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The Interview – Jill Cooper

From December issue of NZ Manufacturer www.nzmanufacturer.co.nz Tell readers what you do? My expertise is in high temperature materials and processes. When I left full time work at BlueScope NZ Steel to care for my premature baby, I found it difficult to fit back into the workforce. I expect it’s improved now but employers were not at all flexible with regards to family responsibilities, so I have been doing consulting work on whatever comes up; reline quality assurance and incident investigation for Ballance at their ammonia plant, process and containment for CarbonScape are two examples. I also formed my own company – Advanced Materials Technologies – NZ Limited – which was a collaboration with an ex colleague based in Queensland, Australia to supply Australian and New Zealand with materials sourced from Harbison Walker International, a US company renowned internationally for the quality of its products. Most recently, I am interested in the technologies which can be utilised to slash the (extremely high) CO2 emissions generated by the steelmaking industry and, have been advising and assisting Helios with their novel sodium-based reduction process. This has been a very fruitful relationship, unfortunately disrupted by the war that has broken out there. When I am not working, I am often out wingfoiling on the Manukau and Waitamata harbours. What has been your involvement in green steel making? I’ve been promoting the possibility of low emissions iron and steelmaking to whoever will listen for many years, including the outgoing Climate Change Minister, Hon James Shaw who has been politely listening to my representations since he became co-leader of Green Party. Although, numerous commentators have been claiming that the steelmaking sector would be hard to abate, there has been a small group of dedicated scientists and engineers working on alternative, non carbon, reductants for decades. […]

Lifting performance by eliminating data silos

-Adam Sharman, Senior Partner, Dsifer Organisations are collecting more data and this trend is only set to continue as IoT adoption accelerates. However, too often, this valuable resource is locked away in silos, inaccessible to the people who need it most. These data silos can stifle innovation, hinder collaboration, and prevent organisations from fully realising the potential of their data. In this article, why data siloes form and how to overcome them to create a more data-driven and agile organisation. Data silos are isolated pockets of data within an organisation that are segregated from the rest of the data ecosystem. These silos can emerge for various reasons, including departmental boundaries, incompatible data formats, or data stored in separate systems that don’t communicate effectively. When data is trapped within these silos, it can’t be easily shared, analysed, or leveraged for making informed decisions. Several factors contribute to the formation of data silos within organisations: Lack of Data Governance: Without a robust data governance framework in place, there can be confusion regarding data ownership, definitions, and quality standards, allowing multiple data repositories to form with multiple governance approaches which can exacerbate data silos. Departmental Barriers: Different departments within an organisation often maintain their own data repositories and systems. This division can lead to data silos, as departments may be hesitant to share their data due to concerns about data security, ownership, or privacy. Legacy and Rogue Systems: Outdated technology and legacy systems may not support modern data integration and sharing. This can result in data becoming stuck in older systems, inaccessible to newer, more agile solutions. Rogue systems are those that sit outside the organisation’s formal governance framework and, as such, are typically not integrated in to the organisation’s data architecture. Cultural Barriers: In some cases, a culture of information hoarding can […]

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NZ-EU trade agreement is great news for sustainability

It’s been a long time coming! In July, New Zealand signed a free trade agreement (FTA) with the European Union. Good news for manufacturers too. New Zealand’s exports of goods to its fourth largest trading partner were worth NZD4.68b in 2022. These goods included many manufactured products – machinery, medical appliances, food products, plastics, aluminium and others. More than 91% of New Zealand’s trade into the EU will enter duty-free when the FTA comes into force (expected to be in the first half of 2024). Many goods, including some manufactured products, will have no tariffs at all from this date. This means many millions of dollars of tariff savings each year on exports to the EU. After seven years, when the agreement is fully in place, 97% of current trade will enter the EU duty-free. How the new FTA promotes sustainability The FTA will make trade more sustainable and create opportunities for businesses that deliver more sustainable products. The agreement is the first FTA built around the EU’s ’Together for Green and Just Growth’ approach to trade and sustainable development. It contains ambitious sustainable trade outcomes in many areas. Environmental outcomes include addressing climate change and subsidies on fossil fuel. Social outcomes include promoting labour rights and women’s economic empowerment. The upside for manufacturers – and some warnings The FTA will have a big impact on trade between New Zealand and the EU. The potential upside for local manufacturers is significant: easier access to one of the world’s most lucrative trading blocs; lower costs for materials imported from the EU. However, the FTA comes with warnings too. Firstly, local manufacturers will be competing with EU manufacturers who may have been making their products more sustainable for some years. As customers here and in the EU prioritise ‘responsible purchasing’, make sure […]

