Editorial

Makaira Boats – a success story

This article profiles the business start-up, growth and success of Makaira Boats, owned and managed by Allan Shaw Allan Shaw started his apprenticeship in 2007 at age 19 at Alloy Yachts in Henderson, Auckland. One of New Zealand’s largest and most respected Super yacht builders, the company build large custom sailing and motor yachts and is where Allan served four years in his apprenticeship then one years in his trade. Allan says, “Alloy Yachts was a great place to work and learn from at the time as they had some of the best designers, best manufacturing equipment and boat building tradesmen in the industry.” While at Alloy Yachts in 2012 Allan commenced designing his first boat the Makaira 940 (9.4 metres) which took 5 years. In 2013 Allan rented commercial premises in Henderson, Auckland and started building two Makaira 940s which he had orders for. In terms of weight of aluminium materials, a 7 metre Makaira Boat hull requires more than twice the structure of aluminium compared to common brands of 7 metre aluminium boat. “In terms of labour build time a 7 metre Makaira Boat hull requires more than three times the labour hours to build; it takes approximately 600 hours to build a Makaira compared to an equivalent sized common brand aluminium boat which can take as little as 200 hours to build”. “Weight and build time are the key differences between aluminium boat brands on the NZ market, total quality of both boat types are poles apart. “At Makaira Boats we build ‘heavy plate and heavy engineered’ aluminium boats. Another well-known and legendary ‘heavy plate and heavy engineered’ aluminium boat that has been on the New Zealand market for many years is AMF Boats.” In 2014 Allan purchased commercial land in Keri Keri and designed and built […]

ITF applauds Aotearoa New Zealand skills pledge

The announcement that major New Zealand companies have agreed to double their on-job training hours is warmly welcomed by the Industry Training Federation (ITF). In its report, A Future That Works, the Prime Minister’s Business Advisory Council (PMBAC) has rightly identified the need to offer lifelong learning to people through their workplaces, to meet skills and productivity challenges in an increasingly automated world of work. New Zealand is ranked first in the OECD for participation rates in formal on-job training. This includes 146,000 ITO-arranged traineeships and apprenticeships, delivering 50,000 qualifications through 25,000 New Zealand employers, representing over half of all formal vocational education currently provided in New Zealand. “Vocational education needs to be responsive to the labour market, otherwise it is not really vocational.” says ITF Chief Executive Josh Williams. “The best way to address skills shortages and increase productivity is by investing in our workers, through their workplaces. Training people in the industries they are working develops skills productively, and ensures there is a match between skills development and industry need.” The OECD result shows that New Zealand employers have a strong culture and commitment to training. However, as the PMBAC report notes, 97 percent of New Zealand business are Small and Medium Enterprises, which can lack time, certainty, and infrastructure to engage in formal on-job training. New Zealand’s Industry Training Organisations support large and small employers to access a quality assured training infrastructure linked to nationally recognised credentials. They work with individual employers to arrange quality assured training that fits around the workplace. “We need to ensure that when people are gaining skills on-the-job, they get respected credentials and qualifications, so they can be recognised and rewarded by future employers for what they know and can do. “The commitment by some of New Zealand’s best known companies to double their on-job training hours is a fantastic step forward, we add our encouragement for more private and government sector employers to join the pledge” […]

The Manufacturers’ Network at SouthMach 2019

Dieter Adam, The Manufacturers Network The Manufacturers’ Network is coming to SouthMach 2019 in a new context. We have recently joined forces with the Canterbury Employers’ Chamber of Commerce and the EMA (Northern). To our members that means that they can now also access the wide range of services provided by these organisations. To us it means that we now have a much wider reach into the community of New Zealand Manufacturers. Apart from that, we’ll stay on-course with our own work. Our members are telling us that skills shortages and keeping up with the increasing rate of change in manufacturing technologies remain as key concerns, and that’s where our work is focused. SouthMach 2019 again is a great opportunity for manufacturers to gather hands-on experiences with new technologies. At our stand, we’ll be available to share with you our own impressions on where manufacturing technology is going, especially in the area of digital technologies / Industry 4.0. A number of our members have now started on their own journey towards harnessing the benefits of these technologies, and The Manufacturers’ Network provides a platform for its members to share their experiences with what works, and what doesn’t. When you visit our stand, we’ll also be able to tell you about other services the members of The Manufacturers’ Network enjoy, including our latest addition – the Productivity Benchmarking service. As well as holding a stall at SouthMach, we will be reporting on our recent work on getting a better understanding of current and future skills shortages in manufacturing in New Zealand. Come and listen to my presentation on Skills shortages and the move towards more advanced manufacturing technologies on Wednesday.

