Developments

Associate Professor Grant Covic (left) with Professor John Boys. In by far the most significant technology transfer deal ever achieved by a New Zealand university, car travel worldwide is set to be transformed by revolutionary technology developed by The University of Auckland. In a multi-million dollar deal, Qualcomm, a major US research and development company specialising in wireless communications, has acquired exclusive rights in and to certain wireless electric vehicle charging technology developed by The University of Auckland. Electric vehicles are predicted to begin an accelerated penetration into the automotive market traditionally dominated by internal combustion engines, by 2015. Inductive Power Technology (IPT) was pioneered by Professor John Boys and Associate Professors Grant Covic and Udaya Madawala from the University’s Power Electronics Group. They have led the world in developing systems to transmit electric power efficiently across air gaps without using wires. Qualcomm also acquired the assets and technology of spinout company HaloIPT. The company was set up in a partnership with international engineering firm Arup, the TransTasman Commercialisation Fund and the New Zealand venture Investment FundÕs SCIF program to develop IPT technology commercially for cars by building prototypes, establishing standards and making the technology reliable. HaloIPT’s staff has joined Qualcomm. The University of Auckland and Auckland UniServices Ltd, the University’s commercial arm, will use the funds generated from the transaction to invest in further research and commercialisation, as well as sharing a portion with the inventors in line with the University’s intellectual property policy. Qualcomm was impressed by the quality of research at the University and through UniServices will provide ongoing support for IPT research at the University. University Vice-Chancellor and Chair of the UniServices Board, Professor Stuart McCutcheon, said IPT technology, now set to reduce the cost and environmental impact of motoring on a massive scale, had started […]

In the first, the clean energy technology firm has not only retained its spot in the prestigious Global Cleantech Top 100, but also been named ‘Company of the Year Asia Pacific’ for 2011. In the second, LanzaTech has been judged to have shown the ‘Best Innovation by an SME’ in the global ICIS Innovations Awards 2011. LanzaTech’s chief executive Dr Jennifer Holmgren is delighted. “Being named in the Top 100 list for the second year running, and now as Asia Pacific Company of the Year, recognises the potential LanzaTech has to make a real impact on the world’s energy future,” Dr Holmgren says. “It is particularly significant that the ICIS award comes straight after World Food Day (October 16). It is increasingly vital for the world to produce more energy without threatening food production. LanzaTech’s novel gas-liquid fermentation process produces fuels and chemicals without any impact on the food value chain.” Environmental considerations played a key part in all the winning entries in the ICIS Awards. John Baker, global editor at ICIS, says this year there was an emphasis on bio-based technologies, designed to replace oil and gas feedstocks in the chemical industry or reduce carbon emissions. No fewer than seven of the 14 short-listed entries involved bio-based technologies. LanzaTech’s innovation caught the judges’ eyes as it successfully incorporates synthesis-gas technology and bioprocessing to give an economically robust route to carbon capture and re-use. One of the ICIS Awards judges, Dr Gregg Zank who is chief technology officer at Dow Corning, said LanzaTech’s technology had the potential to be disruptive in the long term, especially if it could develop or modify the organisms further to increase the range of chemicals produced. “There is a lot of novelty here,” he said. Another judge, Dr Adrian Higson from the UK Centre for […]

  Picture: Jeffrey K. Liker who is presenting a workshop on The Essence of the Toyota Way in Auckland in November. For details visit www.pslglobal.net The large majority of organisations that have embarked on an operational excellence program through lean, six sigma, or lean six-sigma, have found the results at first positive, then reaching a plateau, and then going in reverse. The Shingo Prize committee out of America found that was true of too many of the past award winners. They concluded the difference between those who sustained the journey to excellence and those who did not was leadership and culture. This prompted revising the award to focus more intensely on leadership and culture, rather than just the tools. The Toyota Way to Continuous Improvement (by Jeffrey Liker and James Franz) complements those efforts by providing a thorough treatment of the philosophy, thinking, and methods of a true culture of continuous improvement, and provides case examples of the journey. The Toyota Way was never a process improvement methodology in which we implement change and work to sustain the gains, but rather focuses on a long-term quest for excellence based on creating a system of processes that reveal problems so highly developed people with finally honed problem solving skills can continually improve whatever they are responsible for. This culture of continuous improvement provides an army of process improvement experts in every part of the company who are then aligned through a shared company vision. Separating out ‘lean processes’ as a standalone endeavor does not make sense for any organisation, and, in fact, treating lean and six sigma like a technical toolkit to fix processes is why most companies fail to achieve true operational excellence. ‘Sustaining the gains’ implies that like a machine, once the process is fixed there is a way […]

Scott Machinery was there.                     By Doug Green Some made it through, some didn’t. But by all accords some good business was done at SouthMACH 2011, held recently in Christchurch. A worthy effort by the show organisers, Hayley Media who had already delayed the show because of the earthquakes only to see the snow come down and the weather pack up during the time SouthMACH 2011 was held. With snow all around, and then black ice the true spirit of the Kiwi businessperson couldn’t be kept away. They turned up to see the engineering equipment and services on display and to ensure their company was ‘on track’. Chris Whittington, from Camplex NZ was happy with the quality of business enquiries, as was Francis Coutinho, general manager of Chevpac. One exhibitor who finally got there through the snow was Gordon Anderson of BayCad. After a delay and overnight stay in Kaikoura, Gordon rolled on down to Christchurch. He found enquiries for his products a bit thin on the ground. Laura Dolphin, marketing manager for Velocity Trade said “SouthMACH 2011 was good and I am confident the efforts will pay off.” Carr Group of Auckland was one of the unfortunate companies who couldn’t make it because of the lousy weather. Their truck full of equipment was held up in the snow somewhere south of Waipukurau in Hawkes Bay and their flights from Auckland so staff could man the stand was cancelled three times. I commend the exhibitors for supporting the show and their on-going commitment to business in Christchurch in these awkward times.        

