Founded by Max Farndale 1947 - 2018
Alibaba Group has opened a new office in Melbourne, with a remit to oversee sourcing and operations in both Australia and New Zealand.
The new office is Alibaba's first expansion into the region, with personnel positioned to source and promote products, which are becoming increasing popular with consumers in China and South East Asia, from both countries. Alibaba will also use the new office to better facilitate the supply of goods to markets in Asia in which it operates, having also signed a memorandum of understanding with Australia Post to improve logistics between Australia and China. It is also understood that the relationship will be used to develop an Australian shop on the Lazada marketplace in South East Asia, of which Alibaba are the majority shareholder.Cross border ecommerce a priority for Alibaba
Alibaba's new office in Melbourne is similar to other offices they have opened around the world in order to facilitate better sourcing of products that Chinese consumers are increasingly demanding. For example, Alibaba's office in London is used for the same purpose, attracting both suppliers and retailers to use its services to sell products into Asia via its platforms.
In the last few years, both Woolworths, Metcash and Costco, alongside numerous other retailers, have all started selling products on Alibaba's Tmall platform in China, with cross border ecommerce set to grow further in the future. Something that Alibaba CEO, Jack Ma, who was present in Melbourne, is keen to promote.
| A SupplyChain release | February 7, 2017 ||
Prime Vision has launched a new strategy for its regional division in Australia and New Zealand with a specific focus on the Postal and Logistics industries.
According to Prime Vision: “The new strategy responds to the challenges faced by Postal and Logistics operators in the region, providing a range of solutions to help operators improve utilization of their assets, providing tracking of individual items from first mile to last mile, increasing parcel processing capacity cost effectively, and providing Consumers more choice for delivery.”
Prime Vision added that it is offering a new portfolio of solutions to deliver the new strategy including:
• Asset tracking for cages, vehicles and items within cages.• Item tracking, for first mile to last mile, using printed electronics for identification instead of barcode, stamps or other indicia.• A fully connected Internet of Postal Things (IoPT), platform built on the latest architecture technology, connecting physical ‘things’ used in the operation, with gateways to enterprise systems.• Autonomous and assisted sorting solutions, which combine Prime Visions recognition technology with robotics to sort parcels from point-to-point using mobile robots.• Smart mailboxes and home parcel lockers with secure access management solutions to enable controlled access by postal workers and confirmed acceptance by Consumers.
Prime Automation established its office in Sydney in 2011.
The Prime Automation division will change its name and be known as Prime Vision Australia, and existing contracts for the Food and Beverage industry will transfer to a new regional service provider.
| A Prime Vision release | February 7, 2017 ||
Finance Minister Steven Joyce will appoint current Deputy Reserve Bank Governor Grant Spencer as the Acting Governor of the Bank for six months, following the expiry of current Governor Graeme Wheeler’s term on September 26 this year.
"Mr Wheeler's term as Governor expires on September 26, three days after the general election, and he has decided not to seek reappointment," Mr Joyce says. "Following advice from the Cabinet Office and consultation with Cabinet, I have decided that the most appropriate course of action would be to appoint an acting Governor for a six month period to cover the post-election caretaker period. This will give the next Government time to make a decision on the appointment of a permanent Governor for the next five year term.
"I have decided to appoint Mr Spencer as acting Governor from 27 September 2017 to 26 March 2018, on the advice of the Reserve Bank Board of Directors. The Government is pleased to have someone of his calibre to move into the role. He is a highly experienced member of the Bank’s Leadership team who will provide stability and continuity through this caretaker period prior to the appointment of the new Governor."
Mr Joyce and Mr Spencer have agreed that there will be no change to the Policy Targets Agreement for the period Mr Spencer will be acting Governor.
Mr Spencer has advised the Government that he won't be applying for the permanent role, and intends to retire following his period as acting Governor.
The Bank has had one previous acting Governor. Former Deputy Governor Rod Carr was appointed in an acting capacity for the pre-election and caretaker period around the 2002 General election, following the resignation of Governor Brash.
Mr Joyce thanked Governor Wheeler for his service to the Bank.
"The Governor has performed his role calmly and expertly during a highly unusual period for the world economy. I thank him for his service up until now and for the remainder of his term as Governor," Mr Joyce says.
| A Beehive release | February 7, 2016 ||
Cadpro's Matthew Weakes commenting on the news that Carl Bass has resigned as CEO of Autodesk:"Carl has been fantastic as a leader leaving Autodesk in a very good position in each of the markets it operates in. With a very hands on practical and pragmatic approach he has overseen the creation of such outstanding facilities as Pier 9.
As a ‘maker’ he really understands the issues manufacturers face, he even directly helped us with getting a post processor working for machine he has at home that one of our customers also had!
