealand under the name Refrigeration Engineering, providing chilling and freezing equipment to meat processors to enable the export of their product.

1920

Silver Dolphin Industries was established as manufacturing arm of South Island Dairy Association.

1890

South Island Dairy Association was established.

1884

The original Mercer company, J Mercer and Sons, was established by James Mercer in Christchurch, New Zealand.

where we work

MHM Automation has completed more than 500 installations for food processing companies worldwide.

Where we Work

Our People

Executive Team
Sales Team
Spares & Service Team

ABOUT FORTIFI

Food processing at its best

Fortifi creates value for customers, society and investors.

Fortifi is here to do one big thing very well. A relentless focus on better food processing solutions makes Fortifi single minded and globally present. That’s why Fortifi can visualise and deliver full-lifecycle automation solutions for the entire food industry.

Fortifi offers every aspect of the advanced technology necessary to set up a process and automate a plant. But their ultimate resource is the ability to understand what their customers need and to solve their real problems. Whether that requires tools, machines or a complete plan, Fortifi is ready.

Why Fortifi?

  • We’re solely focused on food solutions.
  • We’re a global presence in every aspect of automated food processing solutions.
  • We provide all the pieces and make them work together.

Global locations

~2K Employees

33 Sites worldwide

17 Factories worldwide

15 Countries

© MHM Automation| Website by Naked Creative