Developments

Kate McGrath (Picture courtesy Victoria University Image Services.) Victoria University is helping launch the next generation of entrepreneurs and innovators through a new programme which will bring graduate students together to create advanced technology start-up companies. The introduction of a one-year Master of Advanced Technology Enterprise, commencing in January 2013, will see students combine their skills in a team environment, and culminate with teams pitching their business plans to an expert panel of investors. Graduates from science, engineering, design, commerce, law and other disciplines will develop their technology start-ups with mentoring and support from academic supervisors. They will also work with some of Wellington’s leading companies including Baldwins Intellectual Property, Creative HQ, Deloitte, start-up firms Magritek and Mesynthes, and technology investors Movac and No 8 Ventures. Kate McGrath, Professor of Chemistry at Victoria University and Director of the MacDiarmid Institute for Advanced Materials and Nanotechnology, instigated the programme and says it is a unique opportunity for students with a creative, entrepreneurial streak to come together and work intensively on a commercial project. “This is the only programme of its kind in New Zealand where students from a wide range of disciplines can come together and work in an essentially real-world environment, to develop an advanced technology business concept. “We’re hoping that a new generation of entrepreneurs and innovators will be able cut their teeth on this programme and that successful companies can be forged through the process. “We’re looking for passionate, creative students from a wide range of backgrounds, who are interested in working in a dynamic environment to set up a business.” Students will take part in an intense four-week development course to learn the practical and theoretical frameworks necessary to develop an advanced technology start-up company, along with collective brainstorming, team development, collaboration and communication skills. During this […]

Picture:The Weta Workshop crew with Mongoose vehicles based on designs from the Microsoft game Halo. To stay ahead of the commercial challenges of the world’s creative industries, Weta Workshop has found necessity and desire to shift from a purely handcraft company to one that utilises all available digital technology – primarily laser cutting, plasma cutting, 3D modelling and printing, and CNC milling. Jordan Thomson has pioneered this division at Weta Workshop and his unique take on the technical design and engineering of the equipment that the team uses has offered the technicians at Weta an extensive suite of tools available for production output. The 3D Department, lead by Mary Pike, includes thirteen digital artists all working with ArtCAM, and PowerMILL CAM system for high-speed and five-axis machining, to service an extensive number of varying jobs per week. Ms. Pike notes, “Deadlines are our primary challenge. The technical know-how and capability of the team is never in question but of course the wild card is always time. This demands a fluid and unfaltering interplay between the digital artist at the computer, the capability of the toolpathing software to realise these complex models, and then the complete reliability of the machines that we have purchased and built here under Jordan’s guidance.” Mr. Thomson acknowledges that “irrelevant of the hardware solutions, it is the fantastic reliability and ease with which the software interfaces with our machinery that makes this such a seamless process. I get asked daily to facilitate some wonderful and whacky jobs on one of the six machines that we run. “It can be like an acrobat juggling plates while balancing on a ball, as you have so many tasks bouncing between all the different machines utilising the appropriate software to output what is required. From a 1mm button to a […]

Scott Technology managing director, Chris Hopkins New Zealand’s high tech firms boosted investment in research and development (R&D) and staff numbers and many posted strong revenue growth despite difficult business conditions, according to a comprehensive survey of the $8 billion sector. The eighth annual TIN100 Report, an analysis of the performance of the top New Zealand-founded high-tech companies published in association with Industrial Research Ltd, reveals an impressive range of increasingly R&D-focused companies who achieved strong revenue growth despite a sluggish economy and currency headwinds. In addition to solid overall growth of 2.2%, this yearÕs TIN100 Report features a wide range of R&D focused companies, from high-tech manufacturing to ICT and biotech, who achieved phenomenal revenue growth. Among those achieving greatest growth by dollar value were Tru-Test and Gallagher Group – both current and former IRL R&D partners. R&D intensive companies featuring in the report are: Dunedin-based, NZX-listed purchaser of IRL’s superconductor technology firm HTS-110, Scott Technology grew an impressive 15.1%, won a key Australian meat industry automation contract worth $11m and graduated from the $20m-$49m category up into the $50m-$99m set, with revenues of $53.6 million. (In its August year end results, Scott Technology reported 19% revenue growth to $65m). Palmerston North-based New Zealand Pharmaceuticals, whose long-time collaboration with IRL is accelerating growth in the high-value pharmaceutical manufacturing industry and delivering substantial foreign exchange earnings to New Zealand, grew 13.2%. Canterbury Scientific Ltd, an innovative Christchurch-based biotech company, leveraged IRL’s newly developed industry focused protein science team to diversify its diagnostic product range, grew its revenues by more than 21%, from $4.2m to $5.1m.  

