Business News

NZTE and TechNZ (the Foundation for Research, Science and Technology’s business investment programme) have appointed the first organisations to our new joint network of 14 Regional Business Partners and are close to finalising the entire network of ‘NZTE-TechNZ Regional Business Partners’ who will become a natural first point of contact for businesses around New Zealand seeking government assistance. The development expands on TechNZ’s previous network of nine Regional Partners who worked with emerging technology businesses to support them to undertake research and development projects. The new Regional Business Partners, based on regional council boundaries, will be funded by NZTE and TechNZ to employ staff with business development skills and research and development (R&D) expertise. They will work with local businesses and provide a range of advice and access to funding and support focused on assisting them to grow their business. Support available includes: An assessment of business needs, which will help Regional Business Partners point businesses to appropriate information, advice, and support. NZTE Capability Development Vouchers, which the managers of eligible small businesses will be able to use as partial payment for the cost of management capability building services. R&D funding via the Foundation’s TechNZ programme of funds and services. Hamish Campbell, the Foundation’s Manager of Investment Services, said TechNZ had invested $7.1 million in hundreds of companies nationwide during the past two years and the success of its network had contributed to the idea to form a joint network of Regional Business Partners with NZTE. “The Regional Business Partner model is one that small and medium-sized businesses have responded to. Our partners have helped companies around New Zealand undertake innovative projects to develop new products, employ undergraduate and masters students, and engage experts to assess their R&D strategy and provide advice. “The new network builds on what we’ve learned, […]

The deterioration in the Government’s accounts because of low economic growth and some one-off problems is not surprising, says BusinessNZ. Chief Executive Phil O’Reilly says it increases the urgency for actions that will create a more dynamic economy. “Government spending should be aimed at getting the right funding in the right places and better using all potential sources of equity. “For example, the economy would benefit from greater use of the value held in Crown-held assets, by allowing mum and dad investors to play a part. “Viewing SOEs as ‘sources of equity’ could unlock much economic growth.” Mr O’Reilly said a fresh look at no-go areas in the economy would also help boost the economy. “BusinessNZ and other organisations have stressed the importance of taking action to constrain costs and get more dynamism in the economy, including increasing the entitlement age for superannuation, reducing the cost of KiwiSaver and making changes to interest-free student loans. “The Government also needs to move on introducing a Regulatory Responsibility Act to help improve the quality of regulation and constrain wasteful spending. “A fresh look at assets and spending could help achieve a more dynamic economy,””Mr O’Reilly said.

By Catherine Beard, executive director, Export New ZealandÊ Kiwi exporters are upbeat and determined to increase their exports in the year ahead, according to Export New Zealand’s National Export Outlook Survey. The findings from the inaugural Export Outlook survey undertaken mid November are being released today. (Link here for the report) “Kiwi exporters are looking forward to 2011 with confidence borne of experience and self belief,” said Catherine Beard, Executive Director of Export New Zealand. “80 per cent of them expect to increase their orders across all their markets,” she said. “44 per cent of the sample, 251 mainly manufacturing exporters, plan to enter new market regions over the next 12 months. “Over half expect their profits to improve next year, with a further 32 per cent expecting their profit levels to hold steady. “Furthermore, about half of the firms plan to keep their staff at the same level, with 38 per cent of them saying they will employ more people in the next 12 months. 13 per cent expect to reduce their staff. “These results are extremely encouraging since we need our exporters to earn far more if the country is to recover income levels, and retain our standard of living. “New Zealand needs trade, since we can’t grow our economy on the back of our small domestic market, and this is why the TPP negotiations this week in Auckland are so important. “Both CER with Australia and the China FTA have delivered huge benefits to our economy and the TPP has even bigger potential due to the countries involved. “In fact for New Zealand to succeed, exporting must be made the focus of the whole economy. “The main barriers to export growth from the survey were reported to be exchange rate volatility, rather than the level of the […]

