If you’re searching for CMMS software in New Zealand, you’ve likely come across both MEX and MainTrak. Both solutions have strong reputations in the ANZ region, particularly among manufacturing and food processing companies. But which one is right for your operation?
This comparison examines both platforms across the dimensions that matter most to maintenance managers: features, usability, pricing transparency, and how well each system fits the needs of New Zealand’s manufacturing sector.
About MEX and MainTrak
MEX has been operating for over 30 years and serves more than 12,000 users globally across industries, including mining, manufacturing, food processing, and hospitality. Based in Australia, MEX has built a strong presence in the ANZ market with notable clients like New Zealand King Salmon, Queensland Sugar Limited, and Bega Cheese. The platform recently became part of TMA Systems, expanding its global reach.
MainTrak launched in 1996 as the BWM desktop application and evolved into a cloud-based SQL solution, finalised in 2022. Built by engineers for engineers, MainTrak serves companies in need of comprehensive maintenance management without enterprise-level complexity. The system is developed by Maintenance Transformations, which also provides maintenance management training and consulting.
Pricing: CMMS Cost Comparison for MainTrak vs MEX
One of the most significant differences between these platforms is pricing transparency and structure.
MEX Pricing
MEX starts at approximately A$3,295 per year (roughly NZ$3,580). The exact pricing structure isn’t publicly available, and costs can vary based on:
- Number of users (extra license cost per user can add up)
- Specific features required
- Implementation and training costs
- Ongoing support level
To receive an estimate of costs for using MEX, prospects first need to contact sales.
MainTrak Pricing
MainTrak offers a straightforward annual fee structure:
- Single Site License: NZ$4,000 + GST per year (unlimited users)
- Enterprise License: NZ$6,000 + GST per year for the main platform + NZ$ 3,200 +GST per site, per year
- Service Provider License: From NZ$7,000 + GST per year (for contractors managing multiple clients)
All licenses include free onboarding and data upload. Add-ons are available for mobile app, QR-code work requests, custom reporting, and field data mapping services; these are priced per platform or site, not per user.
View complete pricing details for MainTrak
Core Features: What Both MainTrak and MEX Offer
Both MEX and MainTrak cover the essential CMMS capabilities that food and manufacturing operations need:
Features Available in Both Platforms
- Work order management with creation, assignment, and tracking
- Preventive maintenance scheduling
- Asset management with hierarchy and history tracking
- Parts inventory and stock management
- Purchasing integration capabilities
- Mobile access for field technicians
- Compliance tracking and audit trails
- Standard reports and dashboards with options for custom reporting
- Barcode/QR code scanning for work requests or asset management
Both systems are designed to handle the complexities of manufacturing environments, including food safety compliance requirements, equipment maintenance histories, and inventory management.
Mex vs MainTrak: Key Differences in Approach
Setup and Implementation
MEX provides implementation support, though the timeline and specific onboarding process varies by package.
MainTrak includes free onboarding and data upload with every license. They also offer a unique Field Data Mapping Service where their experienced team can visit your site to map maintainable assets, PM routines, and spare parts inventory. This service is designed to get you operational within days rather than months – particularly valuable if you’re transitioning from spreadsheets or paper-based systems and don’t have time to organise historical data yourself.
User Limitations
MEX typically charges per user or has user tiers, which increases the basic cost of the CMMS as you add users from different departments who need visibility into maintenance operations.
MainTrak includes unlimited users with every license. This is particularly valuable if you want staff at different levels of the organisation to have system access without budget implications.
Mobile Functionalities
Both CMMS have a dedicated mobile app that allows users to access work orders, log time, and track tasks directly from their phones; both also have a feature that enables anyone to scan a barcode (MEX) or QR code (MainTrak) for direct access to a specific asset in the system.
However, the approach is different for both systems.
MEX includes mobile features as part of their standard package and adds fees based on the number of users. MainTrak, on the other hand, recognises that maintenance managers and planners typically work from larger screens where they can see more data at once. Their core system is optimised for desktop and tablet use, with mobile functionality available as optional add-ons based on your needs.
Their QR-code work request add-on (NZ$500 + GST per year, per site) allows anyone to log issues, requests, or files by simply scanning a QR code with their smartphone – no app required, and no limit on how many people can use it once enabled for your site. This also means field technicians who don’t need access to the backend to manage maintenance can still update asset information anywhere, anytime.
