Dirty dairying in Taranaki appears to be decreasing as convictions against environmental offenders fall to new lows. Despite having the second highest number of dairy farms in the country and the highest number of farmers breaking the rules around ...
US-made First Alert extinguisher had undisclosed additional safety catch trigger
A US-made fire extinguisher on sale in New Zealand features an undisclosed second-tier safety trip which is in addition to the standard pull-pin release mechanism.
The second tier safety device on the extinguisher is comprised of a barely visible plastic filament. This must be pressed simultaneously with the white trigger at the top.
No indication is given on the instructions of the existence of this additional filament-press detonation mechanism. The three part operating instruction only states to Pull Pin/Aim/Press Lever.
Absolutely no mention is made of the barely visible filament device which also needs to be pressed in order to detonate the extinguisher.. Neither is this secondary device pictured on the extinguisher.A reader has presented the now-used extinguisher (pictured) to MSC-Newswire in order to draw attention to the need to for factories and workshops to test operationally one example of each of their fire extinguisher brands and model types in order for this type of problem to be identified prior to a fire instead of afterward.
The pictured extinguisher was thought to be faulty and valuable moments were lost in fighting a real-life fire. In the event hoses were required to put out a fire which could have been instantly extinguished had the pictured device been brought to bear at the start of the fire.
A problem with New Zealand’s imported extinguishers is that just because they are made for other jurisdictions with other national safety regulations so there will be differing levels of operating procedures and these, as in the instance of this US extinguisher, may not be pictured or described on the device itself.
All factory and works safety officials should test under operational conditions one sample of every brand and series model type of its extinguishers urged our informant. They noted that factory fires were volatile just because of the works environment. Every split second was crucial in suppressing them. Secondary, and in the instance of the pictured extinguisher, disguised activation steps must be factored in. Something that could only be achieved by practical and applied type-testing
“We want others to learn from our experience with this problem which itself seems to be hidden from sight.”
From the MESCNewsWire reporters' desk
Guinness World Record holder navigates for son, 73-year old ex-Formula 1 McLaren team manager, Alastair Caldwell in Oct/Nov rally
(PR NewsChannel) / October 31, 2016 / FLAGSTAFF, New Zealand
Dorothy Caldwell, who lives in Flagstaff, New Zealand, and is the Guinness World Record holder as the world’s oldest active rally navigator, is to take to the roads again in the New Zealand Haka Classic Rally, a 5,354 kilometer classic car competition on the North and South Islands of New Zealand. The rally starts in Auckland on October 30th and heads to Wanaka before coming back to Auckland again, ending on 25th November. Dorothy will be navigating for her son, 73-year old Alastair Caldwell, in his 1963 Rolls Royce Silver Cloud III. The same team and car took part in the TransAm rally from New York to Alaska four years ago and Dorothy won the “Spirit of the Rally” award and her team came 5th overall.
Alastair Caldwell grew up in New Zealand and in 1966 attended the Tasman series racing, where the mechanics encouraged him to come to England to work in motor racing. He did so and became a notable part of the multi-national McLaren Formula 1 racing team. In the 1970s he became team manager, managing world champions such as Emerson Fittipaldi, Nelson Piquet and James Hunt. In fact, this week, October 24th, marks the 40th anniversary of James Hunt winning the F1 World Championship at the Japanese Grand Prix in 1976, with Alastair as team manager, an event immortalized in the 2013 movie, Rush. Alastair has recently done an interview on Sky TV and a talk at London’s RAC Club to commemorate this anniversary.
Despite having retired from Formula 1, Alastair continues his colourful life both on the road and in business. In 1983 he established the United Kingdom’s first self storage company, Space Station.
Under increasing demand, Space Station is now the longest-running self storage company in the UK, operating in Berkshire, London and Birmingham, for domestic, business and student use – where Alastair can be found hard at work when not hard-rallying classic cars and taking part in public engagements in the racing world.
