Marshall Industries: 90 Years of Innovation and Service in Southland

A Southland roofing company that helped revolutionise how New Zealand builds is celebrating 90 years in business.

Marshall Industries, originally established as Owen Marshall Plumbing Ltd in 1938, has become a household name across Southland and Otago while pioneering innovations that changed the construction industry nationwide.

The Invercargill-based company made history by becoming the first in New Zealand to develop and produce continuous long-run corrugated roofing iron. The breakthrough came when they designed and built their own machinery locally, using Southland tradespeople.

This innovation transformed how roofing was manufactured and installed across the country, setting standards still widely used today.

Marshall Industries didn't stop there. In the 1940s, they led another national first by developing continuous spouting systems. The company manufactured 20 machines locally, which were then distributed across New Zealand, Australia and the Pacific Islands.

Managing Director Tom Marshall says these achievements reflect the company's commitment to practical innovation.

"There has always been a strong focus on finding better ways to do the job," Marshall says. "That early innovation came from local knowledge and skilled tradespeople right here in Southland, and it is something we are incredibly proud of."

Over nine decades, the business has protected countless homes, farm buildings and commercial properties across the region, weathering Southland's harsh conditions alongside the community it serves.

Marshall credits the milestone to community support rather than company achievements alone.

"This milestone really belongs to the people who have supported us along the way," he says. "Our customers, the builders we work alongside, our suppliers and the many staff who have been part of Marshall Industries over the years have all played a part in getting us here."

Despite changes in materials and building styles over the decades, the company's core values remain unchanged.

"The focus has always been on doing the job properly and standing behind our work. Roofing is an important part of any building, and people place a lot of trust in the team doing that work."

Southland Chamber of Commerce Chief Executive Sheree Carey praised the achievement.

"Reaching ninety years in business is an incredible achievement," Carey says. "Marshall Industries is a great example of a Southland business that has grown alongside the region and contributed to its development over many decades. Businesses like this are an important part of the fabric of our community."

The anniversary also honours the generations of workers who built the company's reputation.

"Over the years, there have been generations of tradespeople, apprentices and team members who have taken pride in the work they do," Marshall says. "We are very grateful for the support we have received from the community and the construction sector across Southland and Otago."

While reflecting on their history, Marshall says the team remains focused on the future.

"We are proud of the history behind us, but we are just as focused on the future and continuing to support builders, homeowners and businesses across the region."

Marshall Industries plans to mark the milestone with community-focused initiatives throughout the year, celebrating the people, projects and partnerships that have shaped the business across generations.