XPO Exhibitions to launch new trade fair
From February issue of NZ Manufacturer magazine XPO Exhibitions is partnering with Hannover Fairs Australia to launch Logistics Automation New Zealand, powered by CeMAT. This will be held from 10-11 November at the Auckland Showgrounds. The trade fair will bring together world-leading logistics, automation, robotics, intralogistics, warehousing, and supply chain […]
New Zealand Productivity Organisation wants to hear from you
www.nzproductivityorganisation.co.nz www.nzmanufacturer.co.nz/nzproductivityorganisation The New Zealand Productivity Organisation (NZPO) invites all businesses throughout the country to share their views on Productivity […]
The Learning Wave Free 90-minute taster: Accelerate team cohesion and performance in times of change
What happens when frontline teams are truly connected to each other and the business? You see fewer handovers going wrong, safer decisions on the floor, better problem-solving, issues owned and closed out properly, and people who actually speak up when something’s not right. This complimentary 90-minute taster gives manufacturing leaders […]
Manufacturing starts year by shifting up a gear
Hon Chris Penk New data showing New Zealand manufacturing is experiencing its highest level of activity since December 2021 signals a strong start to the year, Small Business and Manufacturing Minister Chris Penk says. The latest BNZ – BusinessNZ Performance of Manufacturing Index (PMI) shows the seasonally adjusted PMI for December has risen by […]
How CTEM, AI, and access control redefine OT security in 2026
By Carlos Buenano, Field CTO for OT, Armis As we step into 2026, AI-driven adversaries, supply chain fragility, and relentless digitisation are forcing Operational Technology (OT) security to mature into a force to be reckoned with. Here’s what 2026 looks like: AI-Powered adversaries demand autonomous defence AI is no longer […]
Digital transformation
From February 2026 issue, NZ Manufacturer www.nzmanufacturer.co.nz By Frank Phillips, Director, Fulcrum New Zealand Ltd Automation in manufacturing is a competitive imperative. It’s getting easier and cheaper to do, and able to be applied in situations previously unsuitable. Knowing where to start, identifying the right process to automate, detailing solid […]
The Year in Review – Business Exit Landscape
Mike Warmington, Platform 1 This year has been marked by fluctuations in the business exit landscape. The first quarter saw lots of activity and some deal flow. The middle two quarters saw business owners contemplating transitioning out, more likely to hold off as they endured a tougher sales environment […]
Reflecting on 2025: Circularity, Sustainability and Transformation for Steel Manufacturing
Troy Coyle, CEO, HERA As 2025 draws to a close, it’s clear this has been a year of transformation and momentum for Aotearoa New Zealand’s steel manufacturing industry and for HERA. The national conversation around sustainability and circular design has matured significantly, with steel once again proving itself to be […]
2026, moving forward together: Competenz deepens support for learners and employers
By Toni Christie: Competenz General Manager – Employer and Learner Experience With apprentices and employers across the country navigating an evolving sector, Competenz focused on stability, support and momentum — strengthening learner pathways and employer capability ahead of the 2026 shift to Industry Skills Boards. More than 7,000 apprentices and […]
What 2025 taught us about sustainability and resilience
By Barbara Nebel, CEO, thinkstep-anz In 2025 we saw something important: progress on sustainability continued, even as regulations shifted and economic conditions became challenging. For many organisations, sustainability has become central to resilience, competitiveness and long-term planning. Rather than slowing down, they took more confident steps to manage risk […]
The Year in Review: A Seconded View of NZ Manufacturing in 2025
-Caliber Design Working inside engineering teams throughout New Zealand gives us a practical view of how the sector is moving. This year we saw steady progress and exciting developments, even with the head winds. Companies continued to advance capital projects, refine equipment, develop new products, and pursue leading edge innovation […]
Apex Valves: From garage to global
From humble beginnings in a Titirangi garage, Apex Valves has grown into one of New Zealand’s standout manufacturing and export success stories. Built on precision engineering and commitment to quality, the company now supplies high performance water control valves to homes and farms around the globe. The EMA’s Nicholas Russell […]
It won’t be the new machines that win in 2026. It will be the people running them
Adam Harvey, Business Performance Partner – Manufacturing, The Learning Wave What if next year looked different? Picture this: Same pressures. Same market conditions. But instead of starting 2026 already firefighting, you’re ahead of demand. Your people anticipate issues before they hit production. Technology accelerates performance instead of slowing it down. The morning meeting is about what you’re improving, not what you’re recovering from. That’s the position some manufacturers have put themselves in this year. And let’s be honest. They didn’t get there because 2025 was easy. This has been one of the toughest planning cycles in recent memory. Margin squeeze. Labour shortages. Compliance tightening. Digital expectations rising. Budgets dissected line by line just to keep the lights on and the line moving. But while most held back waiting for “the right moment”, the bold manufacturers, big and small, doubled down on capability. Not because it was part of a grand strategy. In some cases, because the same issues kept cropping up, and the old approach wasn’t working. Not because they had spare time. Because they knew they couldn’t afford to wait. We saw it everywhere: Lion invested in teams’ problem-solving capability and OEE improved Altus backed their leaders to own and solve problems and culture and collaboration lifted – this piece of work paid for itself 3X Tegel moved safety from reactive to proactive by growing rep capability Ashburton Meats and Kraft Heinz built their leaders ahead of operational change Tasman Tanning, Essity, AFFCO, George Weston Foods, Vitaco and Inghams built performance skills. Their frontline teams now act earlier, make better decisions, solve problems faster, reduce waste, and speak up when performance is at risk Buckleys continued building capability at every level Foot Science International, Baker Boys and Argus ManuTech prepared their teams for digital transformation They didn’t just […]