Developments

Bridges pushes NZ as ‘most ready in the world’ for electric cars

Transport and Energy Minister Simon Bridges has officials investigating ways to accelerate the uptake of electric vehicles, although is ruling out incentives or subsidies in what he says is “the most EV ready country in the world” because of New Zealand’s very high proportion of electricity generated from renewable resources. Speaking to an energy conference in Auckland yesterday, Bridges said he had “tasked the Ministry of Transport to provide advice on whether the government can play a role in facilitating early uptake of EVs and, if so, what options are available.” EVs have barely begun to become available in New Zealand, although sales figures of 400 in 2014 were an exponential increase on 2013. Electricity companies, in particular, but other commercial fleet operators, were also looking at the potential for at least partial fleet replacement with EVs, Bridges told BusinessDesk. “The question is: what can we do to encourage commercial fleets to go EV?” said Bridges, with between 60 percent and 80 percent of all new vehicle purchases in New Zealand being made by commercial fleet owners, including government agencies. Higher initial costs of EVs are said to be offset over time by lower running and maintenance costs. New Zealand is unusual for having around 80 percent of its electricity generated from renewable hydro, wind and geothermal power stations, making EVs a potentially meaningful way of “de-carbonising” the New Zealand economy. In countries with high proportions of gas and coal fired electricity generation, the use of EVs raises questions about the efficiency of replacing fossil fuels in vehicle engines with electricity generated from other fossil fuels. Bridges said New Zealand was also unusual for having very high proportions of off street residential parking, reducing the need for investment in charging technology, since cars could be recharged straight from a three […]

Kiwi global entrepreneur to speak at University of Waikato

Members of the public have an opportunity to hear from Kiwi entrepreneur extraordinaire Claudia Batten at a free public talk being held at the University of Waikato on Friday, 13 March. Ms Batten, a globally successful technology entrepreneur who has lived in the United States for the past 13 years, will be the guest speaker at an event organised by Waikato Management School’s Alumni Board. A regular speaker on digital innovations and building businesses for the future, she will discuss emerging trends in robotics, e-commerce, gamification, crowdsourcing and data. Ms Batten was recently appointed as New Zealand Trade and Enterprise’s regional director for North America, where she is tasked with the challenge of helping Kiwi businesses to break into the highly competitive markets of the US, Canada and Mexico. She is also a director of The Icehouse, an Auckland-based incubator company that helps small-to-medium-enterprises to grow. The free talk will be held at the Gallagher Academy of Performing Arts from 6-9pm. Parking available from Gate 2B, Knighton Road, Hamilton. Following the talk, the public is also invited to attend a dinner with Claudia Batten, at a cost of $60 per person. If you’d like to attend the talk and/or dinner, email nwalm@waikato.ac.nz or phone 07 838 4477 by Tuesday, 10 March. Ms Batten brings a wealth of experience to her new role at NZTE, having achieved great commercial success with many of her own start-up technology businesses over the past 15 years. In 2014, she received a World Class New Zealand Supreme Award from the Kea New Zealand global business network, whose annual awards celebrate our most inspirational Kiwis living at home and abroad. She was part of the founding team of Massive, a first-of-its kind network for delivering online advertisements to video games, which was later sold to Microsoft […]

Baskiville unveils nonflammable medical-grade materials for silicones

(Methven, NZ) Baskiville.com Ltd. has unveiled two new products that have the potential to substantially improve the safety, environmental protection and clinical performance of medical devices and related products made in New Zealand. Baskvilles have been appointed by MicroCare Corp., a U.S.A.-based supplier of advanced precision cleaners, coatings and lubricants, to serve as the authorized source for both a new Universal Carrier Fluid and a unique SwellEx® silicone assembly fluid from MicroCare. With these two new products companies in New Zealand will have important new manufacturing choices that will result in more competitively-priced products that out-perform the competition. The first innovation, the MicroCare Universal Carrier Fluid, is engineered as a drop-in replacement for flammable, smelly and toxic carrier fluids. The product is a custom-formulated, nonflammable carrier fluid optimized to dilute and apply medical grade silicone liquids to medical devices. This new formula provides a safe, reliable and nonflammable alternative to older, flammable carriers such as hexane or toluene carrier fluids. The SwellEx assembly fluid is a smart, efficient answer to a different but troublesome problem. Many medical devices require leak-free seals on connections between devices and tubing. Because the fit needs to be tight, assembling those devices can be extraordinarily labor-intensive. The SwellEx fluid accomplishes what the name implies: it swells the plastic tubing, allowing for fast and simple assembly. Then the fluid evaporates and the plastic tubing shrinks back to the original size and strength, forming perfect seals. “Silicone has a long history as one of the most trusted biomaterials in the healthcare industry,” notes Ian Fowler, Managing Director of Baskiville.com Ltd. “Now these two new fluids make using silicone parts or silicone lubricants far easier, safer, faster and ultimately less expensive. It’s a win-win for New Zealand industry.” About the Universal Carrier Fluid Silicone-fluid lubricants are commonly used […]

