Embracing digital transformation: A strategic roadmap for Argus ManuTech Ltd
-Adam Sharman, CEO LMAC Group, APAC Argus ManuTech is a new name, but it has over 50 years of experience as an industry-leading manufacturer of electrical products. It specialises in cable and harness assemblies, viscous reheating products, and electrical medical devices. It has a rich history of supplying local and […]
South Auckland logistics facility to support future infrastructure projects
A new multimillion dollar green logistics facility in South Auckland will help boost access to steel construction materials needed for New Zealand’s major infrastructure and renewable energy projects. Latest Government data shows more than $120 billion has been forecast to be spent on infrastructure by the Crown, Crown entities and […]
Q & A: Frank Phillips, Managing Director, Fulcrum
We have all heard of our ‘productivity problem’. Adopting proven and well understood technology – not the bleeding edge risky stuff – will be key to tackling it. Anyone in manufacturing who has tried to search for technology solutions to solve a particular challenge knows the rabbit hole it can […]
NZ Manufacturer October issue out now
Read the best analysis and observations for the manufacturing future for New Zealand. Exchange opinions and experiences with your peers, who are enhancing Productivity and market share in local and international markets. Subscribe to the magazine and send your success stories to us. We will share them for you.Contact publisher@xtra.co.nz
Beyond the Status Quo: Rethinking Workforce Development for a Competitive Future
David O’Connor, Head of Emerging Markets, The Learning Wave As a nation, we take pride in our innovation and adaptability. However, when it comes to workforce development, we still find ourselves lagging behind. The challenges are clear: a widening skills gap, ongoing productivity issues, a growing need for both transferable […]
Holidays Act reform – let’s get it done once and done right
By EMA Head of Advocacy and Strategy Alan McDonald It’s hard to think of a piece of legislation that has needed reform for as long as the Holidays Act. Successive governments have been aware of longstanding concerns over the Act among workers, employers and payroll providers alike and promised […]
Can we be world-class leaders?
From October issue NZ Manufacturer magazine www.nzmanufacturer.co.nz -Ian Walsh, Partner, Argon and Co Recently, I had the opportunity to work with business leaders on New Zealand’s productivity performance and, how it compares to key trading nations and OECD members. Over the past 50 years, New Zealand’s ranking has fallen from […]
Winston Peters’ $100 billion infrastructure fund is the right idea. Politics-as-usual is the problem
-Timothy Wech, Senior Lecturer in Urban Planning, University of Auckland, Waipapa Taumata Rau New Zealand’s infrastructure woes are a constant political pain point. From ageing water systems to congested roads and assets increasingly threatened by climate change, the country faces mammoth upgrading and future-proofing challenges. Enter Winston Peters and NZ […]
We need to pay attention to completely natural, consumer quality-verified, unprocessed food
-Phyllis Tichinin, soil scientist, founder of True Health Ltd The health narrative is increasingly moving away from processed food, especially ultra-processed foods (UPFs). More emphasis is being put on vitamin and mineral, antioxidant and polyphenol content, also called nutrient density or ORAC. Consumers are becoming concerned about pesticides and packaging […]
The only way is up: how Gallagher Security’s vertically integrated manufacturing model delivers
Global security manufacturer, Gallagher Security has a proud history of delivering its solutions to the world with uninterrupted movement and the assurance they can ship 95% of purchase orders the next day, worldwide. On the eve of World Manufacturing Day on October 4, Gallagher, a frequent award-winner for its […]
Northland focus: Fiona Bycroft, CEO, Naut
Catherine Lye, CEO of Advanced Manufacturing Aotearoa (AMA) on a recent business trip to Northland, suggested a focus on the movers and shakers and innovators up there. Fiona Bycroft of Naut gets the ball rolling… Fiona Bycroft, CEO, Naut (left) What does Naut specialise in? Naut enables customers to head […]
Stop calling workplace safety failures ‘accidents’
By Paul Jarvie, EMA Manager of Employment Relations & Safety With the Government signalling that significant reform of our workplace health and safety regulations are on the way, it’s time to look at the language we use around preventable harms. For too long, ‘accident’ has been a blanket term that […]
Mackwell & Co. – Empowering energy sovereignty with advanced steam engines
Mackwell & Co. of Christchurch was established in 2016 by Founder Sam Mackwell. The company’s purpose is to “empower energy sovereignty” with a focus on energy resilience and fossil-fuel-free transport. Mackwell realised the two concepts needed to address this are the use of accessible and low value biomass as fuel, and a technology that can safely and cleanly convert this to useful work without relying on extensive infrastructure. The Mackwell A35 features a unique biomass fired water tube boiler that is compact and responsive enough for use in transport as well fixed shaft power or electricity generation. The A35 traction engine is designed for horticultural and small farm towing up to seven tonnes at 40 km/h, and the same boiler and engine will be produced as a 26kW generator set offering up to 180kW of heat. Once this concept is proven in the market the design will be scaled to 600kW for industrial and marine use. Mackwell & Co. technology has shown to have a number of other applications. Earlier this year Mackwell partnered with Biocare Pty Ltd. to design and manufacture four large combustion chambers for a project in Kangaroo island which is set to be one of the largest biochar projects globally. Discussions are now underway with New Zealand forestry operators to use large steam engines to directly drive equipment such as disc chippers. The A35 has attracted five pre-orders for businesses including portable sawmills and essential oils distillation. Customers can expect more than 35% in overall cost savings where replacing diesel engines, and a 96% reduction in CO2 emissions. Small engines are suitable for manual fueling, and larger applications will require a mechanical feed system to maintain the 2.5kg/kWh input requirement. Mackwell engines are of additional value where heat is needed, such as hydronic […]