He will be missed."
Matthew
Matthew Weake BE(Mech)(Hons)Mechanical & Manufacturing Sales
CADPRO Systems LtdPhone: +64 9 302 4028Mobile: +64 274 820 845Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Science and Innovation Minister Paul Goldsmith has today announced the reappointment of Claire Robinson, Brett Hewlett, and Suse Reynolds to the Callaghan Innovation Stakeholder Advisory Group.
“The reappointment of Ms Robinson, Mr Hewlett, and Ms Reynolds recognises the valuable skills and insights they all contribute to the advisory group, as well as their work to ensure that Callaghan is connected and engaged with its stakeholders,” says Mr Goldsmith.
Callaghan Innovation is the government agency tasked with growing New Zealand’s economy by helping business succeed through technology.
The seven-member Stakeholder Advisory Group provides independent, expert advice to the Callaghan Innovation Board. It includes some of the most well-respected people involved in New Zealand innovation.
Professor Robinson, Mr Hewlett and Ms Reynolds have been reappointed for further two-year terms.
Ms Reynolds, founder and Board member of Angel HQ, has also been appointed as the chair of the Advisory Group.
“Suse’s extensive networks and in-depth experience with New Zealand’s angel investment community stand her in strong stead to lead the Advisory Group, and I welcome her appointment as Chair,” Mr Goldsmith says.
More information about the Advisory Group can be found on Callaghan Innovation’s website.
| A Beehive release | February 7, 2017 ||
New tool provides easy access to economic data
A new online tool will make it easy for businesses and decision makers to access a rich set of data on the performance New Zealand’s industrial sectors, Minister for Economic Development Simon Bridges says.
Launched today, the New Zealand Sectors Dashboard provides the latest available data on twenty-six different sectors covering the whole economy, from the primary industries, manufacturing and services sectors to government, education and health.
‘The New Zealand economy is diverse and dynamic. Strong GDP and job growth, together with the impact of technology, is driving change in every sector. This tool draws on 53 datasets from Statistics New Zealand and other sources,” Mr Bridges says.
Data includes GDP, productivity and job growth rates by sector, as well as median incomes, capital investment, innovation and research and development rates and much more.
“The dashboard is a comprehensive, easy-to-use interactive resource that unlocks a huge range of data for businesses, entrepreneurs and analysts enabling them to keep track of sector trends and visualise opportunities for new investment and job creation,” Mr Bridges says.
Information is presented using dynamic graphs and data tables so users can easily look at trends in sector performance, with comparisons to the New Zealand average or with other sectors.
The Sectors Dashboard complements the Tourism Dashboard and the Regional Economic Activity Tools.
| A beehive release | February 7, 2016 ||
A Ferret news item around the release of a lightweight and durable rope guide providing greater flexibility, reliability and safety on small or mid-sized wire rope hoists, to Australia and New Zealand.
Wire rope hoists are used in a wide variety of industries including construction and infrastructure, mining, manufacturing and materials handling, automotive, cement, primary production, process engineering, ports, shipping and logistics.
The guide has a rigid construction, allowing it to withstand extreme and demanding environments.
Kevin Williams, national parts and sales support manager, Konecranes Australia and New Zealand, said it was simple to install and does not require any speciality tools other than spanner or ratchet.
“Rope guides optimise the performance of wire rope hoists, by guiding the rope as it extends or retracts, making sure it’s straight and not causing additional wear. They are an essential part of maintaining a long rope life,” Williams added.
The universal and patented design allows for a range of drum diameters with fast installation and its roller wheels provide smooth transition movement, which can reduce drum wear.
A variety of accessories, sensors or other equipment can be directly fitted on the frame. This modular design allows for the fitting of additional features such as drum cleaning, side-pull prevention and rope measuring.
| A Ferret release | February 6, 2017 ||
Connected machines deliver double the bending length and press force – single-machine operation boosts capacity – ToolShuttle with space for 60 meters of tools – shorter set-up and search times, higher productivity bold
The sheet-metal plates that demonstrate the power and precision of the TruBend Series 8000 are famously big and fat – and now the TRUMPF machines for bending large-format components can actually deliver twice the performance. How? In a tandem version. Bending expert Babette Kopp from TRUMPF Machine Tools in Teningen explains: “If you utilize two machines as just one, it gives you the option of doubling the bending length, that is, up to 8100 millimeters, and also of doubling the press force – and that adds up to 10,000 kilonewtons. In other words, the parts portfolio can be expanded significantly, because compared to any stand-alone machine in the 8000 series, the user can bend longer material.”
The tandem version comes as standard with a C-frame with a throat depth of 820 millimeters and a maximum distance between table and press beam of 820 millimeters. This, combined with the fact that the table width is a mere 140 millimeters despite the enormous bending forces, further increases bending flexibility and part variety. Of course, each machine can also be operated individually, for double the capacity with less setup work.
