The Maintenance Engineering Society’s 2016 SKF National Maintenance Engineering Conference is returning to Hamilton’s Claudelands Showgrounds this November with more new developments to add value to engineers assembling from all around the country. For many years, the society has created a host of activities preceding the conference, designed to add value to the attendee’s experience. The annual field trip to local industry is a special opportunity enjoyed by all, taking place whist the public have a peek at the Trade Expo. The evening icebreaker cocktail evening is not to be missed too, for its fun, food and friendliness. While engineers…

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA--(Marketwired - Sep 13, 2016) - To enable IT service providers to capitalize on fast-moving trends in key technology sectors, Westcon Financial Services has opened offices in Australia. The move signals a strong commitment by the company to support its customers with innovative financial services that can help accelerate their growth potential. Industry veteran Mark Hegarty has been appointed director of Australian and New Zealand (ANZ) operations with responsibility for leading the company's business strategy and operations, as well as managing and delivering its financial solutions and products portfolio for Westcon-Comstor's Australian and New Zealand customers, partners, and manufacturers.…

Takes Us Back To Our Roots. A group of over 50 enthusiastic engineers were treated to a lesson in New Zealand history and heavy engineering when A&G Price opened their Thames plant up to the MESNZ Kaeser Compressors Network Evening in August. The A&G Price story started in the 1860’s in Auckland when two pioneering English brothers, Alfred and George Price, opened an engineering workshop in Onehunga. After burning that factory down, the brothers made the call to move the operation to Thames, at that stage larger than Auckland thanks to the booming gold rush. The links forged (pun intended)…

The Reserve Bank today, Wednesday 14 September 2016, announced the schedule for the release in 2017 and 2018 of its quarterly Monetary Policy Statements (MPS), the interim Official Cash Rate (OCR) reviews, and the six-monthly Financial Stability Reports (FSR). The Bank last year published release dates to the end of 2017, and these are confirmed. In August 2016, the Bank announced that it would use the following rules for the release schedule: · The Bank will publish the MPS on the second Thursday in February, May, August and November. Each MPS includes an OCR announcement.· There will be three intervening…

Rockwell Automation (NYSE: ROK) today acquired Automation Control Products (ACP), a leading provider in centralized thin client, remote desktop and server management software. ACP’s two core products, ThinManager® and Relevance®, provide manufacturing and industrial leaders with visual display and software solutions to manage information and streamline workflows for a more connected manufacturing environment. This acquisition supports the Rockwell Automation growth strategy to help customers increase global competitiveness through The Connected Enterprise – a vision that connects information across the plant floor to the rest of the enterprise. It is accelerated by the Industrial Internet of Things and advances in technologies,…

The Canterbury tech summit to be held in Christchurch on Thursday is already a sell-out which is not surprising considering the rapidly increasing interest and investment in all things technology, Muller says. “Technology is growing at a staggering pace around New Zealand which now has about 29,000 tech firms, contributing $16.2 billion to gross domestic product, $6.3 billion in exports and employing almost 100,000 Kiwis,” Muller says. “Technology is New Zealand’s fastest growing and third largest export sector. Christchurch now has its own vibrant tech sector. It is one of New Zealand’s top regions for IT businesses. Christchurch companies include…

Ask Trading Partners to Join WTO Dispute Proceedings WASHINGTON, Sept. 12, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Dairy organizations in the United States, Australia, the European Union, Mexico and New Zealand today issued a joint letter to their respective trade and agriculture officials, expressing indignation about Canada's recent actions to deepen its already prohibitive restrictions on dairy trade. The groups said Canada's increasingly protectionist policies violate "international trade obligations, hold out the prospect of trade diversion with attendant global price-depressing impacts and are in conflict with the principles of free markets and fair and transparent trade." The U.S. groups, including the National Milk…

Choosing the right CAD software os critical for the success for your projuct and your business. There are a lot of choices, especially among low-cost CAD software solutions, and it's easy to get confused. That’s why you should get this guide, from CAD industry expert Robert Green. Robert identifies the 5 essential questions you should ask before you choose your low-cost CAD software. In minutes, you’ll learn why asking informed questions early on can help you discover: How free CAD software can cost you more than paid software Why all CAD software is not created equal No-nonsense advice to simplify…

The authors of a book being released today on the National Certificate of Educational Achievement (NCEA) say it’s important that the secondary school qualification is used to promote education that prepares students for citizenship, further study and work, rather than simply giving them credentials. Two Victoria University of Wellington senior lecturers have collaborated with a chief researcher from the New Zealand Council for Educational Research (NZCER) to write NCEA In Context—a four-part book which presents an analysis of the past, present and potential future of NCEA. Victoria Faculty of Education contributors, senior lecturers Dr Michael Johnston and Dr Mark Sheehan,…

Volvo’s fully autonomous truck is the first in the world to be tested in operations deep underground in the Kristineberg Mine. The self-driving truck is part of a development project aimed at improving the transport flow and safety in the mine. The truck will cover a distance of 7 kilometres, reaching 1,320 metres underground in the narrow mine tunnels. “This is the world’s first fully self-driving truck to operate under such tough conditions. It is a true challenge to ensure that everything works meticulously more than 1300 metres underground,” says Torbjörn Holmström, member of the Volvo Group Executive Board and…

Auckland Airport today announced that it is to build a brand new 7000sqm warehouse and office facility for international freight forwarding specialist, Röhlig Logistics. The site at 13 Maurice Wilson Avenue will also accommodate two 3000sqm general purpose warehouse and office facilities, further accelerating the Airport Company’s successful speculative build programme which continues to support South Auckland’s strong industrial leasing market. Delivery of the new Röhlig facility will complete Stage 2 development of The Landing – Auckland Airport’s world-class business park, located less than five minutes from the airport terminals. Development focus will now shift to Stage 3 and the…