2025 Event Roundup: Insights, Innovation, and Industry Connections Across New Zealand & Australia
The past year has been a powerful one for Ulti Group as we continued our mission to support organisations across New Zealand and Australia with high-performance access solutions that conserve energy, increase efficiency, and protect people and products. From food production to logistics, cold storage, construction, and architectural design, the events we attended offered invaluable opportunities to learn, connect, and share innovations shaping the future of our industry.
Below is a full wrap-up of the 2025 events we participated in – each one reinforcing our commitment to excellence, customer partnership, and staying at the cutting edge of the cold chain and industrial access technology.
Foodstuffs Expo
Hamilton, NZ | 5th-6th March
This year’s Foodstuffs Expo brought together leaders from across New Zealand’s food retail and supply chain sectors, and it was one of the most energising events on our calendar. The demand for greater energy efficiency, improved safety, and smart automation in high-traffic distribution environments was a consistent theme across conversations. We rolled in with our Ulti Group Mobile Showroom and showcased solutions such as rapid-roll doors, air barriers, and temperature-controlled access systems – helping attendees explore practical ways to reduce operational costs while protecting product quality. Our live demonstrations sparked strong engagement, reinforcing the rising pressure on retailers to streamline logistics and strengthen cold chain resilience. A standout highlight was giving away three Weber BBQs to some very excited visitors. The draw brought plenty of energy to the stand and created a real buzz throughout the day – an awesome way to thank everyone who stopped in to connect with us.
Meat Processing and Export Conference (MPEC)
Gold Coast | 12th-13th March
The Australian meat processing industry continues to demand reliable, hygienic, and high-performance access solutions that stand up to rigorous washdown environments and strict compliance requirements. At the Meat Processing and Export Conference (MPEC), our team connected with processors, facility managers, and engineers who were focused on improving uptime, meeting food safety standards, and maintaining continuous workflow across chilled and frozen zones. With many attendees looking for robust insulated door systems, smart automation upgrades, and proven ways to minimise condensation and ice build-up, the conversations reflected the industry’s drive for safer, more energy-efficient operations. Building on the momentum of our presence at AMIC 2025 – where Andrew Jones and Brent Filleul represented Ulti Group on the Gold Coast – the event reinforced the strength of our trans-Tasman partnerships. It also highlighted Australia’s accelerating investment in equipment that protects people, product, and profits through better performance, reliability, and cold chain control.
FoodTech Qld
Gold Coast | 19th-20th June
FTPT provided a broad view of the Australian primary industries sector, with sustainability and efficiency emerging as top priorities for operators across seafood, agriculture, and transport. Temperature-controlled infrastructure was a major talking point, particularly the need for solutions that maintain consistent conditions through frequent movement of goods. At FoodTech Queensland, we built on this momentum by showcasing our revolutionary container loading systems, high-speed for high-traffic zones, and industry-leading air freezer doors designed for uncompromising cold chain integrity. Our team – including Andrew Suckling and Jesse Lambly on the ground – engaged with producers and logistics operators looking to conserve energy, eliminate ice in coolstores, and streamline high-volume operations. The strong interest reinforced the unique environmental challenges Australian businesses face, from extreme heat exposure to long-haul transport demands, and highlighted how Ulti Group innovation is helping them move product with less energy, more control, and no sweat.
Red Meat Conference
Christchurch | 21st-22nd May
The Red Meat Conference is always a standout for industry collaboration, and this year was no exception. Producers, processors, exporters, and supply chain specialists gathered in Christchurch to explore resilience, profitability, and the technologies reshaping performance across the sector. Plant efficiency was a recurring focus, with many conversations centred on durable cold storage access, high-speed door systems, and improvements to facility flow and layout. Our team – represented on the ground by Ben Suckling and Tamzin Suckling – met with organisations looking for long-term partners who can support energy-reduction goals, life site safety, and strengthen cold chain integrity. The interest in smarter, safer, and more efficient entrance solutions underscored how interconnected the red meat industry in across both domestic and international markets, and how essential reliable access technology is in keeping product moving safely from plant to plate.
CeMAT Australia
Sydney | 22nd-24th July
As one of the most technically rich events in the temperature-controlled goods sector, CeMAT offered powerful insights into the future of cold chain logistics, automation, and facility design. Across the show, the shift toward smarter loading zones, data-driven efficiency, and equipment designed for measurable thermal performance was unmistakeable. At Stand L5, our team – including Andrew Suckling, Jerry Prestidge, and Hudson Prestidge – showcased the innovations redefining industrial access: advanced container loading systems, high-performance freezer doors, and smarter dock levelling technologies built to eliminate ice, minimise energy loss, and protect cold chain integrity. Conversations frequently centred on reducing condensation risk, improving pressure balance at loading docks, and speeding up high-volume operations with stress-free, reliable access solutions. CeMAT reinforced the strategic importance of well-integrated cold chain systems and validated the rising demand for technologies like the Ulti Roll, DuoTherm, and air barrier systems – solutions purpose-built to help facilities move product with more control, more efficiency, and no sweat.