Rapid speed is also no problem in tandem operationFor safe operation in stand-alone mode, the two machines are separated from each other at the push of a button by a protective door. In tandem operation, the door moves back automatically, so that bending can take place along the entire length. To ensure maximum process reliability, the BendGuard safety systems of the two individual machines are connected to one another – so the entire bending length is directly under control on the tandem machine, enabling rapid speed even in connected operation.
Surface-mounted version for easy installationInstallation of the tandem is uncomplicated because, unlike other large-format bending machines, it arrives as standard in the production hall as a surface-mounted version. Costs for elaborate machine foundations are no longer necessary. Instead, the two stand-alone machines are individually loaded from the truck and simply connected to each other. Here, the tandem partners are fixed together precisely using tensioning screws with fine threads. In addition, the machine tables are bolted using solid connecting elements – ensuring stability and accuracy during tandem operation for the best possible bending results.
Fewer tool changes for more productivity and part varietyWith the TruBend Series 8000, high-quality bending is guaranteed by means of mechanical crowning with a precisely adjustable crowning curve. Thanks to the selective adjustment option of the crowning and precise synchronization of both machines, the tandem version offers bending results that are just as good as those of the stand-alone machine. The CNC-controlled crowning ensures constant angle accuracy along the entire bending length.
In contrast to the eight-meter-long stand-alone machine, the TruBend Series 8000 tandem version enables lower tool offset (I-axis) along the entire bending length. This allows a great variety of different bends, and also folds, using the same combination of upper and lower tools. The number of tool changes decreases, while productivity and part variety are both increased.
ToolShuttle – storage space for a full 60 meters of toolsFor even more productivity on large-format TRUMPF machines, the ToolShuttle now offers a special storage system for upper and lower tools. Babette Kopp explains: “With the ToolShuttle, users are being given a tooling concept for heavy tools for the first time. It enables simple and ergonomic setup while minimizing setup and search times.” For TRUMPF bending machines in the 8000 Series weighing up to 600 tonnes, the ToolShuttle has room for up to 28 upper and 32 lower tool compartments – that adds up to total storage space for more than 60 meters of tools! In order to avoid tilting of offset tools, special storage compartments ensure correct support. Further storage space is provided by practical drawers in the lower part of the ToolShuttle.
Easy transportation of heavy tools – with the intelligent transfer unitVia a moveable transfer unit with three tool holders at the top and bottom respectively, the tools are brought to the bending machine. This not only protects the operator’s back: if he equips the upper and lower transfer unit with new tools and moves them to the bending machine, he can also push the tools to be changed into one of the free tool holders at the same time. This means that he can equip and remove tools in just one operation. A useful additional option: The turning unit makes it possible to turn heavy and/or offset tools through 180 degrees without any effort at all.
| A Trumpf release | February 2, 2017 ||
Trade Minister Todd McClay today welcomed the inaugural daily flight of Qatar Airways direct Auckland – Doha service at Auckland International Airport saying the world's longest flight was set to boost New Zealand trade and tourism.
“Qatar is a member of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and the air link will continue to gain importance when New Zealand concludes a Free Trade Agreement with the GCC,” Mr McClay says.
The new service is the world’s longest commercial flight, taking 17 hours and 30 minutes and covering a distance of 14,535 kilometres.
“The new Auckland – Doha service will not only provide more options and connections for business and leisure travellers, but will also provide an additional 116 tonnes of freight capacity every week. This increased freight capacity will support New Zealand exporters getting their fresh product to the Middle East and beyond,” Mr McClay says.
Qatar is a significant trading partner of New Zealand, with annual two-way trade exceeding $330 million.
“As a trading nation, New Zealand relies on effective air services to create much needed connections with the rest of the world. The estimated economic impact of this new service will be well in excess of $50 million,” Mr McClay says.
Qatar Airways has an extensive global network of more than 150 destinations. The new service from Auckland improves access to cities in Europe, Central Asia, Africa and the Middle East.
| A Beehive release | Januasy 6, 2017 ||
Palace of the Alhambra, Spain
By: Charles Nathaniel Worsley (1862-1923)
From the collection of Sir Heaton Rhodes
Oil on canvas - 118cm x 162cm
Valued $12,000 - $18,000
Offers invited over $9,000
Contact: Henry Newrick – (+64 ) 27 471 2242
Mount Egmont with Lake
By: John Philemon Backhouse (1845-1908)
Oil on Sea Shell - 13cm x 14cm
Valued $2,000-$3,000
Offers invited over $1,500
Contact: Henry Newrick – (+64 ) 27 471 2242
|
|
