SouthMACH 2019

Relearning what it means to be globally competitive

Competition for talent has become just as important as competition for market share. -Dieter Adam, Executive Director, The Manufacturers’ Network The Boston Consulting Group (BCG) recently published an interesting paper on redefining competition. Many of us have already learned, painfully at times, that competition is not only about sales and market share. Increasingly, I hear that “we could sell more if we could make more, and we could make more if we had the (right) people for it”. In other words, competition for talent has become just as important as competition for market share. And, like the competition for market share, which is global for many New Zealand manufacturers who export much of what they make, competition for talent is global, because the skills shortages we experience are the same in most manufacturing economies. BCG are now taking us a couple of steps further in our thinking about the competitive strengths we need to maintain and expand if we want to remain globally competitive. The common thread behind all of this is that we live and operate in a world in which the rate of change has gone up and our ability to predict future states of the economic, social, cultural and even physical dimensions of that world has gone down – think trade wars, income inequality, digital natives and climate change as obvious examples. Five Dimensions of Competition How does this concept apply to New Zealand manufacturers? If we start with Rate of Learning, we are all familiar with the idea that as individuals we need to keep learning (faster) to keep up with the play, even though we don’t always create the space required to do so – “we’re just too busy right at the moment!”. But how well is our company equipped to learn, and what […]

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.

Total barcode solutions

Barcode Products, appearing on Stand 174, is New Zealand’s leading barcoding solution provider with tailored barcoding solutions and after sales support. The company is expert in automating and streamlining business process with barcodes, labels (Paper, Plastic, Metal and a lot more), hardware, software, mobility devices, computers etc. Existing customers include small businesses, medium-size businesses and big enterprises (Including government and privately owned) from an array of industries including warehouses, retail, manufacturing, health, education, trades, construction, food and wineries. A small business located in Christchurch, Barcode Products have been operating for 20+ years and serve NZ wide businesses. On a daily basis, we help customers with: Blank and pre-printed Labels, stickers, tags (paper, plastic, metal), Thermal ribbons and ink cartridges. Barcode scanning and mobility. Barcode and label printing. Warehousing & barcoding solutions. Retail and Point of sale solutions. Inventory, stock, and asset tracking solutions. Custom-built tracking software & solutions They listen to your requirements, workflow and how you imagine your proposed solution should work and then they customise the solution to meet your requirements which should help you to save time, money and become more efficient.

Apprenticeships vital to automated future

Now, more than ever before, it’s vital that school leavers choose a pathway that equips them to learn new skills for jobs that don’t yet exist in an automated future. And despite what many people think, automation is not a jobs killer – it’s creating new jobs and opportunity, says Competenz chief executive Fiona Kingsford. “Human jobs won’t disappear, they will change. The World Economic Forum predicts 75 million jobs will be lost in the next four years as companies automate, but at the same time, 133 million jobs will be created. “As parents and teachers, we are natural guides for our young people. But we need to accept the world of employment is undergoing a massive shift, and it’s happening right now. Our children must be equipped with the skills they need to meet change, and to find relevant, rewarding and adaptable jobs.” Outmoded thinking of what workplace learning and apprenticeships can deliver is an ongoing battle for Competenz, New Zealand’s industry training organisation for manufacturing and engineering. Modern food and beverage manufacturing plants, engineering workshops and other trades-based workplaces demand a high level of technical skill. Mechanical engineering apprentices are using artificial intelligence and robotics to facilitate the automation of a growing number of “doing”’ tasks. Today’s AI-enabled, information-rich tools are increasingly able to handle jobs that in the past have been exclusively done by people. “These shifts will produce massive disruptions to employment and, if we are going to meet this disruption and prosper from it, we need to address it now by helping our children choose the right learning pathway,” Kingsford says. The people needed for those 133 million new jobs will be responsible for gleaning insight and intelligence from the machines, fixing and maintaining them as well as quality assurance, among other things. “Various organisations have identified […]

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3D printing the next generation of machinery

