*An earlier publication of this article included some editing errors, incorrectly implying there is a new general manager for JOST Australia, and is to be disregarded. We apologise for any inconvenience caused.

Since incorporation in February 2018, JOST New Zealand has gone from strength to strength, says James Mackie, managing director JOST Australia & NZ. “We are delighted with the rapid growth of our young company, that has exceeded all our expectations, in particular when you consider the challenges posed by repeated Covid lockdowns over the last two years.

“Now, at the beginning of our fifth year, we are pleased to announce the appointment of Jaco de Kock to the position of general manager. Jaco joined the team late 2018 as operations manager, coming with 14 years’ experience with JOST products and 27 years with brake systems, 23 of those with EBS. In that role, Jaco has made a significant contribution to the growth of the business and has been a cornerstone in those start-up years.”

Jaco replaces Kate Bucknell who has led JOST New Zealand since its beginnings in 2018.

“Kate was the perfect choice for JOST as the ‘founding’ head for our new business in New Zealand. She has done an outstanding job! We’re delighted that Kate has agreed to push back full retirement for a few more years and remains as director of the company. She will also continue to focus on the development of TRIDEC Systems and JOST Axles systems in New Zealand,” added Mackie.

JOST Axle Systems were introduced in 2019 and have seen a positive uptake from the market. The JOST axle system offering is strengthened now that JOST New Zealand is a distributor for Knorr-Bremse Electronic Braking Systems and provides brake certification too. JOST New Zealand took over the TRIDEC distribution for New Zealand in 2021. TRIDEC is a world leader in the engineering, design, and manufacture of mechanical, hydraulic and electronically controlled Steering and Suspension Systems for trailers and has been part of JOST World since 2008.

With the expanded product portfolio, the team at JOST New Zealand has grown to several staff members, all of whom have many years’ experience with JOST products and in the New Zealand road transport industry. “We have a huge wealth of industry experience within our business, and that has ensured the brand is well supported and accepted in the market.”