Engineering is a technical business with the specialised skills of engineers needed on projects all over the world.
Demonstrating the right qualifying titles at home and overseas is a necessity to working in this global industry, but titles should not hinder qualified engineers.
The presidents of the Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers (CIBSE), Peter Wong and Engineers Australia's John McIntosh have taken steps to simplify the transfer of equivalent Australian and International titles and qualifications by renewing a longstanding agreement of mutual recognition last week.
The agreement was signed as part of celebrations at the CIBSE Australia and New Zealand 30th Anniversary function at the Melbourne Aquarium.
CIBSE ANZ chair, Paul Angus, said there is a mutual respect for the integrity of the registration process that both institutions adhere to. "This agreement gives our members equivalent footing in Australia and oversees,” he said.
Likewise, qualified Engineers Australia members will find gaining the international equivalent titles of IEng, CEng or EngTech simple through CIBSE.
Members of either Institution wishing to gain equivalent qualifications must apply though the host Institution.
Meanwhile, Thai Nguyen, a mechanical engineering (Hons) student of the University of New South Wales and Simon Green, a graduate building services rngineer from Arup specialising in mechanical engineering design have taken top prizes for the CIBSE ANZ Young Engineers Awards.
Thai was announced Mark Griffin Memorial Award – Student of the Year, having completed an outstanding brief for a sustainable retrofit of an old office building.
The Awards called on entries from engineering students from 17 Universities around the region; open to anyone studying BSc, BEng or MEng in Australia and New Zealand. It is part of CIBSE ANZ’s strategy to nurture and reward the brightest young engineering minds, directing their skills towards solving some of the industries greatest challenges.
The 2018 competition will re-open for entries in November 2017.
| A CCN release || june 22, 2017 |||
Millions of waste tyres each year are to be used to manufacture cement as part of a wider Government plan to address the environmental problems of end of life tyres, Environment Minister Dr Nick Smith announced at the Golden Bay Cement works in Whangarei today.
“New Zealand has a long-standing problem, with five million waste tyres generated each year. We have dozens of tyre stockpiles around the country posing a fire risk, leaching contaminants, providing a breeding ground for rodents and insects, and blotting the landscape. This initiative proposes controls on new stockpiles, establishes a nationwide collection and shredding operation and provides a large scale end use by installing technology to enable waste tyres to be used in cement manufacture.
“The proposed National Environmental Standard will prohibit stockpiles of waste tyres of over 200m3 - 2500 car tyres - without a council consent dealing with the environmental issues of leachate, fire risk, vermin and insects, visual amenity and a bond for future disposal. These new restrictions are needed to protect the environment, prevent ratepayers having to pick up the bill of dealing with stockpiles and to help channel waste tyres into more sustainable recycling and disposal options.
“The Government has provided a grant of $3.8 million for Waste Management New Zealand to set up a nationwide tyre collection network and tyre shredding facilities in Auckland and Christchurch involving capital investment of $6.4 million. This is needed because the major barrier to re-use of waste tyres is their bulk, making transport and disposal uneconomic. The shredding machinery will be imported this year, operational in Auckland by the end of 2017 and in Christchurch in 2018.
“Golden Bay Cement, a subsidiary of Fletcher Building, is being provided with a grant of $13.6 million towards the $18.1 million cost of new equipment that will dispose of 3.1 million shredded tyres per year. This technology is globally one of the most common and economically viable solutions to waste tyres. The high temperature incineration minimises pollutants, the steel in the tyres contributes to the iron requirements of cement and the rubber provides a fuel substitute for coal. The major environmental gain from this initiative is a solution for millions of waste tyres but there is also a benefit in reduced greenhouse gas emissions. Golden Bay Cement is New Zealand’s fifth largest emitter and the substitution of rubber biofuel for coal reduces emissions by 13,000 tonnes per year, or the equivalent of 6000 cars.
