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Marama Labs raises funds for growth

Marama Labs Co-Founders (left to right): Prof. Eric Le Ru (Science Adviser), Dr Brendan Darby (Chief Executive Officer), and Dr Matthias Meyer (CTO). Wellington-based deep tech startup Marama Labs has secured $1.25m in new funding in a round co-led by US-based venture capital firm Quidnet Ventures and New Zealand Growth Capital Partners (NZGCP), with support from several New Zealand investors. Marama Labs’ chemical analysis tools give industrial customers, such as wineries, unique chemical insights on their products, and when combined with its cloud-based data-analytics platform, Marama Labs helps customers control and optimise their production processes, save money, and build products and brands that truly connect with consumer demand. The funds will be used to expand the team, grow its customer base, and further develop the Marama Labs proprietary hardware and software platform. The investment will allow Marama Labs to continue to expand its reach to international customers and markets in the US and Europe. With a customer list already including several leading New Zealand and Australian wineries, and international distribution partnerships in place in Australia and in-discussion in Europe, Marama Labs CEO and Co-Founder Dr Brendan Darby says customer feedback shows users are already seeing significant value from the product and understanding what it can do to help them transform their businesses. “The science behind our sensors is pretty groundbreaking, and customers are telling us they’re unlocking new value since adopting the platform. It’s allowing them to respond proactively to the changes in the global wine landscape in ways they just couldn’t before,” says Dr Darby. “Winemakers spend millions of dollars each year producing some great products, and they’re truly skilled at what they do. Yet before Marama Labs, there had been no simple way to understand, manage, and control several of the most critical chemical components that underpin […]

How to survive the Kiwi labour crunch as outsource avenues shut

In recent years it has become common for Kiwi companies to outsource work to virtual staff in places like the Philippines and India, but the toll of Covid-19 is shutting down even these options for local businesses. BetterCo Business Advisors and Chartered Accounting firm director Peter Prema says Covid-19 is ravaging traditional outsourcing markets for New Zealand companies, causing stoppages or unrealistic delays in the fulfilment of service businesses like accounting, IT, call centres, construction and professional services. “The New Zealand Labour Government’s determination to squeeze immigration, tightening competition for local talent and limited options to outsource overseas are just the tip of the iceberg – wait until Australia, and other countries start poaching our talent. “The Government is clear that they want to reduce, even cut off, so-called low skill immigration, but I think they have it wrong – New Zealand is going to need to replace a mix of skills.” Prema says the nurses strike is one indication that many skilled Kiwi workers are dissatisfied with current conditions, making them highly poachable by other countries. “Local companies are struggling to attract even so-called low skilled workers because I think most people who want to work, or can work, are already working. “I believe this idea that New Zealand is somehow more attractive because of our Covid-19 record is nonsense. “When the vaccinations kick in, we are going to have to compete for talent like everybody else, and the reality is that we cannot match Australia and others dollar for dollar.” He predicted that the Government’s immigration strategies and the realities of Covid-19 induced competition for labour internationally would eventually drive the country into recession. “Most SME owners are powerless to influence Government decision making – it is literally out of hour hands, but as business owners, we have […]

Leader Profile: Terry Carter – General Manager New Zealand Tube Mills Ltd

by Rebecca Reed What does your company do? We have gone from a manufacturer of raw tube and exhaust systems to a manufacturer of steel tubular trellising solutions. Founded in Seaview, in the Hutt Valley, the company was forced to shift its focus from the automotive industry to the horticultural market when its work in manufacturing exhaust systems for cars dried up in the late 90s after New Zealand’s car assembly plants slowly disappeared. We are one of one only two steel tube manufacturing plants in New Zealand. We buy coil, predominantly from N Z Steel, and make them into tube and up until 2010 we basically made tube for other people to make things (furniture etc). Some clever engineers at the time came across an opportunity to create tubular steel innovative trellising solutions for the horticulture industry for both new vineyard and the replacement of damaged wooden posts. Promoted under the ECO TRELLIS brand, these vineyard posts have proven to be a great sustainable option. In the picture: Helen Down and Terry Carter. More recently the development of two other trellis systems (one for orchards and one for Berries) called the Eco V & VP and ECO BERRY. What sort of state was NZ Tube Mills in when you first started and how did you turn it around? When I came on board in late 2012 the company was in trouble. They had a great product, but sales were down – in fact they were losing money hand over fist, and it was only a matter of time before they would be forced to shut shop. My brief from the then Australian based Group CEO was ‘the business is struggling and needs volume’ as sales revenue was declining year on year. When I started there was just one salesperson […]