Container deposit system solution to Australia’s war on waste

Adelaide-based technology and engineering company SAGE Automation is increasing production of its smart container deposit systems on the back of increased demand from Queensland. The machines were developed by SAGE Automation and the University of South Australia for South Australian company Container Deposit Systems(CDS) to help decrease Australia’s landfill. South Australia has led the country in recycling, introducing a container refund scheme in 1977, but other Australian states have only just begun to refund bottles and containers. Since Queensland launched its Containers for Change scheme in November 2018, CDS has recorded a rise from 32,000 to 230,000 containers per day through its 16 Semi Auto Return Terminals (ART) at private recyclers across six sites. The terminals allow customers to return deposit cans, plastic bottles and glass in any condition for a 10c-per-container refund. More than 344 million containers have been returned to date since the scheme commenced late last year. The ARTs identify and sort containers by integrating Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) technology and a vision counting and sorting system developed by SAGE over two years. A recycling depot employee loads the mixed containers onto a vision and sorting system hopper that uses advanced vision technology to count up to 350 containers per minute without the need for coding or labelling. The containers are counted in real time for a predicted refund sum that customers can view on a TV screen at most facilities. Conveyer belts, electric motors and spinning discs sort the containers by separating common recyclables like metals, plastics and glass. The machines have seen thousands of images of containers and can identify different container types, including unwanted materials. The containers are ready to be recycled once compressed air pushes them into specific categorised cages. The entire process takes only a few minutes and a refund receipt […]

Empower Factory Productivity and Scheduling Software recognised

Empower Software is locally operated and owned, offices based in New Market, Auckland. Founding Directors are Dave Garrett and (left) Sean O’Sullivan (pictured). New Zealand, Australian and International manufacturers and engineers, from 5 up to 150 factory staff are investing in the technology of tablets on their factory floors and using Empower Factory Productivity and Scheduling Software for live production scheduling, tracking of jobs and individual factory staff times on jobs and job status. Production Managers become the main users and main drivers of the technology and software as it is their role and their responsibility to plan and drive daily and weekly factory production and productivity. Manufacturers and engineers install large TV monitors on factory walls and office walls to display live production and productivity data for everyone in the company to see. The performance of individual jobs and individual factory staff is live and continuous throughout the day and jobs and their individual productivity becomes totally transparent to all factory staff, management and administration staff. This technology and software drives labour times on jobs and labour cost on jobs down typically by 20% to 40%. TIN100, a well respected and recognised New Zealand Network of technology based companies including all stakeholders to the NZ Technology Industry, recently recognised Empower Software.

CGT decision strengthens confidence in tax system

BusinessNZ has congratulated the Government for its decision not to proceed with a capital gains tax. Chief Executive Kirk Hope said the proposed tax would have hit businesses hard, reducing funds available for investment and job growth and increasing their compliance burden. “Our members have been very clear that they did not see the justification for an expensive new tax that would have reduced the competitiveness of the New Zealand business sector for no discernible gain. “BusinessNZ was appreciative of being included in the working group process and commends much of what is in the report, but in the end could not support a capital gains tax. “The Government is to be commended for listening as New Zealanders made their views clear. “It is clear that NZ First has played a significant role in a capital gains tax not proceeding, and the business community will thank them for not compromising their concerns. “We feel the process of working group proposals followed by widespread consultation has been successful in delivering a result that the majority of New Zealanders can support. “With the Governments decision not to proceed with a capital gains tax decision, the benefits of our relatively broad-based, simple and fair tax system have been retained, and New Zealanders’ confidence in the tax system strengthened.”

