SLM Limited was incorporated on the 22nd of July 1998. Its was founded by three friends who have passed on their knowledge to the team we have today. SLM Limited has a combined experience in the shipping and distribution industry of over 50 years.

In previous positions, the directors of SLM Limited controlled NZ$80 million per annum of freight contracts for a multinational corporate. Contracts were negotiated with all the major shipping lines to and from New Zealand. Some individual contracts were worth more than NZ$16 million per annum. Ships were chartered where no existing services existed, and new services were created when there was a market need.

They also managed two company-owned vessels trading between New Zealand and Australia. On each voyage, 800 metric tonnes of capacity were marketed to the general public in a venture called “Balance for Profit”. This venture netted an annual profit of up to NZ$3 million per annum for their previous company. The cargo carried included stainless-steel tanks, timber, bricks, heavy machinery, trucks and standard containers. In these previous positions, the directors of SLM Limited were instrumental in assisting some shippers develop new markets by daring to try innovative and new things.

This innovation and entrepreneurial activity are continued today:

·       SLM Limited worked the first dedicated, foreign-flagged, and crewed Trans-Tasman vessel in August 1998. This vessel was called m.v.Tamdhu.

·       SLM acts as shipper's agent to locate and coordinate the best shipping solution. At the same time SLM acts as Shipping Line’s agent to locate and coordinate bookings. A true Win/Win/Win.

·       SLM Limited works in a close association with several shipping companies and in particular, Wallenius Wilhelmsen Line, Armacup, Swire Shipping, MOL, MSC, PIL, CMA CGM & ANL, Sofrana ANL, Hapag Lloyd, Hamburg Sud, COSCO, ONE Line and NPDL.

·       SLM acts on shippers' behalf to locate the best methods for shipping containers to obscure and far away ports using existing service providers. This involves knowing where various shipping lines need containers and with this knowledge, SLM has opened new markets for shippers.

·       SLM assists many NZ timber mills in shipping to Australia, USA and the rest of the world in 20 and 40 containers, flat racks, bolsters and break-bulk. Once again with different method SLM has differentiated itself from competitors.

·       SLM ships many "out of the ordinary" cargoes including huge mining equipment and dump trucks, circus equipment, caravans, camper vans, fifth wheelers and pleasure boats.

·       SLM, through its investment in Unit & Pallet Protection NZ Ltd, provides expertise and materials in packaging and protection of breakbulk cargoes.

In summary, the SLM Limited team are very experienced in shipping from New Zealand. They know most of the shakers and movers in the industry. They can provide a better and often cheaper service to many shippers, or at least confirm that current shipping arrangements are very good!

In 2002 one of the shipping companies that “Partners” with SLM, asked for some assistance in sourcing ship’s dunnage. Since that time, ship’s dunnage has been supplied within New Zealand and around the world. A few years later, at the request of another shipping line, we began supplying Douglas Fir to the Pacific islands. More recently, we have been asked to supply untreated timber to pallet and box manufacturers, and environmentally friendly, safe out-door decking and timber. This is done through a sister company, New Zealand Timber and Dunnage Ltd. This co-operation has led us to a point where we now view all our suppliers and customers as some of our best friends…. friends that helps us and friends that we help.  

Over the years, we have gained worldwide experience and contacts. It is our aim to use this experience and these contacts to build the best possible business relationships. We value long term relationships assisting both our suppliers and our clients, ones that benefit us all. We believe that co-operation is the key to long term survival.