Case Studies

Kauricone enhances InterfaceOS

NZ-developed operating system to reduce costs and boost productivity Kauricone has announced significant enhancements to InterfaceOS, its lightweight, productivity-focused operating system designed to help organisations and individuals reduce IT costs while improving performance on both new and older desktop and laptop computers. InterfaceOS simplifies computing environments by reducing system complexity, extending hardware life, and delivering a fully integrated suite of productivity tools — all under a single perpetual license. Users can purchase an InterfaceOS Suite Perpetual License for $162 (including GST), which activates one Parent License and five Child Licenses and includes all bundled application software — providing immediate value without ongoing subscription costs. Designed for performance and efficiency InterfaceOS is engineered to deliver fast, responsive computing: Lightweight Architecture — Quick start-up times and smooth operation Low Resource Requirements — Runs efficiently on as little as 4GB RAM and 256GB storage Optimised 64-bit Processing — Fast execution of everyday tasks Extended Hardware Life — Enables older computers to run modern applications without lag Simplified user experience InterfaceOS reduces complexity to improve productivity: Intuitive Interface Design — Easy to learn and navigate Integrated File Management — Consistent folder and file manager across browser and applications No Right-Click Design — Streamlined interactions for faster workflows Custom Window Sizing — Optimised screen real estate for multitasking Multiple Monitor Support — Portrait or extended display modes Pre-Installed productivity suite InterfaceOS includes a complete set of professional tools: Office Suite — LibreOffice Writer, Calc, and Impress Opens Microsoft Office files directly Save in Microsoft formats or OpenDocument (.odt, .ods, .odp) Creative Tools — GIMP image editor and VLC media player Developer Tools — Geany text editor and command-line interface Task Management — Interface Active Programs for fast switching and recovery Seamless connectivity InterfaceOS supports modern work environments: Smartphone file transfer integration Simplified Wi-Fi, wired, and […]

Marshall Industries celebrates ninety years of roofing in Southland

Manufacturing from 1938 and still going strong. A Southland business that has spent generations working on the region’s homes, farms, and businesses is marking a major milestone, with a legacy that has quietly helped shape the way New Zealand builds. Marshall Industries is celebrating ninety years in business, a journey that has seen the company become a familiar and trusted name across Southland and Otago, while also playing a pioneering role in the country’s roofing industry. Originally established in 1938 as Owen Marshall Plumbing Ltd, the business was responsible for a major innovation in New Zealand construction. The company was the first in the country to develop and produce continuous long-run corrugated roofing iron, designing and building its own machinery in Invercargill using local tradespeople. It was a breakthrough that changed how roofing was manufactured and installed across New Zealand, setting a new standard that is still widely used today. The company also led another national first, developing continuous spouting systems and manufacturing twenty machines locally, in the 1940s, which were then distributed across New Zealand, Australia and the Pacific Islands. Managing Director Tom Marshall says these milestones reflect a long history of practical innovation driven by the needs of the industry. “There has always been a strong focus on finding better ways to do the job,” Marshall says. “That early innovation came from local knowledge and skilled tradespeople right here in Southland, and it is something we are incredibly proud of.” Alongside this legacy of innovation, the business has continued to deliver roofing solutions across the region, protecting homes, farm buildings and commercial properties through decades of growth, change and Southland weather. Marshall says reaching ninety years is something the whole team is proud of, but it is also a reflection of the community that has supported the business […]

Blending artistry with automation for strategic advantage

-Scott Adams, Argon & Co Manufacturing companies in New Zealand are most often owned, managed, and operated by engineers and therefore they often lack artistry, passion, and flair. I readily, and happily, accept there are exceptions to this statement, but for every exception there are 10 more that focus on precision, performance, and cost. Is this a problem? Sometimes it is, because we miss the opportunity of producing something wonderful rather than something utilitarian, but also because it limits opportunity and commercial outcomes. If we build a low-cost focused, and therefore often automated, manufacturing capability without creativity then it is very difficult to be innovative with product design and it therefore limits our ability to adapt to a changing market or to create opportunity in a new market. I frequently hear that the only reason a product has changed is because the client required it. This is satisfactory for many of our smaller national or regionally focused manufacturing companies as there are significant obstacles to change: there is not enough space, inflexible machinery, or people are scared to try something different. But if we were to examine a list of the NZ manufacturing companies that have been successful globally and nationally, it would be full of companies that have blended artistry with automation, admittedly in industry sectors where that combination is encouraged, which is generally high-value niche products. Another smaller list of successful companies will show they have primarily focused on the artistry. However, we have very few low-cost automation manufacturing companies producing volume that have been successful, primarily because there are too many barriers to be globally, let alone nationally, successful due to our small population and high labour costs. So, if there are benefits in blending automation with artistry then what steps would I take? I’d argue that […]