“We are also providing grants of $1.2 million to another seven smaller tyre waste projects. Eco Rubber Industries Ltd is being provided with a grant of $600,000 towards $2.4 million of machinery to produce rubber granules for rubber underlay, with a capacity for 600,000 tyres per year. Nufuels Ltd is being provided a $90,000 grant for a $135,000 pilot pyrolysis plant for 150,000 tyres per year. Other grants to Scion and Fulton Hogan cover feasibility studies into using recycled rubber for sound proof building products, roading and cycleway construction that could develop into future end uses for New Zealand’s waste tyres.
“These Government grants of $19 million will enable $28 million of investment into tyre waste solutions. Combined with the new regulations restricting stockpiling, these measures will go a huge way towards a sustainable solution to New Zealand’s end of life tyre problem.”
More information on these of funded projects can be found on the Ministry for the Environment’s website at http://www.mfe.govt.nz/more/funding/waste-minimisation-fund-funded-projects
| A Beehive release || June 22, 2017 |||
A leading New Zealand tech businessman and a former refugee, Mitchell Pham, will deliver a speech in Auckland tonight as part of World Refugee Day.
Pham runs the Augen Software Group and is chair of NZTech and Fintech NZ. He is a trustee of the Auckland Refugee Family Trust (ARFT) which has helped settle 116 people in Auckland over the last five years. The families have come from Afghanistan, Congo, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Iraq, Myanmar, Pakistan, Somalia and Uganda.
Pham will be a speaker at the ARFT and New Zealand Red Cross art exhibition and charity fundraising event in Devonport, Auckland, tonight.
“As a former refugee, this world refugee day has special significance to me personally. I will be speaking tonight about my refugee journey story.
“I was one of the small percentage of people who were fortunate enough to have successfully get out of Vietnam during the 1980s, survived several near-death experiences crossing the South China Sea and two perilous years in four refugee camps in Indonesia. I resettled in the best country on earth, received world-class education here and established my life in New Zealand.
“I have built a business career in an industry – technology - that is now the fastest growing globally. I have reconnected with my immediate family after 13 years apart. I have expanded my Kiwi technology group back into Vietnam to support the growth of New Zealand businesses and creation of opportunities for both countries. I have established my own family and reunited with my siblings in Auckland living apart for 30 years.
“That's a lot of lucky stars to count in a row. But 30 years is a very long time - way too long - to wait to reunite with one's immediate family. So, in 2012, I co-founded the Auckland Refugee Family Trust to help refugees who, out of circumstance, desperately need assistance in reuniting with their families in New Zealand.
“Worldwide, tens of millions of people have been displaced because of conflict, persecution, famine, economic or natural disasters. Many do not survive the journey to safety and resettlement.
“When refugees who have resettled in New Zealand are given entry visas for the remaining members of their immediate families to reunite with them, these one-time-only visas are valid for two years during which time their family members must arrive in the country.
“Many refugees who are newly resettled in Auckland cannot generate the financial means to fund the relocation of their loved ones who are still in refugee camps or danger zones. This is where ARFT plays a role in helping the most desperate families whose visas are soon to expire.
“When new Kiwis stop worrying desperately about family members still living in precarious situations overseas, we start contributing to New Zealand much sooner,” he says.
| A MakeLemonade release || June 20, 2017 |||
A former New Zealand trade negotiator has been appointed the Government's key adviser for securing trade deals with countries outside the European Union.
Crawford Falconer, who has previously described Brexit as a "enormous opportunity", will work with International Trade Secretary Liam Fox to draw up deals ready to go as the UK leaves the EU.
A former vice minister for international trade and foreign affairs and ambassador to the World Trade Organisation, the academic is currently a trade professor at Lincoln University.
It comes as Mr Fox prepares to visit Washington on Monday for talks about future trade links between the UK and the US after Brexit.
He said: "Britain is a great global trading nation and, as we leave the EU, we will embrace the world and seek to build an outward-looking Britain that is confident on the world stage.
"We're attracting the very best global talent to the Department for International Trade and as an international economic department Crawford brings extensive experience of trade negotiation and foreign affairs and will play a key leadership role, with ministers and the first permanent secretary as we further build our trade capability."
