Traveling across the country visiting our members has allowed me to better learn about your business operations and strategies. I’ve been impressed with the degree of on-site innovations – which clearly aren’t as uncommon as perceived to be! But, what I can say is we still have work to do in making innovation part of…
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…
Mahatma Gandhi once stated, ‘The future depends on what we do in the present.’ Obvious, yet so profound. Its connotations have far reaching implications for how we think about our present. It mandates deliberation in planning and purpose in action. Such thinking, that likely shepherded Gandhi to achieve the major task of delivering India from…
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 election race is tight and every vote will count. Our director reviews the most important policy relating to our industry’s contribution to creating a prosperous New Zealand. And our view is unshakeably in favour of a policy which supports local manufacturing in the framework of a free trade environment. So we urge all members…
For many, the sudden closures of engineering icon A&G Price in Thames and AMTEC Engineering in New Plymouth came like a bolt out of the blue. But for some, it wasn’t so surprising. The playing field is strongly stacked against us as we don’t seem to have the right value proposition for our traditional companies…
As an avid reader of our news updates you’ll be aware of the unique opportunity we offered to leverage significant government co-funding for research activities through our Research Partnership Proposal. Sadly, we report the Research Partnership Proposal has stalled from progressing. Insufficient levels of industry co-funding stopping us from submitting a credible and workable bid…
Turbines and volumetric expanders are the most common devices used for energy conversion of fluid heat into mechanical energy. However its numerous applications in power generation, and across a range of industries means there are many models to choose from to power projects. Several could be fooled into thinking that any turbo-generator you pick will…
Remember LanzaTech? The New Zealand bio fuel R&D start-up which invented a process to convert carbon-rich gases from steel mills to create the ethanol base of their fuel Lanzanol. Probably not. Since LanzaTech packed their bags quite early in the game and moved to the US with many of their former staff in tow. But…
If you’re like a few other million ‘bleary eyed’ Kiwi’s – you’re still in the throes of recovering from a series of early mornings spent clambering to the TV screen to watch the America’s Cup. There’s nothing that swells the pride more than this 35th regatta. Emirates Team New Zealand finally earned redemption, and it was…