Engineers at the University of Delaware are developing a new method for monitoring the structural health of infrastructure based on the use of a “smart skin” made of a carbon nanotube composite. The composite is mechanically robust and can adhere to practically any shape, meaning it can be used to monitor the health of roads, bridges and other structures.
Electrical Impedance TomographyThe smart skin uses a technique called electrical impedance tomography (EIT) to indicate which areas of the structure may be compromised. EIT makes use of surface electrode measurements to map the two-dimensional conductivity of the skin’s surface. The researchers tested a square of the carbon nanotube composite, with 32 evenly spaced electrodes along the boundary, to measure the surface conductivity.
A set back internationally for New Zealand Progressives
António Guterres (picture), the former prime minister of Portugal, will lead the United Nations after a rare show of unity between the two most powerful security council members, the US and Russia.
This appointment due to be announced at any moment dashes the single most ardent hope of New Zealand progressives who sincerely believed that former premier Helen Clarke would be appointed.
Helen Clarke, a campaigner of Clintonesque proportions in her long campaign also sincerely believed that she had more than a fighting chance. Even in spite of The (Manchester)Guardian in an unusual tilt at one of their own roundly denouncing her campaigning while still an employee of the UN.
Even so, Miss Clarke administrator of the U.N. Development Programme, impressed the broader constituency of U.N. staff, earning the most-favored status for secretary-general in a 1,000-person U.N. survey taken last February.
New Zealand internationalists will have to be content with Terence O’Brien who was President of the United Nations Security Council during the war in Yugoslavia.
While in New York, his leadership was a critical factor in New Zealand's securing a seat on the United Nations Security Council, despite competition from more favoured countries such as Spain and Sweden.
Mr O’Brien remains an indefatigable fixture on the Wellington diplomatic cocktail scene, and is known for generously contributing his wisdom when and where it is required..The loftiest heights in the UN from the New Zealand point of view remain scaled by Sir Leslie Munro, who reached the top in three quite different vocations.
Farming, (he was a founder of the National Party, journalism (editor of the NZ Herald) and then diplomacy.
As New Zealand's permanent representative to the UN, he served as president of the Trusteeship Council from 1953 to 1954 and President of the United Nations General Assembly for its twelfth session (1957–1958). He was also three times President of the Security Council, and was serving in that position at the outbreak of Suez Crisis in 1956.
From the MSCNewsWire reporters' desk - Friday 7 October 2016
With over 1.25 million units sold and 20 years of development, Fisher & Paykel’s DishDrawer™, the innovators of the world’s first and only dishwasher in a drawer, announces the release of the most inspired model yet.
Costa Mesa, Calif. (PRWEB) October 06, 2016
Fisher & Paykel Appliances announces the launch of the latest DishDrawer™ dishwashers. The new models are quieter and more energy and water-efficient than ever, and are even Energy Star-certified. They are more durable, thanks to Fisher & Paykel’s rigorous testing for 20 years’ continuous use and thoughtfully designed with an emphasis on sleek lines and quality construction. Some models incorporate clever features such as flexible stacking and sanitize mode. The newest generation of DishDrawer™ dishwasher shows Fisher & Paykel’s dedication to continuous improvement and innovation behind the world’s first and only dishwasher in a drawer.
“The addition of the only DishDrawer to the appliance world has reinvented the way dishes are done since no other machine offers this versatility. DishDrawer is the only product on the market that allows you to wash and load dishes at the same time, easily wash a half load or customize your wash cycles per drawer,” states Amanda Glover, Fisher & Paykel North American Product Manager for Dish and Indoor Cooking. “We are proud to offer such flexibility in a product that appeals to a wide range of consumers from those who need to wash rigorously for large families to smaller households that prefer not to wait to fill a full load of dishes. This new DishDrawer design offers an updated modern appearance that seamlessly blends into any kitchen whether installed with custom panels or stainless steel.”
Keeping the market on it's toes, the DishDrawer™ breaks all the boundaries for the home by providing versatile dishwashing solutions for every household. The DishDrawer™ has received numerous international accolades and awards including the following in just 2016: Architizer A+ Most Popular Award and Better Homes & Gardens 30 Most Innovative Products.
The Birth and History of the DishDrawer™
When the DishDrawer™ originally launched in 1996 this award-winning appliance had immeasurable impact on the way the world saw the dishwashing market and was featured on the phenomenally popular Oprah Winfrey Show and earned itself a spread in Time Magazine.
That’s an impressive journey for a product dreamed up in the back blocks of Mosgiel, New Zealand, by a team of Fisher & Paykel engineers standing in a kitchen talking about the poor design of the dishwasher door. Drawers, they reasoned, were practical and easy to use so why not put a dishwasher in a drawer? They built a mock-up that looked similar to a filing cabinet, a design inspired by a conversation about the changing nature of the kitchen.
