Developments

Timoti Harris, Managing Director at Empowering Change:Te Tiriti in the workplace

While the broad strokes of Te Tiriti o Waitangi are now widely acknowledged, many people do not know its contents and intent. Much of HERA’s forward programme of research involves achieving industry focused solutions – but a much-needed change is that it now needs to be reviewed through the lens of te ao Māori. This is part of HERA’s commitment to acknowledge Te Tiriti o Waitangi and interfaces between Mātauranga Māori (Māori knowledge) and industry to expand knowledge and practice more generally. An example of this is HERA’s Endeavour Fund four-year research project focused on transforming the construction sector in Aotearoa New Zealand using Construction 4.0 approaches. The Mātauranga Māori research theme within it, aims to address the gap of knowledge that exists and build a uniquely Māori framework to address the challenges of Construction 4.0. This will create new knowledge domestically and will sit internationally as an example of indigenous knowledge being incorporated into sectoral transformation. HERA acknowledges that for industry, this will be confronting for some. Challenging the status quo of ‘doing’ business requires courage, even more so when the way to do it means looking through a cultural lens that may be unfamiliar. However, there are significant changes occurring in New Zealand that indicate HERA needs to focus on this, as does business. This includes from a government perspective, the development of the Vision Mātauranga strategy of MBIE; development of the Te Ara Paerangi Future Pathways White Paper on the future of the research, science and innovation system imbedding Te Tiriti as one of four key focus areas; the revisions to the Education Act that now require honouring of Te Tiriti; and changes to government procurement rules that call for business to consider how to create opportunities for Māori. As industry faces skills gaps and labour […]

Doppelmayr sustainable transport solutions across New Zealand

Garreth Hayman, CEO Doppelmayr New Zealand To meet our 2030 and 2050 climate targets, Aotearoa must think differently about how to move its growing population. Doppelmayr’s urban ropeway technology offers innovative, affordable and sustainable solutions that can keep our cities moving. With the ability to transport 12,000 people per hour, ropeways enhance a city’s liveability, connect harder to reach communities, integrate with existing transport infrastructure, relieve congestion and attract more people to use public transport. Do you have examples as to where your company has done this before? Doppelmayr has designed and delivered several public transport systems using ropeway technology, including in London, Mexico City, Luxemburg and Portland. We are currently underway with the first-ever public transit gondola for Paris which will be completed in 2025. Our largest urban ropeway ‘Mi Teleférico’ in La Paz, Bolivia, consists of ten lines with an overall length of more than 30 kilometres. Mi Teleférico transports about 300,000 people every day as a means for getting to work and school, whilst providing access to community hubs and leisure-time activities. With more than 300 million passengers transported to date, commuters continue to benefit from significant time savings and escape from daily road congestion. What do you mean by an integrated transport solution? Doppelmayr’s urban ropeway solutions can be integrated into existing and future transport networks, to complement train, bus and ferry services. This includes integrated stations for easy transfers between modes and the integration with existing payment methods, such as Auckland Transport’s HOP system or the new National ticketing system. Do you see this integration across large cities or rurally? Most of our existing urban ropeway solutions have focused on connecting cities where high density and geographical barriers have prevented other transport expansion to take place. However, this doesn’t mean that integration isn’t possible in […]

RS PRO & Engineers Without Borders announce winners of student design competition

