The unmanned aircraft could be used to interfere with a facility’s computers and other equipment, a researcher said. Industrial facilities should be on guard against drones. Even off-the-shelf versions of the unmanned aircraft could be used to disrupt sensitive systems. On Wednesday, Jeff Melrose, a presenter at Black Hat 2016, showed how consumer drones could do more than just conduct aerial spying. The flying machines can also carry a transmitter to hack into a wireless keyboard or interfere with industrial controls, he said. It’s not enough to place a fence around a building to keep intruders out, according to Melrose,…

Dexion was commissioned to deliver a complete racking solution for the new PAK’nSAVE flagship store in Blenheim. Dexion’s National Supply Centre Manager, Jeff Darby said that the major project objective for Dexion was to install a racking system that would protect against the risks caused by seismic events. Given the recent earthquakes in Christchurch, Foodstuffs was understandably concerned about the risk to staff and customers from earthquake damage to the store, and how Dexion would be able to mitigate this risk with its pallet racking system. Continue to full release

A bus that straddles traffic has made its first journey in the Chinese city of Qinhuangdao. Although only one car was used for the test journey, up to four TEB cars can be linked together. Eventually, the vehicle is expected to reach speeds of up to 60 kilometres per hour. Continue to view video and full release

The Institute of Directors have realsed a guide  on how to get on board with diversity by taking an active, conscious and thoughtful approach to how you support diversity in your boardroom and organisation. Click here to download the guide

International packaging company Orora is increasing its New Zealand manufacturing capabilities, with an injection of more than $25 million in its three key sites in Christchurch, Hastings and Auckland. Orora supplies packaging products and services to the fresh produce, meat, dairy, grocery, fast-moving consumer goods and industrial markets in Australasia and North America. In New Zealand, the company delivers fibre packaging through its corrugated packaging business, Orora Kiwi Packaging. Continue to full release    

Tertiary Education, Skills and Employment Minister Steven Joyce has today welcomed figures that show a greater proportion of domestic degree-level students are enrolling in qualifications in STEM-related subjects (science, technology, engineering and maths). A report released today, What are they doing? The field of study of domestic students/learners analyses the fields of study of domestic students in the New Zealand tertiary education system over the past eight years. Continue to the full release and links to the reports

Go Bus Transport, New Zealand’s largest and most diverse bus operator, is to acquire the business and brand of Johnston’s Coachlines. The deal is conditional at this stage but is expected to be completed before 1 September Go Bus currently operates a range of bus and coach services across New Zealand, including metropolitan urban passenger services and school buses. Johnston’s is a dedicated premium coach line which has operated for 80 years, with depots in Auckland, Christchurch and Queenstown. Go Bus Managing Director Calum Haslop says the acquisition of Johnston’s, essentially a family operation, is a great fit for Go…

If you supply engineering or any other services you should be aware of what is on the horizon. CONTRACTOR PREQUALIFICATIONIf you are thinking this is just another management buzz word that has a number of compliance fish hooks, you are 75% right but on the other side of the ledger, it can have a number of advantages. What is prequalification?In the yester years of ISO 9001 this was called supplier appraisal, in this new age of the 2015 health and safety legislation, it’s called pre-qualification. This is a relatively new term to the NZ health and safety vocabulary. If you…

The chief executive of New Zealand's leading export supply chain firm Kotahi, David Ross, is urging exporters to work together to create the most efficient supply chain. If New Zealand firms collaborate when it comes to shipping cargo offshore, they can create a stronger supply chain and future proof the country's exports. "I think there's a lot of great brand ideas out there that don't achieve their full potential because they don't have great supply chain and operations processes," said Ross. Kotahi has over 40 customers from a diverse range of sectors and manages the cargo pooling and export of…

In today's Otago Daily Times Allison Beckham reports that several workers have lost their jobs after the recycling plant at the Tiwai Point aluminium smelter closed suddenly on Tuesday. The multimillion-dollar plant, which opened in 2011, was owned and operated by Bahrain company Taha Asia Pacific, which was put into liquidation at 8.55am on Tuesday. Liquidator Rhys Cain, of Ernst and Young, said yesterday the liquidation meant all employment contracts were terminated. He declined to say how many people were affected. "Staff have been notified, and we are working hard to ensure they get their entitlements.'' Continue to full release

Foreign Minister Murray McCully has named diplomat Stephen Payton as New Zealand’s next ambassador to Japan. “New Zealand has long-standing and strong ties with Japan, underpinned by a close network of personal and business relationships,” Mr McCully says. “A major focus for the Ambassador will be on helping to promote New Zealand interests in the areas of food and agriculture, security, and energy. “Japan will host the Rugby World Cup in 2019 and the Olympics in 2020. Both these events will provide an opportunity to strengthen links between our two counties at all levels,” Mr McCully says” Mr Payton has…