By Ben Murton and Associate Professor Don Clucas, Dept of Mechanical Engineering, University of Canterbury While metal 3D printing is regularly used for components such as brackets, rocket parts and turbine fuel nozzles, it is rarely used as the major manufacturing process for an entire mechanical system. In a world first, students from the University of Canterbury developed an operational 3d printed titanium ethanol fuel injected internal combustion engine, showcasing the possibilities and limitations for the process. The team took their engine to Singapore and won the innovation award at the Shell Eco-Marathon event, a global competition on for students to compete with highly efficient vehicles. This was all done in one academic year, so a highly accelerated design process was required. To test and visualise ideas quickly, concepts were modelled and refined using cheaper and easier to post-process polymer 3D printing. The titanium parts that were optimised for efficiency, not machining constraints, were then printed and post-processed. Post processing proved to be the biggest headache. It is often said that 3d printing can create anything, but in reality it has its limitations and drawbacks. An example is the almost organic shape of the cylinder head that required little post processing, while the rather basic cylinder required complex support material. Using a laser sintering process that melts and fuses layers of very fine titanium powder has its complications. Thermal contraction of thin features would distort the part, much like MIG welding distorts steel, so support material is required. Removing the support required many hours EDM wire cutting, machining, and finally sand blasting. Before and after cutting the part off the build plate, thermal stress relief was required. Good Design for Additive Manufacture, DfAM, was essential to avoid or reduce the support material, ease support material removal, and reduce distortion. […]

Gumboot technology

You are starting a manufacturing company. You are considering making rockets, yachts, gumboots or rubbish bins. So, you visit SouthMACH, the leading South Island trade show for manufacturers in the know and for aspiring manufacturers who are looking for the best in technology and equipment to help get their business going. The show this year is being held during Techweek 2019. In our highly competitive business world, it is imperative that trade shows such as SouthMACH exist. They are a celebration of the best that can be and highlight the go ahead attributes and attitudes of exhibitors and visitors alike. To have a magical event that brings decisionmakers together can only be for the good; to benefit the fortunes going forward of people committed to enhancing their products and improving their levels of productivity. New Zealand is an innovative country, renowned for ground-breaking developments which succeed on world markets. An example of this is the robot apple picker currently at use on orchards in Hawkes Bay. Or the innovation from Dr Matthew Jones of Christchurch which recently won an Australian award – automated technology that reduces food waste. These two examples support ‘land-based industries’ very well, as this is where seventy three percent of what we manufacturer comes from. And to manufacture and develop these products there is a need for the latest and best in technology and equipment to be available. The world waits for no one and there is no catch up – only a competitor who steals the march on the market you had all lined up to succeed in. Another important role of the trade fair is to provide a meeting place for apprentices and those entering the work force who are seeking inspiration and a direction for their future. There is debate underway these days […]

Photo by: Visual Culture Ltd (www.visualculture.co)

SouthMACH 2019 what’s not new!

Entrepreneur’s development lab Local Canterbury businesses and organisations have created the ‘go to’ destination at this year’s SouthMACH! Motovated Design & Analysis, Brush Technology, ARA Mechanical Engineering, The Ministry of Awesome and Fab Lab have joined forces and created a unique environment for creativity and information sharing, building new knowledge, creating alignment and developing comprehensive solutions. Forward-looking firms, incubators, entrepreneurs, and agencies that collaborate with each other to develop cutting-edge products for the marketplace. The Entrepreneur’s Development Hub foster’s the growth of our future manufacturing technology business’, introduce them to the marketplace and facilitate networks for commercial success. NZ tech startup – the lab Innovation in the manufacturing technology space is advancing at record speeds. What is new today can be old technology tomorrow. More and more professionals and young entrepreneurs are pushing the boundaries of technology finding innovative solutions and creating new applications and products. SouthMACH is the place to discover these new gems at The Lab – an incubator for all the up and coming Kiwi tech start-ups to showcase their innovative ideas to a wide professional audience of Engineers, Manufacturers, Designers, Consultants and Investors, and be in the draw to win sponsored prizes to a value of over $10,000. 12 start-ups will be given the opportunity to display their innovative product designs during SouthMACH 2019 and access advice from product development consultants as well as other participants in the Entrepreneur’s Development Hub on all aspects of project design and market entry. Entrants will be able to connect with investors and gain understanding of what is required to attract potential investment. The innovation quarter The Innovation Lab is where the latest technology in Engineering and Manufacturing in New Zealand will be displayed. Exhibitors have the opportunity to display in the Innovation Quarter as the world looks to New […]