RS PRO & Engineers Without Borders Australia (EWB) have drawn the winners of their recent student competition, awarding three winners in Australia and New Zealand. The three winners were commended for their socio-technical skills, sustainable design and social impact of their designs. The first winner, Luke Nelson studying at ANU, is building a seed sorting robot which is a shaker-table based device which aims to address the significant time and labour challenges associated with sorting native grains. The real world application has been tested through an Indigenous owned organisation working to develop a native grains industry for the benefit of First Nations people. Maja Ranzinger who studies at Auckland University is currently developing a prototype design for an autonomous apple picker. The body is a thin, electrically motorised four-wheel system that fits within the orchard lanes. Maja’s project aims to lower the production cost whilst solving the problems of labour shortages in this industry. Lastly, Patricia Wang-Zhao at ANU is developing a local design summit which is a collaborative platform whereby student and professional engineers engage with local First Nations people. The summit aims to explore opportunities in engaging with Indigenous knowledge for economic and environmental benefit. RS Pro and EWB are supporting these winning submissions with product packs worth $3,000 which includes RS PRO components, tools, and accessories tailored to the projects. The competition criteria included: Socio-technical skills. Sustainable design skills, including the environmental, economic and social impacts. The demonstration of effective communication skills through the design pitch application whilst articulating teamwork skills of the project. A demonstration of how the fund will help the entrant achieve positive social, economic, and environmental impacts. Scott Philbrook, Managing Director ANZ for RS, the parent company of RS PRO, says he is looking to support future generations of engineers through programs like […]

Eagle Protect ensures high-performance disposable gloves

Christchurch-founded company, Eagle Protect, is challenging the disposable glove industry by bringing transparency to its supply chains through the launch of “Delta Zero”, the multi-layered proprietary glove quality testing program. As the world’s only B Corp certified company in the sector, Eagle Protect is on a mission to provide Kiwis and those across the globe with access to high-quality disposable gloves which are safe, durable and free of contamination. The global industry’s supply chains are plagued with malpractice such as reject quality, counterfeit and already-used disposable gloves being repackaged and sold to end-users as brand new, all of which can often lead to breakdowns in infection and hygiene control. Eagle Protect’s five-year microbial analysis study revealed the widespread risk of contamination within the disposable glove industry, with independent lab testing uncovering 50% of new and unused gloves analysed had human faecal indicators. To combat these issues Eagle Protect is establishing the global industry standard for compliance, providing a method for ensuring that vulnerable industries, including food handling and healthcare sectors, have access to clean gloves, free of harmful toxins and contaminants. “In the effort to mitigate glove contamination risks to multiple industries and glove users we’ve spent the last few years refining our Delta Zero verification process,” said Steve Ardagh, CEO and co-founder of Eagle Protect. “It’s a proprietary, multi-layered, five-point testing process that ensures Eagle gloves strictly adhere to the industry’s highest level of safety and performance.” Though most of the general public remains unaware, New Zealand relies on the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulations for the quality assurance of food handling gloves. However, there are significant limitations within the FDA’s current food glove compliance requirements. The FDA’s own code for imported gloves (FDA Title 21, Part 177) does not specifically require them to be intact, […]

Cost effective automation

Low Cost Automation reduces the barriers to getting started with automation and gives special assistance to small and medium-sized companies in increasing their competitiveness. To this end, motion plastics specialist igus has built up a broad network of 55 robotics providers and 40 integrators over the past three years – and new partners are constantly being added. As a result of continuous developments and product innovations, affordable robotics has become especially interesting for small and medium-sized companies. And the number of offers on the market is increasing. For instance, igus Low Cost Automation represents a broad portfolio of articulated arm, linear, delta and SCARA robots. Product modularity means that single components or individual complete solutions can be assembled according to the build-or-buy principle. The focus is always on a low entry-level price and quick payback. This is where igus high-performance plastics play to their strengths. They are tribologically optimised and especially durable, lightweight, lubrication-free and maintenance-free, and cost-effective to produce. The most cost-effective solution that works Over the past three years, igus has built up a broad, constantly growing partner network. As part of the LCA partner programme, the motion plastics specialist works with integrators who provide customers with additional expertise, experience with end customer projects, and joint project experience. Igus started with seven partners around two years ago, and now have almost 100. In order to refer interested parties to competent integration partners in their area, they are constantly expanding their network. Together, they can offer customers a wide range of automation solutions – focussing on applications with a total investment volume of less than €45,000. Typical services include integrating a control system into existing machines, setting up and commissioning robots, evaluating safety measures or, if there is simply no capacity, providing the capability of assembling machines on site. Experience Low Cost Automation […]

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Circular economy: so much more than recycling!

