Project Overview
Date Completed
1999 – Present
Services
Cut. Form. Build.
Engineering Support
For more than 26 years, Longveld has worked alongside Fonterra to keep New Zealand’s milk collection fleet operating safely, efficiently, and reliably.
What began with the former NZ Dairy Group prior to the Fonterra merger has grown into a long-standing partnership built on engineering rigour, dependable fabrication, and a shared commitment to continuous improvement.
Since 2010, Longveld has been Fonterra’s sole truck retrofit partner and the exclusive supplier of tanker barrels. Every retrofit reflects decades of experience in light fabrication and engineering design for the dairy and transport industry.
A Partnership Built on Delivery
Our ongoing retrofit programme with Fonterra is rooted in practical engineering and consistent execution. Over hundreds of milk tankers, we’ve delivered everything from targeted unit upgrades to full fleet retrofit programmes.
Each tanker is engineered and fabricated to meet strict hygiene, food safety, regulatory, and performance requirements. The result is a fleet that supports efficient milk collection across the country while standing up to demanding operating conditions.
Clear communication, repeatable processes, and reliable delivery have shaped this relationship over time. Fonterra trusts us with critical transport assets because we understand the environment they operate in and engineer every solution to perform long term.
Innovation That Delivers Measurable Results
Engineering design and fabrication innovation sit at the centre of our retrofit work. A standout example is the H450 Retrofit Project, where we developed a new method for mounting the tanker barrel to the chassis.
This redesign delivered a 63% reduction in annual retrofit costs, alongside improved durability, reduced maintenance requirements, and better overall performance.
We continue to apply lessons learned across nearly three decades of dairy tanker fabrication. By integrating new systems with existing truck infrastructure, we reduce downtime and keep tankers on the road, without compromising safety or compliance.
Engineering for Product Quality and Driver Safety
Every retrofit is engineered with a clear purpose, balancing product protection, driver safety, and operational reliability.
Product integrity
Free-flow tanker designs and refined baffle systems support raw milk quality, improve load stability, and make cleaning more effective.
Driver safety
Engineering decisions are made with real-world driving conditions in mind. Stability, handling, and braking performance are built into each retrofit to support safer operation on every route.
Long-term reliability
Detailed SOPs, verified checklists, and quality controls guide every stage of fabrication and assembly, ensuring consistency, compliance, and durability across the fleet.
A Sustainable, Future-Focused Retrofit Programme
Our 27-year retrofit programme reflects a shared commitment to sustainability through smart engineering design. Extending the life of each tanker reduces material use, lowers lifecycle costs, and minimises unnecessary waste.
Fabrication methods are continually refined to reduce residual product and cleaning chemicals, supporting both operational efficiency and environmental outcomes. Across a national fleet, these incremental improvements deliver meaningful long-term gains.
Looking Ahead
As Fonterra responds to evolving production demands, regulatory requirements, and sustainability goals, Longveld remains a hands-on engineering and fabrication partner.
We continue to design, build, and refine transport solutions that perform in the real world—supporting the future of dairy transport in New Zealand through carefully engineered upgrades, delivered with precision.
