Items filtered by date: Tuesday, 02 December 2014

Chorus has today announced that its service company partner Visionstream will be taking over fibre installations in areas that are currently being serviced by Downer.

Visionstream, the telecommunications division of Ventia, is one of Australasia’s largest infrastructure services companies.

The announcement follows Downer’s decision not to re-tender for this work, which was announced at Chorus’ annual results on 30 August 2016.

The transition will occur in the Hutt Valley, Masterton, Napier, Hastings and Gisborne in the North Island and Ashburton, Timaru, Oamaru, Queenstown, Invercargill, Dunedin in the South Island.

Downer has chosen to concentrate on other aspects of its relationship with Chorus, including the copper network and the communal UFB build.

Chorus expects that some Downer technicians will be affected by the change.

However, with demand for fibre increasing significantly, technicians may have opportunities either to move to Visionstream - which will be expanding its number of technicians to support the UFB installations - or remain with Downer and continue to work on the copper network.

“We’ve been open to the need to improve the experience we give our customers, as well as our need for more technicians, and how we want to retain skilled people in the industry,” said Chorus’ General Manager Customer Services, Nick Woodward.

“Visionstream’s operating model has proven to be very effective in attracting new crews and in getting through the most jobs in a day.

“Visionstream has already successfully taken over in Wellington, Porirua and Manawatu, and we have seen significant improvements in performance in those areas.

“Chorus, Visionstream and Downer are all committed to a smooth transition with the minimum of disruption for our technicians,” he said.

The change means Visionstream will now cover around 80% of the areas of UFB that Chorus is responsible for, with the balance being held by Broadspectrum, and multi-dwelling unit specialist UCG.

Guidance

Fibre uptake is significantly ahead of expectations and given related mobilisation costs in a time of relatively full employment, Chorus expects to be able to hold average connection costs per unit flat in nominal terms across the term of this contract rather than secure further economies in connection costs. Given this, Chorus now expects to track at the top end of the total programme view for the average cost to connect standard residential premises of $900 to $1,100 in 2011 dollars.

Chorus is separately assessing future capitalisation policies in relation to NGA related provisioning costs that are currently expensed and were not in the scope of guidance at the time of demerger. Chorus may provide an update to guidance when this work is completed later in FY17.

Will Stirling examines the benefits of steering clear of liquid coolant in The Engineer

At the interface between a cutting tool edge and a metallic workpiece, the temperature can vary from 200°C to over 1,300°C. At such temperatures softer metals such as aluminium melt and the cut surface of the component can be damaged. However, with modern coatings and tool technology the expensive tooling is not badly affected by heat alone. It is thermal shock, or rapid temperature variations that weakens tools and this is far more likely to reduce tool life than simply exposing tools to high temperatures.

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Auckland Airport has signed a joint promotion and marketing agreement with Alipay, China’s leading online payment solution. Alipay is owned by Ant Financial Services Group, which is part of e-commerce giant Alibaba Group.

Jason Delamore, Auckland Airport’s general manager – marketing and technology, says, “This agreement will help us improve the customer experience for travellers from China, our fastest growing passenger market. The Alipay mobile payment technology will make it easier than ever for Chinese travellers and visitors to enjoy Auckland Airport’s expanding specialty retail and food and beverage offer, and for our retailers to gain access to the growing Chinese market. That’s a win for everyone.”

Alipay will work with participating airport retailers to set them up with the Alipay mobile payment platform. Once the platform is in place, customers will be able to use their Alipay mobile accounts to make purchases.

Mr Delamore says 20 of the airport’s retail stores have already signed up for Alipay, with more expected to join over time.

The new agreement is part of Alipay’s global “Future Airport” programme, which aims to provide convenient, comprehensive services to bring a “taste of home” experience for Chinese travellers around the world. Auckland Airport is the first airport in Australasia to take part in the programme and joins eight other international airports, including Singapore’s Changi Airport, Hong Kong International Airport and Munich Airport.

