FREE APPRENTICESHIPS AND INDUSTRY TRAINING FROM JULY
Competenz sectors are set to benefit significantly with the announcement of free apprenticeships and industry training commencing July 1, 2020.
As part of the $1.6 billion boost in the vocational education sector, Education Minister Chris Hipkins has launched the government’s Targeted Training and Apprenticeship Fund (TTAF), with the aim of providing COVID-19 relief and addressing skills shortages in targeted growth sectors.
“We applaud the government’s support of vocational education. Keeping our workforce skilled and nimble is critical for the future of our sectors and our economic recovery,” says Competenz CEO Fiona Kingsford.
Under the government’s $320 million package, fees for all apprenticeships and targeted areas of industry training will be covered by the fund from 01 July 2020 until 31 December 2022. Minister Hipkins said the scheme focused on courses likely to lead to employment.
“We know as a result of COVID-19, many New Zealanders will be looking to retrain and employers in key sectors will need more skilled people,” he says.
Industries that are likely to play a key part in New Zealand’s economic recovery have been singled out for training support.
“Competenz covers sectors targeted by the TTAF, such as engineering, manufacturing, food processing, and forestry. These are industries with identified skills shortages. Free industry training and apprenticeships will mean that employers don’t have to compromise when it comes to training and retraining employees, as they rebuild their businesses,” says Ms Kingsford.
The scheme is set to benefit current and budding apprentices alike.
“It is especially heartening that the scheme will be applied to existing learners already on their apprenticeship journey, with Minister Hipkins stating those already learning on-the-job would be eligible for a partial refund if their training extended beyond 01 July 2020,” says Ms Kingsford.
For more information on how Competenz can help you access Targeted Training and Apprenticeship Funds call 0800-526-1800.
https://www.tec.govt.nz/funding/funding-and-performance/funding/fund-finder/targeted-training-and-apprenticeship-fund/
Visit the Tertiary Education Commission website for
• Further details on the Targeted Training and Apprenticeships Fund
• FAQs for Learners
• Targeted areas at sub-degree level covered by the Targeted Training and Apprenticeship Fund
Free apprenticeships and industry training from July
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SANDVIK VP: ‘FEMALE LEADER OF THE FUTURE 2020’
Global engineering group, Sandvik, boasts one of industry’s top female leaders — according to Ledarna’s ‘Female Leaders of the Future’ list.
Nina Åxman, vice president and head of global operations at Sandvik Rock Tools, is listed as number one in the international list of inspiring women in leadership.
The ‘Female Leaders of the Future’ list compiles 75 female executives from a range of business sectors. Now in its fourteenth year, the Female Leaders of the Future initiative aims to highlight examples of women in leadership and create a meeting place for women in business to inspire and support each other.
Åxman joined Sandvik in January 2020. As vice president and head of global operations at Sandvik Rock Tools, Åxman is responsible for leading 1,300 of Sandvik’s employees across nine countries.
Before beginning her role as vice president, Åxman was keen to capture a true experience of life at Sandvik beyond boardroom meetings and conference calls. Putting on her Sandvik uniform, Åxman gained valuable perspective of working life at Sandvik’s production facility in Sandviken, Sweden — the organisations primary production site and town of the organisation’s namesake.
Åxman’s desire to diversify her working knowledge of Sandvik through hands-on experience is reflected in the company’s efforts to diversify its team. Sandvik works on several levels to increase diversity, including a program providing an introduction to staff on how to work with diversity and inclusion as a manager. As a result of these efforts at Sandvik, the share of women in managerial positions increased from 17.7% to 18.2% in 2019.
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KORDIA SCHOLARSHIP SUPPORTS WOMEN IN STEM
Kaitlin Te Rito has been awarded the Kordia Women in Technology scholarship for 2020
The Kordia Women in Technology scholarship for 2020 has been awarded to Kaitlin Te Rito.
The scholarship of $5000, was established by Kordia in association with the University of Waikato to acknowledge and support up-and-coming female talent and future technology leaders.
Te Rito is an undergraduate student at the University of Waikato studying a Bachelor of Engineering in Chemical and Biological Engineering, alongside a Post Graduate Diploma in Engineering with a mechatronics flavour.
