Weekly Overview 29 September 2016This week we discuss the way our export dependence upon agriculture retards long-term growth in NZ’s economy and incomes when compared with many other countries. The absence of any fear that our meat and dairy sectors will ever be relocated offshore directs attention toward deeper and deeper efforts to open new markets for the same old products rather than investing in new ones and owning the chains for distributing them globally. Download the report here

The Bioenergy Association invites owners and operators of waste water treatment plant or anyone interested getting their trade waste processed instead of disposing to landfill to attend this webinar. The focus of this webinar will be to: Outline the process of recuperative thickening Discuss how the processing of trade waste in WWTP can improve WWT costs. Outline how biogas technologies can be a significant tool for local government to contribute to greenhouse gas emission reduction by reducing emissions of methane to air (Methane is like CO2 on steroids) Provide an opportunity to engage with other webinar attendees on the opportunities…

Who: Sophie Punte, Executive Director of the Smart Freight Centre.  Ms Punte will address attendees on the role of collaboration referencing global examples of best practice, some of the levers and trends that have enabled this and look at what can be applied in our country. What: EECA and Sustainable Business Council seminar about how we can create a low emissions freight sector for New Zealand. Where: Auckland Beca auditorium, Ground Floor, 21 Pitt St When: 11.55am – 12.30pm, Wednesday 5 October About Sophie PunteSophie Punte is the Executive Director of the Smart Freight Centre she founded in 2013 as…

Engineering Business plus Workshop for sale in the Canterbury region.  A proven engineering business operating successfully for over 50 years. Comes complete with a fit for purpose workshop all set on 1634 square metres of land. Zoned "living 1" in the Selwyn District Plan.Whilst the general engineering, structural and agricultural work is on-going, the owner works part-time on the business and is ably assisted in the workshop by two full time staff members.This engineering operation enjoys a large catchment of repeat clientele with further potential available in the business. Our vendor is motivated to move on and there is a…

CADPRO Systems, iConstruct, Global Survey, Autodesk, and Sharp invite you to join us for demonstrations of software & hardware showing workflows and insights into the latest BIM tools for Construction. BIM For Construction - Technology Day Location : Christchurch & Auckland Dates :        10th October (Monday) & 12th October 2016 (Wednesday) Time :         9:00pm - 4:00pm Reserve your place and remember you can claim CPD (Continuing Professional Development) points for this event. Check out the agenda for the day, availability and registration.  

The Lattey Civil team from Hastings travelled to Napier to finish off last week on a high

Brussels, Belgium – Solvay is expanding its composite materials capacities with a state-of-the-art resin facility and an upgraded site in Östringen, Germany. The expansion is to help meet growing demand from aircraft customers for lightweighting materials and to provide products and services for parts such as engine fan blades. Solvay's site will produce and supply materials including for the LEAP engine produced by CFM International, the joint company between GE and Safran Aircraft Engines, for Airbus and Boeing. Solvay will produce its infusion resins and resins for reinforced composite materials from this facility, which is expected to be in production…

The Christchurch Regenerative Medicine and Tissue Engineering Group (CReaTE), a multidisciplinary research team at New Zealand’s University of Otago, is using 3D printing to develop new bioprinting techniques and biomaterials in order to repair damaged tissues following trauma or disease. 3D bioprinting is seen by many as one of the most important emerging technologies in the ongoing battle against tissue damage, whether brought about by trauma or disease. Bioprinting and biomaterials research is taking place all over the world, but a group of medical researchers at the University of Otago, based in Christchurch, South Island, is making determined strides in…

Manufacturers of metal-cutting machines are shearing prices to generate sales amid a global slump in machinery demand brought on by lower energy prices and reduced investment in high-tech equipment. A report in the Wall Street Journal says that orders in the U.S. for computer-guided cutting machines used in factories and machine shops were down 16% during the first half of the year compared with 2015, according to the Association for Manufacturing Technology, a Virginia-based trade association for the machine tools industry. “Because the market is down all the builders are offering incentives,” said Scott Camloh, North America sales manager for…

Many in the rural contracting sector have had a real job finding the right kind of skilled, local people to fill vacancies in the industry writes Steve Levet, president of Rural Contractors New Zealand.  Recent debate about unemployed New Zealanders and their keenness – or lack of it – to gain work was sparked after Prime Minister John Key commented how hard it is to get beneficiaries into seasonal work. The PM was defending the current levels of immigration, and this, of course, led to the usual political shenanigans – opposition politicians of all stripes bagging this claim to promote…

NZMEA Chief Executive Dieter Adam says, “The exchange rate remains overvalued, adding significant pressure to manufacturing and exporting businesses, hitting margins and competitiveness, both in our vital export markets such as Australia, and for those competing against imports in New Zealand. “We need to see the downward correction of our currency restart. The longer it remains significantly overvalued, the bigger its effect will be on manufacturers and exporting businesses, hitting their ability to invest in the future, through R&D, new equipment and staff. New Zealand manufacturers operate against global competitors, and this investment is vital to ensure we remain competitive…