History

Founded in 1951 by brothers Bryant and Bill McIntosh, McIntosh Brothers has grown to be one of the country’s top farm machinery manufacturers and the Manawatu’s largest crane hire company. With Bryant trained as a fitter and turner, the pair saw an opening for jobbing engineers. They set up in a Palmerston North back section working in a shed they agreed to renovate as their side of a rent free deal for 6 months. Then they moved to Grey Street and during this time they were mainly doing repairs; you name it, they repaired it!
In the early 1960's, they brought land beside the North Island main trunk train line and built a purpose-built workshop. An early production line was for Buzzacott sheep showers for Dalgetys. They also produced stock crates for trucks and did general engineering jobs. A staff member who joined in 1961 was Gary Adsett who is still with the company and was workshop Foreman for many years. In 1964 they expanded the building and bought a Hastings firm to make stock crates in Hawkes Bay. This was closed in 1982 when all work was moved to Palmerston North. This prompted the purchase of 1.5ha more land. With more stock crates being built they required a crane so the company built its first on a Comer TS3 truck in the 1970's – then a second and a third, until the crane hire became a key part of the business. They made agricultural machinery and parts for Centric GDS bale handlers, swift rear ended loaders and Doring implements.
Star salesman Bob Potts who joined in 1973, suggested that a feeder wagon built for New Zealand conditions had big potential. In 1973, the brothers were the first to display a forage wagon at the national field days. After the first demonstration, they were mobbed by farmers. Those were the development days of feeder wagons in New Zealand. Since then the innovations have been more or less continuous.

The second generation of McIntosh Brothers entered the company in 1987 with both of Bill’s sons, Brett and Craig, joining the business after gaining experience in financial and engineering fields. Brett went on to run the farm machinery division and Craig the cranes and transport division.

1994 saw Bryant bought out of the business due to health problems. His dedication and commitment to the partnership with Bill had been instrumental to the company’s success. The next decade saw major developments with the Farm Machinery Division. They continue to be a market leader through attention to innovation, strength and quality of construction.

In 2008, the company had expanded to such an extent that it was decided to move a larger site in Armstrong Street, Palmerston North.

Sixty years in business was celebrated in 2011 with many long-term clients and customers attending the event. A third generation joined the business in 2011, with Brett’s son Scott bringing a passion for marketing (BCOM) and truck and crane operations. In 2020 Craig McIntosh retired from the company after serving the company for 33 years.

2021 saw the end of an era with the sad passing of Bill at age 90. Bill’s influence will live on in the company and the celebration of 70⁺ years in business as McIntosh Brothers, still a family owned and managed business.

Today, Brett is now managing the business, with son Scott taking on the management of the McIntosh Cranes. Mcintosh Farm Machinery focuses on customer needs, quality and longevity of product, the farming community continues to use McIntosh Farm Machinery equipment throughout New Zealand, Australia and Chile. This has been helped by a strong loyal New Zealand dealer network and an excellent representative in Australia, Trac Mac Farm Equipment. With the capability and imagination to figure out how to make our products work for you.