                Wayne Mills, General Manager of rml Projects has had significant growth in Australia. Orders are rolling in for Waikato based rml Group, a company delivering production line innovations for some of the world’s largest global industries. With more than 30 year experience in machinery manufacture, project management, design and automation, rml Engineering is an industry leader delivering product line automation for the dairy, food, wine meat, horticulture and packaging sectors. The company recently won a contract to supply a robotic solution for Fletcher Building New Zealand, as well as a significant order from Goodman Fielder New Zealand for a high speed, wrap around case packer. rml’s Larry Greene said TechNZ and New Zealand Trade and Enterprise have helped grow the company, with NZTE helping foster relationships with China. “We are currently involved with a New Zealand group to study China’s current milk collection and testing system so we can propose a system for China modeled on the New Zealand system.” TechNZ assistance gave the company the knowledge to develop high speed technology required to design and develop Goodman FielderÕs wrap around case packer. “We have had an outstanding nine months. We believe the financial crisis is over and we are enjoying opportunities to work in Australia, New Zealand and the United States. We are also currently negotiating to enter into partnership with an Indian company.” rml offers a range of industry-specific turnkey solutions. The company’s team of multi-disciplinary engineers work in areas such as project engineering and management, specialist plant and equipment design, packing or materials handling equipment and plant relocations.              

  Picture:Transpower NIGUP Alliance tower crews erecting towers in the Waikato   Observant Hamilton commuters may have noticed an increase in white Hilux utes on the road in the past 18 months. Rural drivers will have spotted transmission towers dotting across the landscape between Clevedon and Whakamaru. Both are evidence of New Zealand’s largest energy infrastructure project since the 1960s taking shape on HamiltonÕs doorstep. The North Island Grid Upgrade Project (NIGUP), which will create a new transmission line through heartland Waikato, has reached its halfway milestone this month with 213 towers erected. The line is expected to be finished by mid-2012. It will traverse 186km and cross 318 properties. The 426 transmission towers will initially run at 220kV but is built to operate at 400kV as New ZealandÕs appetite for electricity grows. When it is completed, the $824 million dollar project will secure supply and meet an increasing demand for electricity in Auckland and the upper North Island. Local industry can also rest easy, as the new line will release the pressure points on the existing local system and give us more capacity for growth. And there are benefits for the Waikato economy too. Transpower NIGUP Alliance Project Manager Ian Ditchfield said from the outset the project was determined to shift the economic benefit to the Waikato economy through employment and resources. “This was always going to be a local project for local people. Our aim was to use Waikato people on the job. It made sense. They know the area and the people, theyÕre well connected and incredibly resourceful,” he said. The project employs more than 300 people, including sub contractors, and will swell to more than 400, at the end of the year when the wires are put on the line what’s known as ‘stringing’ in the […]

 ExportNZ is increasing its focus on growing opportunities in India by entering a partnership with the India New Zealand Business Council (INZBC).  Catherine Beard, Executive Director of ExportNZ says the new agreement will create a strong alliance focusing on maximising the benefits of the anticipated freer trading environment (FTA negotiations with India are underway) with one of the world’s fastest growing economies.  “Working in close co-operation with the INZBC will add huge value to the services we can offer our members. In effect, INZBC will be our specialist unit serving the Indian market.  “The recent visit by Indian Commerce and Industry Minister Hon Anand Sharma highlighted the potential India holds as a trading partner for New Zealand. As the Minister pointed out, India is a land of limitless opportunities. After meeting with NZ Trade Minister Tim Groser, they agreed that trade could triple from the current $1 billon a year to $3 billon by 2014, and identified tourism and education as key areas for increased cooperation.”  Wenceslaus Anthony, Chair of INZBC says that the partnership opens up huge opportunities for our members and contributes directly to mainstreaming INZBC activities across all sectors of the economy.  “We are also working on key partnerships with major India based business associations and all of these will dramatically expand NZ-India trade and add value to the members of both organisations.”  While ExportNZ and the INZBC will work together offering services and activities to their members, they will retain their individual autonomy and operate independently.

MEMS are a class of enabling technologies that are revolutionizing silicon-based micro-electronics through use of micro-machining technology. The integration of MEMS into high volume CMOS manufacturing facilities, and the promise of monolithic integration of CMOS + MEMS, allows lower cost production of devices with integrated electronics and moving parts.  These devices have and will continue to enable novel performance unachievable by other means. Everyday examples include accelerometers for airbag sensors or handheld gaming devices, extremely high performance switches for communications, fluidic devices used in inkjet printer heads, and micromirrors for digital light projection. These four examples include highly diverse physics for the MEMS sensor, spanning mechanical motion sensing, tuning of high speed radio frequencies, actuation of fluidic valves, and optical reflection and tuning, respectively, for the products mentioned above.