AKTRON OUR LIFE STORY
Aktron’s roots go back to our grandfather , Lincoln Suckling who trained as a dentist, but after serving for his country in the pacific (1942-1945), purchased a hill country farm in Canterbury and in 1965 established a farm machinery business which is still operating today.
Aktron started as Oil Distributors in 1992 when Warren Suckling saw the need to supply Canterbury farmers and contractors with an exceptional service and a family value-based oil supply. The market was dominated by the big 4 and Oil Distributors was the first to break new ground by taking the corporate Oil Companies head on.
As a family-owned, New Zealand company, we have a real commitment to our staff, the companies we work with, and the success and efficiency of the industries New Zealanders rely on.
In the late 1990’s, a meeting with a family friend Alan Kerr from the UK, facilitated in Oil Distributors becoming the New Zealand importer and distributor of Morris Lubricants UK. Alan Kerr was a chemist who became a senior product development manager for Castrol UK in the 1960’s and then formed is own company “Orthene Chemicals” to become one of the worlds largest specialist brake fluid manufacturers. To quote Alan Kerr in 1998 “Morris Lubricants would be one of the highest qualities privately owned lubricants blenders”.
We strive to bring a high level of security to national lubricant supply which resulted in us installing a grease packaging plant in 2010 and 2022, a lubricant filling line which give flexibility package product under private label.
In 2020, we signed an agreement with Petronas Lubricants Malaysia for distribution of the Petronas, Akcela and Ambra brands of lubricants in New Zealand which has been an exciting move for the company.
2021 saw the company rebrand to Aktron, a name that reflects our passion – oil is in our blood, a combination of our action and the Greek word Akron meaning summit.
The current directors, Garth Suckling and brothers Jay and Pat Hickmott (all grandsons of Lincoln Suckling) are ready to drive the business to new heights with our distribution branch in Hamilton opening and our national truck fleet provide New Zealand primary industries with:
Consultancy
Efficiency
Security
We are continually innovating to provide our customers with the highest level of customer service, delivery, technical support, and an unrivalled product range. Maximum Power, Optimum Performance , Ultimate Protection.