This is a story we have been wanting to tell Matthew Weakes from CADPRO Systems told MSCNewsWire.  Our Gavin Bath (one of Technical Specialist based in CHCH) helped Phil (principal of Sprint Aero get some outstanding results.

In response, Phil has decided to kindly open his doors and fire up his BBQ on the 30th of March and invite people to come along and see what it’s all about.

It’s a great opportunity to network with your peers in the industry, as well as see HSMWorks for Solidworks cutting chips with their Haas UMC-750.

Space is limited and filling fast, so if you can make it, please register your interest on this page. We will get back to you and confirm your place by the end of this week, if not sooner.

Event details and registration

A CADPRO Systems event

 Have you ever thought of applying the principle of “Caveat Emptor” when hiring a H&S advisor?

The other day I was chatting with a friend and he was telling me about a business associate who was rather concerned about the amount he was having to pay for his Health and Safety consultant along with the down time he was experiencing having being told that  weekly H&S meetings were essential under the new Health and Safety at Work Act.    Not to do so could see him incur expensive penalties.

What my freind could not understand was that  a colleague of his, who is also a buisness owner, could get away with running just one H&S meeting a month.

It so happened that I was preparing an article on Caveat emptor and how important it is to take heed of this especially it in the area of health & safety. Effectivly he has no come back on the cosultant who prescribed the weekly meeting so enter Caveat emptor.  Take time to work through the H&S swamp of nonprescriptive legislation with your consultant.

So if you are thinking of hiring an external H&S consultant or you already use one, I suggest you follow this link to my article.  Hopefully you will gain from it.

||  A Hasmate release by Gordon Anderson  |  Wednesday  22 March 2017   |||

Carl Bass left Autodesk with big shoes to fill. Autodesk has decided to fill each shoe with one person. Until the company names a new CEO, Andrew Anagnost will share CEO duties with Amar Hanspal, who is responsible for all product development. We had not heard of an engineering and design software company splitting and sharing CEO duties, so we rang up Autodesk to see how this would work. Answering his phone was Andrew in his San Francisco Market Street office.

A series of Q & A's with engineering.com

Congratulations, Andrew!

It had only been last November at Autodesk University that we congratulated Andrew for his promotion to head of Autodesk marketing. While it was a big step up on the career ladder, Andrew, with his education and background (a PhD in aeronautical engineering and computer science from Stanford, for example), is not the same as other marketers. But Andrew, new in his role as co-CEO, claims he is not far from his roots.

>  >  >   continue to read the full article here

CADPRO SYSTEMS represent Autodesk in New Zealand running a full suite of services

Sanitarium Health and Wellbeing has appointed Rob Scoines as general manager for its New Zealand operation.

Mr Scoines, who most recently served as general manager for Logistics at Sanitarium Australia, brings 40 years of experience in a variety of roles such as accounting, HR and manufacturing in different locations, including Auckland. As general manager for Logistics, he led Sanitarium Australia to be considered a preferred supplier by its trading partners over the past 10 years.

"We’re the country’s number one breakfast food manufacturer and this offers the church a unique opportunity to make a positive impact in the community."

“I believe Rob will bring excellent leadership to this role,” said Sanitarium CEO Kevin Jackson. “He has what it takes to grow a high-performing team as we continue sharing our message of health and hope for a better life in New Zealand.”

Beyond the workplace, Mr Scoines accomplishes remarkable feats of endurance in ultra-marathon events and his passion for making a difference in the community is well known, whether he’s raising funds for a worthy cause or taking part in his local church’s Road to Bethlehem program.

“I see leadership as a privilege,” Mr Scoines said. “It’s the opportunity to positively impact people as they grow and develop while they in turn make an impact on the business and the community. We’re the country’s number one breakfast food manufacturer and this offers the Church a unique opportunity to make a positive impact in the community. I’m honoured to lead the team that’s going to make the most of that opportunity.”

Mr Sciones takes up the role immediately, replacing Pierre van Heerden, who announced he was stepping down as general manager at the end of 2016.

In the last financial year, Sanitarium New Zealand achieved a sales turnover of $150m and provided more than 500 million serves of healthy products for consumers.

| A Sanitarium release  |  March 17, 2017||

Construction is underway on Sealord's new $70 million factory vessel, which is being built in Norway with additional steel work carried out in Poland.

Sealord is now a year out from taking delivery of its state of the art new factory vessel.