She says the scholarship is a great way to inspire and support women into studying STEM subjects at a tertiary level.
“Many girls don’t enter into STEM studies due to the lack of understanding of the degrees and the career opportunities available. It’s vital to educate girls on the possibilities study in the STEM subjects can offer them.”
Te Rito plans to build a career in the agricultural sector, looking at ways to apply innovation and new technologies to solve challenges around waste, sustainability and energy. She is currently working on a dairy farm alongside her studies to gain firsthand experience.
She is hopeful that more women will choose to embark on careers in these areas in the future.
“More diversity in the STEM industries will see a wider range of creative and inquisitive minds working together to create a better New Zealand.”
According to a study by Tech Women, only 26 percent of people working in the New Zealand technology sector are females, a statistic Kordia is eager to see improve.
Regan Hughes, a member of the selection panel and Kordia’s Head of Network Architecture and Design, says Te Rito was a standout recipient of the scholarship.
“The selection panel was not only impressed with Kaitlin’s excellent academic results, but her passion and clear vision around what she wants to achieve. She’s confident in her own abilities and expertise, while maintaining a down to earth approach, which aligns with Kordia’s values and vision. We wish her the best in her future endeavours, and I’m confident she will make a valuable contribution to any organisation she joins after study.”
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NEW ONLINE LEARNING PLATFORM ON MODERN MANUFACTURING
In response to the industry’s demand for information on technology to help them out of a lull in productivity post-pandemic, an automation equipment supplier EU Automation has pooled its resources into a free, online Knowledge Hub.
Visitors can download resources on additive manufacturing (AM), artificial intelligence (AI), Industry 4.0, cyber security, obsolescence, sustainability and the circular economy.
In the last four years EU Automation’s publication AUTOMATED has gathered insight from trade bodies, innovative start ups and created a content bank.
“Google Trends data suggests that the search term “free online learning” increased dramatically during the COVID-19 outbreak,” says Jonathan Wilkins, director at EU Automation.
“There is a desire to learn about innovative manufacturing technologies that could help propel companies out of the pandemic lull, by improving processes, making better use of their people and by helping to drive productivity.
“As a distributor that speaks to manufacturers all over the world every day, EU Automation wanted to share the knowledge and expertise it has gathered on cutting-edge technology and present it in a digestible way. We hope that collating all our expertise and removing the pay-wall on our books will help more industry professionals access learning resources, and inspire them to consider new approaches,” says Wilkins.
The company has also made its two manufacturing chart-topping books available for free download with the authors deciding this would best aid manufacturing professionals in their online learning.
The first book, The Book of Obsolescence Management (BoOM) explains how manufacturers can use obsolescence to their advantage, giving practical advice from industry experts at COPA-DATA, Renishaw, the International Institute of Obsolescence Management and more.
The second book, 4.0 Sight, is a global look at the fourth industrial revolution, covering initiatives like Japan’s Society 5.0 and Made in China 2025.
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MANUFACTURING TRANSFORMATION TO CHANGE NEW ZEALAND’S ECONOMIC TRAJECTORY
FUTUREPROOFING OUR LOCAL ECONOMY TO BRIDGE THE GAP BETWEEN NEW ZEALAND AND CHINA
Manufacturing and automation is now more top-of-mind than ever before. As Industry 4.0 takes root in businesses across the globe, the opportunity to embrace highly-advanced technology and new, forward-thinking ways of working has never been greater. From smart cities and cashless payments to autonomous vehicles, there is no shortage of buzzworthy, headline-grabbing advances in modern industry.
One innovation that has become particularly important is intelligent manufacturing or smart factories. A combination of cyber-physical systems, automation, and the Internet of Things (IoT), these facilities have the potential to rapidly transform business.
Therefore, it should come as no surprise that New Zealand has identified and embraced the benefits that this industrial wave holds. Automation adoption among local manufacturers has picked up substantially in recent years. The BusinessNZ Performance of Manufacturing Index in New Zealand jumped to 53.2 in February 2020 from an upwardly revised 49.8 in the previous month, beating market expectations of 50.3.
