Sadly 2025 was the end of an era with Jim Sutton’s passing.
Jim was the last of his generation who worked in the business. Like his brother Bill, Jim was born into the cutting tool business without much say in the matter.
A lot can and has been said of his contribution to the business and the industry in general. He was respected around the world as a result of a life long passion for Sutton Tools and cutting tool manufacture. Jim was instrumental in laying out the foundations of the business we see, with many of the core technologies and processes we use today that keep us at the forefront of the industry being those introduced by Jim.
He was a strong and supportive mentor for Peter and I and we owe him a great debt for passing on his knowledge, experience and wisdom.
To those that knew him, Jim was a kind, thoughtful and deeply humorous man with an inquiring mind and a wide range of interests. Well-travelled and read, he enjoyed life and continued to be active travelling, playing golf, skiing and tennis. However, most activities in his life took a distant second place to his first love... Sutton Tools!
He was delighted to be able to visit the plant for the last time this year and left with a sense of satisfaction seeing the culmination of a lifetime’s work. Even at the end he still wanted to know the sales numbers.
He leaves a remarkable legacy in particular with 6 grandchildren all with whom he had a close and caring relationship. He is greatly missed by us all and we thank all of you for your kindness and condolences over this period. In particular he would have been very honoured and touched by his farewell around the Thomastown site.
On behalf of Viki, Hamish, Georgina and the family we thank you and wish you the best of the holiday season and new year.
Robert Sutton Director
PETER SUTTON
A Legacy That Continues to Shape Us
In January, we sadly lost our third-generation patriarch, my late father Bill’s brother, my uncle and mentor Jim Sutton. Jim’s formidable legacy to family, friends, colleagues, and our industry was rightly celebrated, with laughter and wisdom the hallmarks of his life.
Today, his portrait joins those of our past generations of leaders in the hallways of our office, serving as a constant reminder of who shaped our company and the ethos we have lived by for over 100 years, and will continue to do so.
A fitting segue to Jim’s legacy was the outstanding highlight of the year: the opening in March of our world-class
drill manufacturing facility in Rangiora, New Zealand.
After the devastation of losing the former factory in Kaiapoi just over three years prior, some – perhaps those who didn’t know us well – asked, “Why rebuild?” alluding to the fact that an easier option would be to take whatever was on offer and become an importer.
But that’s not who we are. It begs the question: Why do we, as manufacturers, do what we do? The simple answer might be, “because that’s what our parents did”. That’s partly true, but it goes much deeper. Often when our staff are asked what they enjoy most about working at Sutton Tools, one response repeatedly tops the list: “We make things.”
As a business, we take pride not only in manufacturing some of the highest-quality
and most respected cutting tools globally, but also in employing over 400 people to do so – creating value for the communities and countries where we operate. This was never more evident than at the opening of our brilliant new factory, where over fifty of our current New Zealand team joined us to celebrate this milestone.
As always, thank you for your continued support. This Christmas, please raise a toast to all the manufacturers!
Peter Sutton Managing Director
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Finance Minister Nicola Willis touring the factory
Waimakariri Mayor Dan Gordon, Robert Sutton, Peter Sutton, Kevin Donovan, MP Matt Doocey
Making Work Easier: Human Resources Goes Digital
Digitisation is no longer on the horizon –it’s here, and already making a difference. Over the past year, the HR team has been using the ConnX platform to cut down paperwork and streamline processes.
What’s Changed
• Recruitment & Onboarding: New employees complete tax, banking, and super forms online – no more paper packs.
• Self Service Access: Many of you can now check payslips, request leave, and update details directly in ConnX, with more features rolling out next year.
• Probation Reviews: Managers can initiate, track, and complete reviews in ConnX, with automated reminders and secure storage.
DoneSafe Rollout:
The HSI DoneSafe platform has now been successfully launched across all operational sites, marking a major step forward in workplace health, safety, and compliance.
Why it matters: DoneSafe offers a user-friendly interface, mobile access, real time incident reporting, streamlined risk assessments, and centralised safety data management.
The Sutton Group Finance Team have had another solidly busy year and continued the Sutton way of continuous improvement, while keeping your books in order. The recent Annual Financial Audit supported that we are doing it right, with no errors or misstatements. Thank you to all the Accounting Team and special thanks to Customer Service and Stock Controllers for their part. It is always an arduous process and would not be successful without your proficient help.
• Workplace Health & Safety: integrated reporting & compliance making it easier to log incidents, track compliance, and manage risks.
These changes wouldn’t have been possible without the hard work of our HR team and WHS committees – thank you for your support and feedback.
Wishing you a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year – enjoy the break with family and friends!
Debra O’Mara Human Resources
Brendan Ryan Payroll Manager Rosanna Borg Payroll Officer
Already Live:
• Incidents & Hazards
• Chemical Management (supporting compliance and safer handling on site)
• Contractor Management
Coming Soon:
• Checklists
• Document Management
• Risk Management
A big thank you to the HR team and employee site committees for their support and feedback – your contributions have made this rollout a success.
Cuong Tran Workplace Health & Safety Advisor
Managing the Finances
The disastrous story of the SNZ Kaiapoi fire has finally been put to bed from an insurance perspective with the final claim settled on Oct-25. While this was a long-drawn-out process since Jan-22, we remained steadfast in our right and wrong philosophy and are happy fairness prevailed. We are very thankful to our insurance partners for their support as this was critical to our rebuild journey.
The integration of the recently acquired Trade Tools NZ continues according to the business plan which saw them move into the main Auckland warehouse and onto our M3 ERP system. While these changes are often difficult, they have managed to get them done.