The Industry 4.0 Transformation – An update from the innovation frontline

From November issue of NZ Manufacturer www.nzmanufacturer.co.nz By Holger Heinzel, senior engineer- advanced manufacturing, HERA Where specific organisations are in their Industry 4.0 journey varies greatly, and many are already taking advantage of the benefits presented by the fourth industrial revolution. As the uptake of Industry 4.0 deepens and gathers pace, more data and case studies are emerging which show how the fourth industrial revolution is rapidly transforming the way things are made, improving quality and reducing waste, and making manufacturing and production processes more productive, flexible, and efficient. There is a major opening now to accelerate this uptake across many sectors,and acknowledge and support the pivotal role manufacturing plays in the New Zealand economy, by appointing a Minister for Manufacturing. A pan-material Minister could represent the industry broadly across all building materials, which would improve outcomes for those in the manufacturing sector and those who rely on its products and services. It would also send a message and help create the necessary structure to enable widespread innovation and adoption of Industry 4.0 methodologies and infrastructure. As we know, the challenges of implementing innovation include the cost and effort of change, especially for small to medium businesses which have fewer internal resources to scope and define the work and meet the initial workload. On top of that, established manufacturers face the expense of overhauling, replacing and integrating existing systems and upskilling their trusted workforce. HERA’s efforts to promote, assist, and effect the transformation are multifactorial, and sympathetic to the opportunities and complexities faced by manufacturers and fabricators. The steel fabrication industry is a specialised sector within manufacturing, concerned with creating large and intricate products that are made to the specific requirements of the customer, with welding the primary method of fabrication used to manufacture these items. Since they are […]

The Interview: Heidi Hannonen, Vice President, Markets, Kemppi Oy

How do you define success? I define success as being able to offer a solution to a customer need or problem that exceeds their expectations. Tell readers about your role at Kemppi? As the Vice President of Markets, I am responsible for global sales here at Kemppi. How is everything at Kemppi, what does tomorrow hold? Kemppi is doing well and we are quite happy about how far we have come. Next year marks our 75th birthday and it has been a journey filled with both challenges and rewards. We are now at the start of a new strategic period where we can take stock of our core competencies and build on these. We are also fortunate to be able to partner with world-class dealers and distributors to sell our innovative, top quality welding equipment and safety gear, so the future looks very positive in our eyes. How is Kemppi finding the present environment for doing business? As with any other company at the moment, Kemppi recognises the volatility within today’s markets. Europe is struggling to produce growth and the slowdown of the Chinese economy is also of concern. However, Kemppi is still recording healthy growth figures and these remain sound for 2024. Where are growth regions for Kemppi? Well, we have had very strong growth figures in Australia and New Zealand in recent years. The United Kingdom, Norway and Poland have also been doing really well, thanks to active investment schemes in these markets. Technology – how does it assist with better products? Technology assists with the development of better products in so many ways. It propels the continuous development of better hardware which is more precise, reliable and efficient. It has also given rise to welding software which can be combined with hardware to ensure quality welding processes […]

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Southland to be an industrial powerhouse

The Southland Engineering & Manufacturing Cluster, a newly established group, is on a mission to turn Southland into a collaborative industrial powerhouse for the engineering sector. The initiative is driven by the knowledge that the South is rich in talent, with engineers and manufacturers capable of excelling in diverse projects across a multitude of industries and fields. The primary objective is to ensure the sustainability of engineering in the Southland region by fostering a thriving environment for industry players to work together. The Southland Engineering & Manufacturing Cluster is committed to facilitating growth and the equitable sharing of opportunities. Over the next few months, they will be making contact and introducing the concept and advantages of collaborative pitches and projects. Dean Addie, Chair of the Engineering & Manufacturing Cluster, underscores the importance of building a collaborative industry, to showcase the incredible capabilities of the region. He explains, “This will effectively demonstrate to potential clients what we can achieve and the vast breadth of knowledge and skill we bring to the table. By working collaboratively, we will empower our regions to bid for large engineering contracts with confidence.” The vision is to enable international and national contracts to be fulfilled in the South, leading to the growth of industries, more job opportunities, robust regional economies, and the creation of additional skilled positions. Southland’s people are not only highly skilled but also remarkably adaptable, with world-leading technology and projects emerging from the region. Brendan Gray, the Southland Engineering & Manufacturing Cluster Manager, stated, “I am thrilled to be on the ground, getting to understand the needs and desires of the engineering community, to fully support their transition and growth into a new era of business opportunities.” By becoming a part of the Southland Engineering & Manufacturing Cluster, there is a team working […]

Sean Doherty on Advanced Manufacturing

From November issue of NZ Manufacturer www.nzmanufacturer.co.nz Sean Doherty is an Industry 4.0 Product Owner at Callaghan Innovation. How can Advanced Manufacturing take NZ forward? Advanced manufacturing involves the use of technology to supercharge the manufacturing sector. Already an incredibly pivotal part of our nation’s economy and operations, there is real value to be found in unlocking the full potential of our manufacturers. The implementation of smart products and processes such as artificial intelligence, robotics and 3D printing are just some of the key ways we can look to automate, digitise and further develop operations. New Zealand hopes to reach the level of manufacturing represented by Industry 4.0 – a blueprint made up of a series of government initiatives from around the world. As a nation, reaching this goal would propel the nation forward in several critical ways. Manufacturers can harness new technologies to revolutionise their products and processes, effectively increasing their quality of output, and driving productivity forward. Economically, this creates an increase in profitability, enhances market competitiveness, and helps to generate higher-value jobs by automating lower-level tasks. Fostering innovation, this strengthens our supply chain resilience, and reduces our dependence on foreign sources. We can also work towards realising our full potential as a ‘clean, green New Zealand’, by encouraging resource-efficient, environmentally friendly practices. We are not a country rich with natural resources, except for dairy, horticulture and agriculture. We once made cars and TV sets. When that stopped it couldn’t be started again. So where can Advanced Manufacturing help to turn things around? Market demand, competition, global economic conditions and access to raw materials play crucial roles in the ability for a country to operate in a highly competitive industry – which is largely why dairy, horticulture and agriculture are particular strengths for New Zealand. However, advanced […]