“According to Bloomberg, before the COVID-19 pandemic, many economists expected the fourth quarter to be the low point in the GDP growth track,” says James McKew, regional director at Universal Robots.
Used in manufacturing in New Zealand, demand for cobots should now increase as the country now looks to rapidly accelerate its economy. In addition, Universal Robots also has good traction in the education sector in New Zealand, which once again underpins the importance of increasing technical competency.
CURBING ECONOMIC CONCERNS
As close economic allies, China’s halt on production has had significant impact on the local supply chain. Here, McKew notes that advancements in AI and specifically, cobotics can be used in areas where its unsafe for humans to work or more simply workers are unwilling to do the monotonous tasks to which cobots are so well suited.
“One of the latest and most exciting robotic breakthroughs, collaborative robots or cobots – robots that work alongside human operators safely – enable businesses to improve cost efficiency, productivity, and output quality. These intelligent tools foster a more inclusive workspace, too, by relieving workers from strenuous, repetitive and sometimes dangerous tasks so they can focus on higher-value assignments,” McKew adds.
Cobots are user-friendly, flexible, compact, safe, and have a lower Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) compared to traditional industrial robots. TCO includes both direct and indirect costs, including maintenance, factory floor upgrades (including the ease a cobot can be re-deployed), employee training, and safety barriers, all of which are factors that typically apply to traditional industrial robots. Cobots are also less costly to set up, which further makes them a financially attractive option for manufacturers across industries turning to automation for the first time.
WHAT CAN WE LEARN FROM THE COVID-19?
Besides finding a vaccine or a cure, automation has now also been lauded as one of the safest ways to bridge the gap between the virus and service delivery.
In light of the global COVID-19 outbreak, the opportunity exists to further understand and implement automation across the country, placing Australia in a stronger manufacturing position and improving its global competitiveness rank.
“The World Economic Forum’s 2019 Global Competitiveness Index revealed that those economies that have invested in innovation capabilities are best placed to revive productivity and weather a global slowdown,” says McKew.
INNOVATION AS A FAILSAFE
As pharmaceutical companies are gearing up towards a possible increase in production while new solutions come to the fore, robotics will become a pivotal gear in the manufacturing chain.
Robotics in the pharma industry is performing a wide range of tasks: from packaging of medical devices and implants as well as assisting in surgeries. The robot arms from Universal Robots can be used for mixing, counting, dispensing and inspection to deliver consistent results for business-critical products. They can also be used for sterile handling and assembly of the small, delicate parts that are used in prosthetics, implants and medical devices.
Robotic arms from Universal Robots can be incorporated into the processes so that engineers could easily adapt the software to the specific needs of the drugs and the required tasks. The easy programming, installation and collaborative nature of the industrial robot arms allow them to work side-by-side with the workforce for the production of efficient, high-quality medicines.
“Further, two UR5 robots now optimise the handling and sorting of blood samples for analysis at the Copenhagen university hospital in Gentofte. The solution enables the lab to uphold a target of delivering more than 90% of results within one hour despite a 20% increase in samples arriving for analysis. All this while protecting staff from contamination and providing a safer working environment for the lab technicians,” says McKew.
Utilising robotics and Industry 4.0 technologies, the pivot to intelligent manufacturing may just be the solution that helps countries in beating coronavirus now and future viruses that might arise.
For more information call Design Energy +64 3 943 2143.
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BONFIGLIOLI PARTNERS WITH KILIC ENGINEERING ON LARGE GRAIN PROJECT
Bonfiglioli recently partnered with Adelaide-based engineering firm, Kilic Engineering on a large grain transportation project. Kilic Engineering is a diverse mechanical engineering company owned and operated by the Kilic family since 1973.
The company has a long and proud history of excellence in designing, manufacturing and installing a very wide range of conveyors, material handling systems, chute work and associated structural elements.
With an established reputation built over years of operation in the industry, Kilic Engineering looked to a trusted supplier for this mammoth project. Danie de Vries, state manager for VIC, SA and TAS from Bonfiglioli says that the initial challenge was local support.