Composite Helicopter’s has unveiled a revolutionary helicopter that is light, durable and can be built in record time.The fuselage, main rotor blades and tail rotor blades are made entirely of carbon fibre composites. The helicopter uses the same carbon fibre technology that is found in America’s Cup racing boats, high end sports equipment and new aircraft such as Boeing’s 787 Dreamliner.   The five-to-six seat helicopter is relatively quick and easy to put together. Composite Helicopter’s innovation was showcased recently at Oshkosh in Wisconsin, the world’s biggest aviation expo, where New Zealand had the largest country pavilion. Before the show, pre-publicity in New Zealand led to seven orders and the company returned with 14 more and potential for another 48 through dealership enquiries. There was also keen interest shown by established helicopter manufacturers such as Bell and Sikorsky and approaches from two Chinese companies wanting to buy the Kiwi company or form a joint venture. With each helicopter selling at around NZ$530,000 Composite Helicopters already has potential sales worth more than NZ$50 million. It currently has two prototypes, both of which were built just north of Auckland. Once commercialised, the helicopter will contribute to the New Zealand aviation sector’s drive to add NZ$15 billion to the economy each year.  

  Kate McGrath Picture courtesy Victoria University Image Services.   Victoria University is helping launch the next generation of entrepreneurs and innovators through a new programme which will bring graduate students together to create advanced technology start-up companies. The introduction of a one-year Master of Advanced Technology Enterprise, commencing in January 2013, will see students combine their skills in a team environment, and culminate with teams pitching their business plans to an expert panel of investors. Graduates from science, engineering, design, commerce, law and other disciplines will develop their technology start-ups with mentoring and support from academic supervisors. They will also work with some of WellingtonÕs leading companies including Baldwins Intellectual Property, Creative HQ, Deloitte, start-up firms Magritek and Mesynthes, and technology investors Movac and No 8 Ventures. Kate McGrath, Professor of Chemistry at Victoria University and Director of the MacDiarmid Institute for Advanced Materials and Nanotechnology, instigated the programme and says it is a unique opportunity for students with a creative, entrepreneurial streak to come together and work intensively on a commercial project. “This is the only programme of its kind in New Zealand where students from a wide range of disciplines can come together and work in an essentially real-world environment, to develop an advanced technology business concept. “We’re hoping that a new generation of entrepreneurs and innovators will be able cut their teeth on this programme and that successful companies can be forged through the process. “We’re looking for passionate, creative students from a wide range of backgrounds, who are interested in working in a dynamic environment to set up a business.” Students will take part in an intense four-week development course to learn the practical and theoretical frameworks necessary to develop an advanced technology start-up company, along with collective brainstorming, team development, collaboration and comm

By Eli Beman, Blue South With increasing technological advances and decreasing product lifecycles manufacturers have to seize every opportunity to compete in the global marketplace. The dynamic nature of the global economy means it is essential to reach out to customers and associates regardless of their location. The key to success is being visible around the world. To become visible, businesses need a strong multilingual presence. Present your website, product information and marketing material to the world and not only will you build better relations with your foreign customers, you will increase your credibility, adaptability and, in turn; your success! The internet is changing, and this means exciting opportunities for the way we do business. Not only is it now the first port of call for people seeking information but it is no longer dominated by English speakers. This transformation is good news for exporters and manufacturers seeking new markets. Your website is the marketing channel that your business must capitalise on: Consider Brazil, for example, there are over 80 million internet users; all potential visitors to your site. Does your website receive good traffic from a particular country? If so, why not translate part of your site into the language of those potential customers? You will also then appear in search engines of the languages used and so you will become more accessible to the whole world. Having decided to make yourself globally visible you must ensure you are conveying the right message. Do not cut corners by using electronic translation tools. They may be useful for an individual word, but not for good, effective content that works. A software programme cannot translate everyday quirks of speech such as metaphors, innuendos and colloquial phrases. Only well-trained and skilled human beings, who are specialists in their field, can analyse your […]

  Collaboration within industry is a key way for New Zealand’s manufacturers to successfully compete in a global market. And this was the motivation for a Lean Learning Hub which saw nearly 50 people from 21 companies including DB, Griffins and Fonterra, gather together last month to swap and share experiences. The hub was hosted by Tru-Test Group, the world’s leading manufacturer of livestock scales, milk metering and electric fence equipment, and Competenz, the Industry Training Organisation (ITO) for the Engineering, Manufacturing and Food & Beverage Manufacturing sectors. Back in 2006, Tru-Test Group embarked on a massive journey – removing the waste in its operations so it could continue to manufacture in New Zealand and compete with Chinese-made goods. And now five years on, the company is passing on the message that we can be lean and we can compete internationally. “To us, lean isn’t a project you start and finish,” says Jason Kiteley, Group Operations Manager at Tru-Test Group. “Our initial sole driver was survival. But after a period of time we saw that the real results were culture driven.” To guide their lean journey, the Tru-Test Group followed TRACC, a continuous improvement programme. In 2010 Competenz joined the party – offering staff the chance to achieve the National Certificate in Competitive Manufacturing. Now, after an average of 60 hours training per person, 122 staff have graduated. And the positive results of their training are clear to see, both in the attitudes of the staff and the physical manufacturing environment. A large expanse of empty floor space lies in the Tru-Test Group factory, after lean initiatives saw efficiencies in overall operation and inventory reduce by 50%. “We’re ready to support the company’s ongoing growth, both organically and associated with acquisition” says Jason. “We’ve increased our efficiency significantly, saving tens […]