Sutton has also recently acquired the AU Distribution rights of the Mitutoyo Brand of products which will offer some growth to the business with Sutton having a larger distribution network, while complimenting sales to our existing products.
This has been positively received by the Sales team and market in general and we look forward to it prospering.
Some other changes of note this year have included renaming our overseas operations from Fenn Tools Ltd to Sutton Tools UK Ltd and Kildare Tooling Services Ltd to Sutton Tools Ireland Ltd. They have been successfully rebranded to Sutton.
On behalf of the Finance team, we again thank you for assisting us during the year and wish you a safe and Happy Christmas and prosperous New Year
Rodney Schult CFO
Left to right: Rodney, David, Jill, Philip, Kerri, Russell, Kerrin
Merry Christmas from Tex!
2025 has been a year of steady progress and collaboration for the IT team, with plenty of behind-the-scenes work keeping Sutton Tools connected and running smoothly across every region. From major system overhauls to international teamwork, it’s been a busy and rewarding year for everyone involved.
We kicked off the year focusing on strengthening our infrastructure and disaster recovery processes. Over the past few months, we’ve worked hard to make Sutton Tools’ systems more independent and resilient. In the past, a lot of our infrastructure relied heavily on the Thomastown head office – meaning a power outage there could cause headaches elsewhere. Now, with a cloud-based environment in place, those risks are much lower. We’ve also completely streamlined and documented our disaster recovery plan, so we can bounce back quickly if something does go wrong. It’s not the flashiest work we do, but it’s the sort of progress that keeps the business running no matter what.
Of course, one of the biggest milestones came right at the start of the year with the Trade Tools M3 Onboarding. Trade Tools officially went live on M3 in December 2024, after months of planning, late nights, and problem-solving. It was a fun and complex project – and like any
DISTRIBUTION
They say there are only two certainties in life – death and taxes – but perhaps we should add a third: the ever-changing landscape of the distribution sector.
2025 has brought as much change as I’ve seen in my 32 years at Sutton Tools. Across both the retail and industrial sectors, we’ve seen the rise of AI, mergers and acquisitions, new buying groups, aggressive competitor activity, and people moving between customers, suppliers, and even competitors. It truly is an interconnected and fast-moving industry.
While our distribution sales for FY26 aren’t quite where we’d like them to be (coming off record results in FY25), Sutton Tools has continued to perform solidly despite challenging market conditions.
Building on the momentum from last year’s Phoenix event, 2025 presented our sales teams with exciting opportunities –including the release of approximately 1,000
Progress Through Collaboration
good go-live, it came with its fair share of hiccups. But the team pulled together, ironed out the issues, and made it a success. A few months later, we began the huge task of relocating all Trade Tools data to the Sutton New Zealand warehouse in Auckland, which helped bring both businesses closer together under one system.
That same collaboration carried over when we visited Auckland, New Zealand, to work with the Sutton NZ and Trade Tools teams directly. Spending time on-site gave us a better understanding of how both operations run and where we could simplify things. One key improvement that came out of the trip was connecting our Microsoft 365 environments, making it much easier for both businesses to collaborate and share information day to day.
Meanwhile, the Product Information Management (PIM) project has kept plenty of us busy. The team has spent countless hours connecting our systems to the original PIM platform, ensuring our e-commerce sites stay operational while we continue building toward a unified system. It’s been a huge joint effort between IT, Product, and Marketing, and the results are starting to take shape.
To top it all off, Benjie and I had the chance to attend the Infor M3 User Network (IMUN) event on the Gold Coast – the first one since 2019. It was great to meet other M3 users, share experiences, and see how other companies are using the system in creative ways. I was also invited to join the IMUN Committee as Victoria’s representative, helping Sutton Tools build new connections and gain more exposure within the M3 community.
It’s been a year full of learning, problemsolving, and teamwork – and while there’s always more to do, we’re wrapping up 2025 proud of how far we’ve come and excited for what’s next.
John Danatzis IT Manager
2025 – A HUGE Year of Awards
new line items. We’ve been proactive in securing additional core range placements with major and independent customers across both retail and industrial markets.
As we continue to strengthen end-user specification and grow the Sutton group ranges, we’ve also maintained strong customer engagement – supporting trade shows, conferences, field days, and a range of sales and marketing initiatives designed to build lasting relationships.
This year, our efforts have again been recognised through multiple customer award nominations and wins – culminating in being named Blackwoods Supplier of the Year in October. These awards are incredibly competitive, with Sutton Tools up against leading global manufacturers and suppliers. Being acknowledged as the best of the best is a tremendous achievement that reflects the dedication and performance of our entire team
– Engineering & Manufacturing, Customer Service & Warehouse, IT, Marketing, Finance, HR, and our Sales Teams. Thank you all for your valued contributions to these successes.
As we look ahead to 2026 – including the exciting integration of Mitutoyo – we extend our sincere thanks to our loyal customers for their continued support and commitment to Sutton Tools.
On behalf of the Distribution Sales Team, I wish you and your families a Merry Christmas and a safe and happy start to 2026.
Robert Bartlett
National Sales Manager - Industrial
Baavi, Nathan, Alvin, Keven, Benjie, Xavier and John.
Joanne with new grandson Bailey, Congratulations!
IHG Show, Sutton Stand Feb 2025 – with Matt, Alex and James.
The Sutton and Frost Stand at Bunnings Trade Expo
Possibly Our Biggest Display Set Up Ever 12 bays set up by Peter Murolo and Mark Makinson at Total Safety and Fire Solutions Wedgefield Port Hedland 27 August 2025
Andrew & Jodie in their element!