Lubrication systems enhance reliability

Hydraulink mobile service brings its expertise on-site or through a network of well-equipped branches extending throughout New Zealand Ensuring fixed plant and mobile machinery is properly lubricated keeps money in the pocket of owners and operators, as under-lubrication is a major cause of machine unreliability and downtime due to bearing damage and failure. Ensuring the best and correct systematic application of grease can sometimes be a challenge when the machinery in question is required to be available 24/7 and worked continuously on remote, difficult sites with few breaks. One answer to this issue is automatic centralised grease lubrication systems from Hydraulink, which is New Zealand agent for high quality Lincoln Lubrication pumps and components. Hydraulink’s many branches throughout NZ are experts at installing these handy controllers that enable automatic systems to meet all applications requirements. Hydraulink is ideally placed to provide guidance on best industry practice in lubrication through its 24/7 network – with hundreds of service points throughout the country, including both mobile units and Hydraulink regional branches throughout the country. Key industries locally now drawing on Hydraulink services include agriculture, construction and infrastructure, civil engineering, forestry, farming and primary industry, public works, manufacturing, mining, machinery transport and machinery OEM and rental and other industries. These industries depend on Hydraulink’s prompt, expert service coupled with strong supply of quality branded hydraulic hoses, fittings, adaptors and accessories vital to optimising machinery reliability and safety while avoiding costly downtime.

3D print of human heart with tissue and vessels unveiled

Scientists in Israel have unveiled a 3D print of a heart with human tissue and vessels, a first and a “major medical breakthrough” that advances possibilities for transplants. Scientists hope one day to be able to produce hearts suitable for transplant into humans as well as patches to regenerate defective hearts. The heart produced by researchers at Tel Aviv University is about the size of a rabbit’s. It marked “the first time anyone anywhere has successfully engineered and printed an entire heart replete with cells, blood vessels, ventricles and chambers. People have managed to 3D-print the structure of a heart in the past, but not with cells or with blood vessels. But the scientists said many challenges remain before fully working 3D printed hearts would be available for transplant into patients. Journalists were shown a 3D print of a heart about the size of a cherry, immersed in liquid, at Tel Aviv University as the researchers announced their findings, published in the peer-reviewed journal Advanced Science. Researchers must now teach the printed hearts “to behave” like real ones. The cells are currently able to contract, but do not yet have the ability to pump. Then they plan to transplant them into animal models, hopefully in about a year. Maybe, in 10 years, there will be organ printers in the finest hospitals around the world, and these procedures will be conducted routinely. However, hospitals would likely start with simpler organs than hearts.

Callaghan Innovation support for innovating business

A new tool for start-up businesses will encourage innovation, says BusinessNZ. Chief Executive Kirk Hope says innovation is critical for businesses to stay competitive and attract new customers. “But research & development is costly, and many New Zealand businesses struggle to gain the investment needed to develop new products, services or processes. “The Scale-UP NZ platform launched by Callaghan Innovation today will help innovating companies to network, gain introductions, collaborate and attract investment.” Mr Hope said the digital platform, modelled on successful platforms in other countries, would help businesses and the New Zealand economy benefit from their intellectual property and creative ideas.

Skills needed to remain competitive

-Doug Green, Publisher Every now and again we step outside the square and have a good, long look at what we are doing. So it should be with manufacturing. Specifically, to enhance the awareness of just what it is the modern New Zealand manufacturer does. Part of that, of course, is to recognise the contribution manufacturing brings to the New Zealand economy. The design, original concept processes that add so much to what is eventually made and finds its way on overseas markets. Manufacturers are modernising their technologies, equipment, systems and infrastructure consistently and applying that sophistication to their materials and production in an effort to create jobs and reduce energy costs. The jobs themselves are changing too. New, modern ways of manufacturing require highly-skilled workers. The current Government, to this end, needs to sought out what kind of ITOs will be in place to skill the workforce to play a key role in competitiveness on local and world markets. Developing talent is a real challenge and the changing nature of manufacturing is making it harder for talent to keep up. Government needs to invest more in manufacturers, their suppliers and interested stakeholders to create workforce development programs that train and equip workers with the right skills to remain competitive.

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