“While Bonfiglioli is well established in both Australia and New Zealand – 31 years and counting, Kilic Engineering required ongoing local support and on-hand expertise for this project in South Australia. Thanks to our distributor network, we were able to make this happen through our partner, Motion Control in Adelaide”.
THE PROJECT
Craig Dennis, general manager for Kilic Engineering says that this application ultimately formed part of a large system for T-Ports. “T-Ports specialises in innovative solutions for the export of commodities, partnering with customers and investors to use a flexible model that positions port infrastructure close to the product’s origin.”
The application required large amounts of grain products to be handled on a consistent basis. Here, grain is dropped into dual hoppers by trucks. The grain is then moved into silos and finally into a large haul shipping vessel via a boom conveyor. “This boom conveyor is a long conveyor which goes from the land over to the shipping harbor and then into the ship,” explains Craig.
Some 1000 tonnes of grain was needed to be transported per hour to a 24000-ton silo storage. Once ready for loading, the ship is loaded at a capacity of 13800 tonnes per day.
“The locally fabricated Ahrens steel silos can be filled directly by trucks direct from growers or from the nearby bunker site via an internal haul road between the two Lucky Bay sites. The system design made in collaboration with our customer, Ahrens, includes belts, gantries, services, framework, conveyors, piling and concreted works and is based on ‘off the shelf’ solutions,” says Craig.
The port itself underwent a harbour extension in 2014 and now incorporates two berth pockets for simultaneously loading or discharging two 87-metre or longer self-propelled self-discharging vessels.
Previously unseen in Australia for grain exports, the use of a transhipment vessel means T-Ports requires less than four metres of depth in the harbour, eliminating the need for major jetty structures and other port infrastructure.
T-Ports transhipment technology is capable of operating in seas of up to 5m wave height and 30 knot winds.
Due to the port being located close to the product, these facilities substantially reduce the road haulage distances, hence reducing the cost to government for road repairs and maintenance and reducing carbon dioxide emissions considerably.
Handling facilities at the port have been designed to be competitive and efficient for the long-term. They consist of a dual hopper which can facilitate two-truck simultaneous discharge of 1000 tonnes per hour.
BONFIGLIOLI GETS THE THUMBS UP
Danie says that Bonfiglioli’s trusted gear motors were used to drive this large operation. “We used a series of HD and HDO heavy duty gear units for this application”.
Bonfiglioli supplied four conveyor drives and two bucket elevator drives for the project. All of these were locally designed and manufactured at their Sydney facilities.
Known for their high output torque, robust reliability and long operating life, Bonfiglioli’s HD series is made up of high-quality materials and boasts an optimised design. “The HD Series can operate in the harshest environments, as well as explosive atmospheres, with low maintenance costs and long service intervals,” Danie says.
“Finally, drives can be customised thanks to an extremely wide range of options and a large accessories portfolio.
“We were able to deliver on time, on budget as per the scope. We are extremely grateful to Kilic Engineering for giving us the opportunity to prove our products in this application,” he says.
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VOCATIONAL EDUCATION BUDGET PACKAGE CRUCIAL TO COVID-19 RECOVERY
Industry training organisation Competenz applauded the Government’s bold investment in the vocational education sector in the 2020 “Rebuilding Together” Budget.
$1.6 billion will be made available in the Trades and Apprenticeships Training package to facilitate the rebuilding of the economy in the aftermath of the COVID-19 lockdown.
Competenz CEO Fiona Kingsford says: “This is the most substantial Budget to support vocational education in recent times. Competenz relishes the opportunity to ensure our industries, apprentices and trainees take full advantage of the incentives and support to enrol new learners and keep existing ones in training.”
Ms Kingsford says the government spend is more important than ever, following a forecast by economics consultancy firm Infometrics, estimating that in a post-COVID-19 economy, sectors Competenz supports such as general manufacturing and mechanical engineering will see employment decline by as much as 10% in the next 12 months. Forestry employment could decline by around five per cent.
Part of the announced package addresses this, with $412 million in support for employers to retain and keep training their apprentices. This incentivises businesses to retain younger and more vulnerable staff members in the recovery process.
A further $320 million targeted investment will also make trades training free in these critical industries, which will make it easier for employers to train up their existing people, help those who have lost jobs to retrain and will be vital to supporting these sectors.
