Manufacturing Technology

University programme expands to help manufacturers go digital

New funding will enable a University initiative to help more small manufacturers access affordable digital technology and improve productivity. Key facts The Government has committed up to $475,000 per year for three years from 1 April 2026 to expand the University of Auckland-led Digital Manufacturing Light programme. Digital Manufacturing Light is delivered by researchers from the University’s Laboratory for Industry 4.0 Smart Manufacturing Systems and supports SMEs to adopt practical, low-cost digital technologies. The programme was first piloted in 2022 in partnership with Auckland Council. A University of Auckland initiative that helps manufacturers adopt low-cost digital technologies is set to expand under a new three-year Government funding commitment. From 1 April 2026, funding of up to $475,000 per year will support the expansion of the University-led Digital Manufacturing Light programme, enabling more small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to increase digitalisation in their operations. The programme will continue in Auckland and expand into parts of Waikato, Northland and the Bay of Plenty, reaching around 55 percent of New Zealand’s manufacturing businesses. Digital Manufacturing Light is led by Dr Jan Polzer and Professor Xun Xu from the Faculty of Engineering and Design’s Laboratory for Industry 4.0 Smart Manufacturing Systems (LISMS). It builds on the Digital Manufacturing on a Shoestring framework developed by the team led by Professor Duncan McFarlane from the Institute for Manufacturing at the University of Cambridge. Between 2022 and 2025, LISMS worked in partnership with Auckland Council to test and adapt the Shoestring programme for the New Zealand market, launching a 12-month Digital Manufacturing Light pilot on 1 July 2025 with 12 Auckland companies. The programme development has also involved Advanced Manufacturing Aotearoa and the Employers and Manufacturers Association. The work drew the attention of Small Business and Manufacturing Minister Hon Chris Penk, who visited the Faculty of Engineering […]

NZ’s economy to take three decades to double without intervention – OECD Data

New OECD data shows NZ’s economy will take more than 30 years to double in size unless major structural and cultural changes are made to how organisations operate. The modelling shows New Zealand’s real GDP, currently at US$216 billion, is not expected to double until 2055.[1] While the nation’s economy is projected to grow by nearly 48% by 2040, this expansion is largely driven by population growth and increased labour input, rather than meaningful improvements in productivity. New Zealand’s GDP per hour worked, once comparable to Scandinavian countries like Denmark, Finland, and Sweden, is now on average 40% lower than those economies. This long-term underperformance highlights the depth of NZ’s productivity challenge and signals a widening gap not just in economic output, but in living standards, wage potential and long-term competitiveness.[2] Experts say that the rapid adoption of AI will not be enough on its own to reverse this trend and significantly boost productivity. Despite the transformative potential of AI and automation, they say that without a simultaneous shift in how organisations lead, structure and empower their people, the implementation of new technology risks amplifying the structural inefficiencies holding back productivity gains. Craig Steel, a workplace performance expert from Vantaset and author of Transforming New Zealand’s Productivity, says the country has overestimated what technology alone can deliver without first building the leadership capability and workplace culture needed to make those tools effective. “There’s a misguided belief that AI will close the gap for any organisation that applies it. But what we’ve seen is that when organisations adopt technology without modernising their leadership and culture, the gains they were seeking rarely occur “If AI is layered on top of disconnected leadership models and compliance-based systems, it won’t lift people, it will marginalise them,” he says. Steel warns that New Zealand is at […]

