Steel volumes being processed through industry are on the rise, which is a good indicator of activity. The statistics show us that after an almost 40% fall due to the Global Financial Crisis (GFC) volumes have reached the peak before last which was in 2005 and are close to reaching pre-GFC levels. The impact of…
HERA member Aurecon launches HazAPP, enabling rapid hazard assessments of pressure equipment in accordance with Australian and New Zealand safety regulations. The very nature of pressure equipment and the potential stored energy in an operating vessel or piping system can be a major safety hazard to workers and nearby communities if not properly installed…
During the NZ Geothermal Workshop in Taupo, the attendees had the opportunity to tour the nearby Wairakei geothermal plant and the newly constructed Te Mihi plant both operated by Contact Energy who had organised this tour. A group of about 30 participated in this tour including AGGAT team members from HERA and the University of…
At the recent NZ Geothermal Workshop held in Taupo, Dr. Haiam Abbas, AGGAT Research Engineer won an award for best paper in Above Ground Technologies. The prize was awarded as this piece of work enhanced fundamental understanding of science and engineering principles in the context of existing above-ground technology. The paper titled ‘Development and Validation…
The NZ Geothermal Workshop, held in Taupo this year, had a higher attendance and number of presentations than in the past, and presented a very positive vibe for the geothermal industry overall. A number of delegates from the AGGAT team also attended this conference from both HERA and University of Auckland. The AGGAT team members…
Research aim 1-2 materials knowledge base research and 1-3 geothermal scaling and corrosion The AGGAT Materials Research Group has successfully completed a Hazard and Operability (HAZOP) Study on the Materials Test Rig scheduled to go onsite in December 2015. The meeting had all its key stakeholders present which was a very fruitful outcome, considering the complexity…
The New Zealand Society for Earthquake Engineering and the Australian Earthquake Engineering Society co-hosted the Tenth Pacific Conference on Earthquake Engineering (PCEE 2015) in Sydney, Australia. The conference was held between 6 and 8 November 2015, and was very well-attended by a mixture of practitioners and researchers from around the world. The keynote presenters at…
In order to ensure welding qualification tests are carried out correctly, personnel are appointed to witness welder/welding operator and/or welding procedure specification (WPS) qualification tests being performed. These tests involve welding and subsequent mechanical testing , and the personnel appointed need to be competent for the tasks they are expected to perform. A typical term…
October saw Minister Steven Joyce in overdrive on Innovation Policy releases. First as Minister for Science and Innovation, he launched the National Statement of Science Investment 2015-2025 and a little bit later, as the Minister for Economic Development, he also launched the “Building Innovation” Chapter of the 2015 Business Growth Agenda. Both documents have a…
The media has been full of the news that Fullers ferries are adding two additional 34 metre, 360-seat ferries to their fleet. More importantly, they are having the vessels built by Q-West boat builders in Whanganui. The total value of the order is $16 Million. Q-West built Fuller’s existing Te Kotuku high speed catamaran that…
Auckland University of Technology mechanical engineering final year project HERA is proud to award the 2015 HEERF engineering prize to Maxine Aldred from Auckland University of Technology’s (AUT) engineering school for her project on alleviating the troubles of sleep apnoea. A respiratory condition where a person will experience a cessation of breathing while asleep due to…
Following the establishment of the New Zealand National Group of the International Association of Bridge and Structural Engineering (IABSE), Structural Systems General Manager Dr Stephen Hicks attended the IABSE Conference in Geneva in September 2015. The conference objective was ‘Providing Solutions to Global Challenges’, which was underpinned by following global themes: Climate Change and the…