Sponsored by Kaeser Compressors, kicking off the 2018 series was a well attended evening at Advance Boiler Services in Hamilton. With a legacy founded from Rolls Royce and John Thompson NZ, Advance are recognised as a major contributor to the industry. They have evolved their operation to suit the requirements of industry, converting boilers to unmanned operation, conducting boiler surveys and inspections and even manufacturing fin tube and heat exchangers
Auckland was next with the third annual Manukau Institute of Technology evening. This evening is a collaborative evening involving MESNZ, MIT, Competenz and Apprentice Training NZ. MIT’s Dean of technology, Paul Hollings, welcomed the gathering of attendees wanting to know more about trade apprentice training and relayed an update on the future plans for MIT’s Auckland campuses. The meeting brought together industry employers, training providers and prospective apprentices looking to gain employment. It was an excellent platform to see and understand firsthand how the apprenticeship system works and the training and support available to ensure success. One employer desperate for staff was keen to employ the entire group of apprentices!
MESNZ provided the link for employers looking to engage and understand the system and to see firsthand the opportunities and procedures required when taking on a prospective apprentice. Competence ATNZ were present to explain the support they offer employers and apprentices and how the qualifications are structured. This also involves the mentoring provided throughout the apprentice’s qualification. MIT staff gave a tour of the workshop facilities, one of the highlights of the evening.
The MESNZ team were then back down to the Bay of Plenty with an evening at Allied Industrial Engineering in Kawerau. Centered in the heart of the impressive Kawerau engineering area, AIE was born 23 years ago from the pulp and paper mills desire to exit the engineering expertise required to maintain such a massive operation, and according to owner Paul Raethel, AIE has grown in leaps and bounds since then, exploring new markets and areas of international expertise as it balances its workload. The attendees were treated to a wealth of heavy machining equipment, expertise and jobs in hand from local and national operations such as turbine and pulp roll rebuilds.
The MESNZ Kaeser Compressors Network Evenings are hosted to showcase local operations and provide networking opportunities for engineers across all regions of New Zealand. The evenings offer the opportunity to take a look at the host operation and discuss common issues and solutions in a relaxed after work environment. Open to interested members of the public, the nights are well patronised. There is no cost to attend and non-MESNZ can attend up to 2 meetings. Evenings are constantly being planned, with the current schedule showing Lower Hutt, Westport, Greymouth, Auckland, Napier and Masterton. Readers can find the latest schedule by going to http://www.mesnz.org.nz/activities/network-evenings/
The Maintenance Engineering Society is active across New Zealand, providing opportunities for maintenance engineers and manufacturing operations to network and share innovations and experiences; both at a national level at their annual national conference or at these regional events. The 2018 National Maintenance Engineering Conference will be held at the Energy Events Centre, Rotorua on November 13-15
| A MESNZ release || march 26, 2018 |||