Work began on the $70 million project in January and, according to Sealord fleet harvest manager Scott Gillanders, is already running ahead of schedule.

The ship's hull was being built in eight blocks, with seven of these constructed in Poland before being barged to the Simek shipbuilders yard in Flekkefjord, Norway.A concept drawing of Sealord's new $70 million trawler.

The first four blocks will arrive in July, with the remaining four blocks expected in September before being fitted to the ship's superstructure.

Testing will start on engine and factory components in February 2018.

Two project managers – based in New Zealand and Europe respectively – would observe the build in the months ahead.

A Sealord contingent will be in Norway for sea trials in March to determine whether the company was ready to take delivery on March 23.

> > > Continue to full article  |  March 10, 2017  ||

A major investment is taking shape to improve facilities at a North Shields factory and safeguard hundreds of jobs.

Fletcher Building is planning to invest tens of millions of pounds over the next three years in Formica Group’s North Shields factory and office.

Formica Group, which employs more than 300 people, produces thousands of different laminate sheets for doors in businesses, schools and hospitals around Europe.

Mark Adamson, CEO of Fletcher Building, was at the factory in Norham Road to see the progress on work bringing all staff back under one roof at the site.

Office space is currently being refurbished to bring sales staff and management from nearby Cobalt Park back onto the North Shields plant.

Speaking to the News Guardian, Mark said: “The investment will be spent in new technology and upgrading facilities.

“The problem with North Shields is that while people were spending money in North America and Asia, this business didn’t get its fair share of capital.

> > > Continue to read full article  |  March 9, 2017  ||

The volume of meat and dairy product manufacturing fell in the December 2016 quarter, although sales values rose due to higher prices, Statistics New Zealand said today.

After adjusting for seasonal effects and removing price changes, meat and dairy product manufacturing volumes fell 5.7 percent.

"The fall in meat and dairy sales volumes followed rises in the previous two quarters," business indicators senior manager Neil Kelly said. "In contrast, sales values were up more than $350 million, mainly reflecting a sharp rise in dairy product prices."

Business Price Indexes reported a 14 percent rise in dairy product manufacturing output prices in the December 2016 quarter.

The volume of total manufacturing sales fell 1.8 percent in the December 2016 quarter, following a 1.5 percent rise in the September 2016 quarter.

Excluding meat and dairy, the manufacturing sales volume fell 0.6 percent – the first fall in this series in over two years.

The trend for the total manufacturing sales volume, which gives a longer-term picture of movements, has been mainly rising since mid-2013 but now appears to be easing.

The actual volume of total manufacturing sales was up 0.9 percent on the December 2015 quarter. When price changes are included, the value of manufacturing sales was $26.9 billion in the December 2016 quarter, up $512 million (1.9 percent) from the December 2015 quarter.

Economic Survey of Manufacturing: December 2016 quarter – for more data and analysis

|  A StatisticsNZ release  |  March 08, 2017  ||

 A new extreme-duty Flexicon® flexible screw conveyor with purpose-built hopper transfers bulk material received from front end loaders.

The conveyor consists of a heavy-gauge stainless steel screw that rotates within an 8 in. dia. (200 mm) stainless steel tube. Since the conveyor is driven at its top end by a 20 hp (15 kW) variable speed electric motor and gear reducer, material exits the discharge housing prior to contacting any seals or bearings. The tube interior and removable screw are smooth and crevice-free, allowing rapid, thorough cleaning.

Rugged enough to withstand incidental contact with front-end loaders, the heavy-gauge stainless steel hopper holds up to 8 tons (7 tonnes), or 200 cu ft (5.7 m3), providing an ample supply of material for the high capacity conveyor to run continually as a front end loader replenishes the material.

Self-contained on an all-stainless skid equipped with forklifting tubes, the system can be deployed in multiple indoor or outdoor locations with a single power connection, conveying a broad range of free-flowing and non-free-flowing materials from fine powders to largeaggregates including abrasives, corrosives and materials with bulk densities up to 150 lb/cu ft (2400 kg/m3).

Material is conveyed at a 40 degree incline before discharging into downstream processing equipment or storage vessels.

The simple design is said to deliver efficient performance and high reliability while reducing maintenance and cost.

The system is also available constructed of carbon steel with durable industrial coatings.

|  A Flexicon release  |  March 07, 2017  ||

Auckland based fiberglass engineering company, Maskell have introduced underground storage product Envirotank to the New Zealand Market.

