The Daily News

What is a Wellbeing Budget?

It is commendable for Government to tackle things in different ways, to take an in depth look at how are all doing and try to make our lives better -Doug Green, Publisher, NZ Manufacturer There are plenty of areas to focus on – one might say the usual suspects – health, education, housing, domestic violence and the shocking role alcohol plays in this…just saying, skills training – to lead to fairness and equality. However, the strength in the Wellbeing Budget will also be seen in the focus Government gives to economic matters – in an economy that is starting to slow down. Circling all this good will and intent is Productivity. Grant Robertson knows this. If Productivity cannot be lifted, then there cannot be wage growth. If we don’t experience wage growth, then people do not get ahead. Have you ever heard of a power company or cable provider reducing their charges because the consumer isn’t keeping up with the cost of living? Dieter Adam, Executive Director of The Manufacturers’ Network tackles some of this in his article on Page 10 “Relearning what it means to be globally competitive” when he says “we could sell more if we could make more, and we could make more if we had the right people for it”. And of course, the right people are the well-paid people who can afford a home, good healthcare and education for their children with the incentives in place for them to do a good day’s work. I am impressed with EMA Chief Executive Brett O’Riley’s personal viewpoint on Page 29 about the Overseas Investment Office’s decision to block Waihi mining company OceanaGold’s application to purchase nearby farmland to expand its operation. He sees this decision as a disincentive to business investment for the good of the […]

Facilities Integrate 2019

Now in the hands of renowned B2B event manager – Lorraine Smith, Facilities Integrate 2019 is set to deliver a unique experience for attendees and exhibitors. Lorraine, is promising a ‘more engaging show experience, with a distinct focus on learning, special features, interactive displays and showcasing the latest technology. “Features engage the audience and provide learning and motivation. And more than ever, we live in an interactive world, so being able to touch, see and feel rather than merely look provides a far more valuable experience,” says Smith. Taking place on 25 and 26 September this year, Facilities Integrate is the trade-only event for people who make facilities and buildings smarter, safer, and more efficient. The two-day expo provides unparalleled opportunities to try and source the latest equipment, meet the best suppliers, network with potential business partners, and stay on top of what’s going on in the industry. Smith says vendors recognise the value of reaching a select audience of professionals engaged in the facilities management and system integration industries, amongst others. “This is the show for architects, building operators, electrical engineers, electrical service contractors, facility managers, installers, integrators, property developers, system designers, and more. We uniquely combine elements of building technology and design, providing a view of the latest developments and even a glimpse into the future,” she says. Explaining the focus on ‘experiential’ displays, Smith points to the outdoor ‘Drone Zone’ which is introduced for the first time. “We’ll have seminars and equipment on display showing what’s available and how this technology can be used by facilities managers. What we’ll also offer is the opportunity to see drones in action – and delegates can even fly a drone themselves, providing a true hands-on experience.” “Within an integrated facility, security is an increasingly contentious and fascinating topic. There’s the […]

Personal viewpoint has no place in OIO decision-making

The EMA has joined with Hauraki District Council Mayor, John Tregidga, in expressing its dismay about the Overseas Investment Office (OIO) decision to block Waihi mining company OceanaGold’s application to purchase nearby farmland to expand its operation. EMA Chief Executive Brett O’Riley is disappointed that an individual Government Minister’s philosophical point of view has the ability to cloud good decision-making describing it as “drive-by policy making, discrediting the government and public sector in its approach, and establishing a disturbing precedent.” “Oceana Gold’s Project Quattro at the Waihi Mine could extend employment for the site’s 360 works and contractors by nine years – how is there any question that there are not substantial, sustainable economic and social benefits in this for Waihi and our region?” Mr O’Riley says the fact that the decision on the application was split between Minister Eugenie Sage and Minister David Clark highlights the need for a more tightly defined framework for the OIO, in which personal and ideological beliefs are taken out of the equation. He says, “This decision is a clear disincentive to business investment, which is critical to getting the infrastructure we need for the benefit of our region. “These well-paid workers have children at the local school, pay rates to support the development and maintenance of local infrastructure, and spend their discretionary income locally – that is giving our regions a sustainable future.” The EMA believes the benefits of granting the expansion, with appropriate emissions controls, would provide exponential, long-term benefits to Waihi that far outweigh winding down the operation and remediating the site.