Every element of a traditional dishwasher – from the motor to the electronics board to the plumbing system – had to be redesigned. Undaunted, Fisher & Paykel’s team got to work, and the world’s first and only dishwasher in a drawer was created. This unique dishwasher’s appeal was clear. It was easier to use and more flexible – catering from large households to the most compact apartments – than any other product on the market. It offers the only ergonomic solution on the market, when two single drawers are installed on either side of the sink no bending is required for use. It also suits kosher households, where two single DishDrawer™ Dishwashers can be installed to allow for wash loads to be kept separate. Fisher & Paykel’s stunned international competitors were left scrambling to catch up.
Two decades down the track, this innovative appliance is in its prime; its original benefits honed and new features added. Over 1.25 million DishDrawer™ Dishwashers have been manufactured and sold in more than 20 countries worldwide. It has cemented its reputation as a design classic, scooped numerous top industry and consumer choice awards, and continued to build global market share.
About Fisher & Paykel
Since 1934, the Fisher & Paykel design heritage has been founded on a pioneering spirit and culture of curiosity that challenges conventional appliance design to consistently deliver products tailored for human needs. Incorporating outstanding performance, and user-focused innovation; Fisher & Paykel and DCS by Fisher & Paykel appliance brands inspire people through indoor/outdoor kitchen and laundry products, designed with real life in mind. The brands incorporate innovative technologies driven from a passion to produce the most technically advanced, efficient, and contemporary styled appliances. As pioneers of the world’s first drawer dishwasher, DishDrawer®; Fisher & Paykel continues to pave the way for appliance innovation. Since the 1980’s, DCS has defined cooking appliance innovation for the commercial food industry, and designs commercial quality appliances for the home. Fisher & Paykel Appliances is a global company operating in 50 countries, manufacturing in the United States, Mexico, Italy, Thailand and New Zealand. For more information, please visit: http://www.fisherpaykel.com.
Associate Minister for Tertiary Education, Skills, and Employment, and Minister for Women, Louise Upston has today opened the inaugural Women in Trades Conference, where she’s encouraged more women to consider a career in the trades.
“People need to push aside gender stereotypes and encourage young women to consider careers in trades where there is high growth and high demand, like building and construction.” Ms Upston said.
The conference, hosted by Unitec and the Manukau Institute of Technology supports the Government initiative ‘Got a Trade? Got it Made!’ campaign which aims to raise awareness of on-the-job training and career opportunities in New Zealand’s trades and service industries.
Many girls discount careers in trades as they have been traditionally considered as men’s jobs. It is up to educators, businesses and parents to ensure girls are not only aware of the opportunities that working in a trade can offer, but to make sure that opportunities are available irrespective of gender.”
The day-long conference was organised to highlight the importance to New Zealand of building capability in trades and the opportunities for young women to consider a career in the construction related trades.
Ms Upston said, “We need to support our young women to broaden their horizons. A job in building and construction can be both rewarding and lucrative.”
“We know that women want to work in construction. Following the Christchurch earthquakes in 2011, the Ministry for Women led a project to increase the visibility of opportunities for women in construction. This meant the number of women employed in Canterbury’s construction industry quadrupled from 2,100 pre-earthquake to 8,600 as of June 2015, resulting in 17.8% of all construction workers in Canterbury being Women.”
Ms Upston said more employers are getting comfortable about employing women in jobs traditionally seen as better suited to men. Employers recognise that women bring a different set of abilities that helps to broaden a company’s overall set of skills.
“It’s not about women’s jobs or men’s jobs - they are just jobs that are in demand, and I want to ensure women have equal opportunities and equal choice in the careers they pursue.”
Chorus has today announced that its service company partner Visionstream will be taking over fibre installations in areas that are currently being serviced by Downer.
Visionstream, the telecommunications division of Ventia, is one of Australasia’s largest infrastructure services companies.
The announcement follows Downer’s decision not to re-tender for this work, which was announced at Chorus’ annual results on 30 August 2016.
The transition will occur in the Hutt Valley, Masterton, Napier, Hastings and Gisborne in the North Island and Ashburton, Timaru, Oamaru, Queenstown, Invercargill, Dunedin in the South Island.
Downer has chosen to concentrate on other aspects of its relationship with Chorus, including the copper network and the communal UFB build.
Chorus expects that some Downer technicians will be affected by the change.
However, with demand for fibre increasing significantly, technicians may have opportunities either to move to Visionstream - which will be expanding its number of technicians to support the UFB installations - or remain with Downer and continue to work on the copper network.
