Who builds custom metal gear in New Zealand?

Established float specialists include Fineline (Hamilton), Thoroughbred Floats, Fieldline (Cambridge), Float Factory, Statesman (Christchurch) and Freeway. For a true one-off built to your exact spec, general fabricators such as Waikato General Engineering (Te Awamutu) or Specialised Stainless (Franklin / South Auckland) build floats to order.

There's no single "best" — it depends whether you want a production brand or a custom build. Strong national options include Utemaster, Forged Alloy (Auckland), M2 Overland (Napier) and HuntawayFab. For a fully custom canopy or tray, a local fabricator like Specialised Stainless (Franklin) builds to suit your ute and trade.

Yes. Smaller general fabricators are usually the better choice for true one-offs — tanks, hoppers, trailers, canopies, stock crates, repairs and modifications built from your description and dimensions. Specialised Stainless in Franklin (South Auckland) specialises in exactly this kind of design-to-order work in stainless, aluminium and mild steel.

Confirm the right material and grade (e.g. 304 vs 316 stainless), that road-going gear (trailers, truck bodies, tippers) is built and certified to NZ standards, the lead time, and that the quote and spec are in writing. For ongoing work, a local workshop you can visit is often easier to deal with than a distant production line.

Both are food-safe. Grade 304 suits most general and indoor food-contact work; grade 316 adds molybdenum for far better resistance to salt and harsh chemicals, so it's preferred for marine, coastal and aggressive wash-down environments. A good fabricator will recommend the grade that matches how the part will actually be used.