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High demand and growth puts pressure on manufacturing sector

The beginning of 2021 is proving a headache for the manufacturing sector and it could be some time before the pain relief kicks in. The cost of sourcing materials, increased demand, and supply issues are some of the areas industry is grappling with, according to Helen Down, Chief Executive of the Hutt Valley Chamber of Commerce. “It’s clear supply issues are continuing to have an impact as manufacturers are unable to source their raw materials in a timely or cost effective manner. With limitations to international travel, we are witnessing a dramatic change in customers buying habits, with people spending their money on home and recreational products. “This puts pressure on businesses who can’t keep up with demand in specific areas,” she said. “A wide range of businesses are finding it extremely time consuming to source raw materials. Some components are simply not available, and won’t be available, for many months, coupled with rapidly rising costs for materials.” Shane Lowe, National Sales Manager of freight forwarding company 360 Logistics, based in Lower Hutt, said they are they facing increased shipping and air costs, and there is a general slowdown at the moment in the ability to move goods. “The southbound rates from Asia continue to hold at peak levels as demand continues to outstrip capacity. “The USA congestion issues over many ports, and the capacity and congestion problems between New Zealand and Australia, are forcing the need to look at different options,” he said. “We are in the middle of the peak export season for New Zealand, and we are finding some route pricing has been pushed up and as a result we are struggling to find space to ship the product.” Shane Lowe said they are also seeing delays from suppliers because the factory supplying finished goods is also […]

We’re big coal users

-Editorial, March issue NZ Manufacturer Its common to sling the mud at Australia about its coal mines, reliance on coal and exports to South Asia nations. But it’s something else to realise that New Zealand has been importing coal at levels not seen in 14 years. million tonnes were imported into New Zealand last year, much higher than the combined total for 2018 and 2019. Why is this happening? Because the Government three years ago banned exploration for natural gas. We even had a climate – change emergency in December last year with coal imports 41 percent higher than in December 2019. Food for thought? The 2018 ban on companies exploring for natural gas has caused this spike. New Zealand’s manufacturing sector saw a slower rate of expansion during February, according to the latest BNZ – BusinessNZ Performance of Manufacturing Index (PMI). The seasonally adjusted PMI for February was 53.4 (a PMI reading above 50.0 indicates that manufacturing is generally expanding; below 50.0 that it is declining). This was down 4.6 points from January. PMI Time Series Table National Indicies Feb 2020 Oct 2020 Nov 2020 Dec 2020 Jan 2021 Feb 2021 BNZ – BusinessNZ PMI 54.1 52.2 54.9 48.3 58.0 53.4 Production 54.9 51.9 55.4 52.4 59.3 57.3 Employment 51.5 52.3 51.3 49.8 56.1 49.8 New Orders 56.2 53.2 56.7 50.5 62.8 56.2 Finished Stocks 53.5 49.3 59.5 45.3 52.9 51.2 Deliveries 53.6 49.1 51.6 45.0 48.8 47.6

Additive Manufacturing: Re-thinking how we use materials in a circular economy

By Dr. Jim Goddin, Technical Director of Circular Economy at thinkstep-anz. The circular economy presents a more economically sustainable and lower-risk alternative to the highly wasteful, linear, take-make-dispose economy. The regenerative model proposed by the circular economy shows that when the things we make are designed to last, their economic value can be recovered for the benefit of the business. If delivered well, the circular economy can also provide significant environmental and social benefits. The circular economy presents key opportunities for products that rely on advanced manufacturing processes such as Additive Manufacturing. Additive Manufacturing (AM) — sometimes called 3D printing or near-net-shape manufacturing — is the process of building a part layer by layer through selectively fusing (or sintering) the material using a laser or electron beam. This layer-wise process delivers design freedoms that are unavailable in more traditional manufacturing techniques. World-leading AM collaborations are incorporating Life Cycle Assessment principles when developing AM processes and parts, including the €18M (NZD $30M) AMAZE project — Europe’s largest and most ambitious metal additive manufacturing research project. Many AM projects also have a strong focus on resource efficiency. Metrics, such as the Material Circularity Indicator (MCI), enable us to gauge resource efficiency and in turn, quantify how circular products are. How then might AM be promoted based on circularity? Recovering manufacturing value in a circular economy The circular economy is estimated to represent a $NZD $7.5T global economic opportunity. This massive economic value stems from the reduction of supply risks and the recovery of value that is currently lost through products which are designed inefficiently, under-utilised, or which otherwise go to waste. Recovering materials through recycling is a prominent part of the circular economy and serves an essential purpose in reducing waste. However, recovering raw material value only accounts for a tiny portion […]

