| 73 T T Hugh de Lacy Partners in driving economic activity The business delivers hydraulic engineering, installation, and maintenance services to customers in infrastructure, energy, forestry and industrial processing. CONTRACTING Summit Hydraulics Through a long-standing presence in the Rotorua district, Summit Hydraulics has evolved from a specialist hydraulic service provider into a solutions partner for large industrial operators across the central North Island. Today the business delivers hydraulic engineering, installation, and maintenance services to customers in infrastructure, energy, forestry and industrial processing, with a growing focus on contributing to major new plant and capital investment projects. “Hydraulic systems are rarely visible to the wider public, but they are fundamental to keeping industrial operations running safely and efficiently,” says Summit Hydraulics Managing Director Dane Joseph. “When hydraulics fail, production stops and costs escalate quickly, and Summit Hydraulics’ role is to ensure that doesn’t happen and, increasingly, to be involved from the ground up when new capacity is being built. “We see ourselves very clearly as a solutions partner to large industrial operators. “That mindset influences everything — who we hire, the expertise we build, and the suppliers and technologies we choose to align with.” This shift in positioning reflects a deliberate evolution in the way Summit Hydraulics engages with its customers: rather than responding to problems after they arise, the business is increasingly involved earlier by contributing to system design, project planning, and the integration of hydraulic solutions into new and upgraded facilities. A recent example of this solutions-focused approach is Summit Hydraulics’ involvement in a significant new facility development in the Taupō area, where the business was engaged to carry out the hydraulic interfacing of powerpacks to a newly installed plant. Work of this kind requires more than technical competence, it demands coordination with project teams, precise specification of system requirements, and reliable delivery as part of a broader capital works programme, Dane says. This capability — to contribute meaningfully to new plant and infrastructure investment — positions Summit Hydraulics as a long-term partner to the industrial operators driving economic activity across the region, not just a service provider called in when something goes wrong. “Recent years have presented significant challenges: economic headwinds, supply chain disruption, and rising compliance requirements have all affected customers across Summit Hydraulics’ key sectors,” he says. The business responded by prioritising: maintaining service levels, strengthening supplier relationships, and placing greater emphasis on preventative maintenance. “This measured approach has helped customers stabilise operations and plan with greater confidence, while keeping Summit Hydraulics well-positioned as conditions improve.” The company currently employs about 30 experienced staff locally, preserving technical knowledge and workshop capability within Rotorua. Retaining skilled people has been a deliberate priority throughout the economic downturn, both to maintain service quality and to ensure the business has the depth of expertise required for more complex projects. With support from the Rotorua Chamber of Commerce, select staff participated in AI tool workshops, and Summit Hydraulics has since incorporated AI-assisted tools into its internal pricing and reporting workflows to improve efficiency and free skilled staff for technical delivery. The chamber has also given practical support in leadership development, including a financial contribution for its Managing Director to undertake an owner-manager course. www.lubricationengineers.co.nz
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