Solving problems that matter

Innovative engineering based in Nelson servicing the region’s largest producers on land and sea

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Trusted and proven in delivering flexible, scalable engineering solutions built around our customers' needs.

Our services

A worker in muddy clothing walking through a narrow industrial corridor with large tanks on either side, viewed from a low angle.

Expert maintenance,
anytime, anywhere

Maintenance

Advanced, high quality
and tailored

A worker welding in an industrial setting, wearing protective gear including a face shield, welding jacket, and gloves, with blue sparks and smoke around.

Heavy Fabrication

Industrial HVAC ductwork and ventilation system with a worker on a ladder in a warehouse.

Expert fabrication,
built to last

Stainless Fabrication

Stainless steel pipes and valves in an industrial setting, part of a processing or manufacturing system.

Certified, experienced
and comprehensive

Process Piping

A man wearing glasses, a navy beanie, and an orange safety jacket operating a metalworking lathe machine in a workshop. He is focused on the machine, which has various controls and metal shavings around it.

Precision, expertise
and speed

Machine Shop

A worker welding a large metal surface inside an industrial facility, wearing a blue helmet and protective gear, with sparks flying from the welding process.

Maintenance,
innovation and safety

Marine Engineering

Designed, engineered, and manufactured

Propellers

Precision,
state of the art
and efficient

A laser cutter machine engraving intricate shapes into a metal sheet.

Profile Cutting

Develop, prototype
and refine

Two engineers in orange and blue safety vests examining technical drawings on dual computer monitors, discussing a machine design, in an office setting.

Draughting and Design

Three workers in a metal workshop wearing protective gear, working on a heating or metal pouring process with flames and tools around.

Where heat meets craft

Foundry

Two scientists in lab coats and safety goggles operating laboratory equipment involving a stainless steel vessel and touchscreen controller in a laboratory setting.

Ideas into practical reality

Innovation

Seamless from
concept to completion

Stillages and Racking

At Kernohan we make your project real

About us

A hexagonal, golden-brown nut with a white circular center.

Epic solutions, epic clients – see the projects we’ve brought to life.

Latest projects

Projects-add-here

Villa Maria Barrel Rack

Kernohan Engineering supplied over 500 seismic-rated wine barrel racks for Villa Maria’s Marlborough and Hawke’s Bay wineries. Custom fabricated and hot-dip galvanized for durability, the racks were delivered in staged consignments to align with production timelines—demonstrating our capability to deliver high-quality, large-scale fabrication solutions tailored to the wine industry.

Daiken maintenance shutdown

Executed a major shutdown at Daiken Southland’s MDF press plant with a 30-man team working days and nights. Successfully replaced the heating platen and stainless-steel belt, ensuring minimal downtime through precise coordination, safe execution, and around-the-clock effort.

Rabbit Island open tanks

Designed and installed soft cover roof structures with access hatches for four open tanks at Rabbit Island, reducing odour while meeting structural and budget requirements.

Matai Dam aeration system

The mechanical fit-out of the Maitai Dam aeration system, installing compressors, pipework, and a hilltop manifold for air distribution.

Bell Island sludge tank & pipework

A 120,000-litre stainless steel sludge tank for Nelmac on Bell Island. The tank features multiple pipe penetrations, a recirculating sludge system with a Vaughan chopper pump, and a bypass to a transfer pump. Key additions include a pigging station with safety facilities and integrated water and air supply lines.

Rotary breaker & impact conveyer rebuild

Kernohan facilitated the full rebuild, strengthening and commissioning of Bathurst mines large rotary breaker and cv6 conveyor including leveling, alignment, fabrication, reconditioning parts and installation.

McCashins pipe bridge

Kernohan built a custom pipe bridge to link a new canning system, with pressure-tested lines for steam, CIP, CO2, and more.

Custom signage

Your imagination is our creation, you think it and we make it, the sky is the limit.

Immortalis / Southern Cross refit

This project was a major refit and re purpose of a 105ft mikata class cruiser to carry passengers.

Nic Moon stainless feather

Inspired by the feather of an indigenous Kereru (wood pigeon) and construction in stainless steel

CarterHolt Harvey pipe bridge

A new continuous drying kiln was installed on site and it required hot oil from the existing plant to heat the new kiln.

Holcim cement kiln

What started off as emergency repair developed in to a complex replacement job with a 12 day duration, and a budget of $1.2 million. The chosen option was a first – a new untried method using a laminated tyre.