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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 […]

Industry Training Federation NZM Website

One week to stop apprenticeship reforms

This week is the last opportunity to make a submission on the Government’s poorly thought through apprenticeship reforms, Industry Training Federation Chief Executive Josh Williams says. Mr Williams says workplaces will end up with less control over training. The reforms propose to transfer responsibility for industry training and apprenticeships away from employers and Industry Training Organisations (ITOs) to vocational providers, including a new national polytechnic. “These reforms will cause a huge upheaval in apprenticeships and on-the-job training. Industry will lose ownership of a growing and increasingly efficient industry-run system. “That would remove choice for local employers and limit their voice. Businesses will lose access to both their local polytechnic and their industry-run ITO at the same time.” Mr Williams says. The industry training sector was surprised to see the proposals. None of the governing parties campaigned on this change at the last election. “Nobody is arguing that the system cannot be strengthened. But we should strengthen what is working, rather than double down on what is not. “In recent days the Minister of Education has been saying that with 15 percent of employers offering formal training the system is not doing well. Those 25,000 employers currently deliver more vocational education than the rest of the system combined, and twice as many vocational qualifications to twice as many learners as the Polytechnic sector. “I invite the Minister to outline which part of the reform proposal he expects will increase the number of participating employers. We can certainly see the part that risks losing the willing employers we have.” Mr Williams says that anyone with an interest in New Zealand’s apprenticeship system needs to make a submission this week. “Collectively, ITOs have spoken to thousands of our employers over the last six weeks, and there is widespread concern about this proposal. Our […]

Point Pod latest start-up success story

A new innovative product that solves your household power problems has teamed up with Australia and New Zealand’s large distributor just six months after making its market debut. Point Pod finally solves the problem of not having enough power outlets in your kitchen by hiding a pop-up unit beneath your stone or timber bench top. Brisbane builder-turned-entrepreneur, Cameron Singer, developed Point Pod after being frustrated with the limited options on the market. “I developed Point Pod two years ago out of my own frustration of the limited power options available,” says Mr Singer. “After renovating my own house, I was disappointed with what was available to improve access to power for my island bench. There were products online, but they looked so cheap and flimsy in a kitchen we’d spent a lot of money renovating.” With a simple touch, Point Pod’s power points and USB sockets emerge for use. But unlike other power options, it blends seamlessly into your bench top, so it doesn’t comprise your aesthetics. The units are designed for any space where you would use power on a bench top, including the kitchen, bathroom, office and boardroom. After launching in August 2018, Point Pod has today announced its new partnership with Häfele, Australia and New Zealand’s biggest distributor. “I’m excited for Point Pod’s next phase, working alongside Häfele,” Mr Singer says. “Häfele’s commitment to innovation made them the number choice for our distribution partner.” “Häfele brings new innovative products to the market so their customers are always on the cutting edge of what’s available, and we’re excited to be part of it.” “Our distribution agreement gives us access to a larger chunk of the market, but it also means we can focus on manufacturing and developing further products.” Mr Singer says he’s been overwhelmed by the industry’s […]

We need evolution not revolution

Competenz responds to proposed workplace training reforms Competenz, one of the country’s largest industry training organisations (ITOs), says the government’s proposal to reform the vocational education sector and merge ITOs and polytechnics could undermine critical workplace and apprenticeship training that is vital in addressing New Zealand’s skills shortages. “The changes the government has proposed in its Vocational Education and Training review are more complex and far-reaching than we expected. It’s unprecedented. There is no doubt the VET system needs modification and funding needs to be realigned to deliver what our industries need – but these changes are too radical,” says chief executive of Competenz, Fi Kingsford. “In a time of critical skills shortages, the last thing we want is a reform that risks undermining workplace training and apprenticeship programmes.” New Zealand’s skills shortage is acute. The engineering industry alone will need another 12,000 engineers by 2022. “If we start this reform in 2020, there’s no way we’re going to hit that target. Yes, the system needs reform and yes we need to address the funding inequalities, but in our opinion, the VET changes are not the way to do it,” says Mrs Kingsford. Research has shown that for every $1million of government investment into tertiary education, the industry training system produces 306 qualified people – people who are able to immediately contribute to New Zealand’s economy – while polytechnics produce 50. “Taxpayers are getting a much better return on investment through industry training compared to other tertiary options and it is disappointing that the ITPs (Institutes of Technology and Polytechnics) have dominated the government’s proposed changes.” She says Competenz currently looks after 20,000 apprentices and trainees across 3,500 New Zealand businesses. The direct relationship between ITOs and employers is a key factor in the success of apprenticeship and workplace […]