New Zealand’s economic prospects are improving despite some risks, according to the BusinessNZ Planning Forecast for the December quarter 2010. While international markets are still volatile, underpinned by concern about sovereign debt levels, New Zealand’s major trading partners continue to show solid growth prospects – good news for New Zealand commodity producers. Recent adverse events such as a significant loss of lambs over spring will have some impact on growth prospects, while the Government’s accounts have come under some pressure as a result of one-off bailouts. Standard and Poor’s decision to put New Zealand foreign currency rating on negative outlook stresses the need for the government to get expenditure under control, even if this means making some unpalatable decisions. The Forecast incorporates BusinessNZ’s Economic Conditions Index (ECI) which tracks 33 indicators, including GDP, export volumes, commodity prices and inflation, debt and confidence figures. The BusinessNZ Planning Forecast for the December quarter 2010 is available at www.businessnz.org.nz

Crystal Lagoons Corp.’s concept and technology enable to build crystal clear water bodies in almost unlimited dimensions thanks to its uniquely new and patented concept. In a region where the sea is too rough and thus unattractive to tourists, it is now possible to construct giant artificial lagoon landscapes. There are already several of these pools in Chile. One of them is situated in Las Brisas de Santo Domingo. But the world’s largest one can be found in San Alfonso de Mar. It covers an area of 8 ha. In fact, Crystal Lagoonsa Corp. managed an entry in the Guinness Book of Records with it in 2007. The longest distance stretches for more than 1 km. You can actually see it on “Google Earth”. An even bigger basin with an impressive 11.5 ha area of crystalline water is currently taking shape in the Egyptian resort of Sharm El Sheikh. To ensure the quality of these huge bodies of water at the lowest expense, Crystal Lagoons Corporation. has developed an innovative technology. It is based on an energy-saving filter system combined with a pulsed flushing method for disinfecting the water. That means up to 100 times less chemicals and 50 times less energy are used during the cleaning than with conventional methods. Construction of this 2.2 ha complex with a maximum length of 320 meters and 70 meters width was a challenge in itself. The substrate had to be sloping so that the lagoon landscape offers different depths for the various types of water sports. The ground was sandy, which made welding work considerably difficult. And what is more, a tight construction time of only four months had to be met. The entire structure consists of five layers: A geotextile overlapping on the sandy substrate was first welded onto the excavation […]

Implementing the 2025 Taskforce report would require rebalancing the economy says BusinessNZ. Chief Executive Phil O’Reilly says a key recommendation is for slimmer but higher quality public spending. “The Taskforce points out that for decades New Zealand governments have spent a larger share of GDP than their Australian counterparts, and much of that spending has been of poor quality. “Our current Government is turning the ship around with its programme to gradually decrease the spend, but to close the gap requires more. “Changing the balance between the public and private sectors would be needed. ” It could be done in a way that reduced the burden on taxpayers – ie increasing real wages – while still providing social services for those in genuine need. “Involving the private sector more in the provision of infrastructure and services and improving legislation that currently holds business back – these recommendations by the Taskforce deserve serious consideration,” Mr O’Reilly said.

When Hamilton-based Waikato Milking Systems saw an opportunity to use new technology to enhance the quality of its products and cut costs at the same time, it didn’t think twice. The company – 100 per cent Kiwi owned and operated – designs and manufactures a wide range of cutting-edge milking systems and components for both local and international markets. Unsurprisingly, dairy farms present a harsh operating environment; any associated equipment and technology need to be robust enough to endure it. “We’re constantly looking for ways to enhance and toughen our offering,” says Gustavo Garza, Waikato Milking System’s Technology Development Manager. “That’s why we welcomed Fero’s offer to visit our Hamilton manufacturing plant and help identify potential process improvements.” TradeTech and Wire Solutions recently joined forces to create the new brand, Fero. Together they can now offer manufacturing customers an integrated approach to electronics and wire technology. The company also provides tailored solutions, including collaborative design and manufacturing, and production line troubleshooting. The electrical wiring looms forming the power supply to the milking units were quickly identified as an area for improvement. “We were hand-making the wiring looms in-house using quite a conventional process,” says Gustavo. The set up consisted of a branch-out loom spliced into the backbone, which was encased in heat shrink material to waterproof it as best as possible. Greg Fulton, managing director of Fero, proposed a bespoke solution using Macromelt molding technology. Macromelt molding is an injection molding process, but at very low pressures and temperatures using hotmelt adhesives. “The beauty of Macromelt molding is that it allows small, tailored production runs – ideally suited to New Zealand applications,” says Greg. “It can help to satisfy our innate appetite for innovation by making the prototyping stage more accessible.” The low temperatures and pressures inherent in the Macromelt […]