The mobile app is useful if you or your team need access to full MainTrak functionalities from their phones. Many maintenance managers find they don’t need this extra feature, which is why the app is an add-on to the regular license.
The modular approach means you’re not paying for mobile features if your team primarily works from fixed stations or tablets, but you can still enable field reporting (with the QR-code) or full smartphone functionalities (with the mobile app) for those who need it.
Differences in Technical Capabilities
Maintenance Planning
Both platforms handle preventive maintenance scheduling with automated work order generation.
MainTrak includes PM resource data (costs, hours) that feed into rolling budget forecasts – valuable for maintenance managers who need to justify maintenance spend or plan departmental budgets. The system tracks PM task history to provide complete management oversight of what’s been done, when, and at what cost.
Inventory and Purchasing
Both systems provide inventory management with stock alerts, reorder points, and supplier management.
MainTrak offers flexibility to detail spares as virtual catalogue items (non-stocked), run full stock inventory, or use both approaches. The purchasing functionality includes financial security protections, secure purchase order authorization, audit trails, cost centre coding, and invoice tracking. You can integrate MainTrak’s purchasing with your financial system or use it as a standalone purchase requisition system.
Best Fit: Which System for Which Operation?
MEX May Be Better If You:
- Prefer a widely-used platform with a large user community
- Have a dedicated IT team to manage implementation and customisation
- Are part of a larger organisation with complex asset management needs across multiple countries
- Value being part of a larger corporate ecosystem (now with TMA Systems)
MainTrak May Be Better If You:
- Need unlimited users without cost implications (per-user pricing adds up quickly)
- Value hands-on onboarding and implementation support
- Need to get operational quickly
- Prefer working with a New Zealand company that understands regional compliance requirements
- Want to avoid paying for features (like mobile) if you don’t need them
- Want access to ongoing maintenance management expertise beyond just software support
Industry-Specific Considerations
For Food and Beverage Manufacturers
Both systems handle food safety compliance requirements and audit trails that operations like dairy, meat processing, and confectionery need.
MEX has proven implementations at companies like New Zealand King Salmon and Queensland Sugar, demonstrating capability in food manufacturing environments.
MainTrak serves notable New Zealand food and beverage manufacturers, including JH Whittakers, Tegel Foods, Matua Wines, and Greenlea Premier Meats. Its SQL-based architecture and technical library features allow you to link safety regulations, HACCP documentation, and equipment cleaning procedures directly to assets and work orders – critical for operations that face regular food safety audits.
For Manufacturing Operations
Both platforms manage the preventive maintenance scheduling, parts inventory, and equipment history tracking that manufacturing operations require.
MainTrak‘s project tracking capability is particularly useful for those managing capital improvements alongside routine maintenance; MainTrak users include manufacturers like Imerys Ceramics and Metalcorp. The system allows them to set up improvement projects, link them to specific assets, and track estimated costs against actual spending – keeping capital expenditure separate from operational maintenance in your reporting.
Support and Training
MEX provides customer support with different service levels depending on your package. They offer training courses and have built up substantial training resources over their 30+ years in business.
MainTrak includes a complete system manual and a library of online video training in the help menu. They offer both remote and on-site training to get new users started quickly. Uniquely, because MainTrak is developed by Maintenance Transformations, you can access additional maintenance management conceptual training beyond just software usage – valuable if you’re building a maintenance program from scratch or improving an existing one.
Making Your Decision
Both MEX and MainTrak are capable CMMS platforms with proven track records in New Zealand manufacturing and food processing operations. Your choice ultimately depends on your specific circumstances:
Choose MEX if you need an established platform with a large user base or have complex requirements that benefit from working with a larger corporate vendor.
Choose MainTrak if you like transparent pricing and unlimited users without additional costs, want hands-on implementation support including potential site data mapping, prefer working with a New Zealand company, or want access to maintenance management expertise beyond software support.
The best choice depends on your budget, team size, implementation timeline, and whether you value feature integration or modular flexibility. Consider requesting demos of both systems with scenarios specific to your operation to see which interface and workflow feels more natural for your team.
Next Steps
To evaluate MEX: contact their sales team for specific pricing for your operation.
To evaluate MainTrak: watch the demo video to see the interface, or contact our team so they can set up a trial account for you.