New venture to tackle waste in trillion dollar drinks industry

From November issue NZ Manufacturer www.nzmanufacturer.co.nz “When water is literally on tap in your kitchen, it seems crazy to ship it around the world.” A new startup launched by the founder of NZ’s largest regenerative beauty product export business is set to cut the global use of single-use plastic drink bottles by tens of millions every year. Brianne West stepped down as Ethique CEO earlier this year, a decade after starting the $100 million business in her kitchen as a 24-year-old biochemistry student. West’s new social enterprise aims to take on the $1.44tn beverage market which produces over 583 billion single-use plastic bottles annually, with less than 10% of these recycled. The new venture will produce concentrated effervescent drink mixers in the shape of a circular tablet which on contact with liquids such as water dissolve to release flavouring. Each ‘Incrediball’ makes up the equivalent of a 350ml beverage and can be added to both alcoholic and non-alcoholic hot or cold beverages to enhance the taste. West says the product will be the world’s first effervescent drink tab in fully home compostable packaging and could prevent over 10 million single-use bottles from entering the waste stream every year from 2030 and expects this to grow significantly over time. She says while effervescent concentrates in this form usually require plastic wrapping, they will launch new technology within the tablet to protect the product from moisture before use. “When water is literally on tap in your kitchen, it seems crazy to ship it around the world. “Incrediballs is designed to address this – we are looking to transform the traditional model under which drinks are sold in their ready-made form by allowing consumers to purchase the flavouring component in a concentrated format that can be added to sparking, still, hot or cold […]

Structural engineering quality concerns “systemic”

Engineering New Zealand Te Ao Rangahau released a report recently that says quality in structural engineering designs has, at times, been compromised due to insufficient checks in the building system. Chief Executive Dr Richard Templer says, “New Zealand engineers do great work every day. However, this report shows our building system is not always catching significant quality issues before designs are built.” He says issues are “systemic”. “This is a concern to engineers because everyone wants confidence that buildings are robust and safe,” he says. The report comes in response to a series of high-profile failures in structural design, some of which are used as case studies. It focuses on the role of engineers in assuring quality but, Templer says, “All players in the building system have a role in ensuring quality outcomes.” This includes firms, councils and Government, and Templer is “looking forward to talking with the next Government about its role assuring quality within the built environment.” Templer says engineers have a duty to be competent and diligent in their work but, occasionally, “negligence, a lack of competence, or human error can lead to quality issues being introduced”. Engineering New Zealand has already made changes to improve rigour in the profession, including strengthening its assessment and complaints processes within the Chartered Professional Engineer system and carrying out a desktop review of structural design for 20 warehouses across the country. Templer says another challenge is the nature of a competitive industry. “There are pressures to keep costs down and it can mean quality assurance can be compromised,” he says. Templer would like to see things change. “We know our engineers in the building system are deeply committed to understanding and learning from issues, and taking action to fix gaps and raise standards,” he says. The report makes […]

Manufacturing continues to be critical to NZ economy, but changes needed if we are to unlock the sector’s potential

From NZ Manufacturer magazine, November 2023 By Brett O’Riley, EMA Chief Executive and Co-Chair of the Advanced Manufacturing Industry Transformation Plan Steering Group Last month, the Technology Investment Network (TIN) released its inaugural Advanced Manufacturing Report 2023. Commissioned by MBIE, the report compares national data with the results of a survey of the top 400 manufacturing companies by revenue and employment, providing a comprehensive picture of New Zealand’s manufacturing sector. Importantly, it includes benchmarks that will be used in future years to measure the health of manufacturing in New Zealand. This makes the report an important read for anyone with even a passing interest in manufacturing. The key takeaway is that manufacturing remains critically important to the New Zealand economy. It contributes more than $23 billion to our economy, or about 10% of GDP. It also accounts for 60% of the country’s exports and employs 12% of our workforce. In fact, the number of New Zealanders employed in manufacturing increased by more than 4% last year, reaching over 222,000. Manufacturing isn’t just concentrated in one part of the country. It plays a critical role in almost every one of our regions – accounting for than 10% of jobs in most regions. It is a large employer in Northland, Southland and everywhere in between. The report outlines some real positives that we need to be celebrate. Between 2018 and 2022, the sector increased research and development from $728m to $886m and reduced carbon emissions by more than 2000 kilotons. By 2024, it is projected the manufacturing will drop behind households to become the country’s third largest emitter. Despite this, there are some worrying trends identified in the report that we need to address if we want manufacturing to continue to be a cornerstone of our economy and drive our future […]

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