Released through PRNewsWire
Sandvik has just launched five new additional alloys to its Sanicro™ nickel based welding wire and covered electrodes program. This corrosion-resistant news is just one of the happenings on the Sandvik stand (N3708) at Fabtech 2016. Meet the Sandvik materials experts behind the growing LinkedIn group ‘Welding and Materials’ to discuss your corrosion challenges and more.
Designed for use in the most demanding environments, these newly introduced welding nickel alloys significantly increase and complete the advanced welding materials portfolio available from Sandvik. The new, nickel based grades include: welding wire Sanicro 55 (ERNiCrMo-14); covered electrodes, Sanicro 53 (ENiCrCoMo-1), Sanicro 54 (ENiCrMo-10), Sanicro 56 (ENiCrMo-4), and Sanicro 59 (ENiCrMo-13). Complementing these introductions is a new flux, Sandvik 69S, specifically designed for ESW high speed cladding of nickel based welding strip.
“We now offer customers a complete portfolio of welding consumables for stainless and nickel alloys to help them overcome corrosive environments in the most demanding applications,” explained Clemente Tallarico, Sandvik Global Product Manager Welding. “With the launch Sandvik takes another step towards being the ‘go to one-stop-shop’ when it comes to advanced material solutions for joining and cladding requirements.”
On the stand: Digital and live focus on welding and materials
Being a developer and manufacturer of welding consumables, Sandvik's stand at Fabtech will naturally focus on welding and welding materials. This year however, the focus will be both physical and digital, with a live welding demonstration using advanced Sandvik materials, and a demonstration of the Sandvik Welding Handbook app. The latter has been developed with on-the-job functionality to meet the requirements of welding professionals’ when planning and performing welding projects. There to guide visitors through the activities will be the materials experts behind the now more than 1000 members strong LinkedIn group ‘Welding and Materials’; a forum for welding professionals who want to share and develop within welding.
Frank Babish, one of the Sandvik application specialists running ‘Welding and Materials’: “It is great that discussions can take place regardless of where in the world the members are located. We started the group based on long experience of solving welding challenges and a desire to ‘get together’ with others possessing welding knowledge. Hopefully, the group can continue to grow and become a meaningful ‘meet-up spot’ for even more professionals who have welding close to their hearts.”
Detailed information on all the new Sanicro™ nickel grades and the Sandvik Welding Handbook app can be found on the web (smt.sandvik.com/welding).
Ports of Auckland chief executive Tony Gibson, who has recently signed an alliance with the Port of Napier, explains why he pursued an alliance solution.“Alliances between ports are particularly important in New Zealand, where we have a small population spread thinly across a long, skinny island. Land transport is expensive so the supply chain needs to be fully optimised to keep costs low.
“This means eliminating unnecessary landside moves, ensuring the fronthaul and backhaul legs are full and making the best use possible of coastal shipping. Alliances between ports in New Zealand, combined with strategic investment in inland freight hubs and smart use of technology to ensure the most efficient utilisation of transport between ports, hubs and customers, is how we aim to achieve this.”
Mr Gibson says that internationally, alliances between ports or terminals may help achieve similar efficiencies and help avoid the current situation where changes in carrier alliances are causing significant falls in volumes at some ports.
“On the other hand, alliances are not a magic bullet if there has been an over-provision of port infrastructure and there is simply too much capacity. In the latter case, there may be some ports which have to scale back or close.“What we all have to do in this new world where high growth rates appear to have disappeared forever and where technology may have a significant impact in the future, is examine our business models and really honestly ask ourselves, ‘is the way we’re working now going to work in the future?’.”
MORE TO COME FROM AUCKLAND-NAPIER ALLIANCEA relatively low-key “collaborative alliance” between Ports of Auckland (PoAL) and Port of Napier could be the first stepping stone to a new level of competition between the major ports of New Zealand.The alliance ushers in an agreement to work collaboratively to save backroom technology costs in things such as terminal management systems (both use Navis), cut costs when bulk buying from common service providers, exchange staff training and expertise and share the talent pool where possible, share best practice in sustainability practices and benchmark in adapting to new health and safety laws
However, it is a possible forerunner for a strong alliance being set up to challenge the Tauranga/Timaru pairing. There is a “natural fit” between the businesses – Auckland is import-dominant and Napier is export-dominant.