The world wants Kiwi manufacturing: Turning acquisitions into advantage

By Sean Doherty,Manufacturing Commentator | NZ Industry Trends Global investment is reshaping the future of Kiwi manufacturers—and the outlook is surprisingly positive. It has been a historic couple of years for New Zealand’s manufacturing and food processing sectors. From Invercargill to Auckland, a remarkable string of large manufacturing companies have been acquired by overseas buyers—or are in the process of changing hands. Fonterra’s consumer brands, Alliance Group, Synlait Milk, MHM Automation, Robotics Plus, Bremworth, Rakon, and a host of others have all attracted international attention. At first glance, headlines about foreign buyers snapping up New Zealand businesses can feel unsettling. The instinct is to ask: are we losing jobs and intellectual property? But when you dig into the details, a more encouraging picture emerges — one of fresh capital, global market access, jobs protected, and innovation accelerated. Here’s what’s really going on, and why there’s reason to be optimistic. The world wants what we’ve built The sheer scale of interest in New Zealand companies tells a story of success, not failure. In the third quarter of 2025 alone, 52 deals were announced, a 41 percent increase on the same period a year earlier. International investors from France, Ireland, the United States, Japan, South Korea, Switzerland, Australia, and Sri Lanka have all been writing cheques. Why? Because New Zealand companies have built something genuinely valuable. Robotics Plus, a Tauranga-based agricultural robotics company, attracted Yamaha Motor—one of the world’s leading industrial conglomerates—because its autonomous orchard vehicles and AI-powered systems are among the best in the world. Yamaha has now made Robotics Plus part of the foundation of its new global agricultural automation company, Yamaha Agriculture Inc. That’s not a loss. It’s a global validation of Kiwi ingenuity. Similarly, Christchurch’s MHM Automation caught the eye of Fortifi Food Processing Solutions because its post-harvest, […]

Election Year Excuses? Why Manufacturers Can’t Afford Them

From February issue, NZ Manufacturer magazine David Altena is Head of Growth & Partnerships at SmartSpace.ai & C0-Founder & Host of The Better SMB Podcast. david@altena.solutions We are entering a familiar three yearly cycle of hesitation. As we flip into another election year, a subtle but pervasive “hush” descends over factories from Penrose to Invercargill. Business cases for new CNC machinery get shuffled to the bottom of the pile. Recruitment for that much needed engineer is “put on hold until we know who is running the Beehive.” Election years tempt businesses to pause, waiting for policy clarity. But in manufacturing, hesitation is costly. Whoever wins, the fundamentals won’t change. Capability, capital confidence and innovation still matter. Waiting is the real risk. We have been waiting for the miracle decisions every three years for decades. It is no surprise that the MBIE and Foreign Affairs Long Term Insights Briefing released in December 2025 still describes New Zealand as being stuck in a low-productivity rut. Another report to feed the lack of progress on this subject over the last 40-years. “Wait and see” is not a strategy, it’s slow-motion surrender. (Ab0ve)Rob Bull is Director of The New Zealand Lean Academy. rob@nzla.nz Myth Busting: The “Pause Button” Election-year uncertainty is the ultimate security blanket. It’s the perfect, explainable excuse for inaction, but let’s look at the reality of the productivity gap. New Zealand has struggled with a tail of underperformance compared to our OECD peers[1] and according to The Economist, New Zealand’s economic performance is now ranked 33rd (of 37) in 2024[2] (we were as high as 3rd in the 1950’s!). That gap doesn’t take a holiday because there are billboards on the side of the road and policy ideas thrown about like a lolly scramble. The truth is sitting there right […]

Backing Capability: Lessons from Fi Innovations and the Future of NZ Manufacturing

From February issue, NZ Manufacturer magazine New Zealand’s manufacturing sector has always relied on one core strength: capability. Not scale or low-cost production, but the practical skill, judgement, and adaptability of the people who make things here. In a recent podcast, Caliber founder Jonathan Prince spoke with Gareth Dykes and Derek Manson from Fi innovations about how that capability is built over time. Their story is a reminder that sustained engineering know-how, not quick wins, is what underpins resilient manufacturing in New Zealand. Fi Innovations is a Southland business with deep roots. What began as a specialist plaster and fibreglass shop has expanded into composites, industrial flooring, moulding, and now advanced additive manufacturing. They have diversified far beyond their original customer base and invested early in technologies that many companies were still evaluating. Their journey illustrates what it takes for a regional manufacturer to build resilience and stay relevant in a changing industry. One of the strongest themes in the discussion was the role of persistence. Fi Innovations focused on building long-term relationships by showing up, solving real problems, and delivering consistently. Some of their most significant customer partnerships began with small, speculative jobs. Steady effort turned these into ongoing programmes of work. This is a familiar pattern across much of New Zealand industry where trust, reliability, and follow-through often matter more than formal processes. Another theme is the value of people. Gareth and Derek were clear that the strength of their business lies in the capability of their team. Their growth into new materials and technologies was made possible by people who were willing to learn, experiment, and solve problems in practical ways. This emphasis on people aligns with what many manufacturers know: technology investment only works when capability grows alongside it. “We’re not here to make CAD models. […]

