About Us
We provide reliable cranage and specialist engineering services to support industries across New Zealand.
Meister Solutions Ltd, part of the Meister Group, was rebranded in September 2020. The word “Meister”—German for “Master”—reflects our dedication to excellence and mastery in engineering and lifting solutions.
Owner Ross McFaul built his cranage business alongside providing engineering services to heavy industry. In August 2020, Ross committed full-time to the company, launching a new era that expanded our offerings with specialist engineering services complementing thriving cranage operations.
This growth blends Ross’s heavy-industry expertise with innovative lifting for complex projects. We deliver dependable workmanship through skilled professionals and experts committed to excellence. Based in Invercargill, we’ve supported local industry for years with a model built for remote sites—featuring supply chains, vehicles, freight, and purpose-built tooling for New Zealand’s challenging areas.
Our story
“We like the tricky jobs.”
Ross McFaul - Company Owner
Latest News
The only crane of its type in the Southern Hemisphere is now operating in New Zealand’s construction sector. The PK200002L SH knuckle boom crane, a $1 million Palfinger machine nicknamed “Jock,” was purchased by Ross McFaul, owner of Southland-based Meister Solutions Ltd. With a 50‑metre reach and impressive ability to work in confined spaces, it stands as Palfinger’s largest knuckle boom crane. Jock made its debut in Christchurch last month (May 2018) on a demolition project and is one of three cranes in the company’s fleet. After extensive research, the company ordered the PK200002 model from Gough Palfinger, fitted to a Scania R560 by Cable Price. “For a crane of this size and reach, it’s incredibly quick and efficient to set up,” says McFaul, explaining it can operate roadside or between buildings without disrupting traffic. Built in Austria and tested locally, Jock’s advanced remote system and reverse linkage boom allow it to work even through buildings—proof of the innovation now driving New Zealand’s lifting industry. Read more…
Biggest crane at work
The country’s largest knuckle boom crane has completed its first rescue mission. The $1 million Palfinger machine, nicknamed “Jock,” was called in to retrieve a road roller that had plunged about 20 meters down a bank near Queenstown earlier this month. Currently owned by Southland-based Meister Solutions Ltd, Jock was deployed to the scene on Kingston Rd near Jack’s Point (State Highway 6) a week after emergency services used rope lines to rescue the injured driver. The driver, reported to have suffered moderate injuries, was airlifted to Dunedin Hospital. According to Meister Solutions director Ross McFaul, Jock proved ideal for the challenging task. Working with a Kenworth recovery truck operated by Transport Repairs Ltd, the team successfully lifted the 7.5‑tonne road roller from its resting place on the steep bank. “They gave me a call and asked what we could do … we said ‘yep, no worries,’ knowing we’d have enough room without blocking the road,” McFaul said, adding that it was a joint decision by Transport Repairs and the insurance company to keep the main Queenstown–Milford Sound route open. Read more…
Jock to the rescue
Biggest knuckle boom crane in the southern hemisphere
The largest knuckle boom crane in the southern hemisphere, a $1 million Palfinger PK200002L SH nicknamed “Jock,” has arrived in Christchurch to serve New Zealand’s construction needs. Currently owned by Meister Solutions Ltd, the 50‑metre‑reach machine excels in confined spaces, can set up roadside without disrupting traffic, and features a reverse linkage system for working through buildings or low openings—all controllable remotely with full safety monitoring. Built and tested in Austria, it underwent local certification checks before being put to work on rebuilds, maintenance, university projects, and potential wind‑farm repairs. Meister Solutions Ltd director Ross McFaul, who has over a decade of experience in the hire industry, noted market shifts toward heavier loads that require extra truck axles. He compared the crane’s reach to a rugby field—parked on the goal line, it can lift 500 kg from halfway with the boom level. Trained alongside Gough Palfinger’s Duncan Phillips in Austria, McFaul also thanked NZ Transport Agency staff for their support with road approvals. Jock made its public debut at the 2018 TMC Trailers Trucking Industry Show in Christchurch.
Read more…