Alipay currently has over 450 million users in China. Over 80,000 retailers accept Alipay in Asia, Europe and North America.

“This is an exciting development for Auckland Airport,” says Mr Delamore. “Mobile payment platforms are enjoying huge growth and they’re fast becoming the most popular way for Chinese travellers to pay for goods and services and share their travel experiences.

“The Alipay partnership also opens up opportunities to communicate with potential travellers from China before they come to New Zealand and with Chinese visitors while they’re travelling here. We’ll be using those opportunities to promote New Zealand as a destination.”

In the year to 30 June 2016, Auckland Airport welcomed over 713,000 arriving and departing passengers from China.

Auckland Airport has signed a joint promotion and marketing agreement with Alipay, China’s leading online payment solution. Alipay is owned by Ant Financial Services Group, which is part of e-commerce giant Alibaba Group.

Jason Delamore, Auckland Airport’s general manager – marketing and technology, says, “This agreement will help us improve the customer experience for travellers from China, our fastest growing passenger market. The Alipay mobile payment technology will make it easier than ever for Chinese travellers and visitors to enjoy Auckland Airport’s expanding specialty retail and food and beverage offer, and for our retailers to gain access to the growing Chinese market. That’s a win for everyone.”

Alipay will work with participating airport retailers to set them up with the Alipay mobile payment platform. Once the platform is in place, customers will be able to use their Alipay mobile accounts to make purchases.

Mr Delamore says 20 of the airport’s retail stores have already signed up for Alipay, with more expected to join over time.

The new agreement is part of Alipay’s global “Future Airport” programme, which aims to provide convenient, comprehensive services to bring a “taste of home” experience for Chinese travellers around the world. Auckland Airport is the first airport in Australasia to take part in the programme and joins eight other international airports, including Singapore’s Changi Airport, Hong Kong International Airport and Munich Airport.

Alipay currently has over 450 million users in China. Over 80,000 retailers accept Alipay in Asia, Europe and North America.

“This is an exciting development for Auckland Airport,” says Mr Delamore. “Mobile payment platforms are enjoying huge growth and they’re fast becoming the most popular way for Chinese travellers to pay for goods and services and share their travel experiences.

“The Alipay partnership also opens up opportunities to communicate with potential travellers from China before they come to New Zealand and with Chinese visitors while they’re travelling here. We’ll be using those opportunities to promote New Zealand as a destination.”

In the year to 30 June 2016, Auckland Airport welcomed over 713,000 arriving and departing passengers from China.

Air New Zealand will begin rolling out inflight wifi on its jet services in 2017.

Chief Executive Officer Christopher Luxon today announced at a media and travel trade event in Sydney that flights between Australia and New Zealand would be the first to receive connectivity.

“Air New Zealand is in the final stages of commercial negotiations with Inmarsat and Panasonic Avionics with internet connectivity to be supplied by Inmarsat’s new global GX satellite constellation and integrated with Air New Zealand’s in-cabin Panasonic Avionics technology. Proving flights will begin in the second half of 2017 and world-class internet services progressively available on Tasman, Pacific Island and long haul jet fleets from the end of next year,” Mr Luxon says.

Domestic New Zealand jet services are likely to offer a wifi service from 2018.

“Given Air New Zealand operates some of the longest flights in the world, and in oceanic areas where there has historically been poor quality satellite service, we have patiently worked with partners until comfortable that a service which meets the high expectations of our customers is available,” he says.

“Proving flights on a partner company test aircraft have now given us the confidence to introduce what we believe will be the world’s most reliable inflight connectivity. Customers will be able to use their social media channels, stay on top of emails and browse the internet.

“Our new system will also allow us to enhance real time features within our state of the art Inflight Entertainment System as well as providing our flight crew with an enhanced ability to manage customer requests related to their ground travel.”

Chief Digital Officer Avi Golan says Air New Zealand is committed to enhancing customer journeys by leveraging the latest technology in the air and on the ground.