Manufacturing starts year by shifting up a gear

Hon Chris Penk New data showing New Zealand manufacturing is experiencing its highest level of activity since December 2021 signals a strong start to the year, Small Business and Manufacturing Minister Chris Penk says. The latest BNZ – BusinessNZ Performance of Manufacturing Index (PMI) shows the seasonally adjusted PMI for December has risen by 4.4 points compared to November, bringing it to 56.1. “This is an incredibly positive signal, as a PMI reading above 50.0 indicates the manufacturing industry is generally expanding. The data suggests New Zealand manufacturing growth is outperforming major economies including the United States, China, Japan, the United Kingdom, and Australia,” Mr Penk says. “The success of manufacturing is central to the health of the New Zealand economy. The sector directly employs more than 220,000 people, contributes around eight percent of GDP and accounts for 60 percent of our exports. “We know some manufacturers felt the pinch of harder months last year. Today’s great news coupled with a 1.1 percent uptick for national GDP in the September quarter indicates a brighter future for businesses. “The Government is focused on setting the right conditions and fixing the basics so that businesses can thrive. Manufacturers are turning that certainty into growth through hard work and innovation. “The creativity and resilience of the sector, and its contribution to national prosperity deserve to be celebrated. It’s therefore my pleasure to announce the second annual Minister for Manufacturing Awards will be held at Auckland Showgrounds on 27 May. “This year’s awards will again recognise the Manufacturer of the Year, Manufacturing Leader of the Year, Apprentice of the Year and Excellence in Process Innovation. It will also introduce three new categories. “This includes a dedicated Manufacturer of the Year award for businesses with fewer than 50 Full Time Equivalent Employees (FTEs). With around 97 percent of manufacturers falling into this group, opening a new category ensures small businesses receive the recognition they deserve. “An Emerging Manufacturer Leader of the Year award is also being added to shine a spotlight on the next generation of innovators and trailblazers, alongside a Manufacturing Lifetime & Legacy Award to honour those who have […]

Reflecting on a year of New Zealand manufacturing

From The Year in Review, NZ Manufacturer magazine, December issue. By Hon Chris Penk, Minister for Small Business and Manufacturing As 2025 draws to a close, it’s a good moment to reflect on a year of resilience and progress for New Zealand’s manufacturing sector. The year brought challenges, but there is much to celebrate, and I’m proud to represent a sector that spans so many different industries. Manufacturing is at the heart of our economy. It’s the petroleum processor in Taranaki, the wood miller in Rotorua, the food and beverage producer in Hastings, the metal fabricator in Hamilton, the chemical technician in New Plymouth, the machinery engineer in Christchurch, and the equipment assembler in Dunedin that we have to thank. The sector employs more than 220,000 people, generates roughly 8 percent of GDP, and accounts for 60 percent of our exports. Over the past year, export growth has been strong, reflecting the dedication and innovation of manufacturers across the country. One highlight for me was hosting the first Minister for Manufacturing Awards at SouthMACH in Christchurch in May, supported by Advanced Manufacturing Aotearoa. These awards celebrated leadership and creativity, with 38 entries narrowed to 16 finalists across four categories. It was a fantastic opportunity to recognise excellence and connect as an industry. More recently, I have been inspired by Kiwi manufacturers winning awards at regional, chamber, and national business events. Gallagher New Zealand Trade and Enterprise received the Supreme Award at the International Business Awards. RML Machinery in the Waikato, AROTEC Diagnostics Limited in the Hutt Valley, and United Machinists in Dunedin each earned top honours in their regions. These successes show how manufacturers are fueling regional prosperity, boosting our competitive edge, and showcasing worldclass expertise. Many parts of the sector are not standing still; they are growing and […]

