Fulton Hogan has officially opened its new Wellington Asphalt Plant marking a major milestone in the company’s more than $100 million investment in a new generation of asphalt manufacturing across New Zealand.
The opening was attended by central and local government representatives, including the Hon Chris Bishop, NZTA and Wellington transport officials, local iwi and Fulton Hogan senior executives, reflecting the importance of the investment to Wellington, its communities and the wider region.
Strategically located at Horokiwi Quarry, the asphalt plant is Fulton Hogan’s third new Marini 2500 batch plant to be commissioned in recent years. It is one of the most centrally located asphalt plants in the country, sitting just 10 minutes from central Wellington to the south and the Hutt Valley to the north.
Designed to support the region’s infrastructure needs for decades to come, the new plant significantly lifts Wellington’s asphalt production capability. With capacity of up to 200 tonne per hour, it more than doubles the output of existing asphalt plants in the region and provides the scale needed to support major projects including airports, ports, state highways and large-scale infrastructure programmes.
Fulton Hogan New Zealand Chief Executive, Ben Hayward, said the new plant is a statement of confidence in Wellington’s future.
“This new plant is a significant investment in Wellington and in the infrastructure that keeps the region moving. It gives the region a class leading, high-capacity asphalt facility that can support major projects, respond more quickly to customer needs and help meet future demand with confidence,” said Mr Hayward.
A key feature of the Wellington plant is its integrated Reclaimed Asphalt Pavement system, which enables mixes to be produced with up to 40% recycled material that is removed from Wellington roads each day. By recovering valuable bitumen and aggregates from end-of-life asphalt and reusing them in new products, the plant reduces the demand for virgin material extraction and imported bitumen – a cost effective and sustainable outcome for the region.
The plant also incorporates Reduced Energy Asphalt technology, allowing asphalt to be produced at lower temperatures. This reduces fuel consumption and cuts emissions and fumes. While intelligent control systems and remote diagnostic capability help minimise downtime and maintain reliable operations.
“This plant is about more than increased capacity. It is about modern technology delivering both operational and environmental value. By making better use of recycled materials, improving energy efficiency and creating a more flexible production system, we are strengthening the way asphalt is supplied and delivered across the Wellington region,” Mr Hayward said.
With an expected design life of around 40 years, the asphalt plant has been built to adapt to future customer requirements, evolving specifications and new product innovations without disrupting standard production.
The asphalt plant follows similar facilities already commissioned in Drury, Hamilton and Mount Maunganui.
Mr Hayward said the investment reflected Fulton Hogan’s long-term commitment to supporting communities with the infrastructure they need to grow and thrive.
“Infrastructure plays a vital role in connecting people, supporting economic activity and helping communities flourish. This plant strengthens our ability to deliver for Wellington over the long term and is a practical example of how we are investing in more resilient, efficient and future-ready infrastructure for New Zealand,” said Mr Hayward.