Developer co-funds “essential” roading and work is underway

Multi-million-dollar roading and infrastructure projects are finally underway at the State Highway 6, new Eastern Arterial Road (EAR) and the State Highway Glenda Drive intersections in Queenstown, to the relief of Shotover Park developer, the Porter Group. Porter Group CEO Alastair Porter said that after so many years the wider community would be delighted to see these roading projects getting underway. “It’s been a case of working with the New Zealand Transport Authority (NZTA) and the Queenstown Lakes District Council (QLDC) for many years to finally achieve this,” he said. The new roading will access a new 8,000sqm Mitre 10 Mega store scheduled to open in spring 2015 and a future PAK’nSAVE supermarket. “In addition to these there’s approximately another 30 commercial industrial adjoining sites on the Shotover Park development that have been sold to predominantly Queenstown businesses, many of which are very keen to get on with their development,” said Mr Porter. “This is wonderful news for Queenstown because it will significantly expand affordable living opportunities and broaden the range of products and services which are desperately needed to underwrite Queenstown’s continued rapid growth.” Mr Porter said the State Highway 6 Eastern Arterial Road roundabout project was “long overdue”. He said NZTA had made it clear that a private funding contribution was essential for this project to proceed. For this purpose the Porter Group had arranged funding for two-thirds of the required private contributions. Also to ensure that a connection between Glenda Drive and the new EAR could be open before next winter 2015, the Porter Group let a contract to Fulton Hogan in November to undertake pre-road earthworks and underground services. “The whole community is aware of the number of accidents there have been at this intersection, let alone congestion problems,” said Mr Porter. “For this reason we […]

Greater effort needed by NZ businesses to strengthen Asian ties

New Zealand businesses still have a lot to learn if they want to succeed in lucrative Asian markets, according to Crowe Horwarth Managing Principal and current President of the Hong Kong New Zealand Business Association Andrew Sayers. Sayers, who leads the firm’s Asia Business team in New Zealand, said New Zealand companies have made big strides in recent years, however, there was a lot of room for improvement. “The Asian region is playing an increasingly important role in our economy, accounting for six of our current top 10 trading partners,” he said. “There are still significant trade and investment opportunities that have yet to be explored but New Zealand businesses need to put greater effort into understanding and engaging with their Asian counterparts. “Cultural and values differences continue to present challenges for doing business in Asia, and can often be the tipping point when it comes to getting something off the ground locally or offshore. If done well, the benefits of improving business relationships between New Zealand and Asia are numerous, from job creation to joint ventures.” Sayers said with the surge in business opportunities between the Asia Pacific regions, Crowe Horwath had moved to bolster its Asia Business team. Recent local appointments to the global accounting and business advisory firm have included high powered Asian business experts Kenneth Leong and Yan Zhang. Zhang has over 20 years experience in international trade and investment, while Leong has a long track record of facilitating business across cultures, from deal origination to execution. “In essence, they will act as ‘relationship brokers’ between Asian investors and Asian business owners, and New Zealand businesses. I have no doubt that our clients will benefit from the wealth of experience and extensive Asian networks that both Zhang and Leong bring to the business.” Sayers said the […]

New Zealand falling behind in sustainable business practices

There is a growing demand by New Zealand businesses for a return to government intervention in sustainable development issues, said one of the keynote speakers at the recent Sustainability Symposium at the University of Waikato. Professor of Management Communication Juliet Roper says the New Zealand government has taken a hands-off approach to the environment and climate change, by claiming that too much regulation would economically disadvantage New Zealand businesses relative to international competitors. Yet despite initial relief from the business community, her research shows some businesses are now concerned about the repercussions for New Zealand’s ‘clean, green’ brand image. “New Zealand is falling behind the rest of the world in regulating for sustainable business practices, especially in comparison to European countries,” says Professor Roper. “We have been warned of the flow-on consequences of this for years by major UK retailers such as Sainsbury’s and Marks and Spencer.” “There needs to be more stringent legislation and that needs to be monitored for compliance. We all benefit from New Zealand’s clean, green image, so we need to back it up with some overarching policy,” says Professor Roper. The sustainability symposium attracted about 50 researchers from across campus to examine sustainability from a wide range of economic, social, education, health and cultural perspectives. About half of the academics who presented papers at the symposium were from Waikato Management School, which was the first business school in New Zealand to place a strong focus on sustainability and corporate social responsibility.

