Our History

Zimmer New Zealand was established in 1983 as a subsidiary of Zimmer in the United States.  The head office was located in Grey Lynn and encompassed approximately 300 square meters of space.  At that time the business operated with a staff of 4 for the office and warehouse.  An independent distributor who employed one associate to cover the entire country distributed products.

Not only was orthopaedics represented but also goods for plastic, ENT and urology.  These were sold due to the affiliation of a myriad of device companies owned by Zimmers’ then parent company, Bristol Myers Squibb.   Products were sold directly to hospitals and the concept of a consignment set (products or instruments placed in hospital on loan) was still new.

The office and warehouse was relocated in 1991 to Newmarket and at about the same time the traditional independent distributor arrangement was abandoned.   Zimmer New Zealand began to sell directly to customers through sales associates and this is still in effect today.

The Newmarket premises compared to the Grey Lynn site was an enormous 800 square metres.  Zimmer functioned out of the Newmarket office space until the end of 2003.  At this time, two major orthopaedic companies, Centerpulse of Switzerland (formerly Sulzer Medica) and Zimmer, joined forces.

Europaedics, an independent agent, represented the Centerpulse brand in New Zealand.  Europaedics had entered into an arrangement with Centerpulse in about 1994 after the restructuring of the manufacturing companies in Switzerland.

Since the beginning of 2004, Zimmer New Zealand has occupied approximately 1500 square metres of a building centrally located on Khyber Pass Road in Grafton.  The staff today has grown to 6 in the office and warehouse, 6 in the direct sales force and 2 clinical nurse representatives who assist the sales force in a hands on support role.

The expansion of Zimmer New Zealand enables the company to maintain its high standard of customer service.  This includes ready access to new product information and surgical techniques, sales and marketing expertise, clinical representatives and training.  It also ensures next day delivery of our products through most of New Zealand.  Zimmer New Zealand continues to maintain operations as a division of Zimmer Pty Ltd located in Warsaw, Indiana.