Auckland BioSciences: Empowering Global Health from a Kiwi Lab
Auckland BioSciences started in a cramped shipping container within a South Auckland abattoir. They ended up with five sites on three continents—shaping the global vaccine and healthcare industries along the way. That, in brief, is the story of Auckland BioSciences. Led by John Chang and supported by family members and a close-knit crew, the company now supplies critical raw materials to vaccine manufacturers around the world.
“We’re not making vaccines directly,” explains Daniel Maxwell, one of the group GMs, “but we help the people who do. Everything we do comes back to enhancing global health—animal and human.”
From Shipping Container to Multinational
Auckland BioSciences opened its doors just over a decade ago—though “doors” might be overstating it. In those early days, the team worked from half desks and makeshift offices, doing all they could to store and process raw materials destined for pharma labs worldwide. Over time, a steady focus on first principles helped them stand out in a highly competitive, old-school industry.
“We were a young crew taking on an 80-year-old market,” Daniel recalls.
“People assumed we’d vanish, but we doubled down on quality and relationships, and it paid off.”
Their formula was deceptively simple: produce real value for vaccine producers. They refused to just peddle a commodity product. Instead, they optimised their ingredients so manufacturers could make more vaccines from the same batches—an irresistible proposition in healthcare, where demand is never far behind supply.
Rooted in Relationships
As the company grew, so did its global footprint—now spanning New Zealand, Australia, and Latin America. Yet a distinctly Kiwi attitude ties it all together. A hallmark is their people-first approach, a reflection of the Chang family ethos that established the business.
“We don’t do transaction-based business,” says Joshua Chang, a second group GM and part of the founding family.
“It’s all about building trust. If a partner says, ‘Hey, can you help with this special request?’ we say, ‘Absolutely.’ That’s how we grow.”
It’s also how the team keeps morale high. Daily group lunches, a supportive culture, and a genuine sense of belonging drive a “mateship in the workplace” that is anything but common in large-scale manufacturing.
“Even as we expand, we strive to keep that family-style approach in our manufacturing lines,” Joshua adds.
“It ensures our people feel connected to the purpose behind the product.”
A Global View—from Meat Works to Uruguay
While the original setup was an abattoir-adjacent container, Auckland BioSciences soon expanded across Auckland, Rosedale, and beyond. One of their more surprising moves took them to Uruguay, where they’re building a brand-new facility—proof that a small, family-led team can meet global demand from multiple angles. Rather than chase quick wins, they systematically refine their core processes—focusing on quality and reliability for high-stakes sectors like human and animal vaccines. Each new site cements its position as a go-to source for specialised biological inputs, bridging raw materials and real-world healthcare needs.
“Our manufacturing lines—whether in Uruguay or Auckland—are designed to maintain consistent quality,” Daniel explains.
“That’s crucial for vaccine makers who rely on our raw materials in life-or-death scenarios.”
Creative Problem-Solving on the Factory Floor
Manufacturing might conjure images of repetitive tasks and dusty factories. But for Auckland BioSciences, it’s a hub of constant creativity—from refining product specs to navigating complicated shipping logistics. They’re used to out-of-the-box thinking:
“We can’t outspend bigger competitors, so we outthink them,” Daniel says, echoing a familiar Kiwi refrain.
“Every day, it’s a hundred small decisions—like how do we fit a truck through a too-small tunnel? That’s where the real breakthroughs lie.”
Innovation here isn’t about flashy R&D labs—it’s about tenacious improvement, bridging practical constraints with high-end global standards. They focus on small, incremental steps that add up to major leaps over time.
“In advanced manufacturing for pharma, every step matters,” Joshua points out.
“One small tweak on the factory floor can raise output efficiency or quality for thousands of vaccine doses downstream.”
Where Purpose Drives Profits
Unlike many growth-oriented firms, Auckland BioSciences hasn’t lost sight of why it all matters: enabling the production of vaccines and related health products worldwide. Their raw materials play a vital part in supporting disease eradication or safeguarding animal health. That mission resonates with new recruits, who often discover that advanced manufacturing can be a creative, human-centred career.
“People want their work to mean something,” Joshua points out.
“When you see your materials ultimately turn into lifesaving vaccines—how could you not feel proud?”
Future Makers by Design
For Daniel, Joshua, and their colleagues, success is never a checkbox. It’s an ongoing journey grounded in New Zealand’s hallmark combination of grit and adaptability. From a single shipping container to multiple state-of-the-art facilities, Auckland BioSciences remains energised by the next challenge: scaling up, acquiring new capabilities, and doubling (or tripling) in size—always with an eye on global health outcomes.
“We’re a Kiwi manufacturer, but we’ve proven that big impact can start in small places,” Daniel says.
“We’re just getting warmed up.”
Source - The Future Maker