Most people never think about where semiconductors come from. But if you’re holding a phone, staring at a screen, or using anything powered by AI, chances are it’s been touched by Buckley Systems.

Tucked away in Mount Wellington, Auckland is one of the engineering world’s best-kept secrets: a Kiwi-owned company whose precision electromagnets and machinery sit at the heart of the global semiconductor supply chain. From smartphones to flat-panel displays, Buckley Systems’ work is embedded deep inside the technology the world now relies on.

“The majority of the internal componentry in semiconductor manufacturing has had a Buckley magnet touch it.” says Tony Misa, Chief Operating Officer.

Small country. Big impact.

Engineering that powers the world

Buckley Systems has been operating for more than 40 years, supplying highly specialised magnetic systems and beamline components to the semiconductor, medical, and research industries.

Their downstream customers underpin everything from cloud computing to AI. While Buckley Systems is rarely visible to the end users, its role in the supply chain is critical.

Owned by Kiwi entrepreneur Bill Buckley, the company is 100% export-focused. Every dollar earned overseas flows back into New Zealand - supporting jobs, skills, and ongoing investment in advanced manufacturing capability.

From apprentice to COO

Tony Misa’s own journey mirrors the Buckley Systems story.

He walked through the doors at just 15 years old, fresh out of school, with no idea what a CNC machine was. One tour of the machine shop was all it took.

“I was blown away,” he says. “I knew straight away that this was where I wanted to be.”

Tony started as an apprentice machinist, worked his way through planning, machine shop management, and manufacturing leadership, and then spent three years in Boston working directly with Buckley Systems’ key North American customers. Four decades after the company was founded, he returned home to take up the role of COO.

“I found my passion the day I walked in here. Manufacturing moves fast. It’s hands-on, problem-solving, and you can see the impact of what you make.”

It’s a pathway Buckley Systems actively nurtures - proof that manufacturing careers don’t have a ceiling.

Investing to stay world-class

Behind Buckley Systems’ global relevance is relentless reinvestment.

The company continuously upgrades its technology - ERP systems, advanced CNC machines with multi-pallet automation, specialised tooling, and bespoke equipment built for highly specific jobs.

Some investments have paid for themselves in under a year.

“We’re constantly working with suppliers to speed up processes and increase efficiency,” Tony explains. “If you want to compete globally from New Zealand, you have to be smart, not just busy.”

That focus on exporting high-value, precision-engineered products—and reinvesting the returns into the business—has allowed Buckley Systems to grow year on year while keeping its manufacturing base firmly in Aotearoa.

When the world couldn’t stop

The company’s importance was laid bare during COVID-19.

As borders closed and industries slowed, Buckley Systems’ global customers urged them to stay operational. Semiconductor demand surged, and Buckley’s electromagnets were essential to keeping critical systems running.

“We had to fight to remain operational,” Tony recalls. “The world needed these products.”

It was a stark reminder that while Buckley Systems might operate quietly, its impact is anything but.

People who make it work

Walk through the factory floor, and you’ll find the future of New Zealand manufacturing already in motion.

Paris McCann joined Buckley Systems four years ago after trying a string of different study paths and retail jobs.

“I always knew I wanted something hands-on,” she says. “Once I started here, I realised this was it.”

Now an Assembly Technician, Paris is completing the company’s first-ever assembly apprenticeship—an initiative created because employees asked for it. She’s already eyeing future opportunities in the laser department.

“There are so many ways you can grow here. You’re never stuck doing one thing.”

Jared Brian, a welding apprentice, found his calling after working with a welder in a previous job.

“Once I picked up the torch, I knew,” he says. “The skill, the challenge - it’s addictive.”

He sees welding not just as a job but as a lifelong career, with ambitions that extend far beyond his apprenticeship.

Jake Sousa took a different route, leaving university after realising it wasn’t for him.

“I wanted something where I could think, problem-solve, and actually make things,” he says.

As a CNC machinist apprentice, Jake thrives on turning raw material into precision components, supported by colleagues with decades of experience.

“Everyone here wants you to succeed. They’ll help you learn, push you to be better.”

Why it matters for Aotearoa

Buckley Systems shows what New Zealand manufacturing can be at its best: globally competitive, technologically advanced, and grounded in human ingenuity.

This is an industry where:

● Apprentices become leaders

● Skills compound over decades

● Agile teams power global technology

● Export earnings strengthen the local economy

“Kiwi businesses like Buckley Systems prove we can compete on the world stage,” Tony says. “We’ve got the people. We’ve got the capability. And we’ve got the grit.”

Pathways into the future

From machining and fabrication to electrical and general engineering, the current apprenticeship programme includes Mechanical Engineering-Machining and Fabrication. Electrical Engineering and General Engineering. Buckley Systems offers career pathways that evolve with you.

It’s not about choosing one job forever - it’s about building skills that open doors.

“Manufacturing isn’t just a job,” says Paris. “It’s a career where you keep learning, keep growing, and keep moving forward.”

And for anyone wondering whether manufacturing is worth exploring?

“If you like thinking on your feet,” Bill Buckley adds, “this is a lifetime of interest.”

Make your move. Make your mark.

From apprentice workshops to the heart of the global semiconductor supply chain, Buckley Systems is proof that New Zealand engineering can have world-shaping impact.

This is the future of manufacturing. And it’s being built right here.