Big Changes

What the Tax Working Group has come back with, however, is unacceptable in its current form. – Dieter Adam, CE The Manufacturers’ Network These are times of big change for us at The Manufacturers’ Network, and for our relationship with our members. We are in the process of transferring all of our activities to the EMA, and further to the Canterbury Employers’ Chamber of Commerce and the other regional business organisations, Business Central and OSEA. This will significantly enhance our ability to reach out to and represent the community of New Zealand manufacturers across the country. It will also challenge our ability to deliver our current services – and new ones we are developing, like our new Productivity Benchmarking service, which we are about to launch – to a much wider membership. These are exciting times for us! These are also challenging times for New Zealand manufacturers. Take, for example, the rapidly escalating ‘battle of the systems’ between the USA and China, which really is a battle for primacy in the world’s economy. It leaves countries like New Zealand ‘stuck in the middle’, feeling that whatever choice they make may be the wrong one, and preferring not to have to choose, of course. It’s Huawei today, which may not have much impact on our members, but what comes next in terms of companies on either side, which some of our manufacturers may be suppliers to, being hit by punitive measures? Barriers to free trade come in many guises and compared to other sectors of our economy manufacturers may have had a relatively easy ride until now. Is that about to change? At home, we see the ‘new’ government bringing in changes in many areas, or at least trying to do so. Three are of particular importance to manufacturers – […]

Kiwi technology receives Australian recognition

Cutting-edge technology aimed at minimising waste in the food processing industry has received major recognition at Australia’s largest agricultural technology event. Dr Matthew Jones, of Christchurch start-up company CertusBio, took home the top cash prize of $20,000 in the Investment Ready Pitch Tent competition of the inaugural EvokeAg event in Melbourne. The Christchurch-based innovator was one of five finalists from Australia, New Zealand and Israel. The participants pitched their agricultural challenges, solutions and business ideas over the two-day event to a panel of expert venture capitalist judges. Strong attendance of 1,100 delegates at the event showed an increasing international interest in new agtech technologies, including sensors, artificial intelligence, robotics and automation. Dr Jones’ winning concept is an automated technology that reduces industrial food waste by 40 per cent. CertusBio commercialised the solution, which was developed by the Lincoln University-owned multidisciplinary R&D company, Lincoln Agritech Ltd. Dr Jones said that with 2-3 per cent of all processed milk disappearing down the drain, the dairy industry loses a staggering NZ$12.8 billion per year globally. “CertusBio is transforming industrial food production to prevent this type of waste,” he said. “Our solution saves money for processors and helps them meet their social responsibility to safeguard the environment for future generations.” The technology includes a biosensor device that provides real-time insights into when food is wasted, a dashboard giving company managers unprecedented visibility on losses and a dedicated consultant to optimise food production. “The solution can be installed without interruption to existing processes,” Dr Jones said. “Other companies have been in the market a long time but do not provide accurate enough information to prevent this type of food waste.” Dr Jones said he developed CertusBio to combine two of his great passions – the reduction of waste and the development of great science. He […]

Predicting the future of maintenance

In 1927, Thomas Parnell set up the pitch drop experiment, which examines the viscosity of a tar-like substance by the speed at which it flows from a funnel into a jar. The test has seen just eight drops fall in as many decades and, despite the experiment being displayed in the University of Queensland’s physics department, no one has ever seen a drop fall. Just like this test, the need for factory maintenance often goes unnoticed. Here Gernut van Laak, group automation solutions leader of ABB’s Food and Beverage Program, explains how plant managers can budget for maintenance and ensure optimum efficiency for all processes. Paper to glass In terms of research and development, food and beverage is a leading industry because of its use of new, innovative technology. However, when it comes to maintenance, many companies find themselves keeping paper records. While regulation and compliance requirements historically drove these companies to work with paper, advancements in digital tools mean this is no longer the case. Unfortunately, once paper-based systems are in place, they can be difficult to eradicate. Companies become stuck in their ways, which leads them to ignore the significant cost savings, efficiencies and competitive advantages electronic systems can provide. The most important driving force for a company’s success is its employees. Today’s maintenance engineers have the computing knowledge to make the switch to digital. Providing them with a familiar interface that quickly connects employees across the organization allows staff to work faster and smarter, increasing productivity. Electronic records also eliminate time-consuming and error-prone data entries that are necessary with paper-based systems. While staff are the most important factor of any company’s success, the biggest cost of manual maintenance comes from people. Human errors that occur during manual record-keeping can result in redundant actions, rework and audits. […]

