Iconic TPW Woolpress turns 50!

By automating the baling process, the TPW Woolpress reduces the manual labour required, increases shed safety, and dramatically improves efficiency. The result is tighter bales, faster turnaround times, and accurate weighing, all contributing to better returns for growers.

Theresia Perfection Welding (today known as TPW) started operations in the Kenwick/Maddington area of Perth, Western Australia in 1975. The company introduced its Slimline Woolpress to NZ farmers in 1990.

The company’s founder was John Theresia Jordans. He passed away in December 2000 and his family – wife and two daughters – had little interest in running the company. This created the opportunity for Heiniger Australia to acquire it in April 2001. Heiniger Australia, which held the distribution for TPW products, namely a Woolpress and Backease hoist, for the eastern seaboard of Australia, added the TPW brand to its stable.

Dale Harris, joint CEO Heiniger Australia & New Zealand, told Rural News that reaching 50 years is an extraordinary achievement and one that reflects the strength, resilience and relevance of the TPW brand within the wool industry.

“It’s a milestone built on innovation, trust, and a deep connection to the shearing shed – qualities that have underpinned TPW since 1975.

“It’s also a proud alignment with Heiniger’s own heritage, with our parent company nearing 80 years of global excellence in precision engineering and animal fibre removal. Together, Heiniger and TPW share a common vision: to support primary producers with tools that are not only built to last but also built to lead.”

Harris says that the Woolpress is not just TPW’s signature product, it’s a symbol of Australian ingenuity in the wool industry.

Over five decades, it has evolved from the original Fastbaler into the advanced Xpress range available today. It’s widely recognised across shearing sheds throughout Australia and New Zealand, thanks to its reliability, safety and performance.

In more recent years, the TPW Backease 600 Hoist has also been making its mark: a compact, powerful lifting solution that’s gaining momentum on farms and in various industries for its ease of use and versatility.

Harris added that for NZ wool handlers and contractors, a TPW Woolpress is the gold standard and “a tool they trust day in, day out”.

“It’s not just about automation; it’s about reliability, consistency, safety, and helping New Zealand wool stay globally competitive.

“The TPW Woolpress didn’t just keep pace with industry evolution — it helped lead it.”

Upon introducing the TPW Slimline Woolpress, it won an Australian Design Award. In 1995 TPW began production of the Aussie Xpress Woolpress, the successor to the Slimline. The Kiwi Xpress was adapted from the Aussie Xpress in 1995 with the first Kiwi Xpress dispatched to NZ towards the end of 1996.

Looking ahead, Heiniger says that TPW will continue to evolve its product range with a clear focus on safety, ease of use, and performance while staying true to the values that made the brand a household name in shearing sheds across Australia and New Zealand.

“The goal is to honour the past, serve the present, and innovate for the future — ensuring the next generation of wool harvesters are equipped with the very best.”

To celebrate TPW’s 50th Anniversary, Heiniger is offering a limited-time promotion of a free TPW Backease 600 Hoist with every TPW Xpress Woolpress purchased.

For more information on TPW and the promotion, contact Heiniger New Zealand at (03) 349 8282, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or visit heiniger.co.nz.