Why haven’t construction companies demonstrated any notable improvement over the last 20-30 years?

-Stephanie Pretorius, Intent Group Globally, labour-productivity growth in construction has averaged only 1 percent a year over the past two decades, compared with growth of 2.8 percent for the total world economy and 3.6 percent in the case of manufacturing. McKinsey Report – Reinventing Construction through a productivity revolution.https://www.mckinsey.com/business-functions/operations/our-insights/reinventing-construction-through-a-productivity-revolution The construction industry has been quite resilient to the continuous improvement philosophy that has made large inroads in manufacturing. The pattern that emerged from the McKinsey report of lagging construction productivity will continue until the industry takes productivity improvement seriously. The industry cannot keep growing the way it is with more resources being tipped in to create poor or suboptimal outcomes, often for all of the parties involved. Striving to be the best is a wide-open field in construction and is going to generate huge opportunities for those who take action in coming years. What are the impacts if construction don’t make a significant change? The costs of an inefficient construction sector are already becoming more burdensome, for all parties including society in general. Poor planning processes create and enable disruption which affects large communities. The workforce who are working in an environment that accepts poor performance and is inefficient, or doing things because they have always been done that way, creates a workforce that is not engaged and not able to perform at their best. Infrastructure is not on time to meet the needs of the population. Value add delivery is constrained by mis-aligned processes, inadequate contracts and dysfunctional organisational relationships. Sub-contractors struggle to survive. The project mentality of ‘just get it done and move on to the next project’ means an ongoing cycle of reliving the same performance – different projects; the same issues. Why is the sector so resistant to improvement? From procurement through to planning and delivery, […]

Launch of Aisle Master Order Picker: Aisle Master-OP

Combilift’s new Aisle Master-OP (AME-OP) is a pioneering stand-on electric powered model that combines the advantages of a narrow aisle articulated forklift and an order picker for versatile operation in warehousing applications. The development of this model was influenced by customer feedback – as has often been the case with Combilift’s innovations – as well as the recent soaring growth of e-commerce. “Customers already using the Aisle Master for space saving, storage and efficiency in their warehouse asked if we could redevelop the Aisle Master to meet their ever-growing demand for order picking customised orders”, said Combilift CEO Martin McVicar. Research & Development carried out in 2019 & 2020 has created the Aisle Master-OP. The main feature of this unit is the step-through operator compartment which has design copyright protection (European Design Registration No. 002676809-0001) across multiple markets worldwide. The low floor height of just 280mm (11”) enables convenient, single step access from both sides of the truck which speeds up order picking compared to the operator having to get on and off from a seated position. The AME-OP truck has all the key advantages of the conventional Aisle Master – indoor/outdoor, for loading/offloading and for stock replenishment at other times during shifts when order picking is complete. The Aisle Master-OP is available in a number of variants, with lift capacities from 1,500kg to 2,500kg, lift heights up to 12.1m and can operate in aisles as narrow as 1650mm. It features a patented chain steering system (EU Patent No. 3008008), which allows the truck to articulate more than 205°, with an inline drive motor and front drive axle assembly, all of which enable narrower aisle operation. The multifunctional programmable joystick control lever in the operator compartment, which includes controls for the hydraulics and traction, is adjustable to enable comfortable and ergonomic working conditions for operators of all sizes. The Operator Presence Detection floor pad engages the parking brake automatically when the operator steps off the truck to carry out Order Picking. The AME-OP is now a production model within Combilift, with units currently in build for customers in the United States and in New Zealand – one of which is Sorted Logistics based in Christchurch New Zealand, a third-party logistics provider and freight forwarder who will be receiving eight AME-OP units shortly. This is a major innovation in the warehousing sector and the versatility to use the one Aisle Master for multiple applications – narrow aisle operation, truck to rack handling, bulk picking and item order picking – will result in strong demand for this new product […]