Triple Award Winner of the Blackwoods 2025 Operational Excellence, Sales Engagement & Partner of the Year! Well done team!!
3 Blackwoods Awards! Operational Excellence Winner 2025, Partner of the Year 2025, Sales Engagement Winner 2025
Konnect Northern (Qld) Supplier of Year Award
Alex with customers at the HBT Tradeshow, note our Elite Partner sticker!
Alex taking first place at Oz eKarts (Konnect’s Sales Conference event)
Joanne and Jodie with the Best Presentation Award, Synergy Members Meeting, Fiji
Tradesmart Best Stand Offer
Sutton Tools kicked off the year with the official opening of our new factory in New Zealand. It was incredible to witness a world-class facility dedicated to drill production and machine building.
2026 has also been a year of exciting new product releases. The marketing team has been hard at work; brainstorming, filming, editing, and copy writing to keep pace with the launch schedule. We’ve ventured into several new product categories, which has been both challenging and exhilarating.
A Year of Growth & Innovation
Manufacturing Week 2025 tradeshow, where we introduced Sutton’s new agency brands; 5th Axis, ETP, Kemmler, Eppinger, Quaker Houghton, and more. With around 16,000 attendees over four days, the event was a fantastic opportunity to connect with both existing and new customers. We also coordinated the Total Tools tradeshow in Melbourne and the IHG tradeshow in Adelaide, making it a packed year of events showcasing our latest products.
Some of the highlights include our new range of knives, measuring tools, joinery products, and the stack-in modular system.
Throughout the year, Sutton Tools products were showcased globally at in-person tradeshows in Chennai, India, and Hannover, Germany. We also hosted our second High Performance Division global live webinar, this time featuring live machining demonstrations and multiple microphones to foster a more relaxed and interactive discussion. Over 70 global attendees tuned in to see our newly launched NHplus taps in action. Locally, we participated in the Australian
On the digital front, the Salesforce and M3 teams successfully implemented a new integration workflow, enabling us to launch our first mySutton portal promotion campaign across Australia and New Zealand. The campaign led to a noticeable spike in new registrations and online sales.
We’re also pleased to welcome our newest marketing team member, Calista Willa. Working under guidance from the marketing team, Calista is the creative production whiz behind our new video reels on social media. We hope you’ve enjoyed watching them as much as we’ve enjoyed producing them.
At Sutton headquarters, we’re a small but mighty team of six, continually expanding our support to new teams including Trade Tools NZ, Sutton UK, NMC India, and most recently, MTI Qualos.
From all of us in the marketing team, we wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
Suh H. Kee Group Marketing Manager
Greetings from Marketing! Top: Jess and Bea. Bottom: James, Suh, Shaun and Calista.
We featured a range of our products in our ad on Kayo, opening and closing with our Stack-In system
Our Kayo TV ad played during footy season
Our Footy Giveaways were a huge hit! SupaTorq Reel
Carbitool Dowel Jig Reel
James shows off the Sutton Drill Stand
Sutton Drill Stand Reel
HIGH PERFORMANCE
A Landmark Year for Sutton Tools High Performance Sales Team
As 2025 draws to a close, the Sutton Tools High Performance (HPS) sales team reflects on a year of growth, innovation, and strong customer engagement.
Our year kicked off with a high-profile presence at the Avalon Air Show, where Sutton participated on the Victorian Government booth as a pod exhibitor. This event provided a fantastic platform to connect with industry professionals and showcase our capabilities to a wide audience.
Later in the year, our exhibition at AMW marked a major highlight. With an impressive 72sqm stand, the event had record attendance and was an outstanding success, drawing strong customer participation and engagement. We were fortunate to have the support of our international partners, Walter Tools and 5th Axis Work Holding, whose teams helped elevate the experience for attendees and reinforced the strength of our partnerships.
The Oceania Kick-Off Meeting in Melbourne offered a fresh approach this year, with a three-day program including a dinner for 40 people at the SMART Centre. Our Australian sales team welcomed the
inclusion of the Trade Tools HPS team as part of our kick-off event. This event was not only a valuable networking opportunity but also a chance to celebrate excellence within our team. During the dinner, we proudly presented the 2024 STAAR Award (Sutton Top Achiever Award Recipient): Adrian Klaster secured first place, Anthony O’Connell took second, and Dean Hubner achieved third.
In 2025, we expanded our agency portfolio with the introduction of ETP Hydraulic Chucks, 5th Axis Work Holding, and Mitutoyo Precision Metrology Equipment. These additions have strengthened our range, completing a 360-degree solution offer to our customers.
Our Special Tools Department, led by Brad Tucker, was further reinforced with the addition of Sarah Bridgeman as Special Tools Administration Coordinator, providing critical support to the team. Equally, we extend our gratitude to all supporting departments – Marketing, IT, HR, Finance, Accounts, Warehousing and Logistics, with special mention to our buyers and import/export teams – for their invaluable contributions. I would also like to
give a shout out to the team at Carbitool, whose logistical support has been key to the success of both our Coolant and 5th Axis sales and distribution: Thanks Guys.
As we are near the end of 2025, our continued growth is clearly now on the radar of our competitors. With this in mind and when looking ahead to 2026, we will remain committed to doubling down on our business strategy, ensuring we continue to provide a complete service for our customers, a true Australian alternative and outstanding customer support.
Wishing everyone a safe and peaceful break across the holiday season, coming back refreshed and ready to further develop our market presence.
Thanks, Team Sutton, for your dedication to making this year exceptional.