CGT decision strengthens confidence in tax system

BusinessNZ has congratulated the Government for its decision not to proceed with a capital gains tax. Chief Executive Kirk Hope said the proposed tax would have hit businesses hard, reducing funds available for investment and job growth and increasing their compliance burden. “Our members have been very clear that they did not see the justification for an expensive new tax that would have reduced the competitiveness of the New Zealand business sector for no discernible gain. “BusinessNZ was appreciative of being included in the working group process and commends much of what is in the report, but in the end could not support a capital gains tax. “The Government is to be commended for listening as New Zealanders made their views clear. “It is clear that NZ First has played a significant role in a capital gains tax not proceeding, and the business community will thank them for not compromising their concerns. “We feel the process of working group proposals followed by widespread consultation has been successful in delivering a result that the majority of New Zealanders can support. “With the Governments decision not to proceed with a capital gains tax decision, the benefits of our relatively broad-based, simple and fair tax system have been retained, and New Zealanders’ confidence in the tax system strengthened.”

What do your motors really do?

In 1969, the first home security system was born, consisting of four peepholes and a camera that could be moved to look through any of them, broadcasting the images to a monitor. Nowadays, we can now stream and view a feed of our home security cameras on our mobiles, giving homeowners greater piece of mind. Here, Markus Brettschneider, of ABB’s food and beverage program, explains how food plant managers can add a similar level of connectivity to retrofit most motors with smart sensors to bring their plants to the digital age. Industry as a whole is utilising technologies and solutions enabled through the industrial internet of things (IIoT). Gartner predicts that 25 billion devices will be connected to the internet of things by 2020, with some agencies predicting even double this amount. This presents plant managers with a conundrum. Most food manufacturing and processing plants currently have motors powering essential equipment such as mixers, conveyors and packaging machines. These motors are just motors and do not play in the same league as the other intelligent devices in their factories. With years of service often left in the motors, it’s difficult for plant managers to justify replacing motors that work effectively for the sake of an upgrade with any smart features. However, there are alternatives to a complete overhaul in order to connect motors to the IIoT. Instead of investing in new, more intelligent or smart equipment, plant managers should invest in sensors that provide similar functionality to connected devices. For example, ABB offers smart sensors, which can be fitted to almost any standard low voltage induction motor. The pocket-sized sensor, dubbed ABB Ability Smart Sensor, is directly attached in a couple minutes to the motor’s frame, without wiring. By using sensors that feed performance data to the cloud through a […]

Pure Bottling now BRC Certified

Pure Bottling New Zealand from Tauranga has recently added the Global Quality Standard of BRC (British Retail Consortium) to its list of Certifications. This puts Pure Bottling in the unique position of being the only BRC Certified Contract Beverage Packer in New Zealand outside of the wineries. “Gaining a Globally recognised Food Safety benchmark like BRC is an important part of us becoming a world class operation and also allows our customers to gain access to many export markets” Pure Bottling General Manager Craig Ayres noted. “It was a big effort by all of the team to achieve the Double AA Audit result and the benefits can now flow through to our customers” BRC, now in its eigth issue provides a framework to manage product safety, integrity, legality and quality, and the operational controls for these criteria in the food and food ingredient manufacturing, processing and packing industry. Pure Bottling is a 4 year old organisation started by Group CEO Hamish Gordon and has rapidly grown to become a Production Partner of choice for some of New Zealand’s leading brands and retailers. They are passionate about working with brands that stand for something and want to work together to take quality NZ products throughout New Zealand and Internationally. Now with three production lines in operation across Glass & PET, Pure Bottling is ideally placed to be both a flexible and efficient Co-Packing partner. The Capabilities stretch across Soft Drinks, Juice, Kombucha, Alcohol, Liqueur & more.

Australia and New Zealand receive standardisation for oral fluid drug testing

Standard adds process and technology guidelines for workplace 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. […]

New Engineering New Zealand President to focus on diversity

Engineering New Zealand’s new President Ben Holland says diversity and inclusion will be a strong theme of his tenure. A Wellington-based civil engineer who is Head of Commercial and Major Projects Governance at WSP Opus, Ben says he is determined to make the engineering profession more welcoming and accepting of all people. He is a strong supporter of the Diversity Agenda, a collaboration between Engineering New Zealand and the Institute of Architects that’s set a target of 20% more women in engineering and architecture by 2021. “I want to see the Diversity Agenda ramping up and pushing our industries to embrace all forms of diversity, including diversity of ethnicity, religion and sexuality. “I also want to keep broadening Engineering New Zealand’s membership outside our traditional civil and structural spheres, into fields like software and medical-device engineering. “Together, we are stronger voice for engineers and the critical work they do for New Zealand.” Engineering New Zealand currently has 22,700 members, up from 15,000 four years ago. Ben succeeds Dean Kimpton in the role, which has a one-year term.

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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 […]

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