History & founder

Three generations of rollforming and automation.

Kerry Hayes: “I come from a line of crazy inventors. When someone gives me a challenge, I’m up for it.”

Timeline

Sixty years of engineering.

1960
Hayes International founded
Tom Hayes founds Hayes International in his garage. It grows into a global rollforming machinery manufacturer exporting 95% of its products to over 110 countries.
1980
Kerry Hayes joins the family business
After an engineering apprenticeship, Kerry spends two decades progressing from engineering to marketing and operations.
2000
International consulting career
Kerry establishes himself as a technical expert in metal-forming technologies.
2003
Technical Advisor, Tiger Profiles & Insulation (UAE)
Designs and patents an automated forming and insertion process for cam-locks in insulated refrigeration panels — a 16-year partnership.
2010
Karista Consulting
Specialises in sandwich-panel composite manufacturing lines.
2016
Tractive Motion Technologies founded
Initially based in Australia, the venture sets out to build the world’s first fully automated, unmanned roller door production line.
2021
Unmanned production line launched
Developed in partnership with Bunka of Japan, reducing production from 80–150 minutes to 4 minutes per door. The innovation earns a Japanese robotics innovation award.
2023
K.H. Technic GmbH, Austria
Robotics and automation for metal-forming technologies, with strategic technical partnerships.
2025
Tractive Group AG, Switzerland
Group holding and investment company, expanding European market presence. Tractive begins representing the purlin line of Rafter Equipment Ltd of Ohio in US markets.