Article: Part one The circle has been an important symbol since early times. To many ancient Eastern and Western civilisations, it represented unity, balance and stability. Fast forward to 2023 and the circle is the most talked about shape in sustainability. Why? Because it’s time to get serious about the circular economy and the business, environmental and social benefits it offers. What is ‘circular economy’? Circular economy (CE) is an economic system that can help your manufacturing business reduce risks and costs, become more resilient and build your brand. It can also help you identify new income streams. CE decouples using resources from economic growth. It recognises that the ‘linear’ economic system we use to produce and consume goods and services – ‘take-make-dispose’ – cannot go on forever. As manufacturers, you know that the resources you use are finite (‘take’). You may be facing shortages or skyrocketing prices, particularly with critical materials like lithium. Many of you will be looking for a more sustainable way to manufacture your product (‘make’). You may be concerned about what happens when consumers dispose of your product (‘dispose’). Are you contributing to landfilled waste? Could you be liable? Enter circular economy and solutions to these problems. Circular economy is based on three principles Principle 1: keep products and materials in use Circulating products and materials means keeping them in use at their highest value. It avoids the costs of extracting and creating materials, and of disposing of waste. A circular product is one that consumers can use for as long as possible (e.g. it is easy to repair). When the product wears out, its parts can be reused, or the product remanufactured (remade). At the end of the product’s life, its raw materials can be fully recycled. Principle 2: design out waste and pollution […]

Regulated stewardship coming soon for synthetic refrigerant industry

By Jason Richards – National Programme Manager – Chemicals, 3R Group In the race to combat climate change a lot of emphasis is put on CO2, and with good reason, but there is another widely used group of gases which are thousands of times more potent at warming the planet. Synthetic greenhouse gases, such as synthetic refrigerants (sometimes called F-gases), are used in everything from vehicle air conditioning to heat pumps, supermarket and corner store fridges, and industrial-scale cooling and freezing. While they only account for 2% of New Zealand’s emissions their potency means, globally, properly managing them is one of the most effective ways to tackle climate change. In July 2020 Government declared synthetic refrigerant gases, and the equipment that contains them, from consumer equipment like heat pumps and car air conditioning units to retail and industrial refrigeration systems, as a priority product. This means a regulated product stewardship scheme will have to be established, encompassing all of industry to manage the gases. Product stewardship manages the collection of products at the end of life so they can be reused, recycled or properly disposed of. In the case of synthetic refrigerants, proper disposal through high-heat incineration is currently the best pathway. SF6 is included Also included in the stewardship will be SF6 (sulphur hexafluoride) gas, which is found in equipment used to distribute electricity. It is the most potent greenhouse gas known to man, being over 20,000 time more effective than carbon dioxide at trapping heat. What is the current situation? New Zealand has had a voluntary stewardship scheme for synthetic refrigerants since 1993 operated by The Trust for the Destruction of Synthetic Refrigerants (RECOVERY). Between then and October 2022 it has prevented 1,236,000 tonnes of CO2eq greenhouse gas emissions, in addition to 36,000 tonnes of avoided ozone depletion […]

Adapt or Perish?

