Over the last 12 months, HERA have worked closely with SCNZ and MBIE to update steel industry standards referenced in the Acceptable Solutions and Verification Methods (B1/VM1) of the New Zealand Building Code. These amendments to B1/VM1 relate to minimum standards for fabrication and erection; structural steel products and expanding the choice of high strength…
Recently our CEO Dr Troy Coyle was invited by the National Business Review to weigh in on our thoughts around New Zealand’s approach to supporting innovation research. An opportunity off the back of one of our ThinkTank pieces ‘LanzaTech: the one fish that shouldn’t have got away,’ published last year. This article reflected on the…
Recent news headlines around Trump’s stance on steel tariffs has likely got our members thinking about what it means for our New Zealand metal-based industry. And rightly so. It’s important to note, that the details of Trump’s plans to apply the proposed steel (25%) and aluminium (10%) tariffs are not yet clear. So with this…
HERA is well known for our research collaborations but maybe not so well for our role as a catalyst for collaboration amongst our members. This is supported by our “About us” page on our website which states “HERA creates value through collaboration and being the industry stimulus for research, innovation and development. Delivering a trusted…
Post-Kaikoura earthquake, little was mentioned about systemic failures in steel construction. While this gave confidence that our structures performed well, we had to make sure. Taking an opportunity to learn if there could be any potential issues now, and in the future by commissioning research to pinpoint any weaknesses. The research outcomes described in HERA…
The Coalition’s Wood First Policy when introduced under the current proposal tilts the level playing field for industry innovation. Adding value to our New Zealand grown trees through local business and high value jobs makes lots of sense. As does using government procurement as lead user innovation. But not when it effectively picks winners likely…
Former Deputy PM Jim Anderton left a great mark on New Zealand and held several key positions that greatly influenced NZ politics. For our industry, it was his role as Minister for Economic Development at a time when Rogernomics had taken shape that stands out. In this context I’d like to reflect back on his…
Some may recall that Calder Stewart Steel was the winner of the prestigious industry excellence award ‘Metals Industry Innovator of the Year’ at the 2015 Metals Industry Conference. Achieving this by embracing new technology to improve and assure quality, increase productivity and reduce overall cost with their new 10,500sqm steel fabrication facility. It represented the latest…
Starting from today our Industry Development Manager Dr Boaz Habib will be on the move. Exploring member opportunities, cementing key relationships and following up on our research and development program AGGAT deliverables before the year comes to an end. Beginning his journey in Rotorua, he’ll be stopping off at our member company BOP Gear Cutter.…
HERA advocates on behalf of our members where we feel we can make an informed contribution – and this is in R&D and industry development. And as a result, we’ve put together a comprehensive policy position document aimed at informing decision makers and in particular the new government on what we believe is important to…
Now we have a new government – we have a left of center mix of policies. Which on first principle should be building innovative, high value local manufacturing with the aim of increased prosperity and our ability to pay our way in the world. And for me, I congratulate the team around ‘Prime Minister to…
The New Zealand Productivity Commission – an independent Crown entity – called for an in-depth inquiry into the issue of New Zealand’s transition to a low-emission economy and how it can meet its Paris agreement targets. HERA, as the industry research association of the heavy metals-based fabrication and manufacturing industry, is primarily engaged in the…