Manufacturing

PYTHON Fixings takes New Zealand innovation global

PYTHON Fixings

When the 2010 and 2011 Canterbury earthquakes hit, the aftermath revealed critical weaknesses in the way unreinforced masonry buildings responded to major seismic events. As part of the Royal Commission of inquiry into the Canterbury Earthquakes, structural engineer Dmytro Dizhur saw that many traditional anchors – the fixings used to secure masonry walls and façades – simply hadn’t performed as expected. “That experience really shaped everything we’ve done since,” he says. “There was clearly an opportunity to create a better, more reliable anchoring solution for masonry buildings.”

From that insight, PYTHON Fixings was created – a New Zealand engineering company dedicated to developing anchoring and connection systems specifically for masonry substrates such as clay brick, soft stone and terracotta. These systems play a crucial role in strengthening older buildings by securely tying walls and façades back to the main structure. Rather than adapting products designed for concrete, the team focused on solutions tailored to heritage, unreinforced masonry (URM) and cavity wall construction. Today, its product range includes anchoring, connection and seismic strengthening systems for a wide variety of masonry buildings.

All research, development and testing continues to be carried out in Auckland, where the company maintains its own laboratory and undertakes extensive proof testing. Several systems have been independently evaluated to recognised international standards, reflecting the emphasis placed on engineering integrity. To support global reach, PYTHON Fixings pairs New Zealand engineering with international production capability.

PYTHON Fixings’ solutions are used across heritage buildings, commercial URM structures, historic façades and parapets, cavity walls and veneers. The company has delivered more than 1,000 projects across New Zealand and hundreds throughout Australia, the United States and Canada. As the business has expanded, the team has encountered different brick types, construction methods and seismic behaviours. “When we come across a new material or challenge, we often bring samples back to New Zealand, run a full testing programme and refine our systems. That agility and problem-solving is a big part of who we are,” says Dizhur.

Working directly with engineers rather than distributors enables PYTHON Fixings to provide highly technical guidance. The team also engages with peers at international seismic engineering and retrofit conferences, strengthening awareness of New Zealand innovation globally. It has contributed to several significant international projects, including the Melbourne Town Hall and Parliament Hill in Ottawa, one of the largest active construction projects in North America.

With growing interest across seismic regions of the U.S. West Coast and Western Canada, Dizhur is optimistic about the next stage of growth. As the company’s international presence expanded, the team began looking for a way to formally signal its New Zealand engineering origins, which led them to the FernMark Licence Programme.

Dizhur had long noticed the FernMark on New Zealand products overseas – a mark that signalled authenticity and excellence. “Canada in particular values clear validation markers, so using the FernMark felt like the right move. It gives customers confidence in the integrity and origin of our engineering.”  The FernMark IP portfolio also provides trademark protection for the FernMark itself, helping maintain its integrity and credibility as a trusted symbol of New Zealand origin in offshore markets.

He sees a natural alignment between the FernMark and the way PYTHON Fixings operates. “Ingenuity drives our ability to solve problems quickly, integrity comes through in the way we test and validate every solution, and guardianship reflects the heritage buildings and communities we help protect. Those values are embedded in how we work, so the FernMark feels like a genuine fit.”

PYTHON Fixings plans to roll out the FernMark on product documentation, packaging, international marketing materials and trade-show displays, beginning in New Zealand and Canada. While still early in their FernMark journey, the team believes the government-backed mark will reinforce credibility and authenticity as they continue to grow internationally.

“Our purpose is to keep improving the performance and safety of masonry buildings,” says Dizhur. “Carrying the FernMark helps us share that story of New Zealand engineering with the world.”