As one of New Zealand’s leading fertiliser specialists, Ballance Agri-Nutrients Limited is committed to a sustainable approach to farming and the environment. The company encourages staff to identify ways to reduce waste and improve efficiency, and a recent initiative to upgrade old, inefficient electric motors at their Whangarei manufacturing plant has paid-off with expected annual electricity savings of $23,000. Through the Electricity Commission’s Motor Bounty Scheme, the company received government subsidies of over $42,000 to upgrade to new, more efficient three-phase electric motors, representing almost half the cost of the new motors. Fourteen motors with a total connected load of 862kW were replaced, and with expected efficiency gains of between 2.2 to 4.8 percent, the annual electricity savings for the project are estimated at 170,600 kWh. Project Engineer Leo McCullough says the subsidy made the upgrade financially viable, with an expected pay-back for the project of less than two years. “The electricity savings have reduced plant operating costs and carbon emissions, with no reduction or restriction in plant capacity. “It’s simply increased efficiency to the benefit of our environment.” The project won an internal award for best environmental initiative by a team in 2009. Another benefit of the project was the opportunity to upgrade from obsolete imperial motor frames and shaft sizes to new standard metric motor frames, enabling faster and easier motor replacements in the future. The subsidy was easily arranged through Ballance’s motor service provider CMG Electric Motors (Avondale), in Auckland, who are also an Accredited Service Provider for the Motor Bounty Scheme. Motor Bounty Scheme ending in January 2011 The Motor Bounty Scheme is an initiative by the Electricity Commission to improve electricity efficiency by supporting the replacement of old, inefficient three-phase electric motors, and offers a subsidy of up to $7,400 per motor (criteria apply). As […]

A computer game-based arm rehabilitation device developed by IRL has won first prize in the prototype category of the 2010 Engineers Australia, College of Biomedical Engineering Better Technology Awards. Led by Research Engineer Marcus King the device, called Able-X, was developed by IRL’s Assistive Devices Team in Christchurch and is being commercialised through Wellington-based partner company Im-Able. “It was a very special feeling to be recognised in front of the large group of scientific peers for excellence in the field that the conference was based around,” says Marcus King. “This award gives credibility to our research and shows that we are leading the way in rehabilitation science – an essential requirement for securing future funding.” The winning entry comprises a suite ofÊspecially designed computer games with a bilateral exercise device that allows a person with an arm disability resulting from neurological injury to exercise their arm while playing engaging games. In collaboration with Christchurch-based companies Stickmen Studios and Pukka Design Studio, Marcus developed the device whichÊis suitable for people across a range of disabilities, from severely paralysed to almost able-bodied. The system has shown very promising results in clinical trials by the Rehabilitative Exercise and Activity for Life Neurology Research Group at the University of Otago. “We’re getting significant movement benefits fromÊmanyÊof the people who have taken part in the trials,” says Marcus King. “We’ve had reports that people who have one paralysed arm and have been having to drive their car single-handedly can now use both hands on the steering wheel at once.” The Able-X is the first product to be prototyped for production, with a market release planned for late 2010. It incorporates an inertial sensor game consol developed by Taiwan-based IRL collaborator the Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI) and enables a bilateral exercise regime to be created. […]