The Argon Academy: Turning capability into competitive advantage

Scott Adams, Managing Principal, Argon & Co NZ In today’s manufacturing landscape, technology, automation, and efficiency are no longer enough. Your real competitive edge comes from your people — their capability, confidence, and ability to adapt, innovate, and perform. That’s where The Argon Academy stands apart. For more than 20 years, Argon & Co has worked alongside New Zealand and global organisations to lift performance by strengthening skills, embedding continuous improvement, and developing leaders who drive transformation from the inside out. The Academy exists because we saw a critical gap: too much training focuses on delivering content, not building capability. Most programmes are taught by facilitators — not practitioners who have actually led the change and delivered results. The Academy was built to change that. Our learning approach is different. Every programme is grounded in real-world experience from practitioners who have managed transformation, driven productivity gains, and delivered measurable business outcomes across sectors like food and beverage, packaging, industrial manufacturing, and logistics. This means your teams learn from people who’ve done the work — not just talked about it. Rather than providing off-the-shelf courses, The Academy partners with clients to co-design tailored, best-practice learning pathways that align directly with your operational goals. We build capability that sticks — embedding new skills, behaviours, and mindsets into the way people lead, collaborate, and perform every day. This practitioner-led approach transforms training from a cost into a strategic investment. It creates measurable uplift in productivity, safety, and employee engagement — turning learning into a sustained competitive advantage. As businesses face mounting pressure from digitisation, sustainability, and global competition, the need for a digitally capable, future-ready workforce has never been greater. Building that capability takes long-term investment, government and industry collaboration, and access to world-class learning solutions. Quick-fix training won’t get you there — […]

Two Factories, One Economy

NZ Manufacturer, December issue. How the Same Conditions Create Winners and Loser Christmas is almost here and for many it can’t come fast enough. Another year of holding on, fighting fires and telling ourselves we just need to wait for better times to arrive. Yet look across the industry and you’ll see something striking: the same tough conditions producing completely different outcomes. One manufacturer is crawling to the finish line; another is smashing targets and celebrating wins. The break ahead isn’t just an opportunity to rest, it’s a reset. David Altena is Head of Growth & Partnerships at SmartSpace.ai & C0-Founder & Host of The Better SMB Podcast. david@altena.solutions The biggest variable in 2026 won’t be the economy. It’ll be the mindset you choose over the holidays. Because when you strip away the noise, this year has made one truth impossible to ignore: the same conditions are producing entirely different results. Some firms have spent 2025 wrestling the economy like an anchor, while others have treated it like a headwind to lean into… uncomfortable, but navigable. That contrast is the real story. It tells us the gap between struggling and succeeding may not be the market at all, but the mindset leaders bring to it. Rob Bull is Director of The New Zealand Lean Academy. rob@nzla.nz This is where the tale of two manufacturers begins The phrase we heard so much last year, “Survive till ’25”, was the hope we were clinging to, but it quickly morphed into “Survive 25,” reflecting how many manufacturers feel worn down by another long, slow year. Stories of closures, liquidations and persistent pressure have reinforced the sense that the economy is dictating our destiny. It is easy to get swept into that narrative. Yet, if we look closer, we find a stark contrast, two […]

Controlling Ignition Sources through ORS

Chris Beh, Think Consulting Oxygen Reduction Systems (ORS) utilise a process to lower the atmospheric oxygen levels of 21% below the ignition threshold for the items stored in an area (e.g. below 14%) – a proactive, preventative fire protection system unlike fire suppression, such as sprinklers, which are reactive (i.e. initiate only when a fire event occurs). Typically, nitrogen is generated from ambient air using on-site pressure swing adsorption (PSA) units and introduced into the area to be protected. Uses for the technology has been in high-value occupancies where the use of traditional fire suppression technologies such as fire sprinklers is challenging due to space constraints and hydraulic design (e.g. for adequate pipe work), tight or congested storage, lack of established protection design methodologies, or need to avoid water or chemical residue damage. Globally, there are more than 500 installations of these systems with applications in high-bay and freezer/cold store warehouses, datacentres and museums and libraries where valuable artifacts need protection from fire without exposure to extinguishing agents. In New Zealand, the use of this technology has mainly been in high-bay, cold store warehouses with the popularity of the system slowly becoming recognised. Firms considering installing ORS should consider the following which may influence both the acceptance (such as insurer) and the requirements imposed on facilities utilising this technology, noting this list is not exhaustive. Design Undertake a risk-based design review of the system and process including operation, maintenance and health and safety. Ensure the operating oxygen level is correctly designed for the hazard class being stored. The protected area sealed and structurally suitable for maintaining reduced oxygen levels. The enclosure that contains the reduced oxygen environment is to be constructed of non-combustible material. This area is to maintain the oxygen design concentration for twelve hours with all operations shutdown […]

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