Robinson's Nursery: Growing Generations with Daltons & Javo Automation
Located in Masterton, Robinson’s Nursery is one of New Zealand’s oldest nurseries, dating back to 1906. The business was established by the Robinson family, with the Wilkinson family purchasing it in 1996 and continuing its story under new ownership.
An Intergenerational Business
Today, three generations of the Wilkinson family are involved in the business: Tom's mother Denzil, Tom and Teena, and their daughter Zoe Forsyth.
The family has grown Robinson’s Nursery from an initial site of around 20,000 plants into a large-scale nursery producing around 800,000 plants a year with a team of about 30 staff.
Co-owner Tom Wilkinson said, "We predominantly grow a wide range of ornamental shrubs, focusing on what the market demands while keeping an eye on emerging trends and exclusive opportunities as they come through. We sell into the New Zealand retail market, supplying big box stores, smaller chains and independent retailers, with strong recent growth into the landscape market."
Zoe Forsyth (daughter of Tom & Teena), Tom Wilkinson and Denzil Wilkinson, from Robinson's Nursery.
Investing in Automation
Robinson’s first moved into automation around 2000-2001, when the team bought a second-hand Javo potting machine. That investment quickly lifted output and helped set the nursery up for further growth.
Tom said, “All of a sudden we were producing twice the amount of product in a very short period of time.”
Today, Robinson’s runs a Javo potting line that includes a Javo Plus Potting Machine stainless steel option, Javo Easy Topper, Javo 5 Water Station Tunnel, and conveyor systems.
Scott Bromwich, Daltons Business Development Manager, says, being Dutch manufactured, Javo machines are well built, and their stainless steel options are a better fit for the harsher New Zealand media ingredients and mixes nurseries use here.
Better Consistency and Output
Automation has helped Robinson’s improve consistency, lift output, and make better use of staff across the nursery.
The team now pots around 1,000 plants an hour into a Daltons custom potting mix with just two or three people, depending on the crop. The flexibility of the Javo system has also made it easier to work across different pot sizes and larger grades.
The Javo Easy Topper has become an important part of the line, applying Daltons bark to the top of each pot to improve presentation while helping control liverwort and reduce weed growth.
Tom adds, “Scott recommended it to us, and the machine basically eliminated liverwort for us overnight. The bark topping helps our plants stand out in store and gives customers a better idea of how the plant could look in their garden.”
Innovation Beyond Machinery
For Robinson’s, innovation is not limited to equipment. It is a key part of how the nursery improves efficiency and manages rising costs.
As Tom explains, “Innovation is critical to our business. Costs keep going up, and there is only so much people are willing to pay for a plant, so we have to keep looking at efficiencies. That is where our Javo gear comes in, helping us produce more volume with less labour input and a better result.”
That same thinking has also shaped Robinson’s approach to growing media.
Custom Mixes and Freight Efficiency
A key part of Robinson’s production is its Daltons custom mix, developed in close partnership and tailored to its specific crops, nursery conditions and way of growing.
“With Pinegro, we’re getting around an extra eight cubic metres in our weekly truck and trailer loads from Daltons in Matamata, which is fantastic value for money and fantastic efficiency. That carries right through into our own trucks as well. We’re carrying around 4,000 plants at a time to places like Auckland and Tauranga, and we’re running considerably lighter than we were with conventional potting mix, which saves money and fuel. It does a great job, and we’re big believers in the product.”
Backed by Daltons
Alongside the machinery and inputs, Robinson’s values the Daltons support behind them. From parts and servicing through to growing media, pots, and other nursery essentials.
The business has also welcomed Daltons’ customer portal, my.daltons.co.nz, giving the team faster access to pricing, pack sizes, and product information in one place.
Watch and learn more about Robinson’s Nursery below.