-Ian Walsh, Argon & Co In these challenging times it’s useful to refer back to the lessons of the past to help navigate the future. Charles Darwin, considered to be ‘the father of evolution’, proposed the theory that a species’ survival was dependent on that species having adapted favourable traits to thrive in their natural environment. This theory is sometimes referred to as survival of the fittest. I’d argue this theory holds true in the business world too. In order to survive you have to adapt to your environment. Those that can adapt thrive and grow. Those that cannot perish, and are replaced by competitors more suited to the environment they find themselves in. The ability to adapt in the business world however, is not some random genetic mutation ability bestowed from the gods, but rather it is a competitive advantage: a set of practices and skills which better companies embed into their “DNA”. The average lifespan of a Fortune 500 company has fallen by 80% in the last 80 years from 67 years to 15 years, similar statistics in the UK. Of those companies with over 100 years, there are some common charactieristics: Stable purpose Servant leaders/stewardship Succession planning Embrace change and new ideas, open to sharing Continuous improvement in all things they do, learn from the best always Teamwork and change willingness through planned disruption Deeply embedded systems and processes to embody their “DNA” If you have these attributes built into your company then you should be able to adapt and survive. At this point, it’s important to not confuse adaptation with agility. Adaptation is a response, adjusting your business and processes to meet your customer needs in a changing world. It’s strategic, systemic, and embedded into the way your business operates. Agility is reactive, like a carpenter […]

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Hutt Valley manufacturer saving lives and expanding globally

-Rebecca Reed “I am proud to have spent more than 40 years of my life manufacturing products that save lives. I am proud that my company has remained competitive against international suppliers and most of all that we have managed to create products that add value to New Zealand.” Poignant words from the owner of award-winning high-tech manufacturing company Pertronic Industries, David Percy. What started with one person in Ngauranga Gorge, Wellington, has turned into quite the success story for Hutt Valley manufacturer Pertronic Industries. Fast forward forty years later, the company now employs 140 people and proudly operates out of a 6,000 square metre factory site in Wingate, Lower Hutt. Pertronic Industries manufacturing business, designs and makes fire detection systems that it sells to installation companies, who fit systems in commercial and industrial buildings such as hotels, hospitals, high-rise office blocks, schools, tunnels, and shopping malls. The company, founded by electrical engineer David Percy in 1982, has grown to be the largest manufacturer of fire detection systems in New Zealand. At least 50% of its business is now in Australia where it has offices in Adelaide, Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, and Perth. They have exciting plans in the pipeline to launch in the US market. “We are in the process of getting a product certified for sale in the large USA market. We have a small team of people based in the US who have been working tirelessly on our first US product which has been going through R&D / Certification to meet the local requirements. The opportunities in the US market are significant. With our recent investment in new technology and ongoing R&D, we are setting ourselves up for growth in the US market.” Investing in R&D and new technology With an eye to the future, David says the […]

Embracing equity for women in STEM

This year’s International Women’s Day (IWD), celebrated on 8 March, follows the theme of “embracing equity” — focusing on giving fair opportunities for everyone to succeed. This is not a New Zealand, or Australian story, nor a South East Asian story, it is a world story, showing the common thread going around the world. If you are wanting to be profiled – like Helen Blomqvist – get in touch publisher@xtra.co.nz An example of a business invested in its people is Sandvik Coromant and the experience of their President, Helen Blomqvist. One of IWD’s key missions is to forge inclusive work cultures where women’s careers thrive and their achievements are celebrated. This year, the campaign centres around equity and how providing equal opportunities is no longer enough. So how do we achieve equity? At Sandvik Coromant, the number of females in functional management roles currently sits at 43%. This is above the estimated industry average, which is considered to be 38%, according to the Chartered Management Institute (CMI). However, if we’re to look across the manufacturing industry, it’s clear there’s still a lot to be done to truly achieve equity. A recent report by the Manufacturing Institute found that females make up just 29% of the manufacturing workforce. Staggeringly, it also finds that 63% of women struggling to get into the field face challenges due to the sector’s lack of flexibility and almost half are deterred due to childcare issues, compared to just 8% of males. It seems, therefore, that females wanting to succeed in the manufacturing industry still face challenges that rarely affect their male counterparts. If the industry is to truly reach equity, it must be aware of the unconscious bias certain groups face and find ways of managing that bias. But first, businesses must realise that hiring diversly […]

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Developments