Q & A with Geoff Necklen of Roadside Supports

What does your company do? We are a steel product manufacturer. . How long have you been in business? 41 years this month. What products do you make? We manufacture our own Roadsign Supports brand range of highway sign pole systems for the NZ market primarily. This includes motorway signage, and urban signage on single post units called Monopoles which are our main products. We are also involved in special electronic poles for bus and congestion management. How are you finding business at present? We have been steady this year but sales volumes are a bit down. I am getting good enquiries, however, and am confident about next year. Where do you source your components? We source all our materials locally from merchants and utilise second-tier suppliers such as profile cutters and galvanisers. Suppliers such as profile cutters and galvanisers. We try to source NZ AUS material as much as possible. Where do you see growth for your company in the future? The roads of national significance and associated new highway projects announced by National mean we have a long-term future with the products we make. The electronics industry is also exciting, and we are right there with many new project solutions with our good client partner.

Oasis Engineering – energy and fuel transfer specialist to the world

From August issue NZ Manufacturer www.nzmanufacturer.co.nz Export award winning, Tauranga based Oasis Engineering continues to expand its international market as a specialist manufacturer delivering world leading solutions to those pushing the boundaries of energy and fluid transfer for the benefit of humanity and the environment. The company originally began as the maintenance division of a soft drink brand but was separated during a restructuring during the 1980’s. The new company quickly established a strong reputation as a machine shop that reliably produced high tolerance precision machined parts in difficult to work materials such as stainless steel and titanium. This led to work manufacturing valves and couplings that were required for the new and emerging Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) fuel market for a major CNG supply company and this quickly expanded to every major CNG supplier and to every significant CNG market in more than 40 countries. Today Oasis Engineering is part of the ELAFLEX Group of Companies of Hamburg and is manufacturing precision CNG, LPG and Hydrogen reticulation products for the world market with approximately 80% of production going to the USA, 10% to other world markets and 10% to the local New Zealand market. The company is well placed to meet the demands of emerging markets including Hydrogen and Methane for heavy transport vehicles and renewable Natural Gas with sales doubling within the last two years. Oasis also produces specially designed high quality fluid couplings for the milk industry trailers. This state-of-the-art manufacturer is fully accredited to ISO 9001:2015 with product testing facilities including a Hydrostatic test rig rated to 4000 BAR and an Environmental Test Chamber rated between -800C and +1850C. A new addition will be a Hydrogen product test laboratory which is scheduled to be commissioned by the end of the year. Meeting the demands for the […]

If we’re all so busy, why isn’t anything getting done?

From MZ Manufacturer magazine, March 2024 Have you ever asked why it’s so difficult to get things done in business today—despite seemingly endless meetings and emails? Why it takes so long to make decisions—and even then not necessarily the right ones? You’re not the first to think there must be a better way. Many organisations address these problems by redesigning boxes and lines: who does what and who reports to whom. This exercise tends to focus almost obsessively on vertical command relationships and rarely solves for what, in our experience, is the underlying disease: the poor design and execution of collaborative interactions. In our efforts to connect across our organisations, we’re drowning in real-time virtual interaction technology, from Zoom to Slack to Teams, plus group texting, WeChat, WhatsApp, and everything in between. There’s seemingly no excuse to not collaborate. The problem? Interacting is easier than ever, but true, productive, value-creating collaboration is not. And what’s more, where engagement is occurring, its quality is deteriorating. This wastes valuable resources, because every minute spent on a low-value interaction eats into time that could be used for important, creative, and powerful activities. Three critical collaborative interactions Decision making, including complex or uncertain decisions (for example, investment decisions) and cross-cutting routine decisions (such as quarterly business reviews) Creative solutions and coordination, including innovation sessions (for example, developing new products) and routine working sessions (such as daily check-ins) Information sharing, including one-way communication (video, for instance) and two-way communication (such as town halls with Q&As) Decision making: Determining decision rights When you’re told you’re “responsible” for a decision, does that mean you get to decide? What if you’re told you’re “accountable”? Do you cast the deciding vote, or does the person responsible? What about those who must be “consulted”? Sometimes we are told input will be reflected in the […]