A further $19 million has been set aside for group training organisations (GTOs) to retain apprentices.
“This funding will be critical to support Apprentice Training New Zealand (ATNZ), Competenz’s largest employer of engineering apprentices, who currently employ and second over 370 apprentices around New Zealand,” says Ms Kingsford.
Additionally, the $50 million grant for Māori apprentices will support at-risk youth, especially in sectors like forestry.
These measures will also directly address the skills shortage New Zealand was facing before the pandemic began.
“Only two months ago, prior to the COVID-19 lockdown, our industries were crying out for skilled employees as the skills shortages impacted their businesses. This was a consistent story in the 37 sectors that we support.”
Infometrics estimates over 55% of metal fabricators, over 40% of refrigeration and air-conditioning mechanics, and close to 30% of fitter-welders were roles filled by skilled migrants in the last three years. The domestic market still has considerable labour demands across Competenz sectors that will continue to need to be met.
Now, Ms Kingsford says, acting quickly to implement these initiatives is key.
“It is critical that we don’t pause the momentum to bring young people with new skills into our sectors, especially as a number of these sectors have been reliant on skilled migrant labour, and the future of this labour flow is no longer certain. We will communicate with our employers, learners and industry when we have additional information on how they will be rolled out and the part Competenz will play in that.”
Vocational education budget package crucial to COVID-19 recovery
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NO BIRDS OR PLANE, IT’S ‘SUPERSTEEL’
Researchers at the University of Hong Kong and Lawrence Berkeley National Labs (LBNL) believe they have managed to produce a type of steel that has high-level performance in all three key properties that need to be balanced in steel – strength, toughness and ductility.
This ‘Super Steel’ has a yield strength resistance against deformation of around 2 GigaPascals, a fracture toughness of 102 MPa-m½, and a uniform elongation of 1%.
Scientists are saying that they believe this means that it’s stronger and tougher than the Grade 300 maraging steel used in aerospace engineering (at 20% the price tag of manufacturing).
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INDUSTRY LEADER URGES YOUNG WOMEN TO CHOOSE A CAREER IN ENGINEERING
This International Women in Engineering Day (June 23), Sina Cotter-Tait, a Christchurch-based engineer and board member for Engineering NZ, is calling for more young women to consider engineering as a career.
The purpose of this year’s celebration is to raise awareness of the amazing career opportunities available to girls in this exciting industry.
According to the Association of Consulting and Engineering, only around 16% of the current engineering workforce in New Zealand is female.
“Engineering and tech must be people-focussed, and if solutions are to work for all people, then we need to understand how different people experience the world and its problems differently,” says Sina.
“So it is so important that we have gender diversity amongst our engineers. Engineering is a career for everyone.”
Sina has an impressive resume including a PhD in Construction Management, an MBA and a Bachelor of Engineering with Honours in Civil Engineering. She is the Director of Collective Success, a Panel Member of the Christ Church Cathedral Reinstatement Panel, a board member of CEAS and an Independent Director of the North Otago Irrigation Company.
Alongside her many other roles, Sina is a New Zealand judge for the 2020 James Dyson Award, encouraging university students and recent graduates to put their skills to good use.
Sina’s philosophy about engineering aligns perfectly with the James Dyson Award’s purpose of designing something that solves a problem.
“Encouraging our rangatahi – young Kiwis to look for creative ways to solve problems is a kaupapa I endorse whole-heartedly and I’m thrilled to be involved in helping identify the best local designers and engineers and the best ideas that will help to make a real difference in the world,” says Sina.
“Engineering is one of those jobs where you’re part of turning an idea from a pencil sketch into a real life thing, that solves a problem, and that’s satisfying. Most engineers I know are motivated by building a better, safer world for future generations, and that’s what makes it so rewarding. The only question for women considering engineering in Aotearoa-NZ is – why wouldn’t you?”
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OIL INTEL ANNOUNCES JOINT VENTURE WITH TOTAL MARKETING AND SERVICES
Oil Intel has entered a 50/50 joint venture with Total Marketing and Services, cementing a strong partnership of 20 years since its appointment as authorised lubricants distributor for New Zealand.