“We are working to bring digital innovations to every step of the customer journey and it will be exciting to see inflight wifi come to life for customers right across the Air New Zealand global network,” Mr Golan says.

Air New Zealand expects to release details of the operating business model in the first half of 2017.

Air New Zealand will begin rolling out inflight wifi on its jet services in 2017.

Chief Executive Officer Christopher Luxon today announced at a media and travel trade event in Sydney that flights between Australia and New Zealand would be the first to receive connectivity.

“Air New Zealand is in the final stages of commercial negotiations with Inmarsat and Panasonic Avionics with internet connectivity to be supplied by Inmarsat’s new global GX satellite constellation and integrated with Air New Zealand’s in-cabin Panasonic Avionics technology. Proving flights will begin in the second half of 2017 and world-class internet services progressively available on Tasman, Pacific Island and long haul jet fleets from the end of next year,” Mr Luxon says.

Domestic New Zealand jet services are likely to offer a wifi service from 2018.

“Given Air New Zealand operates some of the longest flights in the world, and in oceanic areas where there has historically been poor quality satellite service, we have patiently worked with partners until comfortable that a service which meets the high expectations of our customers is available,” he says.

“Proving flights on a partner company test aircraft have now given us the confidence to introduce what we believe will be the world’s most reliable inflight connectivity. Customers will be able to use their social media channels, stay on top of emails and browse the internet.

“Our new system will also allow us to enhance real time features within our state of the art Inflight Entertainment System as well as providing our flight crew with an enhanced ability to manage customer requests related to their ground travel.”

Chief Digital Officer Avi Golan says Air New Zealand is committed to enhancing customer journeys by leveraging the latest technology in the air and on the ground.

“We are working to bring digital innovations to every step of the customer journey and it will be exciting to see inflight wifi come to life for customers right across the Air New Zealand global network,” Mr Golan says.

Air New Zealand expects to release details of the operating business model in the first half of 2017.

Island State is Running Out of Patience.

Geopolitics penetrated Wellington last night when at the Republic of China’s national day celebrations there was let rip from the podium a scathing condemnation of Beijing’s veto of Taiwan’s right to participate in the International Civil Aviation Organisation conference.

The veto was calculated to hit the island state’s sensitive spot. Beijing’s official reason was that the veto was the response to Taipei’s recent political developments, writes our diplomatic roundsman.

In effect the ICAO veto snub was calculated to hit Taiwan in one of its newest and most important economic areas – tourism. In the line of Beijing’s fire was also cross-strait investment between the two Chinas.

Also conveniently in this line of fire was President Obama’s Asia pivot in which Taipei is the eastern fulcrum.

Even more directly in the cross-hairs of this is the Trans Pacific Partnership Agreement signed off by all contributing nations in Auckland this year.

Beijing views many of these nations, Taiwan especially, as being under its own suzerainty and not Washington’s.

The Taiwan national day is off the beaten track for government people such as diplomats and also for the media.

Usually the event includes a brisk reeling off of the nations’ over achievement in defined areas of productivity, foreign exchange, and growth in general along with the way all this has harmonised with Western-style ambitions in multiculturalism and social equity.

But on this occasion the wraps were taken off and Beijing singled out for its obvious obstructionism.  Officially the Taiwan representation in New Zealand is known as the Taipei Economic & Cultural Office.

Taiwan’s official embassy which was in Burnell Avenue Thorndon was abruptly closed when under the direction of president Richard Nixon the United States recognised Beijing.

The official broadside at the national day was also a reminder to the West which is currently preoccupied and in various forms by the immigration issue and the problems it has spawned.

The United States tilt toward Asia corresponds and thus conflicts with Beijing’s parallel push into this area and simultaneously also into the MENA area, Middle East North Africa.

The strong and deliberate words delivered at the usually subdued Wellington celebration of Taiwan’s national day indicate that the temperature in all this is rising.