“We’ve been open to the need to improve the experience we give our customers, as well as our need for more technicians, and how we want to retain skilled people in the industry,” said Chorus’ General Manager Customer Services, Nick Woodward.
“Visionstream’s operating model has proven to be very effective in attracting new crews and in getting through the most jobs in a day.
“Visionstream has already successfully taken over in Wellington, Porirua and Manawatu, and we have seen significant improvements in performance in those areas.
“Chorus, Visionstream and Downer are all committed to a smooth transition with the minimum of disruption for our technicians,” he said.
The change means Visionstream will now cover around 80% of the areas of UFB that Chorus is responsible for, with the balance being held by Broadspectrum, and multi-dwelling unit specialist UCG.
Guidance
Fibre uptake is significantly ahead of expectations and given related mobilisation costs in a time of relatively full employment, Chorus expects to be able to hold average connection costs per unit flat in nominal terms across the term of this contract rather than secure further economies in connection costs. Given this, Chorus now expects to track at the top end of the total programme view for the average cost to connect standard residential premises of $900 to $1,100 in 2011 dollars.
Chorus is separately assessing future capitalisation policies in relation to NGA related provisioning costs that are currently expensed and were not in the scope of guidance at the time of demerger. Chorus may provide an update to guidance when this work is completed later in FY17.
Will Stirling examines the benefits of steering clear of liquid coolant in The Engineer
At the interface between a cutting tool edge and a metallic workpiece, the temperature can vary from 200°C to over 1,300°C. At such temperatures softer metals such as aluminium melt and the cut surface of the component can be damaged. However, with modern coatings and tool technology the expensive tooling is not badly affected by heat alone. It is thermal shock, or rapid temperature variations that weakens tools and this is far more likely to reduce tool life than simply exposing tools to high temperatures.
Auckland Airport has signed a joint promotion and marketing agreement with Alipay, China’s leading online payment solution. Alipay is owned by Ant Financial Services Group, which is part of e-commerce giant Alibaba Group.
Jason Delamore, Auckland Airport’s general manager – marketing and technology, says, “This agreement will help us improve the customer experience for travellers from China, our fastest growing passenger market. The Alipay mobile payment technology will make it easier than ever for Chinese travellers and visitors to enjoy Auckland Airport’s expanding specialty retail and food and beverage offer, and for our retailers to gain access to the growing Chinese market. That’s a win for everyone.”
Alipay will work with participating airport retailers to set them up with the Alipay mobile payment platform. Once the platform is in place, customers will be able to use their Alipay mobile accounts to make purchases.
Mr Delamore says 20 of the airport’s retail stores have already signed up for Alipay, with more expected to join over time.
The new agreement is part of Alipay’s global “Future Airport” programme, which aims to provide convenient, comprehensive services to bring a “taste of home” experience for Chinese travellers around the world. Auckland Airport is the first airport in Australasia to take part in the programme and joins eight other international airports, including Singapore’s Changi Airport, Hong Kong International Airport and Munich Airport.
Alipay currently has over 450 million users in China. Over 80,000 retailers accept Alipay in Asia, Europe and North America.
“This is an exciting development for Auckland Airport,” says Mr Delamore. “Mobile payment platforms are enjoying huge growth and they’re fast becoming the most popular way for Chinese travellers to pay for goods and services and share their travel experiences.
“The Alipay partnership also opens up opportunities to communicate with potential travellers from China before they come to New Zealand and with Chinese visitors while they’re travelling here. We’ll be using those opportunities to promote New Zealand as a destination.”
In the year to 30 June 2016, Auckland Airport welcomed over 713,000 arriving and departing passengers from China.
Auckland Airport has signed a joint promotion and marketing agreement with Alipay, China’s leading online payment solution. Alipay is owned by Ant Financial Services Group, which is part of e-commerce giant Alibaba Group.
Jason Delamore, Auckland Airport’s general manager – marketing and technology, says, “This agreement will help us improve the customer experience for travellers from China, our fastest growing passenger market. The Alipay mobile payment technology will make it easier than ever for Chinese travellers and visitors to enjoy Auckland Airport’s expanding specialty retail and food and beverage offer, and for our retailers to gain access to the growing Chinese market. That’s a win for everyone.”
Alipay will work with participating airport retailers to set them up with the Alipay mobile payment platform. Once the platform is in place, customers will be able to use their Alipay mobile accounts to make purchases.
Mr Delamore says 20 of the airport’s retail stores have already signed up for Alipay, with more expected to join over time.
The new agreement is part of Alipay’s global “Future Airport” programme, which aims to provide convenient, comprehensive services to bring a “taste of home” experience for Chinese travellers around the world. Auckland Airport is the first airport in Australasia to take part in the programme and joins eight other international airports, including Singapore’s Changi Airport, Hong Kong International Airport and Munich Airport.