NZ Apples and Pears Conference
Nelson | 30th-31st July
New Zealand’s horticulture sector is evolving rapidly, and this years New Zealand Apples and Pears Conference highlighted both the challenges and opportunities ahead. Post-harvest efficiency, product quality, and cold storage optimisation were dominant themes as growers navigate global competition and rising operating costs. On the ground in Nelson, Andrew Jones connected with industry professionals to discuss controlled atmosphere solutions designed to keep produce fresher for longer – from harvest through to long-term cool storage. We engaged with packhouses and storage facilities seeking access systems that deliver tight environmental control, reduce moisture ingress, and maintain smooth workflow during peak periods. The conversations reinforced how heavily horticulture relies on precise temperature management, and how innovative entrance technologies can have a significant impact on product integrity right across the supply chain.
RWTA AU (Refrigerated Warehouse & Transport Association)
Gold Coast | 10th-12th August
RWTA remains a cornerstone event for cold storage operators throughout Australia, and this year’s conference on the Gold Coast showcased a sector in rapid expansion. Investment in new distribution infrastructure, energy-efficient facility design, and smarter cold chain performance were key themes throughout the event. On site at Booth #15, our team connected with logistics leaders prioritising thermal performance, dock efficiency, and safety upgrades to support large-scale storage and national supply networks. The conversations reflected a strong appetite for cutting-edge freezer doors, automated dock systems, and technologies engineered to reduce operational costs and downtime. Earlier in the year, Don Cottle’s feature in RWTA’s Chilled Out series sparked valuable dialogue around compliance and energy goals on both sides of the Tasman – discussions that continued throughout the conference. RWTA reinforced Ulti Group’s growing role in supporting Australian cold storage operators with reliable, high-performance solutions built for demanding conditions.
NZ Cold Storage Conference
Napier | 24th-26th August
The NZ Cold Storage Conference continues to be a flagship event for New Zealand’s temperature-controlled industry, bringing together operators, engineers, and supply chain partners who keep the country’s cold chain moving. This year’s sessions highlighted rising energy costs, increasing food safety expectations, and the operational pressures facing ageing cold storage infrastructure. On the ground at Booth #5, our team – including Andrew Suckling, Andrew Jones, and Brent Filleul – showcased the Ulti DuoTherm and Ulti Air door series, demonstrating how these solutions eliminate ice build-up, improve safety, and deliver measurable savings. Many attendees were exploring ways to improve reliability and efficiency, streamline container loading, and maintain absolute temperature and pressure control. Conversations reinforced just how essential high-performance access systems are in protecting product integrity and freeing up valuable floor space. A major highlight was our Weber BBQ giveaway, which brought great engagement throughout the event. The conference provided a valuable platform to support best-practice cold storage design and demonstrate Ulti Group’s technology is helping New Zealand and Australian facilities achieve peak performance with less energy, more control, and no sweat.
FoodTech PackTech (FTPT)
Auckland | 2nd-4th September
The New Zealand edition of FTPT delivered a comprehensive look at the trends shaping our primary industries, with sustainability, export growth, and technology adoption front and centre. Interest was especially strong in innovation that increase throughput and reduce environmental impact across seafood processing, transport depots, and cool chain distribution. The Ulti Group team showcased high-speed doors, air doors, dock levellers, and safety systems designed for New Zealand’s toughest industrial environments – demonstrating how fast-acting, reliable access solutions significantly reduce thermal exchange and lift operational efficiency. Across a three-day event, we connected with operators committed to modernising their facilities, exploring ways to conserve energy, improve safety, and streamline workflow. Live demonstrations and hands-on conversations highlighted the critical role of high-performance entrance systems in protecting product integrity and supporting resilient, future-ready operations. The strong engagement – including the giveaway of Ulti Chilly Bin Packs – made this year’s Foodtech Packtech a standout opportunity to strengthen industry relationships and showcase the innovation driving New Zealand’s food and packaging sector forward.
Teulo Talks LIVE
Auckland | 18th November
Teulo Talks LIVE provided a refreshing shift in focus, bringing together architects, designers, and construction professionals passionate about building performance and future-ready design. With sustainability front and centre, there was strong interest in thermal efficiency, airflow management, and building materials that support long-term environmental performance. Ulti Group’s participation showcased how industrial access solutions play a key role in achieving compliant, energy-efficient buildings – especially in commercial and food production environments. The event demonstrated the growing collaboration between architectural design and operational engineering, highlighting opportunities to influence facility performance right from the planning stage.
Our participation in these events across New Zealand and Australia has reinforced the importance of staying deeply connected with the industries we serve. Each conference, expo, and forum gave us valuable insight into the evolving needs of cold storage, food production, logistics, primary industries, and construction professionals.
More importantly, they strengthened our commitment to being the partner organisations rely on for innovative, high-performance access solutions that conserve energy, enhance safety, and support operational excellence.
As we look ahead to the coming year, we’re energised by the opportunities before us – and proud to continue delivering solutions that help shape a safer, more efficient, and more resilient future for our industry.