Envirotank eliminates the risk of corrosion both inside and outside of the storage tank, an issue which in the past has led to harmful, toxic chemicals leaching into the surrounding soil.

Intended for a range of applications, the Envirotank can safely store sewage, storm water and petroleum. Envirotanks can also be equipped with Oil/Water separators, which are designed to prevent any spilled petrol, diesel or detergents from contaminating the storm water drainage system.

“Pollution prevention is critical to keeping our waterways clean. Our dedicated oil separators and storage solutions go above and beyond industry regulatory standards to ensure no silts or hydrocarbons (diesel, petrol or engine oil) can enter your storm water system”.

Envirotanks are constructed from corrosion resistant fiberglass and Maskell offer varying product types, depending on what substance is being stored.

In the past, water storage has been dedicated to steel or concrete tanks, which required a high level of maintenance and were at high risk of corrosion and leakage.

For harsher chemicals like petroleum, Maskell offer an even more durable underground storage tank solution in their double walled fiberglass product.

“Envirotank’s double-wall option for petroleum tanks offers customers proven protection from environmental contamination. After more than 250,000 installations in the U.S. as well as tens of thousands worldwide, Envirotank Double-Wall tanks have seen zero leaks from internal or external corrosion.”

Envirotanks, available in New Zealand through Maskell’s website come with a consultation service to ensure customers receive the ideal product for their underground storage needs.

|  A Maskell release  |  March 07, 2017  ||

The latest New Zealand Manufacturers and Exporters Association (NZMEA) Survey of Business Conditions, completed during February 2017, shows total sales in January 2017 decreased 2.49% (year on year export sales decreased by 3.86% with domestic sales decreasing by 0.66%) on January 2016.

For results tables and graphs, click here.

In the 3 months to January, export sales increased an average of 4.2%, and domestic sales increased 4.8% on average.

The NZMEA survey sample this month covered NZ$232m in annualised sales, with an export content of 56%.

Net confidence fell to -7, down from 10 in December.

The current performance index (a combination of profitability and cash flow) is at 101.3, up from 99.3 last month, the change index (capacity utilisation, staff levels, orders and inventories) was at 101, with no change from the last survey, and the forecast index (investment, sales, profitability and staff) is at 105.3, up on the last result of 104.5. Anything over 100 indicates expansion.

Constraints reported were 75% markets, 17% skilled staff and 8% capital.

A net 13% of respondents reported a productivity increase in January.

Staff numbers decreased 4.10% year on year in January.

Supervisors, tradespersons, managers, professional/scientists and operators/labourers reported a moderate shortage.

“2017 has seen a slow start for manufacturers, experiencing falls in both domestic and export sales on January 2016. This comes after a strong end to the year for November and December, though the export sales did experience challenges prior to this in October, September and July.” Said NZMEA Chief Executive Dieter Adam.

“Domestic were flat in January, falling 0.66% on the same month in 2016. The three month average for domestic sales stayed relatively strong at 4.8%. Export sales decreased 3.86% on January 2016, but sales on the three month average measure say an increase of 4.2%, boosted by the impressive increases felt in November and December.

“Sentiment measures were mixed in January – net confidence fell on December, slipping into the negative. In contrast, our index measures of performance and forecast increased, both sitting in expansion, while the change index remained the same as in December. Staff numbers fell 4.10% on January 2016 – this may be a reflection of some of the challenges in export sales over the last 6 months.

“For comparison, in the recent Overseas Merchandise Trade release from Statistics New Zealand, the value of mechanical machinery and equipment exports increased 1.5% in January on the previous month, but remained 5.4% lower than January 2016. Electrical machinery and equipment exports were flat in January, with an increase of 0.3% on the previous month. These did, however, experience a 9.5% drop on January 2016.

“All in all, we need to keep in mind that surveys of the manufacturing sector will be subject to fluctuations. Weak trends at least aren’t that easy to spot, even when looking at quarterly figures. We also need to be aware that our manufacturing sector is quite closely linked to global trends, and that globally there is a lot of uncertainty at the moment, especially where demand for capital goods is concerned. A lot of what our members manufacture are components or sub-systems for capital goods produced overseas.” Said Dieter Adam.

For further comment, contact Dieter Adam, 027 495 3276.

|  An NZMEA release  |  March 07, 2017  ||