Peter Rollauer GM High Performance Sales
The Oceania Kick-Off dinner event in the SMART Centre
Adrian Klaster’s STAAR Award
Australian Manufacturing Week’25
New displays at the Smart Centre
The team at Australian Manufacturing Week’25
Navigating Growth Amidst Challenges
2025 has been a dynamic year for our Asia Export Division, marked by both significant achievements and ongoing challenges. Exporting into large manufacturing markets across Asia continues to be complex, with rising costs in logistics, raw materials, and compliance placing pressure on margins and operations. Despite these hurdles, our teams have remained resilient and focused on delivering value to our customers.
In July, we proudly hosted the Asia Phoenix Conference at our Melbourne HQ, followed by a visit to our newly built HSS Drill factory in Rangiora, New Zealand. The event welcomed 30 customers from Southeast Asia, offering them firsthand insights into our manufacturing capabilities and product innovations, further strengthening our relationships with our Asian neighbours.
Another highlight was the launch of Sutton Tools India in partnership with our sister company NMC Tools. This strategic expansion was showcased at a product exhibition in New Delhi in May, followed by a well-attended seminar in Chennai in June, where over 150 customers engaged with our team. These events marked a significant step in strengthening our presence in the Indian market. We extend our sincere thanks to the many teams
across the business who made these initiatives possible – particularly Marketing, IT, Logistics, Finance, and the Sales team. Special recognition goes to Varun Prasad for his instrumental role in business development and customer engagement throughout the India region.
A major milestone this year was the retirement of Eddy Pau, a respected figure in our North Asia export business. Eddy joined Sutton Tools in 2005–06, having previously represented our brand through our former Hong Kong agent. His deep knowledge of the tap market and unwavering commitment to customer relationships have left a lasting legacy. We thank Eddy for his years of service and wish him all the best in his next chapter.
As we look ahead, our focus remains on adapting to market conditions, deepening customer relationships, and continuing to grow our footprint across Asia. The dedication and collaboration across our global teams are what make these achievements possible.
Jeff Boyd GM – Global Key Accounts
Global Industrie Exhibition
Sutton Tools Europe participated for the first time in a trade show – Global Industrie Exhibition, March 11th to 14th in France. It was a very interesting show, with more than 80 new contacts made, and a pleasant surprise for both customers and competitors to see Sutton Tools present.
All the manufacturers and importers from the world were there.
A great success!!!!
Michael Linant EMEA Commercial Director
Varun (right) with Shubojit Nag (left) from NMC
Mr Tuck Kim with Robert Sutton
Asia Phoenix Conference Participants
All the best for your retirement Eddy!
Robert Sutton & Peter Rollauer (right) with members of NMC
A visit at the Rangiora Factory
The NMC & Sutton Stand
Sutton Tools at the 2025 Global Industrie Exhibition
SUTTON UK & IRELAND
This year, both the UK and Ireland have officially left the past behind, becoming Sutton Tools UK Limited and Sutton Tools Ireland Limited!
But before we recap everything that’s happened this year, we’d like to take this opportunity to thank Martin Fenn for his 37 years of dedication to Fenn Tool and wish him all the best since his retirement back in March. We may no longer be Fenn Tool, but the legacy lives on in our Fenn products!
Onto this year’s big changes, it’s been a collective effort to officially change over to Sutton Tools UK and Sutton Tools Ireland, we’re very excited to keep pushing forward in our Sutton journey and we’d like to thank everyone who helped with the transitions. Alongside this, we decided it was a fitting time for the Fenn brand to receive a new look and settle into its new place as a Sutton sub-brand.
Leading on from this, we’ve had an internal reconfiguration. This has seen our Production Manager, Glenn Skingsley, be
It’s Official!
promoted to the Business Unit Manager for UK and Ireland, and we wish him all the success in his new position! We’ve also welcomed some new staff members to the UK team this year; Burhan Noka –Stores Coordinator, Janaan Khan – Sales Administrator, Dan Foy – Technical Sales Engineer (North West), and Peter Tilsed –Technical Sales Engineer (South).
Our focus this year has been strengthening our relationships between the regions and working collaboratively to continue making progress and pushing into our respective markets. We’ve had some challenges and changes this year, but we continue to persevere and strive to reach our goals.
To round up this year, we have another of our long-standing employees taking retirement at the end of the year. We would also like to thank our Finance Assistant,
Sue Coote, for 25 wonderful years at Fenn and Sutton. We wish her a happy retirement with her husband, Richard.
At Sutton Tools Ireland, Mick and Dionne have been working tirelessly to give Sutton more exposure in Ireland’s cutting tools market, with Mick showcasing Sutton at three exhibitions this year; Manufacturing Solutions Ireland event in Limerick, Irish Manufacturing Research’s Precision Engineering Networking event in Mullingar, and Manufacturing & Supply Chain West in Limerick.
On behalf of Sutton Tools UK and Sutton Tools Ireland, we wish everyone a Merry Christmas and a happy New Year!
Penelope Roberts European Marketing Coordinator
In loving memory from all the Fenn Tool family.
It is with great sadness and regret that we say goodbye to Peter Fenn, founder of Fenn Tool. Sadly, at the age of 86, Peter passed away in November after a short illness.
Peter started Fenn Tool & Gauge in 1982, and those who knew and worked with Peter will remember him as a greatly respected and admired businessman with a passion for engineering. Peter sold Fenn Tool to Sutton Tools in 2022 and if it wasn’t for Peter, we wouldn’t be where we are today.
Under Peter’s leadership, the company went from strength to strength, surviving through the hardest times and still staying on top as one of the largest independent tooling companies in the UK.
He gave many the opportunity to work at Fenn Tool and a lot of us are still here today as Sutton Tools UK. A man whose character was very much unforgettable; he will be missed greatly.
