A new world-class engineering and manufacturing facility at Christchurch Airport's Dakota Park officially opened on Wednesday 4 February 2026, marking a major step forward for New Zealand company Enatel.
First established in Christchurch in 2002, Enatel makes the world's most efficient electric chargers for material handling equipment (MHE) such as forklifts, and ground support equipment (GSE) used in airport operations.
The new facility comes at a pivotal time for the company, with the multi million dollar investment backed by its parent company IDEAL Industries Inc. – a 100-year-old, fifth-generation American family business.
Enatel General Manager Mike Clifford says the facility is a gamechanger, bringing Enatel's 200+ team back under one roof for the first time since the 2011 Christchurch earthquakes.
"We export 95% of what we make, and we're the only manufacturer of our kind in Australasia. This facility transforms how our team works together across the entire production cycle – from design through to delivery. It means we can innovate faster and get new products to market quicker."
Enatel’s flagship battery charging technology delivers a market-leading 97% energy efficiency and superior power density - keeping MHE and GSE operating reliably and cost-effectively worldwide.
IDEAL Industries Inc. CEO Chris Baldwin says the investment reflects confidence in Enatel's position as demand accelerates.
"The world is transitioning from fossil fuel to renewable power at pace, and Enatel is perfectly positioned to meet that demand with leading battery-charging technology. This facility is central to our strategy – it's been built with future growth in mind."
Enatel currently employs over 50 engineers specialising in hardware, software and mechanical engineeringand Clifford wants to see that number grow exponentially.
"We're one of only a handful of employers doing high-tech engineering like this locally, so we invest heavily in developing our people and keeping talent in New Zealand. We've got great examples of university graduates who've joined us and built impressive careers in this industry."