The venture represents a drive for proximity to their customers in industries such as mining, industrial, food production, agriculture, automotive, construction and transport.
“Achieving growth by being the best at what we do has always been my key focus, it is what the business was built around,” says managing director and co-shareholder of Oil Intel, Reuben Thickpenny.
“We always felt well-supported in this vision by Total.”
Both parties are further united by a shared mission of conducting business responsibly.
“Over the years, we have taken industry-leading steps towards responsible trading, taking into
consideration environmental impact.”
Oil Intel is one of the leading parties in pushing the Lubricant Container Stewardship Programme, where New Zealand oil companies collectively work towards a sustainable process of recycling lubricant containers.
This is in keeping with Total’s ambition to be the responsible energy major, supported by initiatives such as programs on used oils recycling partnerships or biodegradable lubricant ranges.
“We look forward to the opportunities this Joint Venture partnership brings,” says Total Marketing & Services vice president, specialties and BtoB for the Asia Pacific and Middle Eastern region, Christine Richard.
“I am proud of our collective achievements over the last two decades. Our customers have come to rely on the consistency of quality services, and we are fully committed to deliver innovative and responsible solutions to the New Zealand market,” she says.
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FREE APPRENTICESHIPS AND INDUSTRY TRAINING FROM JULY
As part of the $1.6 billion boost in the vocational education sector, Education Minister Chris Hipkins has launched the government’s Targeted Training and Apprenticeship Fund (TTAF), with the aim of providing COVID-19 relief and addressing skills shortages in targeted growth sectors.
“We applaud the government’s support of vocational education. Keeping our workforce skilled and nimble is critical for the future of our sectors and our economic recovery,” says Competenz CEO Fiona Kingsford.
Under the government’s $320 million package, fees for all apprenticeships and targeted areas of industry training will be covered by the fund from 01 July 2020 until 31 December 2022. Minister Hipkins said the scheme focused on courses likely to lead to employment.
“We know as a result of COVID-19, many New Zealanders will be looking to retrain and employers in key sectors will need more skilled people,” he says.
Industries that are likely to play a key part in New Zealand’s economic recovery have been singled out for training support.
“Competenz covers sectors targeted by the TTAF, such as engineering, manufacturing, food processing, and forestry. These are industries with identified skills shortages. Free industry training and apprenticeships will mean that employers don’t have to compromise when it comes to training and retraining employees, as they rebuild their businesses,” says Ms Kingsford.
The scheme is set to benefit current and budding apprentices alike.
“It is especially heartening that the scheme will be applied to existing learners already on their apprenticeship journey, with Minister Hipkins stating those already learning on-the-job would be eligible for a partial refund if their training extended beyond 01 July 2020,” says Ms Kingsford.
For more information on how Competenz can help you access Targeted Training and Apprenticeship Funds call 0800-526-1800.
https://www.tec.govt.nz/funding/funding-and-performance/funding/fund-finder/targeted-training-and-apprenticeship-fund/
Visit the Tertiary Education Commission website for
• Further details on the Targeted Training and Apprenticeships Fund
• FAQs for Learners
• Targeted areas at sub-degree level covered by the Targeted Training and Apprenticeship Fund
Free apprenticeships and industry training from July
The post FREE APPRENTICESHIPS AND INDUSTRY TRAINING FROM JULY appeared first on NZ Engineering News.
SANDVIK VP: ‘FEMALE LEADER OF THE FUTURE 2020’
Nina Åxman, vice president and head of global operations at Sandvik Rock Tools, is listed as number one in the international list of inspiring women in leadership.
The ‘Female Leaders of the Future’ list compiles 75 female executives from a range of business sectors. Now in its fourteenth year, the Female Leaders of the Future initiative aims to highlight examples of women in leadership and create a meeting place for women in business to inspire and support each other.
Åxman joined Sandvik in January 2020. As vice president and head of global operations at Sandvik Rock Tools, Åxman is responsible for leading 1,300 of Sandvik’s employees across nine countries.