The best things come in small packages

Transponder-coded guard locking for small doors and flaps Treotham’s new, compact Euchner CTM transponder-coded guard locking provides process and personnel protection in the smallest of spaces, making it the perfect solution for securing small doors and flaps. The real bonus is that, at only 120 x 36 x 25 mm in size, the switch is especially easy to integrate into packaging machines. Typical applications include case packers and dosing, filling and sealing machines. The innovative ball actuator supported on an elastomer bearing can even secure doors with extremely small pivoting radii. What’s more, it also guarantees the highest degree of protection IP69. The switch’s special hygienic version makes it particularly suitable for the demanding food and pharmaceutical industries. The CTM provides reliable Cat. 4/PL e safety door protection according to EN ISO 13849. Thanks to its different product variants and interfaces, the switch offers the right solution for every user and is well-suited to Industry 4.0 applications because of its IoT-compatible communication with IO-Link. Maximum safety throughout the packaging process The diverse Euchner safety solutions can be perfectly integrated into modular systems to protect people, machines and products in the packaging sector. The product range comprises guard locking devices and access management systems as well as products such as door detectors, door locking systems and pendant stations. For all of its products, Euchner guarantees exacting quality far exceeding the requirements in standards and laws. Customers can rely on Euchner products with over 60 years of safety engineering expertise.

NDC sensors control manufacturing at the front line

-Simon Ganley Most customer food complaints relate to colour. Too dark is considered to be over cooked or baked. Too light is perceived to be underdone. You wouldn’t believe just what people complain about. But businesses have to take complaints seriously and it costs to deal with them. So now a lot of food manufacturing companies are adding colour to the other parameters they measure and control, saving a lot of money by doing so. There is a good chance that a biscuit you buy in NZ will have had the manufacture controlled by colour rather than moisture. The measurement was developed in NZ with NDC and is being rolled out world-wide. This saves a manufacturer a fortune in power consumption, scrap, waste, staff time and raw materials. And dealing with complaints. Next time you eat fries at top quality franchised restaurants, they will have had the manufacture controlled with moisture, oil, colour, bed depth and temperature – all on the one NDC sensor that sits above the fryer. Coffee is another application. The top brands of coffee have NDC sensors controlling the colour, moisture and caffeine. They also control tea. Sugar is another application that is being developed at the moment. NDC controls the manufacture of pretty much all the sugar made and sold in NZ. “Wet” sugar moisture can be controlled to 0.1% on-line and dry sugar to 0.006%. But customers are alert to shades of brown that creep into refined sugar. Strangely the colour we see in sugar isn’t brown. It is actually in the blue/green part of the spectrum. Lactose is another product that downgrades with shades of brown and manufacturers of quality products build NDC sensors into the fluid bed driers to maintain top yield prices. When we talk about product control with colour, we […]

Get your carbon diet on track: 5 steps to carbon reporting

– Barbara Nebel, CEO thinkstep-anz Is reducing your carbon emissions on your list of New Year’s resolutions? Want to put your business on a carbon diet, but not sure how? Whether you are new to carbon measurement or looking to make an ambitious pledge to further reduce your emissions, the following five steps offer inspiration for tackling your carbon in 2021. This can be taken as a step-by-step guide or a reference for your company’s next carbon initiative. The reality is that reducing your carbon emissions is no longer an option — it’s as essential to a healthy planet as good nutrition is to a healthy body. The 2015 Paris agreement united 195 of the world’s governments in committing to limit global warming to well below 2 degrees Celsius. At thinkstep-anz, we believe the actions of businesses will be instrumental to achieving this goal. Keep in mind that the carbon strategy you choose will depend on your business goals and who you share your carbon reduction plan with. 1. Start with a no-frills approach If you are new to this, we recommend starting with a no-frills approach. Internal carbon reporting should be your first step. Focus on aligning the actions you take with your organisation’s values and be carbon conscious. At the early stages, there is no need to communicate externally, nor is it necessary to get your targets externally verified or reviewed. However, it is always a good idea to follow best practice and get guidance from internationally recognised standards. The Greenhouse Gas Protocol (GHGP) provides the most widely used greenhouse gas accounting standards in the world. 2. Demonstrate best practice If you want to gain some recognition, stand out among your peers for your carbon reporting, or even fulfil a membership requirement, you will need to demonstrate best […]