Alipay currently has over 450 million users in China. Over 80,000 retailers accept Alipay in Asia, Europe and North America.
“This is an exciting development for Auckland Airport,” says Mr Delamore. “Mobile payment platforms are enjoying huge growth and they’re fast becoming the most popular way for Chinese travellers to pay for goods and services and share their travel experiences.
“The Alipay partnership also opens up opportunities to communicate with potential travellers from China before they come to New Zealand and with Chinese visitors while they’re travelling here. We’ll be using those opportunities to promote New Zealand as a destination.”
In the year to 30 June 2016, Auckland Airport welcomed over 713,000 arriving and departing passengers from China.
Air New Zealand will begin rolling out inflight wifi on its jet services in 2017.
Chief Executive Officer Christopher Luxon today announced at a media and travel trade event in Sydney that flights between Australia and New Zealand would be the first to receive connectivity.
“Air New Zealand is in the final stages of commercial negotiations with Inmarsat and Panasonic Avionics with internet connectivity to be supplied by Inmarsat’s new global GX satellite constellation and integrated with Air New Zealand’s in-cabin Panasonic Avionics technology. Proving flights will begin in the second half of 2017 and world-class internet services progressively available on Tasman, Pacific Island and long haul jet fleets from the end of next year,” Mr Luxon says.
Domestic New Zealand jet services are likely to offer a wifi service from 2018.
“Given Air New Zealand operates some of the longest flights in the world, and in oceanic areas where there has historically been poor quality satellite service, we have patiently worked with partners until comfortable that a service which meets the high expectations of our customers is available,” he says.
“Proving flights on a partner company test aircraft have now given us the confidence to introduce what we believe will be the world’s most reliable inflight connectivity. Customers will be able to use their social media channels, stay on top of emails and browse the internet.
“Our new system will also allow us to enhance real time features within our state of the art Inflight Entertainment System as well as providing our flight crew with an enhanced ability to manage customer requests related to their ground travel.”
Chief Digital Officer Avi Golan says Air New Zealand is committed to enhancing customer journeys by leveraging the latest technology in the air and on the ground.
“We are working to bring digital innovations to every step of the customer journey and it will be exciting to see inflight wifi come to life for customers right across the Air New Zealand global network,” Mr Golan says.
Air New Zealand expects to release details of the operating business model in the first half of 2017.
Air New Zealand will begin rolling out inflight wifi on its jet services in 2017.
Chief Executive Officer Christopher Luxon today announced at a media and travel trade event in Sydney that flights between Australia and New Zealand would be the first to receive connectivity.
“Air New Zealand is in the final stages of commercial negotiations with Inmarsat and Panasonic Avionics with internet connectivity to be supplied by Inmarsat’s new global GX satellite constellation and integrated with Air New Zealand’s in-cabin Panasonic Avionics technology. Proving flights will begin in the second half of 2017 and world-class internet services progressively available on Tasman, Pacific Island and long haul jet fleets from the end of next year,” Mr Luxon says.
Domestic New Zealand jet services are likely to offer a wifi service from 2018.
“Given Air New Zealand operates some of the longest flights in the world, and in oceanic areas where there has historically been poor quality satellite service, we have patiently worked with partners until comfortable that a service which meets the high expectations of our customers is available,” he says.
“Proving flights on a partner company test aircraft have now given us the confidence to introduce what we believe will be the world’s most reliable inflight connectivity. Customers will be able to use their social media channels, stay on top of emails and browse the internet.
“Our new system will also allow us to enhance real time features within our state of the art Inflight Entertainment System as well as providing our flight crew with an enhanced ability to manage customer requests related to their ground travel.”
Chief Digital Officer Avi Golan says Air New Zealand is committed to enhancing customer journeys by leveraging the latest technology in the air and on the ground.
“We are working to bring digital innovations to every step of the customer journey and it will be exciting to see inflight wifi come to life for customers right across the Air New Zealand global network,” Mr Golan says.
Air New Zealand expects to release details of the operating business model in the first half of 2017.
Palace of the Alhambra, Spain
By: Charles Nathaniel Worsley (1862-1923)
From the collection of Sir Heaton Rhodes
Oil on canvas - 118cm x 162cm
Valued $12,000 - $18,000
Offers invited over $9,000
Contact: Henry Newrick – (+64 ) 27 471 2242
Mount Egmont with Lake
By: John Philemon Backhouse (1845-1908)
Oil on Sea Shell - 13cm x 14cm
Valued $2,000-$3,000
Offers invited over $1,500
Contact: Henry Newrick – (+64 ) 27 471 2242