Controlling car pollution at the quantum level

Toyota Central R&D Labs. Inc. in Japan have reviewed research that might be leading the way towards a new generation of automotive catalytic converters. Catalytic converters that change the toxic fumes of automobile exhaust to less toxic pollutants only reached the market in the mid-1970s. They are formed of a catalyst – usually in the form of a precious metal such as platinum, palladium, or rhodium – a catalyst support material, and a wash-coat designed to disperse the catalytic materials over a wide surface area. Toyota Central R&D Labs. Inc. in Japan are involved in research to develop catalysts that are controlled at the quantum-level. With this level of control, “we can expect an extreme reduction of precious metal usage in automotive exhaust catalysts and/or fuel cells,” says Dr. Yoshihide Watanabe, chief researcher at the Toyota Central R&D Labs in Japan. He reviewed research on different types of catalytic reactions involving metal clusters whose sizes were atomically controlled. Metal cluster chemistry has been developing rapidly since the mid-20th century. A cluster is a group of atoms or molecules formed by interactions varying in strength from very weak to strong. Some naturally occurring clusters are known to be involved in catalytic reactions. The study of metal clusters is inspiring great interest, partially for the potential use of synthetic clusters in industrial applications, such as catalysts in catalytic converters. He pointed out that not much research has been done in the area of atomically controlled cluster catalysis, with the exception of studies on carbon monoxide oxidation reaction. His research indicates that catalytic activity is strongly affected by the electronic structure of clusters, their geometry on a support material, and the interaction between the cluster and the material. Thus, the catalytic activity of clusters can be enhanced by controlling cluster size and the […]

NZ construction activity seen rebounding after slump

New Zealand construction activity is rebounding from a slump during the recession as private sector work picks ups, according to a property consultancy. “Building construction activity is recovering strongly,” Rider Levett Bucknall said in its 2015 first quarter report on trends in property and construction. “After a deep slump during the recession, activity has rebounded strongly and has surpassed the pre-recession peak.” Public sector construction on health and education projects has remained resilient, providing a buffer during the recession, and now private sector projects for offices, shops, industrial and storage buildings are recovering, the report said. Investment intentions and building consents suggest construction activity will improve further through 2015, it said. Non-residential construction has been driven by the rebuilding of earthquake-damaged Canterbury and increased demand from an expanding Auckland, and further aided by earthquake strengthening. In Christchurch, the focus is shifting to the CBD as residential repair work nears completion, while in Auckland strong demand is emerging for new buildings as the city’s buoyant economy has soaked up vacant space, the report said. Demand for industrial properties is supported by strong growth in the logistics sector, underpinned by increased imports as domestic manufacturing wanes, it said. Still, farm building construction may slow as a slump in dairy incomes crimps farmer spending, the report said.

Labour’s new tilt for growth

The devil of the detail is still to come. By Bruce Goldsworthy Many commentators didn’t score Andrew Little’s State of the Nation speech on January 28th very highly. But its very early days for the new Labour leader, and his speech was all about scene setting for the party’s future. However, some things left unsaid will give manufacturers serious misgivings. Dr Oliver Hartwich of the NZ Initiative noted that Little wants to see his party on the side of those creating wealth, jobs and income, and his is a truly progressive vision. Importantly Little acknowledged “wealth had to be created first before it could be shared.” When has a Labour leader ever said out loud such a thing? Its especially good news for manufacturers. Little was quick to reference his own background in the Engineering, Printing and Manufacturing Union, and draw on his experiences with the likes of Fitzroy and Fonterra. He stated the economy is all about jobs, what is required to make higher paid jobs, and what works to keep jobs in New Zealand. To grow the pie, (before seeking to redistribute it) Little said he will shortly be discussing measures that create wealth across: • How to harness the power of small businesses. Small, nimble, flexible, innovative businesses are to be placed at the centre of growth and job creation. • Getting serious about housing affordability. • Ensuring Auckland operates as an internationally competitive city, breaking the gridlock holding it back. • Developing a manufacturing sector fit for the 21st century. Here we start to come unstuck. In noting 41 per cent of the jobs created last year were in firms with fewer than 20 employees the question inevitably arises: So 59 per cent were created in larger firms? The Little vision will also focus on […]

FeatureCAM includes Vortex milling calculator

FeatureCAM 2015 R2 includes the Vortex milling calculator to help users obtain the maximum benefit from the high-efficiency area-clearance strategy. The 2015 R2 release of Delcam’s FeatureCAM feature-based CAM software incorporates a milling calculator to help users obtain the maximum benefit from the Vortex high-efficiency area-clearance strategy. Other enhancements, among the 280 customer-requested improvements since the initial 2015 release last September, include the ability to create multi-tool blocks within machine designs, better control over toolpath output and more efficient automatic selection of tools. FeatureCAM was the world’s first feature-based programming software when it was launched in 1995. Constant development since then has ensured that the system has retained its leadership in programming speed and ease of use, while an increased range of strategies has been added to provide more efficient toolpaths that give greater productivity on a wider range of machinery, including mill-turn machines, five-axis mills and wire EDM equipment. The Vortex area-clearance strategy in FeatureCAM produces safe toolpaths with a much deeper cut by using a controlled engagement angle that maintains the optimum cutting conditions for the whole toolpath. As a result, higher feed rates and material-removal rates are possible, making the cutting time shorter by as much as 70%. In addition, cutting is undertaken at a more consistent volume-removal rate and at a near constant feed rate, so extending tool life and protecting the machine. The radical nature of Vortex can make it difficult for users to set the optimum parameters when they first apply the strategy. To overcome this problem, Delcam has added a calculator that provides an easy way to maximise productivity and efficiency with Vortex. The calculator uses control of the maximum chip thickness to calculate the appropriate feeds and speeds that will minimise the cutting time while maintaining […]

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