On the 1st of February, ARA Group NZ Limited (ARA), completed the acquisition of Sopersmac, one of the largest distributors of architectural door hardware in New Zealand.
Sopersmac offers a full-service value proposition to their clients and in addition to the supply of architectural hardware, they also offer specification, project management, master keying and installation services for commercial, custodial, industrial and high-end residential properties.
Door hardware industry
Sopersmac prides itself on having some of the most experienced people within the architectural door hardware industry
Sopersmac has been a family business for approximately 75 years and has a nationwide presence in New Zealand, operating out of four branches and have a sales team operating in regions where it does not have premises. It employs a workforce of 52 people, including branch managers, project managers, account managers, expert sales staff, finance and support staff, estimators, and installers.
Sopersmac prides itself on having some of the most experienced people within the architectural door hardware industry in New Zealand. That expertise has provided the opportunity for them to be involved in some of the more iconic projects and in recent times those include Auckland City Mission, Christchurch Convention Center and the very innovative Prison modular builds to name a few. Sopersmac is a natural fit among the businesses of ARA in New Zealand and in Australia.
ARA Security’s business
ARA is a manufacturer of commercial and industrial doors in New Zealand through its Metalbilt business. Metalbilt is also a New Zealand company with a long history of almost 70 years. We anticipate a lot of cross-selling opportunities between Sopersmac and Metalbilt. ARA Products is a distributor of architectural door hardware in Australia.
The value proposition that Sopersmac brings is a natural fit to work with ARA Security and customers in New Zealand. Customers are increasingly interested in a total opening solution and hope that providing the customers with the complete package of electronic security, hardware, installation, maintenance, servicing, and locksmith services, will result in organic growth in New Zealand. ARA Security’s business in Australia is growing this combined service offering very successfully.
Electronic security services
Southern Folger provides hardware installation, servicing, and maintenance services to a number of prisons Sopersmac, through its long-time association with one of the world's most respected names in detention hardware, “Southern Folger,” provides hardware installation, servicing, and maintenance services to a number of prisons and correctional facilities in New Zealand.
ARA Security in Australia provides electronic security services to more than a dozen prisons in Australia. Hope is that ARA Security in New Zealand through its association with Sopersmac will find new opportunities for its electronic security services to the prison sector of New Zealand.
Growth of Sopersmac
Sopersmac has forged strong relationships with the pioneering manufacturers of architectural hardware from around the world and these partnerships have been in place for many years.
The ARA Group is thrilled to have the Sopersmac team and the business join the organization. As well as being a long-standing business in the New Zealand construction industry, Sopersmac brings new but related skills to ARA. There is great scope for the growth of Sopersmac and the related ARA businesses in New Zealand.
