HamiltonJet, a global leader in innovative marine propulsion technology, has opened its 7,500sqm factory extension in Christchurch, New Zealand, increasing its total manufacturing footprint to 22,500 m2 and boosting production capacity by 40 per cent. The expansion further strengthens HamiltonJet’s ability to serve its international customer base across commercial, defence, and green-energy sectors.
Left to right: HamiltonJet MD Ben Reed, Hon Chris Penk and HamiltonJet Director Mike Hamilton
The facility was officially opened with an event attended by more than 450 guests, including Hon Chris Penk, Minister for Building & Construction, and HamiltonJet’s global leadership team, underscoring the company’s status as a world-leading marine propulsion manufacturer.
Founded on the same site in the 1950s, HamiltonJet has grown from pioneering beginnings to become the world leader in waterjet propulsion systems. Today, its products operate in more than 70 countries, powering navies, coastguards, commercial ferries, windfarm support vessels, and hybrid craft.
HamiltonJet Managing Director, Ben Reed, says the facility comes at a time of increasing global demand. “With 97 per cent of our products sold overseas, this positions HamiltonJet to respond quickly to market opportunities, including growing demand in defence, hybrid marine technology, and windfarm support.
“We offer 18 different sizes of waterjets, ranging from small 270kW to large 5,500kW jets, meeting the needs of patrol boats, landing craft, ferries, and hybrid vessels. Our offering is unique in that we design, cast, machine, fabricate, paint, and assemble our waterjets entirely in-house. This comprehensive capability – unmatched by any of our competitors – gives us complete control over quality and performance and allows us to deliver technology efficiently to customers worldwide,” says Reed.
The new facility incorporates dedicated production lines for both small and large waterjets, purpose-built with LED lighting, solar panels, and heat-recovery systems. The layout has been optimised for lean, linear manufacturing, enabling faster assembly, reduced lead times, and greater flexibility to meet complex customer specifications.
HamiltonJet’s full in-house approach ensures customers benefit from reliable, high-performance propulsion systems while receiving expert engineering and rapid delivery. This expansion consolidates HamiltonJet’s position as the most capable waterjet manufacturer in the world, delivering advanced technology from New Zealand to the global marine industry.
Looking ahead at 2026, HamiltonJet plans to open a new office facility on the Christchurch site, and has space available for another factory of the same size, ensuring it can continue to scale production efficiently as global demand grows.
For more information about HamiltonJet visit www.hamiltonjet.com