Good as gold: Waste in a circular economy

By Barbara Nebel and Femi Perumbally https://www.thinkstep-anz.com/ There is no waste in a circular economy, only resources and opportunities to use them to their full potential. Unlike a linear economy, a circular economy or ōhanga āmiomio, proposes a model in which economic growth is not connected to an increased use of limited, natural resources. Instead, growth in a circular economy relies on designing products and systems for longevity in their first life and recyclability and reusability for consequent lives. Therefore, we can keep resources in use for as long as possible and reduce the demand for raw (virgin) material — getting the most value out of existing materials and reducing the costs of material extraction methods in the process. However, we currently live in a linear economy with a take-make-dispose model in which waste is inevitable. While there is still a way to go before we reach a truly circular economy, some businesses are leading the transition with innovative approaches to create value with waste-based products. From galvanising to paint to IT equipment waste, we look at some of the local businesses creating golden opportunities with waste. Zincovery — Creating a waste free industry The galvanised steel industry produces a waste acid with a high concentration of zinc — an eco-toxin that is essential for humans in trace amounts but toxic to aquatic life. Generally, this is disposed of via wastewater and landfill after treatment. However, this results in the loss of zinc, a useful mineral, and its incomplete removal from wastewater degrades most sewage treatment processes and causes environmental damage to waterways. Zincovery tackles these issues by taking the waste acid and recycling it while also recovering zinc. While extracting valuable materials from waste is certainly circular economy friendly, it does not necessarily have to be climate friendly. Zincovery […]

Competenz appoints new director

Industry training organisation Competenz has appointed Amanda Wheeler to the newly created role of Director, to lead the organisation through its transition into Te Pūkenga, The New Zealand Institute of Skills and Technology and beyond. Ms Wheeler is the current General Manager of Industry Training within Competenz and will commence in her new role on 02 August 2021. Competenz Board Chairperson George Adams said the board were excited by her vision and commitment. “Amanda’s passion for industry training is clear in everything she does. She is a vocal and proud champion of the mahi the team at Competenz does and is extensively versed in the intricacies of the 38 industries they serve. “We know Amanda will be a strong advocate for vocational education and Competenz within Te Pūkenga, at all levels, as the organisation navigates the changes ahead,” Mr Adams said. Ms Wheeler is an extensively experienced leader, having held chief executive and senior roles for the past 18 years in medium-sized corporate and non-government organisations. She understands the demands of New Zealand’s industries and is passionate about helping Kiwis build skills, careers and businesses through qualifications that make it easy to learn on the job. She joined Competenz in 2017 in a stakeholder management role and has led the core field-facing team since 2018. During this time, Ms Wheeler has worked hard to cement the connection between the training advisory, forestry, and customer teams and businesses across the 38 industries they work with. “I am proud to be entrusted with leading the new Competenz Business Division within Te Pūkenga – it’s a truly thrilling opportunity and one that I will relish,” Ms Wheeler said. ’I’m particularly excited to help shape the future of vocational education: the bringing together of work-based, online and classroom learning will bring massive benefits to […]

Gold Coast trade soars in NZ

A unique bond between New Zealand and Australia’s Gold Coast is flourishing as demand for trans-Tasman trade builds on the back of the quarantine-free travel bubble. Capitalising on this relationship are local Gold Coast businesses accelerating the city’s economic recovery. In 2019-20, Gold Coast exported $4.88 billion in products and services internationally, led by the rapidly growing manufacturing, health care, transport and education sectors. “Our city’s economy is driven by small businesses with around 66,000 registered today,’’ Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate said. “New Zealand is an attractive market for many businesses. We share so much through sport, education and social connectivity given the high New Zealand ex-pat population here in our city.” Trade and Investment Queensland Director Business Development New Zealand, Richard Simpson, said the Gold Coast was an attractive trade destination given its diverse range of businesses and industry sectors. “Market diversification is critical. There are tremendous opportunities coming out of Covid that can be capitalised on,” Simpson said. “As a result of the close, long-standing relationship between New Zealand and the Gold Coast, the economic opportunity has never been greater. “Collaboration is key, and there are programs and initiatives here on the Gold Coast and across Queensland that can help businesses break into the New Zealand market.” Senior Business Development Manager at the Australian Trade and Investment Commission, Philippa Hawken, said there were unique benefits for Australian businesses looking to trade with New Zealand.“A long-standing free trade agreement signed in 1983, and the subsequent single economic market agenda, allows Australian products to enter duty free – a huge financial incentive for Australian businesses trading to New Zealand,” said Hawken. “Australia and New Zealand have a mutual recognition of skills and occupations, so there’s no need to retrain or practice in the same skill or occupation in New […]

A manufacturing first: how the pandemic has paved the way to a flexible work model