The government has faced criticism that it does not have the skills and manpower needed to carry out complex deals for the country's future after Brexit.
In his role as chief trade negotiation adviser and second permanent secretary at the Department for International Trade (DIT), Mr Falconer will be responsible for boosting the negotiating skills in the team as well as developing free trade agreements and market access deals outside the EU.
Officials said more than 3,000 people now work for the department.
Speaking earlier this year at the Legatum Institute think tank, Mr Falconer said Brexit was a "potential game changer" and countries like Australia, New Zealand and Mexico would want to work with the UK.
"It's a bit like somebody who has woken up after a long sleep. They don't quite realise that they are the sleeping giant," he said.
"I think there is a dawning realisation that there's a huge strategic opportunity."
Speaking about his appointment, Mr Falconer, who holds dual New Zealand/ British nationality, said: "As the UK prepares to leave the EU, it will be top of the Government's agenda to turn the enormous new opportunities opening up for the UK into win-win agreements with our trading partners around the globe.
"That will bring tangible new gains to us at home, and it will bring gains to those trading partners that join us.
"As the world's fifth largest economic power, the UK will bring much needed leadership to the international trade agenda. I am absolutely delighted to join this hugely exciting new journey."
| An AOL release || June 17, 2017 |||
As the world of manufacturing becomes more integrated, the role of robotics is changing the shape of the factory floor writes Steven Impey in today's Australian Manufacturers' Monthly Newsletter as he takes a look at the effect it will have on the Australian workforce.
Depending on which literature the industry insider goes by, the impact that robotics will have on the factory floor of the future often splits its audience.
The rise of robots programmed to do a human worker’s job sounds daunting – the very thought of seeing the livelihoods of Australian manufacturing workers potentially cut from under them is itself a concern. Manufacturing jobs have been in a steady decline for several decades as the industry shifts into a different gear.
Continue to original article || June 16, 2017 |||
MSCNews Jun 15: Reaman Industries are water treatment specialists operating out of Napier providing not only a nationwide service but also to Australia and the Pacific Islands. Being a solution providing focused operation they have have been challenged over the years to come up with appropriate solutions. One such request that came through recently from a regional council scientist was to overcome the challenge of effective deep water body aeration at an affordable cost. A solution has developed that met the environmental demands and importantly is still within the regions budget. The details of this project will be incuded in a forth coming Case Study but should you be looking for a solution to a similar problem then This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. is your first point of contact at Reamans.
Brewing giant Carlsberg is setting itself ambitious targets to achieve zero carbon emissions at its breweries by 2030.The announcement follows the company’s plans to roll out ‘Green Fibre’ bottles by 2018. The bottles are designed to degrade into “environmentally non-harmful materials”.
Carlsberg has now said that it will eliminate carbon emissions from breweries by 2030 through “greater use of renewables”.
It also wants to reduce “beer-in-hand” emissions for consumers globally by 30% by 2030 by “engaging with partners along the value chain”.
Cees ‘t Hart, chief executive of the Carlsberg Group, said: “We’re committed to delivering zero carbon emissions and halving water usage at our breweries by 2030. As a first action, we’ll switch to 100% renewable electricity by 2022 and cooperate with partners to protect shared water resources in selected water-scarce areas. I’m certain that in achieving our targets we’ll create efficiency improvements, risk reduction and a more resilient business that exists in harmony with local communities and the environment.”
Simon Dyne General Manager Regional Business North Island, says that emphasis on new technologies is important for developing our future roads, which will need to meet the needs of diverse road users following a number of major incidents involving trucks and cyclists on New Zealand roads over the past two years.
“As a company, we want to prevent unnecessary deaths or injuries on our roads. We want our people, and every road user they interact with, to return home safely every day,” Mr Dyne says.
Fulton Hogan has also joined forces with Dutch company, Heijmans, who have developed a product called Bikescout. By using radar technology and LED indicators in the road surface, Bikescout helps improve the safety of cyclists by warning drivers when cyclists are approaching and how fast they are travelling.