Swim school purpose-built for champions

New Zealand’s prestigious AquaGym facility was purpose-built in 1988 by two of New Zealand’s leading Elite Swim Coaches: Brett Naylor and Clive Power. Brett and Clive have for many years coached New Zealand Swim Teams to Olympics, Commonwealth Games and World Championships. Until Brett’s retirement from National Swimming in 2000, AquaGym has placed a swimmer and coach on every International, Commonwealth and Olympic Games Team. AquaGym is now fully owned by Brett and Colleen Naylor, and whilst the competitive swimmers are still showing strength at all levels, an enormous amount of energy has been put in to its Learn to Swim Program. Top of the range instrument controller The Naylor’s needed a reliable, high-quality automatic controller that would help maintain hygienic water for their new 16m x 10m water babies and pre-schoolers swimming pool. “We required remote off-site access via the internet along with a low maintenance automatic chlorine and acid testing solution,” Colleen explains. “The entire system also needed to be sealed tight to withstand the harsh environment of the equipment plant room where temperatures fluctuate and there’s high levels of humidity and chlorine.” Waterco’s Chemflo PRO is equipped with the capability to connect up to four sensors of any type with appropriate analogue outputs and relays. Equipped with data logging as standard and multiple PID loops as options, the Chemflo PRO is able to control complex water treatment processes at a fraction of the cost of other controllers. Key product features and benefits include: Free chlorine, total chlorine and hydrogen peroxide reading through amperometric sensors. Chlorine range goes from 0.05 to 10.00ppm and hydrogen peroxide from 5 to 500 ppm Open overflow flow cell for sensors Superior patented gel-filled glass pH electrode Large easy to read colour LCD screen Capabilities for 4 inputs (expandable up to 16) and 4 outputs […]

mWL.cs mechatronic calotte loader unveiled

A fully automated stand-alone system for transferring wafers between cassettes and calottes, the mWL.cs provides integrated device manufacturers (IDMs) an opportunity to increase yield and improve process traceability at a high throughput. Evaporation process tools often utilise spherical carriers and rings to meet uniformity and defectivity targets. However, the design of these tools has made it challenging to introduce automated wafer handling in this step of the manufacturing process. IDMs invariably default to manual wafer loading, which has resulted in yield degradation and an increased risk for misprocessing. Automating the wafer loading and unloading system for evaporation type metal deposition is a step that bears much potential. By eliminating human error from the equation, the system enables manufacturers to achieve higher yield and reduce damage to wafers. Enhanced process traceability also supports quality improvement measures to meet the conformity requirements of critical customer industries. Key features of the mWL.cs mechatronic calotte loader include: Superior handling accuracy and repeatability — hand-off position measurement and auto-teaching capabilities (<50µm) Improved process traceability — host notification of Wafer ID, Cassette ID, Segment ID, and position in the segment Redundancy — 2 loading areas for continuous processing Impressive transfer times — high throughput of up to 240 wph that enables ROI within two years Dual size handling — customizable to handle 4”, 6”, 8”, or 6” & 8” (dual size) Small footprint — less than 7 m2 A specialist in fully automated handling systems for non-standard substrates and handling requirements, mechatronic recognizes and addresses the semiconductor industry’s need for the handling of ultra-sensitive substrates used in modern new wafer fabrication technologies. The company’s deep expertise and proprietary technologies provide manufacturers with safe, reliable systems that handle non-standard substrates with ease and confidence.

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