Kiwi Formula Maker’s Sales Spike in Wake of Crisis
A New Zealand owned infant formula manufacturer sold 26,000 tins of its formula in one day of trading as Kiwi supermarkets rushed to refill shelves left vacant by recalled product yesterday. Peak New Zealand, which manufactures and packs its products in NZ uses wet blend technology in the production process […]
Earthquake building policy faulted
Changes to the earthquake-prone buildings policy announced today do not adequately address the concerns of business and local communities, says BusinessNZ. Chief Executive Phil O’Reilly says an extension of time in which building owners must upgrade or demolish their buildings from 15 to 20 years does not significantly improve the […]
BusinessNZ welcomes changes to Health and Safety
BusinessNZ has welcomed today’s announcement today of new health and safety legislation to be administered by the recently established Worksafe New Zealand. BusinessNZ Chief Executive Phil O’Reilly said it was a significant step in the right direction. “Moving to a principles-based regime in which health and safety responses are tailored […]
Japan launches talking humanoid robot into space
Japan has launched the world’s first talking humanoid robot “astronaut” toward the International Space Station. Kirobo — derived from the Japanese words for “hope” and “robot” — was among five tons of supplies and machinery on a rocket launched Sunday from Tanegashima in southwestern Japan, the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, […]
Versatile Swivel Lamp
Two versatile and compact L.E.D interior lamps for will shine more light throughout the interiors of caravans, motors homes and boats. The two newcomers feature a swivel action that allows the lens to be rotated 180º for fast and easy adjustment of the light to where it is required. The […]
Higher rates of return calculated for transport investment
New cost/benefit formulae will help boost the big transport infrastructure projects urgently needed in Auckland and elsewhere, the Employers and Manufacturers Association says. “Extending the time for calculating the return on investment on transport infrastructure is timely, and a welcome move,” said Kim Campbell, EMA’s chief executive. “Its great the […]
Cloud or silver lining?
The latest New Zealand Manufacturers and Exporters Association (NZMEA) Survey of Business Conditions completed during July 2013, shows total sales in June 2013 decreased 29.48% (export sales decreased by 16.21% with domestic sales decreasing 39.3%) on June 2012. The NZMEA survey sample this month covered NZ$305m in annualised sales, with […]
Currency swing spotlights export growth risk
For our economic recovery to continue and based on exporting many of manufacturing exporters will need to diversify into markets beyond Australia, says Kim Campbell, chief executive of the Employers and Manufacturers Association. “Times are tougher than for many years in Australia, our biggest market for manufactured goods, and the […]
Lincoln University opens food research centre
Lincoln University has launched a new research centre to be known as the Centre for Food Research and Innovation (CFRI). The new Centre aims to promote food science and technology through research, innovation, industry outreach and educational initiatives, and is in many ways an extension of the already well-established Food […]
Fuel funnel filters contaminants
A new type of fuel funnel that filters out harmful dirt, particles and water, which could potentially damage any engine, is now available in New Zealand. Just introduced as part of the popular Mr Funnel range, the new Fuel Filter Funnel features space-age filtering technology that traps a wide range […]
Tough new inspection lamp
Shedding enough light on a poorly lit work area makes the task easier and that’s the role of the new ‘See Ezy’ heavy-duty L.E.D inspection lamp. The lamp is ideally suited to the most demanding mechanical and trade applications, the unit is tough and powerful. It is claimed to be […]
Geomagic Group represented by Bay CAD Services
Last year 3D Systems purchased Alibre Design Inc., and recently rebranded the Alibre product line to fall under Geomagic, a brand that will ultimately represent all 3D Systems software offerings under the new Geomagic Group name. 3D Systems produce the popular Cube and CubeX consumer 3D printers as well as […]
The steel industry – the next 10 years
The steel industry’s outlook for the next ten years remains fragile. Company leaders can adopt a strategic approach to ride out uncertainties and mitigate risk while the industry is being reshaped. Despite unprecedented volatility, the first half of 2022 remained strong for steel players, with prices and utilisation higher than historical levels and unprecedented levels of EBITDA margins across most regions. This cycle was driven mainly by positive demand outlook that followed the recovery from disruptions caused by COVID-19, as well as infrastructure spending that was both long overdue and anticipated as part of the recovery stimulus. However, several signs of market slowdown began to appear in early 2022. As a result, steel demand outlooks have been revised downward: in April 2022, the World Steel Association’s short-range outlook was less optimistic than the one from late 2021, and its October 2022 demand forecasts for 2022 and 2023 saw downward revisions of 2.7 and 1.2 percent, respectively. The steel industry is at a crossroads, and the warning signs should not be ignored. Amid many competing sources of change and uncertainty, adopting the right strategy in the years to come—and knowing how and when to recognise the opportunities for resilience—will differentiate the leaders from the laggards. Reasons for this include the ongoing war in Ukraine, waves of COVID-19-related lockdowns in China, and supply chain disruptions, as well as the overall macroeconomic situation, including repercussions from persistently high inflation and rising global interest rates. In steel markets, EBITDA margins and the margin over raw materials (MORM) have significantly declined from previously unseen highs, mainly due to negative market expectations and high energy prices, and players have reacted by idling capacities. In fact, more than 30 million metric tons per annum (MTPA) of capacities idled in Europe in the second half of 2022, while […]