So possibly, there is a supply chain solution whereby an import box comes into Auckland, moves to the central North Island Longburn inland port (where both Auckland and Napier have an investment) and the empty is made available for export through Napier.
Napier requires empties for its export moves and in peak fruit export season, where Napier could be stretched to handle more volume, Auckland would be available as an alternative for export moves.
The two allies are believed to be looking at a possible third partner in the South Island, given that Tauranga is firmly established in the South Island through shareholdings and operational agreements in Timaru.
A PortStrategy release
The sale of Solid Energy coal mines to a consortium and two private companies shows the government was wrong to sell the state coal miner, says New Zealand First.
“It’s heartening that New Zealand interests have bought some of the mines, although the consortium involving New Zealand company Talley’s is two-thirds overseas owned, says State-Owned Enterprises Spokesperson Richard Prosser.
“The loss of profits overseas is not easy to take when the government could have held on instead of rushing in to put Solid Energy on the market given the price of high-grade coking coal for steel production has doubled in the past year.
“This just proves National used the downturn in prices as an excuse to sell more state assets. It claimed Solid Energy wasn’t viable long-term.
“The world is always going to need steel, and for that it needs high quality coal, which New Zealand possesses in large quantities. The price has recovered. Talley’s and their foreign partners could do well - but the taxpayer will miss out.
“New Zealand First said the National Government should have waited. We’ve been proven right.
“It’s good to see that two private companies on the West Coast and Southland have bought mines and that overall workers are expected to be employed by the new owners.
“New Zealand needs a government with vision for the future of the economy, not one with a the short-sighted approach.”
A NZFirst release
The top carpentry apprentices from across New Zealand will go head to head this Friday 4 November, competing for the title of Registered Master Builders Carters 2016 Apprentice of the Year.
Ten apprentices have earnt their place in the national competition after competing against their peers to win their respective regional competitions.
To take out the national competition, the industry’s future leaders will have to impress the judging panel over a two day event, undergoing a 45 minute interview along with a practical component. Each competitor will be faced with the task of building a children’s playhouse, with the finished products being donated to local schools. The practical challenge will take place at The Cloud in Auckland on Friday 4 November and will be open to the public from 8am.
Registered Master Builders chief executive David Kelly says there has never been a better time to recognise the need for skilled apprentices in our industry.
“The industry is facing unprecedented demand, yet productivity must not come at the expense of quality,” he says.
“Apprentice of the Year is a fantastic way to showcase the quality craftsmanship of our future leaders.”
“There has never been a better time to begin an apprenticeship. We wish all the finalists good luck as they make their mark on the industry as Master Builders.”
The winner of the Registered Master Builders Carters 2016 Apprentice of the Year will be announced on 4 November at an awards dinner.
The national winner will receive prizes including the use of a Ford Ranger Ute for a year and a $5000 grant courtesy of Carters, a range of quality tools and an iPad, courtesy of MBIE. All ten finalists will also attend a specially designed Outward Bound course and the Registered Master Builders House of the Year National Gala on 26 November.
Apprentices, employers and young people aspiring to be a part of the construction industry are encouraged to join the Facebook page: www.facebook.com/registeredmasterbuilders or follow us on Twitter: @MasterBuilderNZThe Registered Master Builders Apprentice of the Year competition is made possible thanks to principal sponsor Carters, the Building and Construction Industry Training Organisation (BCITO), and supporting sponsors the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) and APL through their Altherm, First and Vantage brands.