On behalf of all at Sutton Tools UK, we would Like to offer our deepest condolences to Martin, Andrew, and his many grandchildren who will miss him greatly.
Mick Steed at the Manufacturing Solutions Ireland Exhibit
Martin’s last day at Fenn. Happy Retirement Martin!
The new Sutton signs are up on the UK building
2025 was an extraordinary roller coaster ride that included great celebration, major change, and generally a bit of a hard slog for the team in New Zealand.
Opening our new factory was certainly the highlight of the year, it was great to host our Shareholders, Directors, Executive team, Major customers, local staff, local MP’s and the Waimakariri Mayor for this event. You could feel the overwhelming sense of pride in our new factory, which is a great reward for the Sutton Tools team who navigated our way through such adversity to this point, it was fantastic.
Following the opening, we also hosted our Southeast Asian distributors and employees at the Phoenix conference. This TransTasman event was a great investment in the relationship with these key business partners and the positive feedback continues.
The other major project was the relocation and integration of Trade Tools Auckland staff and warehouse to our site at Papakura. This included the installation and configuration of two new Kardex towers, new shelving plans and a lot of coordination between various teams. Special thanks to Oliver and James who helped with planning and travelled to NZ to assist with the physical move, Nicole for the excellent work getting warehouse service levels back to normal and Matthew, Simon Pringle, Simon McLeay and Daniel
TRADE TOOLS NZ
This year has been one of significant change and intensity for the Trade Tools team, and the Christmas break is one that everyone is looking forward to with great anticipation. It’s been a full-on year, marked by major transitions, sustained effort, and a shared commitment to progress – and we can all take pride in what we’ve achieved together. Since last year’s Christmas letter, we’ve successfully migrated onto the Sutton M3 system, relocated to our new Hunua facility (in with Sutton NZ), and – most recently launched a brand-new website. Each of these milestones required extensive planning, focus, and teamwork across TTL, Sutton New Zealand, and Sutton Australia. None of them came without challenges – from the complexities of system changeovers to the logistical hurdles of a major move – yet each was handled with professionalism, patience, and good humour. The support and collaboration between our teams have been invaluable
A Roller Coaster Year
who managed the planning and logistics to vacate the old Trade Tools building and get everyone and everything to Papakura with as minimal disruption as possible. This has been a momentous change and upheaval for the whole team who worked well together and can be proud of the result.
Unfortunately, the New Zealand economy remains stuck in a rut of recession that has been ongoing now for a couple of years. Despite this our sales performance has been reasonable and the team remains focused on what we can control and plan for. With good Sales and Marketing plans in place and effective cost control we are building a strong platform for growth when normality returns to the market.
This year we say goodbye and happy retirement to our Purchasing and Scheduling Manager Grant Hewett–Hawker. Grant has been a great contributor to our management team and collaborated with many of you. Grant is busy through to December training Leona Dyson who joined us in October to fill his role.
On a celebratory note, it is great to acknowledge long service awards for very well-respected colleagues who reached 25, 40 and 50-years’ service. Quite remarkable milestones and part of the Sutton Tools culture that most businesses cannot get close to.
Our Engineering Manager at Rangiora, Richard Frew celebrated 25 years, Richard is a key driver of our machine building program and an important leader of the factory rebuild project. Kay James reached 40 years, Kay is our Business Support Manager and a key part of the NZ Management team. John Reed has been part of our Engineering team for 50 years and this year also celebrated 50 years of community service with the Brooklands and Spencerville volunteer fire brigade. Quite remarkable achievements on both counts.
Thanks to everyone for their contribution this year, the teamwork has been exceptional. Merry Christmas, I hope you all enjoy the holidays and I look forward to working with you in 2026.
Kevin Donovan General Manager
A Year of Resilience & Change
and are a real reflection of the strength of the Sutton group.
Perhaps the most significant change for our staff was the move from our old premises, where we’d been for 22 years. For some, the new surroundings have brought a welcome change of scenery; for others, a shift in routines and logistics. For our customers, too, it’s meant a few differences in how we operate day-to-day. But in every sense, the move has made good business and operational sense. The new space brings us together – quite literally, as the combined team’s energy (and volume!) has lifted the atmosphere in a great way.
If there’s one word that sums up 2025 for Trade Tools, it would be resilience. The New Zealand economy has continued to drag, with plenty of talk about growth but little evidence of it in the real world. Coupled with the scale of internal change we’ve managed, it’s been a year of navigating choppy waters. But we’ve come
through it stronger, more unified, and ready for what’s next.
A special mention must go to Matthew McMenamin, who this year celebrated an incredible 40 years of service. From his early days in the warehouse to his current role overseeing much of our operations, Matthew’s dedication, knowledge, and steady presence have been invaluable to all of us.
To everyone at Trade Tools and Sutton –thank you. We’ve achieved a lot, weathered a few storms, and we’re in great shape for the future. Here’s to a well-earned break, a happy Christmas, and a smoother, less stressful 2026!
Simon McLeay Trade Tools CEO
2025 has been an exciting year for Sutton Tools NZ – the highlight being moving into our new factory space in Rangiora.
The year started off at full steam with several things that all had to be in place before the March 20 grand opening event. Our new factory oil filter system needed to arrive from the USA, oil feeds and returns to machines had to be put in place, oil tanks needed to be tested and fitted, pneumatic feeds and electrical feeds all needed to be run, and a full machine extraction network to be installed. Then all our production machines needed to be transported and installed in Rangiora, all the while, working to achieve our production targets as we transitioned between the two sites.
