NZ Manufacturer

Insurers ‘very poor’ on business interruption say half of survey respondents

doug — Mon, 27 Feb 2012 21:18:27 +0000

A New Zealand Manufacturers and Exporters Association (NZMEA) survey of manufacturers in the Canterbury region has identified business interruption as the biggest insurance problem for firms after the earthquakes. The survey was conducted between the 13th and 17th of February. The survey asked respondents to rank their insurers from ‘very good’ to ‘very poor’ on [...]

Smart marketing for manufacturers by Graham McGregor

doug — Mon, 20 Feb 2012 23:05:26 +0000

How can you ‘add value’ to your customers? As a sales and marketing consultant, I advise my clients to do things that differentiate their business in a positive way from all their competitors. And a simple way to do this is with the strategy of ‘added value.’ Here are three examples of added value [...]

Dotmar exports quality manufactured components to India

doug — Mon, 20 Feb 2012 22:58:32 +0000

Carl Lunt (left) with Grant Pedersen and some of Dotmar’s manufactured products. Dotmar Engineering Plastics in Auckland’s Mt Wellington industrial area – with other branches in Christchurch and Palmerston North — is part of a privately-held company which is truly a global giant in the supply and manufacture of game-changing thermoplastics. They don’t need to [...]

Delcam on show at SolidWorks World

doug — Mon, 20 Feb 2012 22:47:42 +0000

Delcam demonstrated the 2012 version of Delcam for SolidWorks, its integrated CAM system for SolidWorks, at SolidWorks World in San Diego this month. This latest release includes programming of wire EDM for the first time, alongside the comprehensive options for the programming of turning, mill-turn, drilling and two- through five-axis milling. Other enhancements include [...]

Tentmaker takes it to next level with RBP Waikato

doug — Mon, 20 Feb 2012 22:40:48 +0000

Robyn Robertson of Regional Business Partner Waikato and Matamata tentmaker Lindsay Tasker. A Matamata tentmaker’s dream of helping the world with his humanitarian housing is closer to reality thanks to Regional Business Partner (RBP) Waikato. LTL Covers owner Lindsay Tasker has developed SeekaShelter tent prototype to use as emergency housing in the wake of [...]

Skilled training graduates deserve recognition

doug — Mon, 20 Feb 2012 22:34:05 +0000

Completing a high-level qualification while working fulltime requires a lot of dedication, yet every year several thousand employees in industry achieve highly with little public fanfare. Companies supporting their employees through on-job training are equally dedicated, investing in lifting transferable skill levels throughout New Zealand industry. To recognise the efforts of learners and employers, industry [...]

Priceless inspiration for Kiwi exporters

doug — Mon, 20 Feb 2012 22:19:11 +0000

Any NZ business currently exporting, looking to grow its export markets or enter new markets, can’t afford to miss the unique insights on offer from the Indian, Australasian and European market experts at this year’s Go Global conference. Organised by ExportNZ, Go Global will bring together exporters from around the country and around the [...]

The tale of two manufacturers

doug — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 21:58:27 +0000

Manufacturing activity remained in expansion but clear division lines are drawn, according to the latest BNZ – BusinessNZ Performance of Manufacturing Index (PMI). The seasonally adjusted PMI for January was 50.5 (a PMI reading above 50.0 indicates that manufacturing is generally expanding; below 50.0 that it is declining). This was down from 51.6 in December [...]

Realistic funding options critical for Auckland transport

doug — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 01:31:12 +0000

The debate over the funding options required to develop Auckland’s transport should cut straight to the chase, says the chief executive of the Employers and Manufacturers Association, Kim Campbell. “Several of the so called funding options in the Mayor’s paper are simply not going to happen and should be discarded right away,” Mr Campbell said. [...]

ExportNZ boosts Korean prospects by partnering with KNZBC

doug — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 20:37:45 +0000

ExportNZ is increasing its focus on growing opportunities in Korea by entering a partnership with the Korea New Zealand Business Council (KNZBC). Catherine Beard, Executive Director of ExportNZ, says the new agreement will create a strong alliance focusing on maximising the benefits to be gained from trading with the fourth biggest economy in Asia. “With [...]

Hand in Hand with a Robot

doug — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 23:04:24 +0000

Since their introduction quite a few years ago, it has become hard to imagine industry without robots. Their strengths – power, quickness and stamina. Their limitation – they can only flex their muscles in separate cells for safety reasons in most cases. The future – an increasing number of safety barriers will fall. The reason [...]

New technology challenges traditional workplace practices

doug — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 23:01:11 +0000

The rapid development of new communications technology is challenging the old ways of doing things in today’s workplaces, says David Lowe, Employment Services Manager for the Employers & Manufacturers Association. “New technology such as smart phones and finger scanning are doing away with traditional work records, timesheets and other data entry,” Mr. Lowe said. “Smart [...]

50 seconds to change a blow mould

doug — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 22:56:45 +0000

A new patented tool-free quick mould changeover system designed for the SFR Rotary blow moulding range of machinery, reduces the time required to change from one bottle format to another, with a tangible decrease in the machines downtime. The system is available as an option for all models of the range of SFR EVO from [...]

Trades academy to open in Hawke’s Bay

doug — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 22:52:11 +0000

One of ten that will open around New Zealand in 2012, the trades academy will provide practical skills training for secondary school students while allowing them to study for NCEA credits and tertiary qualifications. As lead provider for the trades academy covering the HawkeÕs Bay and Tair?whiti regions, EIT will partner up with secondary schools [...]

Strategic metals hunt commences

doug — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 22:47:51 +0000

Strategic Elements Ltd is involved in an aggressive program of field work on the West Coast of New Zealand. The West Coast field work marks the start of a wider program aimed at discovering large new sources of valuable strategic and precious metals. Results will be reported from each prospect as the Company receives information [...]

Minister to open Christchurch rebuild event

doug — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 23:54:34 +0000

Minister of Building and Construction Maurice Williamson will open and attend a forum for Christchurch’s building and property professionals on 29 February. The event – Steel: the proven performer for a new Christchurch – aims to make the case for structural steel to play a leading role in the rebuilding of the city. Hosted by [...]

Joint productivity study welcomed

doug — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 22:27:03 +0000

BusinessNZ and the Australia New Zealand Leadership Forum have welcomed the announcement of joint work by the Productivity Commissions of New Zealand and Australia. An agreement of the joint cabinet meeting of the New Zealand and Australian Governments in Melbourne will see the two commissions working to develop options for further economic reform and integration. [...]

Service sector crease bound?

doug — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 21:50:45 +0000

The service sector returned to a more subdued level of expansion in December, according to the BNZ – BusinessNZ Performance of Services Index (PSI). The PSI for December was 50.6. This was down 5.6 points from 56.2 in November, and 0.2 points lower than the October result. A PSI reading above 50.0 indicates that the [...]

Pace required on economic plan

doug — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 02:07:44 +0000

Economic directions signalled by the Prime Minister in his first major speech of the year will be welcomed by enterprise, says BusinessNZ – and now they need to be acted on. Chief Executive Phil O’Reilly says relying on a few major reforms to turn the economy around is not realistic and there will be agreement [...]

RBNZ must respond to quantitative easing and lower interest rates elsewhere

doug — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 01:03:12 +0000

The Reserve Bank of New Zealand (RBNZ) needs to respond to unorthodox monetary policy implemented elsewhere if we are to see an export lead recovery this year say the New Zealand Manufacturers and Exporters Association (NZMEA). This morning the Reserve Bank announced an unchanged Official Cash Rate and no plans to match measures used in [...]