July 2026 · 5 min read
For more than two decades, Wedgelock Equipment has built a reputation as one of New Zealand’s leading manufacturers of excavator attachments and quick couplers. Based in Wellington, the company designs, engineers, and supplies equipment used throughout the construction, demolition, quarrying, and earthmoving industries across New Zealand, Australia, and international markets.
Known for its commitment to quality, innovation, and reliability, Wedgelock manufactures both proprietary products and licensed designs while managing a complex network of suppliers, customers, and manufacturing operations. As the business has grown, so too has the need for systems capable of supporting increasingly sophisticated engineering, production, inventory, and financial processes.
A PARTNERSHIP BUILT ON LONG-TERM THINKING
When Wedgelock Equipment began searching for a new ERP solution in 2003, the company was looking for far more than accounting software. As a growing manufacturer with increasingly complex engineering, production, inventory, and customer requirements, Wedgelock needed a business system that could support the entire organisation rather than operate as a collection of disconnected applications.
At the time, critical information was spread across multiple systems. Engineering data, manufacturing information, inventory records, and financial data all existed in separate locations, creating inefficiencies and limiting visibility across the business. Wedgelock recognised that continued growth would require a more integrated approach.
EMDA was selected as the implementation partner, and SyteLine was chosen as the ERP platform because together they offered a manufacturing-focused solution capable of bringing the business onto a single system. Just as importantly, EMDA demonstrated a deep understanding of manufacturing operations and a commitment to supporting Wedgelock for the long term.
More than two decades later, that decision continues to deliver value.
Rather than replacing its ERP every few years, Wedgelock has continually evolved alongside the SyteLine platform, upgrading through multiple generations of the software and ultimately transitioning to Infor CloudSuite Industrial in the cloud. Throughout that journey, EMDA has remained a trusted advisor and implementation partner.
“One of the biggest hurdles wasn’t the technology—it was overcoming some of the common misconceptions about cloud ERP. Concerns around security, accessibility, and loss of control are understandable, particularly for manufacturers that have relied on on-premise systems for many years. Once Wedgelock looked closely at the realities of modern cloud platforms, it became clear that the benefits significantly outweighed the perceived risks.
The migration also created a valuable opportunity to examine existing business processes. Rather than simply moving old ways of working into a new environment, Wedgelock took the opportunity to simplify workflows, eliminate inefficiencies, and adopt best-practice processes. That’s where much of the long-term value has come from.”
— Cam Spear, Strategic Relationships Director, EMDA
MODERN CAPABILITIES DELIVERING REAL BUSINESS BENEFITS
Today, Wedgelock benefits from a fully integrated business platform that provides visibility across multiple locations and operations. Information flows seamlessly between departments, ensuring teams are working from the same data and enabling faster, more informed decision-making.
One of the most significant improvements has been the introduction of Infor Document Management (IDM). Engineering drawings, quality documentation, supplier records, customer correspondence, and operational documents are now stored and accessed directly within CloudSuite Industrial. Staff no longer need to search through shared drives, email folders, or separate repositories to locate critical information. Documents are available in context, linked directly to the transactions, jobs, suppliers, and customers they relate to.
The result is improved traceability, stronger document control, and greater operational efficiency throughout the organisation.
Wedgelock has also leveraged CloudSuite Industrial’s multi-site capabilities, enabling a consolidated view of operations while maintaining the flexibility needed to manage different locations and business activities. Management now has improved visibility across inventory, production, purchasing, and customer activity throughout the organisation, helping teams collaborate more effectively and make decisions based on a single version of the truth.
“Having a single system across the business gives us a consolidated view of operations that simply wasn’t possible before. Whether it’s inventory, production activity, purchasing or financial performance, we can see what’s happening across the organisation and make decisions with confidence. The addition of integrated document management has also made a significant difference. Our teams can find the information they need immediately, without searching through multiple systems or shared drives, which improves both efficiency and control.”
— John Leach, CFO, Wedgelock Equipment
TWENTY THREE YEARS ON
What began in 2003 as a search for a better business system has evolved into a long-term technology partnership. The reasons Wedgelock selected EMDA and SyteLine all those years ago—manufacturing expertise, integration, and a commitment to ongoing improvement—remain just as relevant today.
The difference is that those benefits are now realised through a modern cloud platform that continues to support Wedgelock’s growth and future ambitions.
For Wedgelock, the journey demonstrates that ERP success is not defined by a single implementation. It comes from continually investing in the systems, processes, and partnerships that enable a business to operate more effectively as it grows and evolves.