By the time March 20 arrived, everything was operating from the new site (with only our steam tempering remaining in Kaiapoi), and the grand opening was a resounding success with guests and dignitaries from NZ, Australia, and even as far away as Europe.
During the year, production and
Resounding Success
packaging in Rangiora has continued to grow, with our first skin-packing line installed in September. Packing team leader, Rebecca Hall, has been a feature in several third-party publications and social media posts, having completed a “Pop Up Leadership” course along with David Flintoff during this year.
The new factory has attracted regular public tours, community and networking events, and sales presentations. The new site has been a very positive move for the Sutton brand, gaining a huge amount of local interest being on a main access into Rangiora. Guests have ranged from interest clubs to businesses, local council (including Mayor Dan Gordon) and even a visit from Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Finance Minister Nicola Willis, along with a contingent of media. We also hosted around 50 guests for the NZ “Southeast Asia Phoenix Event”.
It has also been a good year for our machine sales, with FCP6’s going to the USA and Germany, and a laser and quad tube packaging machine also destined for
the USA. A few other new machines are on the go or in testing, and we are hoping for some repeat and new sales in 2026, along with the completion of our new and prototype machines in progress.
As we look toward 2026, we anticipate further production growth and employment for the local region, as well as continued improvements to what we are already doing as we follow and grow in our LEAN philosophy.
We want to say a big thank you to all our staff who have helped to get us where we are now after an epic 2025 year (and an epic few years before that too!) Thank you also to the Sutton family for the support, investment and confidence you have continued to place here in NZ.
Glenn Morgan, Operations Manager – New Zealand
The Rangiora factory is up and running
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Finance Minister Nicola Willis touring the factory
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Finance Minister Nicola Willis respond to the media
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and MP Nicola Willis touring the factory with Richard Frew and Glenn Morgan
Geoff giving a tour during the Factory Opening
Sutton Products at Rangiora
The New Oil Filter System
Skin-Carded XP Bullet Drills
MANUFACTURING
Manufacturing Momentum: A Year of Smart Transformation
As we reflect on the past year, it’s clear that 2025 has been a defining chapter in our journey toward smarter, more resilient manufacturing. From the shop floor to strategic planning, we’ve embraced the future – driven by AI, machine learning, and Industry 4.0.
Our participation in the Smart Industry Readiness Index (SIRI) assessment marked a pivotal moment, offering a structured lens to evaluate our digital maturity. The insights gained have guided our roadmap for transformation, helping us prioritise investments in automation, data integration, and workforce capability.
We’ve seen tangible progress through continuous improvement initiatives –from smarter tool selection systems using Case-Based Reasoning to adaptive machining models validated in our Smart Centre. These innovations are not just
ENGINEERING
Achievements & Progress
As this outstanding year ends, I want to take a moment to celebrate our progress and achievements in Product Engineering. Through our adoption of agile practices, we refined our design and testing workflows, launched new products to great success, and elevated the quality of our existing portfolio. Thank you to every member of the Product Engineering team for your commitment, creativity, and hard work.
Global exposure – during the year John visited several research institutes in Germany and was thrilled to find Sutton R&D is keeping pace with research trends and equipped with some of the latest tech! John’s scientific articles have hit 200 citations this year, cementing his reputation as a global expert in R&D of cutting tools.
The Third Wave Summit in St. Paul, MN, brings together machining
technical upgrades – they’re cultural shifts that empower teams to solve problems collaboratively and creatively.
Our engagement with the broader AI ecosystem has connected us with national leaders in robotics and intelligent systems. These forums have reinforced our belief that technology, when paired with human ingenuity, can unlock extraordinary outcomes.
Looking ahead, the potential is immense. Predictive quality, predictive maintenance, real-time analytics, and digital twins are no longer distant concepts – they’re becoming part of our daily operations. And with every improvement, we’re building a safer, more efficient, and more sustainable future.
To everyone who contributed ideas, led projects, or simply asked “what if?” – thank you. Your curiosity and commitment are the engines of our progress.
visionaries, academics, and industry experts eager to explore the future of machining simulation. Hosted by Third Wave Systems, this two-day event offers hands-on learning and valuable networking opportunities, highlighting cutting-edge machining techniques and the use of advanced simulation tools to drive better performance and outcomes.
What is ThirdWave: It allows engineers to analyse and understand what happens during metal cutting by modelling factors like chip formation, temperature, and stress, which leads to improved tool designs, reduced costs, faster development.
John and his wife Anita turned a visa challenge and the obligation to leave Australia into a dream opportunity,
Let’s carry this momentum forward. The future isn’t arriving – it’s being built, right here, by all of us.
Steve van Winckel Chief Manufacturing Executive
spending a snowy month living in Kyoto while waiting for their new working permits, and they loved it!
Fuad married Hanan and celebrated their wedding with families and friends in Kerala, India. They enjoyed a beautiful honeymoon in Maldives.
Wishing you all a Merry Christmas and a joyful holiday season!
Keith Petrzela Group Technical Manager
John and Anita in Kyoto
John in Germany
Fuad and Hanan last year 29/12/24 – Just missing last year’s Newsletter
On the 16/10/25 Fuad (left) became an Australian citizen
Image courtesy of Microsoft Copilot
Angelo presenting at the ThirdWave summit St Paul, Minnesota.
WAREHOUSE & LOGISTICS
As we approach the end of another dynamic year, we’re excited to share some fantastic updates, milestones, and celebrations from across the Warehouse and Logistics Department. Your hard work and commitment continue to drive our success – thank you for being part of this journey!