Nico Patchay - Niche Modular Construction

Wellington company showing the way for low carbon

The drive for low carbon has rapidly become a focal point for Aotearoa’s construction sector, where the most forward-thinking and innovative operators are partnering with other experts to decarbonise in ways that also deliver biological, ecological, and social co-benefits. One company showing the way is Wellington-based volumetric offsite manufacturing company Niche Modular Construction, whose technical manager Nico Patchay (left)spoke to HERA’s CEO Troy Coyle on the Stirring the Pot podcast about the business’ adoption of HERA’s Zero Carbon Steel program, Hōtaka Whakakore Puhanga Waro, which launched last year in a global first for the construction sector. The offsetting program means there is now a zero-carbon steel option for most steel products used in Aotearoa, noting that the sector has a number of other decarbonisation initiatives in play, including the recently announced plans to construct an Electric Arc Furnace at New Zealand Steel. The program is supported by the work of thinkstep-anz, which HERA commissioned to develop robust program rules to determine the underlying requirements for calculating the emissions for offsetting. HERA’s partnership with Ekos, a leader in carbon management and environmental financing, underpins the administration of the offsetting process, and offsets are sourced from native forest projects in the Pacific Islands. Niche Modular Construction was the first company to use HERA’s Zero Carbon Steel program, and is utilising the carbon offsets to reduce the net emissions of its steel modular building projects, which are primarily classroom buildings. Niche operates in both the public and private sectors and is also exploring the potential application of offsets in modular apartments. Niche currently utilises around 15 tonnes of steel in its builds and has its own engineering department that handles all aspects of the structural steel components. Niche Modular reports the additional costs of using Zero Carbon Steel have been manageable; it bears […]

Waikato company key carbon and stainless steel tube player

Precision component production ignited with 3D Tube Laser Cutter Industrial Tube Manufacturing, located in the Waikato, has established itself as a key player in the domestic market of carbon and stainless steel tube. Their dedication to constantly improving and expanding has enabled them to attain remarkable success in the industry. Bolstering its national reputation as a reliable supplier of high-quality steel tube, Industrial Tube commissioned its game-changing 3D Tube Laser Cutter last year – a one-of-a-kind in New Zealand that has sparked a surge in demand for its services and solidified the company’s position as a leader in the industry. Industrial Tube general manager Ian Foster says the company is proud to have been a cornerstone of the Waikato manufacturing community for almost four decades now, catering to a wide range of industries with its broad product offering and excellent service. “With the market demanding efficiency, versatility and extreme attention to detail, investment in automation and innovation has been a key focus for our business,” says Foster. Known as ‘Pro-Tube services’, Industrial Tube offers 3D laser cutting, CNC Drilling, deburring, tapering, swaging and telescoping of tube, including carbon steel, pre galvanised steel and stainless steel, in addition to its extensive milled tube offering. “Pro-Tube raises the bar in terms of what’s possible in tube processing and manufacturing. New technology like the 3D Tube Laser Cutter, coupled with the experience and knowledge of our engineers, means we can deliver more options and alternatives to New Zealand businesses that are seeking high-quality, customised components,” he says. Since its integration into Industrial Tube’s manufacturing processes, the 3D Tube Laser Cutter has unleashed a wave of opportunities for local manufacturers. The precision, speed, and versatility offered by this cutting-edge machinery have elevated the capabilities of businesses, enabling them to create intricate components with precision […]

Industry 4.0 a game changer for manufacturing at Douglas Pharmaceuticals

Through the power of automation, data analytics, and artificial intelligence, the company have improved operational efficiency, sustainability, and productivity. Using smart technology, the Douglas Pharmaceuticals team are no longer bogged down with manual or repetitive tasks. Now they can focus their efforts on work that adds real value to the business. Watch the video for the full story here – https://industry4.ema.co.nz/ If you’re wondering how Industry 4.0 technologues can help your business, a great place to start is by attending one of the free Smart Factory Showcase events happening around the country during May and June.

EMA & Industry 4.0: Company Profile -RML

RML has been providing high-performance innovative robotic and automation solutions to their customers for the past 40 years. From robotic automation systems, cartoning, case packing, conveyor solutions, custom assembly, palletising, lidders, closers and components. RML has worked with large and small production lines throughout New Zealand and Australia. Problem or Opportunity As a machine builder, RML have identified key issues which were stopping their customers from maximising the value of their investments. Primarily, it was difficult to be connected to machines from outside of the customers’ plant. This led to site visits being required to provide customer support and delivering upgrades that increased customers productivity. The lack of network connectivity also meant that machines were generally standalone, with limited integration with the customers business systems, thus not delivering the performance data to the teams that are. The Solution RML identified that current PLC technology is great for controlling plant, but is lacking in the ability to fully control machines and harness the full potential of Industry 4.0. To make their products Industry 4.0 ready, RML moved to using Industrial Controllers (IC’s) about six years ago. IC’s are similar to a Windows computer. They have the ability to run real-time control and allow a suite of additional programs to be installed, beyond simple machine controls. This has also helped them bridge the common access or security issues which machine builders face with PLCs. Using IC’s, it is now easier to support customers in real-time while ensuring security needs are met. The IC’s allow for the remote adjustment of settings to help when troubleshooting, allowing remote support and troubleshooting, and allowing RML to train new operators online. This ensures machines are back up and running quickly, effectively maximising production. Also of benefit is the ability to collect real-time data using the PLC […]

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