Before beginning her role as vice president, Åxman was keen to capture a true experience of life at Sandvik beyond boardroom meetings and conference calls. Putting on her Sandvik uniform, Åxman gained valuable perspective of working life at Sandvik’s production facility in Sandviken, Sweden — the organisations primary production site and town of the organisation’s namesake.
Åxman’s desire to diversify her working knowledge of Sandvik through hands-on experience is reflected in the company’s efforts to diversify its team. Sandvik works on several levels to increase diversity, including a program providing an introduction to staff on how to work with diversity and inclusion as a manager. As a result of these efforts at Sandvik, the share of women in managerial positions increased from 17.7% to 18.2% in 2019.
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KORDIA SCHOLARSHIP SUPPORTS WOMEN IN STEM
Kaitlin Te Rito has been awarded the Kordia Women in Technology scholarship for 2020
The Kordia Women in Technology scholarship for 2020 has been awarded to Kaitlin Te Rito.
The scholarship of $5000, was established by Kordia in association with the University of Waikato to acknowledge and support up-and-coming female talent and future technology leaders.
Te Rito is an undergraduate student at the University of Waikato studying a Bachelor of Engineering in Chemical and Biological Engineering, alongside a Post Graduate Diploma in Engineering with a mechatronics flavour.
She says the scholarship is a great way to inspire and support women into studying STEM subjects at a tertiary level.
“Many girls don’t enter into STEM studies due to the lack of understanding of the degrees and the career opportunities available. It’s vital to educate girls on the possibilities study in the STEM subjects can offer them.”
Te Rito plans to build a career in the agricultural sector, looking at ways to apply innovation and new technologies to solve challenges around waste, sustainability and energy. She is currently working on a dairy farm alongside her studies to gain firsthand experience.
She is hopeful that more women will choose to embark on careers in these areas in the future.
“More diversity in the STEM industries will see a wider range of creative and inquisitive minds working together to create a better New Zealand.”
According to a study by Tech Women, only 26 percent of people working in the New Zealand technology sector are females, a statistic Kordia is eager to see improve.
Regan Hughes, a member of the selection panel and Kordia’s Head of Network Architecture and Design, says Te Rito was a standout recipient of the scholarship.
“The selection panel was not only impressed with Kaitlin’s excellent academic results, but her passion and clear vision around what she wants to achieve. She’s confident in her own abilities and expertise, while maintaining a down to earth approach, which aligns with Kordia’s values and vision. We wish her the best in her future endeavours, and I’m confident she will make a valuable contribution to any organisation she joins after study.”
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NEW ONLINE LEARNING PLATFORM ON MODERN MANUFACTURING
Visitors can download resources on additive manufacturing (AM), artificial intelligence (AI), Industry 4.0, cyber security, obsolescence, sustainability and the circular economy.
In the last four years EU Automation’s publication AUTOMATED has gathered insight from trade bodies, innovative start ups and created a content bank.
“Google Trends data suggests that the search term “free online learning” increased dramatically during the COVID-19 outbreak,” says Jonathan Wilkins, director at EU Automation.
“There is a desire to learn about innovative manufacturing technologies that could help propel companies out of the pandemic lull, by improving processes, making better use of their people and by helping to drive productivity.
“As a distributor that speaks to manufacturers all over the world every day, EU Automation wanted to share the knowledge and expertise it has gathered on cutting-edge technology and present it in a digestible way. We hope that collating all our expertise and removing the pay-wall on our books will help more industry professionals access learning resources, and inspire them to consider new approaches,” says Wilkins.
The company has also made its two manufacturing chart-topping books available for free download with the authors deciding this would best aid manufacturing professionals in their online learning.
The first book, The Book of Obsolescence Management (BoOM) explains how manufacturers can use obsolescence to their advantage, giving practical advice from industry experts at COPA-DATA, Renishaw, the International Institute of Obsolescence Management and more.
The second book, 4.0 Sight, is a global look at the fourth industrial revolution, covering initiatives like Japan’s Society 5.0 and Made in China 2025.
The post NEW ONLINE LEARNING PLATFORM ON MODERN MANUFACTURING appeared first on NZ Engineering News.