By Kevin Piccione, President, Sealed Air Asia Pacific Flexible working is here to stay, and it doesn’t discriminate by industry. In fact, recent research by Microsoft estimates that, across a range of industries in APAC, 73 percent of workers want flexible remote work options to continue, while 67 percent are craving more in-person time with their teams. A flexible set-up is all well and good for those of us tethered to laptops, but not necessarily an option for those in industries like manufacturing, right? Not quite. The Covid-19 pandemic forced non-location dependent peoples across Asia Pacific and the world into their homes for months. This created a need for all businesses, including those that provide essential goods and services, to swiftly adopt a new way of work where adaptability – and sometimes ingenuity – has been a means to survive and provide business continuity. Re-thinking factory work The pandemic has caused businesses at large, including manufacturing companies, to rethink location-dependent work versus non-location dependent work. The contract between employer and employee has fundamentally changed and companies that fail to rethink the workplace risk being left behind by employees in pursuit of a more flexible arrangement. From the office to the shop floor, businesses are experimenting with new operating models that do not require everyone to be physically present. Many companies eased into the transition by implementing temporary flexible work options, with long-term arrangements that prioritised and normalised flexibility. This requires a shift away from the time and attendance tradition toward more performance-based work. Where and how the agreed upon output is delivered is now open to discussion. Employees are more empowered to meet set workplace expectations and adjust schedules to better manage their own work and personal lives. For some companies, that decision is a bit more nuanced. At Sealed Air, for […]

Transforming plant maintenance with laser cleaning

If you have seen clips of lasers removing rust on YouTube you probably found them quite compelling to watch – it’s almost hard to believe. Read on as we de-mystify laser cleaning technology and give you a sense of where it can be a helpful option for plant maintenance. Portable lasers have only recently become commercially available as a tool for surface cleaning of rust, oxides, and films such as grease and oil. A focused beam of light vaporises the surface contaminants while leaving the main substrate such as steel, aluminium or stone intact. The laser can remove paints but it does depend on the paint colour and type of coating. There are different power and optical patterns that influence how the laser performs. Lasers are well suited to heavier castings but can transfer some heat into the substrate so care is required on thinner surfaces. Heat transfer can be managed by adjusting the power of the laser and how quickly it tracks across the item. The package of equipment required for laser cleaning easily fits within a van and can be wheeled into site relatively easily. The laser is a hand-held gun at the end of a long flexible hose which makes it versatile within a variety of spaces. Relative to other cleaning options the laser is very safe to use with only ventilation, laser safety glasses and gloves required during operation. A helpful aspect of the laser is light conforms to the surface where it is pointed making it a lot easier to clean complex shapes with a lot of angles and curves. Importantly laser cleaning minimises secondary effects associated some surface cleaning options. There is no blast media or chemical residue to contend with. The vaporised contaminants are simply captured by a vacuum system alongside the laser […]

Podcast: Featuring Dave Christie from Tainui Group Holdings – talking to the Ruakura Superhub.

Episode 8 – The Ruakura Superhub: with Dave Christie. In this episode Redefining Trade is joined by Dave Christie, Supply Chain Strategy Director at Tainui Group Holdings, New Zealand. Dave talks to host Peter Foyston about the long-term journey that the Ruakura Superhub (Waikato, NZ) has taken, from just an idea full-scale construction underway on the first 92 hectares of inland port and logistics hub. Dave talks about how the Ruakura Superhub will help de-carbonise the supply chain of New Zealand’s ‘golden triangle’ of Auckland, Hamilton and Tauranga that generates around 65% of the country’s import and export cargoes. The episode is available on YouTube now (in video format) as well as on podcast streaming platforms (Spotify, Google, Apple) YouTube video: https://youtu.be/AKSuH5E1pSo Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/0EESOGEVLAIPpWMy9NqntD?si=l7GEthSUR0Grap9g8_Hdsg&dl_branch=1 Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/nz/podcast/the-ruakura-superhub-with-dave-christie/id1532140588?i=1000524861665

Get an edge over your competitors with video

Why Manufacturers are at an advantage Filming Foodstuffs new Distribution Centre building. A big shift in marketing and communications has taken place in 2021. Industries who may have never needed to explore new avenues beyond their traditional marketing practices have been forced to innovate. Auckland-based video production company, One Day Video, has seen a new trend in manufacturers who are using video to stand apart and maintain a spot in the marketplace. But not your stock-standard, warehouse footage type videos with some graphics whacked on top. A new style of video has emerged. Fast-paced, engaging videos that tell a story through the use of a clever script and humour. Why manufacturers are at an advantage: Video has been a key part of the marketing toolkit for a while now, but manufacturers are at an advantage. This industry in particular hasn’t utilised video in the same way that other brands have. So, by investing in regular video creation now, manufacturers and distributors will leave their competitors in the dust. Here’s an example The Metal Company is a stainless steel supplier in New Zealand and recently commissioned One Day Video to create an engaging explainer video to feature on their website and LinkedIn page. The company saw huge social engagement directly after posting it, but more importantly the video became an incredibly useful asset for explaining their business to prospective buyers. All the key features and benefits were presented in such a way that their competitors were scrambling to replicate what they had just done. This is just one example of companies using new channels to communicate with their customers. Live action isn’t the only way, animated videos are another effective means of telling a story or explaining a product that can’t be shown in real life – like tech innovation […]

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