Company History

1948

• 13th October, company incorporated by Colin Macnaught and two partners.
• Shortly after they purchased Gulson Pumps for £4,500. This business was located in Little Regent St, Redfern.
• Colin quickly improved the design of the Gulson kerosene Pump and the newly designed pump became the Wall Macnaught kerosene pump with a stainless steel down tube and marble foot valve.
• The second product was A1 UTILITY Drum Pump. This pump included the innovative bung opener feature in the body design.

1949

• Exclusive distribution agreement with Castrol Australia following a chance meeting between Colin Macnaught and the Managing Director of Castrol at the Orange Field Days. This agreement was to last for a generation based on a handshake.

1950

• Products were first offered to export markets by correspondence

1951

• Factory moved to Henderson St, Turrella, where it is still located
• Colin purchased and installed a prefabricated Nissen Hut made of galvanized iron shaped into an inverted half circle. They were originally used by the Air Force and later by the Australian Government to temporarily house a surge of post WWII immigrants.

1955

• H1 QUART-STROKE pump launched. This was the fastest hand lever pump in the world at the time.

1956

• Colin Macnaught undertakes first export trip to Canada

1957

• K1 MACNAUGHT LUBRICATOR launched.

1958

• Colin Macnaught undertakes export trip to South and East Africa

1959

• Export Manger (Adrian Hoeve) appointed
• Colin Macnaught becomes sole proprietor
• K5 MINI-LUBE launched. This portable lubrication system was developed after extensive research in the agricultural market.

1960

• Colin Macnaught participated in Australian Trade Mission to USA and Canada
• Chief Engineer (Eric LeCheminant) appointed

1963

• Macnaught wins first Export Award

1964

• Macnaught Industries established to distribute Oval flow meters in Australia

1966

• K16 FLEXIGUN launched. This was the first pistol grip grease gun.
• Macnaught exhibited on the Australian stand at the International Hardware Trades Fair in London prior to actively entering the UK and European markets

1968

• Macnaught wins second Export Award.

1969

• 6th Feb, Export Award presented to Colin Macnaught by the Hon. Ian Sinclair, Minister for Shipping and Transport, at a ceremony at Turrella.
• Export success during the 1960’s in developing distribution in Germany, France, Italy, Sweden, Japan, Canada and the UK.

1971

• Macnaught wins Hoover Award for Export Marketing for its penetration of the Japanese market

1973

• Macnaught becomes the first company in Australia to win its third Export Award

1974

• Graham Luker appointed as Design Engineer, replacing Eric LeCheminant who resigned in 1972. Graham Luker later designed the P1.

1977

• P1 POWERLUBE Air Operated lubricator launched. This was the World’s first thermoplastic air ratio pump. Macnaught patented the design.
• Macnaught wins Australian Design Award for the Powerlube.

1982

• Roger Yexley appointed Export Manager following Adrian Hoeve’s retirement
• Graham Bode appointed Managing Director following Colin Macnaught’s retirement from day-to-day operation of the company
• Colin Macnaught was still actively involved on the Board and worked part time for several years

1983

• A regional Macnaught Industries office was established in Melbourne

1985

• Macnaught purchased Reelco Industries, manufacturer of RETRACTA Hose Reels.

1986

• GR RAPIDFLO Pump launched

1986

• Macnaught Industries commenced the design of the very first ¼ ” M2 low cost oval gear flow meter in Melbourne. This meter was initially targeted at the brewery industry

1988

• Launch of the M2 low cost meter

1989

• Macnaught Medical established
• Mac Irrigation was purchased and renamed Macnaught Irrigation

1990

• T510 5:1 Ratio Pump launched. This utilised the thermoplastic air motor from the Powerlube

1991

• 29th June, Peter Macnaught, son of Colin, joined the Board as Non-Executive Director

1992

• Macnaught Industries commenced the design of the first 1” meter

1993

• The first M-SERIES 1” M10 oval gear flow meter launched

1994

• 21st October, Peter Macnaught was appointed Chairman. Paul Bush stepped down however continued on as Non-Executive Director.
• The first M-SERIES ½ “ M5 and the first 1 ½ ” M40 oval gear flow meters launched

1995

• Castrol Australia established Special products Division, which included Macnaught lubrication equipment

1996

• 9th April, Peter Macnaught appointed CEO
• Macnaught Medical and Irrigation Companies shut down to focus resources on Lubrication Equipment and Flow Meters
• Manufacturing of meters was moved from Melbourne to Sydney
• Meter range expanded and launched internationally
• Colin Macnaught passed away on 11th December

1998

• On 9th September a manufacturing alliance was formally established with Groz in India for the low cost manufacturing of components and sub-assemblies.

1999

• R-SERIES Ratio Oil Pumps launched
• HG Hose End Oil Dispenser range launched

2000

• Macnaught awarded Australian DesignMark for HG Hose End Oil Dispenser range

2001

• Macnaught established Macnaught Asia Pte Ltd affiliate office and warehouse in Singapore
• Established Macnaught USA Inc affiliate office and warehouse in Tampa, Florida
• BP purchased Castrol. Castrol business focus started to move away from non-oil products

2002

• M-Series meter range extended to M80 3” due to demand in Indonesia

2004

• M-Series meter range extended to M100 4”
• Macnaught exhibited at Automechanika, Frankfurt, for the first time
• BG100 POWERGUN Battery Operated Grease Gun launched
• IM50 Electronic Oil Meter launched
• Castrol Australia restructured and reduced focus on Macnaught products

2005

• Macnaught established Macnaught Europe Ltd affiliate office and warehouse in Brackley, England
• August, major Strategic Planning Meeting held in Sydney

2006

• 1st June, Macnaught ended the 57 year exclusive distribution agreement with Castrol in Australia and established its own sales force around the country
• exhibited at Automechanika for the second time
• IM40 mechanical oil meter launched
• IH20 Oil Control Handle launched
• Macnaught introduced 10 year warranty on all Macnaught designed products

2008

• Macnaught exhibited at Automechanika
• Anticipating the major downturn about to become known as the GFC, Macnaught commences massive investment in local manufacturing to secure supply lines, to better control quality and maintain cost competitiveness.
• Traditionally Macnaught invests in recession

2011

• The Company enjoys a record year sustained by rejuvenated manufacturing capability
• Launches in Australia second tier imported lubrication equipment brand Lubemate

2013

• Launched the new MX range of flow meters significantly upgrading the quality of existing range of oval gear flow meters. This complete revamp sets a new industry standard in both meter quality and utilisation of cutting edge support technology
• Launched the world’s first metered hose reel under the Macnaught Advantage banner. This product combined Macnaught’s expertise in both flow metering and hose reel technologies to revolutionize the way reels and meters are installed on service trucks, reducing both space and installation time dramatically.

2015

• Launched PG450 POWERGUN High Performance Li-ion Grease Gun.