Celebrating Love in the Warehouse
A huge congratulations to Daniel and Jordy on their engagement! Their journey began when Daniel joined the warehouse team in July 2018, and blossomed into a relationship in March 2020. After five wonderful years together, they got engaged on October 14th, 2025. We wish them all the happiness in the world!
Family News & Warm Welcomes
David Henderson and his wife welcomed their first baby this November – huge congratulations to the new parents!
• Sandra Vitali has returned part-time following the birth of her son, Orlando – great to have her back!
• Gurjeet has also rejoined the Warehouse team after maternity leave – welcome back!
• A warm welcome to our new starters, Elliot Frost and Manny Balassopoulos – we’re thrilled to have you on board!
Farewell & Best Wishes
This year we say goodbye to Irene Stavrinou, who is retiring in November after five fantastic years with us. Irene’s dedication and positive attitude have been a shining example to all. She’ll be deeply missed, and we wish her a joyful retirement filled with gardening, cooking, and wellearned relaxation.
2025 – A Dynamic Year
Operational Excellence & System Enhancements
• S&OP Planning Improvements: Through refined M3 settings and enhanced system knowledge, we’ve made significant strides in planning accuracy and efficiency.
• High Performance Product Service Rate Project: A new special reporting process now enables rapid access to stock from our international warehouse network, improving service for Australian customers.
• Carbide Code Standardisation: This initiative is streamlining product identification and boosting internal efficiency.
Warehouse Consolidation Project
In September, the Warehouse Team successfully removed 11 on-site shipping containers containing bulk products, promotional items, and merchandisers. This consolidation with our external 3PL provider has improved storage security and efficiency. At the time of writing, we now have almost 500 pallets stored offsite – a great achievement!
Strategic Integration & Partnerships
• Following the acquisition of the MTI Qualos Mitutoyo division, we’re working closely with their team to integrate the extensive Mitutoyo product range.
• We’ve collaborated with Bunnings on their new forecast-based ordering system, which is expected to enhance customer service and stock availability.
Market Challenges & Monitoring
The sharp rise in Rare Metal prices has impacted the cost of Carbide and HSS materials. We’re actively monitoring these fluctuations to minimise commercial impact and maintain value for our customers.
Project Successes
• Project Phoenix: The launch of our new product ranges following last year’s successful initiative is now complete, with strong customer satisfaction reported.
• Export Excellence: Kudos to Oanh and Daniel for their outstanding work during the Export Customer visit. Their efforts have strengthened relationships and improved service and communication with our international clients.
Merchandise Makeover
A full review and redesign of the Sutton Merchandiser has delivered fantastic results. The new modular system enhances appearance and functionality while reducing costs in storage, handling, and transport. The addition of LED technology supports a sleek, contemporary design.
Thank you all for your continued dedication and teamwork. Let’s finish the year strong and keep building on these successes together! Warm regards,
Oliver
Petautschnig & James Clark
Warehouse & Logistics Leadership Team
New grandpa Glenn Lancaster with Spencer Elias Robinson
Fresh from the farm! Tom Sharing a carton of home grown eggs with Neville –team spirit at its finest.
Precision in action – Maryanne and John checking and organising stock to keep the warehouse running smoothly!
David with daughter Lucy November
CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE
2025 has been another solid and exciting year for the Customer Experience (CX) team. Together, we’ve delivered meaningful improvements that continue to elevate our service and strengthen customer relationships. Here are some of the key highlights:
Salesforce & MySutton Portal Enhancements
We introduced several upgrades to Salesforce and the MySutton portal, leading to a noticeable increase in customer adoption. As a result, 20% of all orders are now placed directly through the portal –a fantastic milestone in our digital journey.
A Busy Year Full of Excitement
Digital Invoicing Rollout
Phase 1 of our paperless invoicing initiative saw 30% of customers transition to digital billing. This shift has delivered significant savings in printing and resource usage, especially for the Thomastown warehouse.
Meet Max – Our New AI Voice Agent We launched Max, our AI voice agent, to support the service teams. Max now handles 20% of incoming calls, freeing up our staff to focus on more complex, high-value tasks. We’re actively working to expand Max’s capabilities to cover additional customer queries.
Order Automation via Portalink
Approximately 35% of orders are now processed automatically through Portalink. This not only saves time but also ensures faster delivery to our customers.
Team Highlights
A big thank you to Mamta Patil for her outstanding contributions during her work experience placement. Your support has made a real difference to both the team and our customers.
SURFACE TECHNOLOGY COATINGS
As 2025 winds down, we want to thank all our customers, suppliers and team members for another great year. We’ve had some changes within the department and a big milestone none bigger than the one we’re about to share.
Celebrating David Stavely – 45 Years of Dedication
This year marks the retirement of David Stavely, who has been with the Sutton Group for an incredible 45 years. David has been more than just a colleague – he’s been the heart and soul of our team. From his knowledge of heat treatment to his quick wit and down to earth approach, David has helped shaped the culture of the company since day one.
Welcome back to Angelina Stickland, who returned refreshed from a well-deserved 5-week European adventure – you looked amazing in the photos!
Season’s Greetings
To my incredible CX team – thank you for your dedication, energy, and commitment throughout the year. You make a difference every day. On behalf of myself and the entire CX team, we wish everyone a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. Enjoy the break, and we look forward to an even bigger and better 2026! Thank you
MD Kabir Group Customer Experience Manager
Progress & Reflection
Whether it was keeping things running smoothly or cracking a classic one-liner, David’s humour, loyalty, and genuine care for the company, customers and coworkers set him apart.
He built strong relationships with customers across all industries, always going the extra mile (and often making them laugh while doing it). Its no exaggeration to say his left a lasting impact – not just on the business, but on everyone lucky enough to work with him.