From the MSCNewsWire reporters' desk - Thursday 6 October 2016

We are looking at hold downs for secondhand tanks.These tanks will hold tallow and are approx. 4m dia. x 8-10m high.Our current design does not meet the new seismic standard.Anyone have ideas, recommendations?Needs to meed the code for the vertical up thrust and rolling EQ's. Allow tallow is quite a heavy viscosity it does have a slopping affect with EQ'skene

Link Here to posting on The Factory Floor Exchange -  Thursday 6 October 2016

Auckland Airport has been recognised for its commitment to employing and developing young Aucklanders at the annual ‘Young at Heart’ Youth Employer Pledge Awards.

In the past year Auckland Airport has directly employed almost 50 young people and through Ara, the airport’s jobs and skills hub, connected many more to full-time employment with companies working on the airport’s 30-year development programme.

Anna Cassels-Brown, Auckland Airport’s general manager – people and safety, says, “We’re thrilled to be recognised and so very proud to be playing a part in helping young Aucklanders into jobs and careers. There are so many talented, motivated young people in Auckland and they’re the city’s future workforce. Everyone benefits, including businesses like ours, when we give them opportunities to work and build their skills.”

The airport has won the Industry Leadership Award for launching Ara and the School Engagement and Work Experience Award for its work with students and teachers in local schools. The Young at Heart Awards recognise the efforts of businesses like Auckland Airport that have signed the Auckland Council’s Youth Employer Pledge and are making a commitment to employ Auckland’s young talent to grow their workforce and business.

Ms Cassels-Brown says that helping young people into employment and careers is a partnership.

“We value the support we’ve had in the past year from the team at Ara, our airport jobs and skill hub, from local schools, businesses located at the airport, government agencies, training providers and the South Auckland community.”

“This award recognises that we’ve put a good foundation in place and we’ll be building on that in coming years to help more young Aucklanders into careers at and around the airport.”

The airport is working with 15 South Auckland secondary schools to prepare students for work, offering work experience, careers seminars and scholarships to support students’ tertiary study. In July the airport awarded 19 South Auckland teachers scholarships to fund their professional development.

Science and Innovation Minister Steven Joyce today announced the High-Value Nutrition National Science Challenge is investing $3 million in its Consumer Insights and Science of Food research programmes.

“The research into high-value nutrition is hugely important in moving our food production from volume to value”, Mr Joyce says. “These projects will help product development that brings maximum returns for New Zealand food exporters.”

The Consumer Insights research programme is focused on understanding consumers’ beliefs, perceptions, attitudes and behaviours.

“Up to $1.5 million has been allocated to research the science of consumers, with a focus on health and wellness needs of Asian consumers. It will research what is needed to establish a habitual consumption of high-value nutritional foods, which is vital in ensuring investment is directed in areas that will resonate most with consumers.

“The completed first phase of this work studied the information currently available to New Zealand businesses, and their knowledge gaps in understanding consumers’ needs and behaviours.”

This programme will provide direction to clinical research supporting the development of high-value foods and beverages for Asian markets. Companies will also get better information on how to market their products to demonstrate how they meet the needs of consumers.

“The Science of Food research programme will also receive $1.5 million to address the technological challenges in protecting the health promoting compounds (‘bioactives’) in food during the journey from raw ingredients to finished food products, through to digestion,” Mr Joyce says.

The team will design ingredients and processes that keep those bioactives in top condition within food products, so that when eaten, the bioactives are released to the body at the right stage of digestion needed to deliver their identified health benefits.

The Consumer Insights research programme is led by Dr Roger Harker of Plant and Food Research, and is a collaboration between Plant and Food Research, the University of Auckland, the University of Otago, Price Waterhouse Coopers and Trace Research.

The Science of Food research programme is led by Distinguished Professor Harjinder Singh, co-Director of the Riddet Institute at Massey University, and involves experts from Massey University, the University of Otago, the Cawthron Institute, AgResearch and the Israel Institute of Technology.