Tokoroa equipment manufacturer SATCO wins International Trade award

South Waikato business has been given a boost thanks to Tokoroa-based forestry engineering company SATCO winning the International Trade Award at the 2025 Waikato Chamber of Commerce Business Awards, standing out among finalists from across the region at a gala event attended by nearly 800 business and civic leaders in Hamilton, New Zealand.

South Waikato Mayor Gary Petley says the award demonstrates the strength of the district’s diverse industries following recent challenges.

“To see SATCO shine on the stage is special. This award shows exactly what our district is capable of – world-class innovation by local people that is happening right here in South Waikato,” says Mayor Gary Petley.

SATCO builds the heavy-duty cutting, grabbing and processing heads that sit on the front of logging machines – attachments that fell trees, delimb them and prepare logs for transport. These are designed, manufactured, assembled and tested in Tokoroa before being exported to major forestry markets including Australia, Chile, Ecuador, Brazil and Colombia.

“SATCO is a truly deserving winner of the 2025 International Trade Award,” says Head Judge Dr Heather Connolly.

The awards judges praised SATCO for its innovation, global competitiveness and deep understanding of the forestry environments it designs for, calling the business “a shining example of Kiwi innovation, determination and technical excellence.”

The judging panel noted that SATCO’s success was built on recognising early that imported machinery often couldn’t handle New Zealand’s oversized, dense trees. Founder Warwick Batley responded by engineering purpose-built equipment designed for the toughest conditions – a shift that has seen SATCO grow into a globally respected brand.

Warwick Batley says the award is a special moment for both the company and the South Waikato.