New Plymouth facing unique challenges

A CouncilMARK report issued for New Plymouth District Council says that while the region has experienced relative prosperity and growth, changes to the economy of New Zealand’s ‘energy capital’ may present challenges. The report, released by the Independent Assessment Board, delivered a BBB grade to the council, praising their extensive communication and engagement with the community and strategy in addressing risks to the region’s key industries, particularly in relation to a zero-carbon economy. CouncilMARK incorporates an independent assessment system that assesses how councils are performing and is designed to support individual councils to improve the service and value they provide. Councils receive an overall performance rating, from C to AAA from the Independent Assessment Board as well as commentary on their performance. The report found that economic risks should serve as a catalyst for further analysis on the affordability of the current service levels in response to economic changes, as well as developing better budget resilience. “The council are rightly looking at how the region’s economy can transition and grow beyond the traditional industries of energy and dairy, which have been cornerstones of the region for over 40 years,” says CouncilMARK Independent Assessment Board Chair Toby Stevenson. “It’s clear that New Plymouth residents have great lifestyle opportunities on their doorsteps, which the council and staff are seeking to grow. They’ve done a great job of consulting with the community, who have called out zero waste, three waters, the CBD and the Walkway as priority areas.” “Having a tighter focus on a smaller number of goals could assist the council with making the most of opportunities. The council have good operational strength across their roading and three waters networks, and their day-to-day services could be enhanced by similar planning and performance measures.” LGNZ President Dave Cull praised the council for undergoing […]

Overworked and underpaid: the revival of strikes in New Zealand

Last year, more than 70,000 workers walked off their jobs in New Zealand – the highest number of people on strike since the late 1980s. The reasons for the strike wave are political and economic. Strikes were supposedly something of the alleged “bad old days” of the 1970s. But during the first year of Aotearoa New Zealand’s Labour-led government, a strike revival ensued. At least 70,000 people, if not more, walked out last year. Strikers included nurses, teachers, bus drivers, port workers, fast-food workers, retail workers, steel workers and public servants. While official figures for 2018 have not been published yet, this represents the highest number of people involved in strikes since the late 1980s, and possibly the most working days not worked due to stoppages since 1992. For many strikers, it represents the first time they have participated in walkouts. An unexpected strike wave? According to some, this strike wave was not supposed to happen. Trade unions were thought to be too weak to strike. One employment relations textbook asserted in 2009 that “strike action is seen increasingly as an inefficient and outdated strategy”. The Public Service Association (PSA) secretary Erin Polaczuk recently argued that as unions today have become more feminised and mature, they have increasingly avoided “stupid oppositional behaviour”. Nevertheless, women have led the strike wave. Women made up most participants in most strikes, and female union delegates were often at the forefront of disputes. Indeed, stoppages have mostly occurred in majority female occupations such as teaching, nursing and government sector work in general. It is as difficult to predict strike waves as it is to predict recessions. This is because both are the result of many complex causes, including the unpredictable nature of human agency. This wave is no exception. Political causes Political factors help to partly explain the stoppages, but cannot […]

Australia and New Zealand Receive Standardisation for Oral Fluid Drug Testing

The Drug Detection Agency (TDDA) welcomes the new standards for oral fluid testing processes and technologies. TDDA has long believed that oral fluid testing technology and processes required reviewing and to become a joint Australian and New Zealand standard. The AS/NZS 4760:2019 (CH-039 Detection of Drugs in Oral Fluids) Oral Fluid testing standard by Standards Australia and Standards New Zealand dictates consistency around testing methodology, the quality of devices required, and how labs manage test samples. “The new standardisation delivers value to employees and employers alike. It provides a framework and guidelines to ensure that oral fluid testing is carried out in a way that will deliver accurate, reliable results,” says Kirk Hardy, CEO, TDDA. TDDA is on track to be the first to achieve cross Tasman accreditation and provide independent and reliable externally audited oral fluid drug testing collection service to International Standards Organisation (ISO) standards. TDDA-Omega laboratories is also seeking accreditation to AS/NZS 4760: 2019 for the provision of laboratory confirmation services. “If a drug tester follows the standard, they’ll use a process that ensures the testing carried out meets the requirements of the AS/NZS 4760:2019, giving it more scientific rigour to withstand legal challenges. We’re also in the process of verifying a device to meet the criteria of the new standard” says Hardy. Even with standardisation improvements with collection, Hardy warns that oral fluid testing isn’t a catch-all testing product, and not all workplace testers are accredited or will follow the standard. “Businesses who care about compliance and the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015 need to make sure they’re using an independent, accredited, certified tester that follows the new standard. But companies also need to understand it’s not a one size fits all test,” says Hardy. TDDA recommends utilising a range of different testing methods, […]

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