Fulton Hogan is currently testing Bikescout on Hutt Road in Wellington. It has been installed near a two-way cycle lane in front of a Caltex Station. The high traffic volume and speed that road users are travelling in this area creates a high risk zone for cyclists.
“The roads within the communities we work in require new technologies that promote the safety of all road users. We are looking for further opportunities to utilise the capabilities of Bikescout within New Zealand and Australia.”
Decisions on how cycle ways, footpaths and shared use paths are incorporated into a road or bridge project are determined by New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA).
“While working on NZTA projects, we ensure that any worksites we control remain safe for cyclists and pedestrians to use. We are proud to be involved with projects that make New Zealand roads safer for both cyclists and pedestrians.”
Fulton Hogan is currently trialling a new safety measure on the Papanui Parallel cycle project. The company has retrofitted one of their trucks with a 360 degree camera and side rails to help prevent the risk of cyclists going under the vehicle. These features increase the safety of both the cyclists and truck drivers using the road.
In Auckland, Fulton Hogan constructed the Onehunga Foreshore Bridge, which includes a shared path for pedestrians and cyclists. This project provides the Onehunga community with safe access to new coastal parkland, beaches, a new recreational loop, and the Waikaraka cycleway.
Incorporation of separate cycleway infrastructure has been involved in many Fulton Hogan projects such as shared use pedestrian and cycle paths on the Tauranga Eastern Link, the Waikato Expressway, the Christchurch Southern Motorway, and the SH16 Lincoln Road Interchange which also included an extension and improvements to the North-western cycleway.
“Evidence suggests that successful transport networks incorporate a number of modes operating as seamlessly as possible. As road builders for more than 80 years, we are excited to be involved in exploring new frontiers for bike safe design and construction,” Mr Dyne says.
| A Fulton Hogan release || June 14, 2017 |||
Auckland Airport will this evening welcome the first Sichuan Airlines flight direct from Chengdu, China. The new 13-hour direct service provides a seventh direct connection from Auckland Airport to a major Chinese city, and is the first to connect New Zealand directly to south west China.
While the Sichuan Province is traditionally famed for its dramatic landscape, spicy cuisine and for being home to the Giant Panda, its capital, Chengdu, is very much its modern face. Scott Tasker, Auckland Airport’s acting general manager – aeronautical commercial, says this first service to one of China’s major western centres is significant for both trade and tourism.
“Home to some 14.5 million people, Chengdu is one of western China’s most important economic centres and a key transportation hub. Therefore in addition to providing a unique cultural tourism opportunity for New Zealanders, this new route will open New Zealand to a broad new audience of Chinese travellers and support trade links between the two countries.”
“New Zealand now exports over $12 billion worth of goods and services to China a year, making it our second largest trading partner after Australia. The increased cargo capacity that Sichuan Airlines will provide between Chengdu and Auckland will enable further growth in the trade of high value goods between New Zealand and China,” says Mr Tasker.
In terms of tourism, the new service will add 81,000 seats a year to and from China, worth an estimated $102 million to the New Zealand economy.
Founded in 1986, Sichuan Airlines currently operates more than 240 routes, including long-haul services to Australia, Europe, Canada and the United States. This new Auckland route will be its longest direct flight yet, with the A330-200 featuring 24 business class flat-bed seats.
Whatever class of travel passengers choose, Sichuan’s General Manager for New Zealand, JC Shi, says they can expect to be thrilled by the authentic in-flight service.
“Sichuan cuisine is one of China’s four big cuisines, therefore we are delighted to bring the Sichuan flavour into the cabin. Authentic dishes such as hot pot, firewood chicken and barrel fish will be sure to delight and awaken the senses of first time visitors on board,” says Mr Shi.
The new direct service will operate year-round three times a week between Auckland Airport and China’s fifth busiest airport, Chengdu Shuangliu, on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. Tonight’s inaugural flight is scheduled to arrive at 6.45pm.
| An Auckland Airport release || June 13, 2017 |||