National finalists: Registered Master Builders Carters 2016 Apprentice of the Year
* Toby Chapman-Smith, 27, from Auckland’s North Shore, employed by Court Construction and trained through BCITO * Kadin Murray, 20, from Pokeno, employed by Licensed Renovations and trained through BCITO * Ryan Tesselaar, 21, from Morrinsville, employed by Foster Construction and trained through BCITO * Ethan Inglis, 22, from Tauranga, employed by Skilled Building Solutions and trained through BCITO * Jake Pardoe, 21, from Hastings, employed by M&M Tibbles Construction and trained through BCITO * Callum Bryson, 24, from Palmerston North, employed by McMillan & Lockwood PN Limited and trained through BCITO * Andrew Press, 24, from Upper Hutt, employed by Hutt City Builders and trained through BCITO * Wade Puklowski, 23, from Nelson, employed by Coman Construction and trained through the Nelson Marlborough Institute of Technology (NMIT) * Jono Blakely, 20, from Christchurch, employed by Andrew James Builders Limited and trained through BCITO * Ben Bringans, 22, from Oamaru, employed by Banks’s Building Services Limited and trained through BCITO
Local schools to receive playhouses: • Glenbrae Primary School, Glen Innes • Pt England School, Pt England • Mangere East School, Mangere East • Te Kura Māori o Ngā Tapuwae, Mangere East • Kelston Primary School, Kelston • Hay Park School, Mount Roskill • Swanson School, Swanson • Avondale Primary School, Avondale • Flat Bush School, Otara • Ranui School, Ranui
BusinessWorldOnline, October 31, 2016 - EXPORTERS to New Zealand (NZ) are not maximizing that country’s Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with the ASEAN region, in force since 2010, a trade official said.
Agnes Perpetua R. Legaspi, Assistant Director of the Export Marketing Bureau under the Department of Trade and Industry, said more can be done for the goods and services being exported to New Zealand.
“I think what they also need to appreciate is we have an existing agreement,” she told BusinessWorld on the sidelines of a business forum on Oct. 25.
She was referring to the ASEAN-Australia-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement (AANZFTA), which would have the Philippines eliminate tariffs on 94.59% of tariff lines by 2020, while Australia and New Zealand would remove the tariffs on all tariff lines in the next four years.
“The New Zealand market is strict. It’s like other developed countries. So they need compliance. If you’re producing fresh marine products, they need that (as well as) our fresh fruits, processed nuts and fruits.”
“New Zealand is only 4.5 million people... their capacity to absorb (is) not that big. That’s why it needs to be niche. So organics... are what we need to pursue,” she said, noting that exports in marine, aquaculture, fresh and processed food would benefit.
Philippine Statistics Authority data show that the Philippines has consistently imported more from than it exported to New Zealand since 2011.
Total trade fell 4.05% from 2011 to 2015, pulled down by a 4.72% decrease in Philippine imports while slightly propped up by a 2.91% increase in exports.
Fresh and dried banana, including plantain, account for the top Philippine export to New Zealand in 2015, valued at $8.78 million or 17.44% of total outbound shipments. Lead-acid, of a kind used for starting piston engines, follow with a 13.58% market share which is valued at $6.83 million.
On the other hand, milk and cream are the country’s top import from New Zealand, valued at $80.65 million or 18.67% of total imports. Fats and oils derived from milk account for the second largest import worth $74.63 million or 17.27%.
New Zealand was 29th among the country’s trading partners in 2015.
The Trade department has been encouraging exporters to take advantage of the market potential in New Zealand, not just because of the benefits afforded by the FTA, but also because the its business environment had been regarded by many as one of the world’s best.
In the World Bank-International Finance Corp. Doing Business report, New Zealand ranked first among 190 economies surveyed, which means its regulatory environment is most conducive to the starting and operation of a local firm. -- Roy Stephen C. Canivel
KANSAS CITY, Kan., Oct. 28, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Harcros Chemicals Inc. and Cathay Industries Australasia have announced an agreement that will bring Harcros-manufactured products to Australia, New Zealand, and the Pacific Islands with Cathay Industries acting as its exclusive representative.
This strategic partnership's primary focus will be the introduction of specialty surfactants and chemicals for the construction, household & institutional, ink & coatings industries to the South Pacific market. It will also allow Harcros' growing profile of international customers better ease-of-access to Harcros-manufactured products and provide Cathay's customers access to new product lines.