We will miss his presence around the site, but we’re so grateful for everything he’s done and wish him all the best for his well-earned retirement.
Thank you, Dave!
2025 in Review
It’s been a year of improvements, progress and reflection. From equipment upgrades to celebrating long – standing team members, we’ve continued to build on what makes STC great: quality work, strong partnerships, and good people.
We have upgraded the hot zone in our vacuum furnace this year. This has been a challenging transition for the VHT team and maintenance department. The new hot zone will re-ensure that we will consolidate our production needs for the future.
Steve Dowey has been working on our oldest coating chamber throughout the year and continues to do so, making it more user friendly, running it automatically and hopefully increasing the coating capabilities within the chamber itself.
From all of us here at Surface Technology Coatings, we wish you a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! Take care and enjoy the holidays,
Natalie Schembri Surface Technology Coatings
Thank You David! 45 Dedicated Years Serguie and Aslam
Season’s Greetings from the CX Team.
MARYBOROUGH PLANT
For the Maryborough operation and team, this year has seen the efforts of all come to fruition. 2024 we had new kit come in on the Flowlines, and Crop and Draw areas. We can confidently say that all machines are in their happy place. This has increased our production and presented challenges that have been met with a smile.
For our operation, the below numbers are indicative of what has been consistently achieved per month. Large drills av 110k pieces, Panels av 125k pieces, Packing 250k pieces, Heat Treat, Hard Grind and Blanking 850k pieces and Drawing around the 21 ton.
Of course, the numbers are there but it is the team that allows the place to breathe and have life. This year we have welcomed new members, Abbie, Meg, Jareth, Codie, Steven, Christian, Mark and Ty.
For the team to thrive, we constantly foster the ongoing sharing of our own
2025 – When the Levee Breaks
intellectual property and what’s defined as the black art, between all team members. This constant approach to quality and the ability to constantly strive to be better, gives us confidence and assurance that our processes and products are of the standard our internal and external customers expect every time.
In 2026 we are looking forward to a new annealing furnace being delivered and bought online. The existing furnace that is being delivered by Tetlow Engineering in Q1.
They had original drawings, 1965. Also two new Cutoff machines are being delivered from within from Sutton New Zealand. This year we also had a new oil press go online and is in operation. Thank you to the New Zealand engineering department.
The team of Sutton is a vibrant group that as a collective can meet the challenges of tomorrow. The commitment to taking the next step and facing an ever-changing
PRODUCTION ENGINEERING & SERVICE DEPARTMENT
Continuous Improvements!
This year’s theme has been concentrated on “Continuous improvements”.
Most of these suggestions came from the machine operators via the visual management board system in each department. So far this year there has been saving of approximately $662,000 with about 58 improvements completed. These improvements can be from installing robots for automatic loading of machines to more simple things like setting benches to reduce operating set up times. The Engineers have been busy implementing these improvements creating huge savings for the business. Well done and we look forward to many more to come.
The service department has continued to maintain a high standard of service to maintain all the plant and equipment site wide.
The service department has helped install a couple new machines this year, the Reinecker Peel grinder and the second
Viking tap flute and chamfer grinder. There are always several machines to move around to fit these new grinders into their correct position.
John Tramontana is retiring at the end of this year after 30 years working at Sutton Tools. John is a true Tool Maker, he can manufacture any piece of tooling or complex spare part you give him, weather it is from a drawing, a worn-out part, or just an idea we are still designing, John will get it completed, I have never seen him stumped. John you are going to be a very hard person to replace. All the best for your retirement.
Octavio Roca a graduate engineer that has been working with Sutton for about 2 years, decided to leave us during the year to follow his dream in the aircraft industry, we wish him the best for the rest of his career.
Congratulations to Roy D’Souza and Elisha Furtado on their marriage in August in India; all the best for their future together.
world of technological gaps. We have the people, the know-how and have the drive to meet the world of constant change. A safe workplace, a happy workplace and an engaging workplace will continue to foster that.
This may have been heard before but believe it’s what is a driver in how our operation engages what we do. We have KPI’s as business metrics but it’s the intangible KPI’s that we must push to be better for our people. Keep People Interested, Keep People Informed, Keep People Involved, Keep People Inspired.
We are open to Sales meetings, Customer visits, Group gatherings and Drop-ins, give us a call. Tea and Coffee provided.
From all of us to you, have a great break, with a laugh, a well-deserved rest and time with your family and loved ones.
To all the team at Maryborough, a sincere big thank you for all your efforts in 2025.
Mark Williams Operations Manager
Our team wishes everybody a well-earned break a great and safe Holiday.
Tim Schurmann Service Engineering
Congratulations to Roy & Elisha!
2025 has been a challenging year with a few changes of staff members, however we welcome new members to our Carbitool team.
New Talent, New Tools
In the store and dispatch area Greg Gorton and Sajad Sarvari (Saj) and production area Michael Robins (Robbo). They have settled in very well and have contributed with the smooth running of our dispatch, store and production area.
We had some changes in our packing department, we moved our skin packing and cutting machines to New Zealand in August, which will give them greater capacity to produce more skin packed/ carded product.
Cassie and her fiancé Dan welcomed a baby girl in September, Luna Grace, congratulations to them both.
We have continued our improvement program, with ongoing movement of products and layouts in our warehouse and storage areas, to give us room for new product ranges.
New range we have added to our stock this year are the Measuring Equipment, Dowel Jigs and Pocket Hole Drills. We are also storing 5th Axis products for our HP team.
We want to thank the Carbitool Team and everyone for the continued support and wish you all a safe and happy holidays.