This partnership with Cathay, based in Sydney, Australia, further strengthens Harcros' position in the international market and reinforces Harcros' commitment to global service and strategy. In addition, this rapidly expanding international presence and distribution partner network provides Harcros the ability to deliver manufactured products to over 24 countries and reaffirm its leadership in the global chemical manufacturing market.
Harcros Vice President of Manufacturing Peter Radford Ph.D. was quoted saying, "We are excited to have a position back in the Australian market and we firmly believe that our partnership with Cathay Industries is an outstanding fit for both companies."
$93 million facility bolsters parcel carrier's capacity to meet growing regional trade
DHL Express has opened its new South Asia hub in Singapore as part of its efforts to take advantage of the region's growing cross-border trade.
The $93 million facility, located in the Changi Airfreight Center (CAC) at Changi International Airport, is widely expected to bolster the multinational express service provider's capacity to process the increasing number of mail and parcels moving to and from, or within, South Asia.
The hub, which operates 24 hours a day, is equipped with the industry's first fully automated express parcel-sorting and -processing system in the region, according to company executives, who said it has boosted the firm's operational capacity and efficiency, offering speedier delivery for customers.
"Over the years, we have invested significantly to bolster our network and services in the Asia-Pacific region," DHL Express CEO Ken Allen said during a ceremony to mark the opening of the firm's new logistics hub in the city state on Oct. 18.
"Our investment in DHL's South Asia hub is the most recent in a series of global network investments made, and is the largest infrastructural investment in Singapore to date," Allen said. "The country's strategic location not only boosts our operational network capabilities, but also supports growing trade in the region aided by a stronger global economy."
The CEO said the time is right for DHL Express to open the new logistics hub as it has recorded a strong growth in shipments in recent years, particularly in the southern part of the Asia-Pacific region. Between 2012 and 2015, the average daily shipments for Australia and New Zealand grew about 50 percent and South Asia 30 percent.
DHL Express employees handle parcels at the firm's newly-opened logistics hub near Changi International Airport in Singapore. / Courtesy of DHL Express
The new facility, built on a 23,600-square-meter site, is 33 percent larger than the previous facility, providing the company with additional capacity to handle the growing volume of shipments with regional and international destinations.
Its location within the CAC, a 24-hour free trade zone, improves the flow of goods to and from cargo planes, and allows consignments to be shipped or transshipped within an hour, DHL Express said.
"The new South Asia hub is a significant milestone in further enhancing our multi-hub strategy in the region," DHL Express Asia Pacific CEO Ken Lee said. "With the other three hubs in the Asia Pacific ― Hong Kong, Shanghai and Bangkok ― the facility links over 70 DHL Express gateways throughout the region. It also allows us to add more network flights in and out of Singapore as regional trade continues to grow."
The Singapore hub, which employs 250 workers, can process up to 24,000 shipments and documents per hour and can handle more than 628 tons of cargo during the peak processing window. Its processing speed is also six times faster, while handling capacity is three times larger, compared to manual operations in the previous facility.
The increased efficiency is achieved from the improved sorting speed and accuracy of the automated system. Multidimensional tunnel scanners accelerate barcode reading, while automated X-ray machines scan packages up to three times faster than previous systems.
The facility is also powered by solar energy, which supplies about 20 percent of the hub's total energy consumption. These automation systems enhance productivity, enabling employees to focus on higher value tasks such as risk mitigation to avoid potential shipment delays, issues management and additional security inspections.
DHL Express is a division of Deutsche Post DHL Group, the world's largest logistics company.
With about 340,000 employees in more than 220 countries and territories worldwide, DHL connects people and businesses securely and reliably, enabling global trade to flow.
With specialized services for growth markets and industries including technology, energy, automotive, retail and life sciences and healthcare, a proven commitment to corporate responsibility and an unrivaled presence in developing markets, the group generated more than $64 billion in sales in 2015.
A DHL press release