MANUFACTURING TRANSFORMATION TO CHANGE NEW ZEALAND’S ECONOMIC TRAJECTORY
Manufacturing and automation is now more top-of-mind than ever before. As Industry 4.0 takes root in businesses across the globe, the opportunity to embrace highly-advanced technology and new, forward-thinking ways of working has never been greater. From smart cities and cashless payments to autonomous vehicles, there is no shortage of buzzworthy, headline-grabbing advances in modern industry.
One innovation that has become particularly important is intelligent manufacturing or smart factories. A combination of cyber-physical systems, automation, and the Internet of Things (IoT), these facilities have the potential to rapidly transform business.
Therefore, it should come as no surprise that New Zealand has identified and embraced the benefits that this industrial wave holds. Automation adoption among local manufacturers has picked up substantially in recent years. The BusinessNZ Performance of Manufacturing Index in New Zealand jumped to 53.2 in February 2020 from an upwardly revised 49.8 in the previous month, beating market expectations of 50.3.
“According to Bloomberg, before the COVID-19 pandemic, many economists expected the fourth quarter to be the low point in the GDP growth track,” says James McKew, regional director at Universal Robots.
Used in manufacturing in New Zealand, demand for cobots should now increase as the country now looks to rapidly accelerate its economy. In addition, Universal Robots also has good traction in the education sector in New Zealand, which once again underpins the importance of increasing technical competency.
CURBING ECONOMIC CONCERNS
As close economic allies, China’s halt on production has had significant impact on the local supply chain. Here, McKew notes that advancements in AI and specifically, cobotics can be used in areas where its unsafe for humans to work or more simply workers are unwilling to do the monotonous tasks to which cobots are so well suited.
“One of the latest and most exciting robotic breakthroughs, collaborative robots or cobots – robots that work alongside human operators safely – enable businesses to improve cost efficiency, productivity, and output quality. These intelligent tools foster a more inclusive workspace, too, by relieving workers from strenuous, repetitive and sometimes dangerous tasks so they can focus on higher-value assignments,” McKew adds.
Cobots are user-friendly, flexible, compact, safe, and have a lower Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) compared to traditional industrial robots. TCO includes both direct and indirect costs, including maintenance, factory floor upgrades (including the ease a cobot can be re-deployed), employee training, and safety barriers, all of which are factors that typically apply to traditional industrial robots. Cobots are also less costly to set up, which further makes them a financially attractive option for manufacturers across industries turning to automation for the first time.
WHAT CAN WE LEARN FROM THE COVID-19?
Besides finding a vaccine or a cure, automation has now also been lauded as one of the safest ways to bridge the gap between the virus and service delivery.
In light of the global COVID-19 outbreak, the opportunity exists to further understand and implement automation across the country, placing Australia in a stronger manufacturing position and improving its global competitiveness rank.
“The World Economic Forum’s 2019 Global Competitiveness Index revealed that those economies that have invested in innovation capabilities are best placed to revive productivity and weather a global slowdown,” says McKew.
INNOVATION AS A FAILSAFE
As pharmaceutical companies are gearing up towards a possible increase in production while new solutions come to the fore, robotics will become a pivotal gear in the manufacturing chain.
Robotics in the pharma industry is performing a wide range of tasks: from packaging of medical devices and implants as well as assisting in surgeries. The robot arms from Universal Robots can be used for mixing, counting, dispensing and inspection to deliver consistent results for business-critical products. They can also be used for sterile handling and assembly of the small, delicate parts that are used in prosthetics, implants and medical devices.
Robotic arms from Universal Robots can be incorporated into the processes so that engineers could easily adapt the software to the specific needs of the drugs and the required tasks. The easy programming, installation and collaborative nature of the industrial robot arms allow them to work side-by-side with the workforce for the production of efficient, high-quality medicines.
“Further, two UR5 robots now optimise the handling and sorting of blood samples for analysis at the Copenhagen university hospital in Gentofte. The solution enables the lab to uphold a target of delivering more than 90% of results within one hour despite a 20% increase in samples arriving for analysis. All this while protecting staff from contamination and providing a safer working environment for the lab technicians,” says McKew.
Utilising robotics and Industry 4.0 technologies, the pivot to intelligent manufacturing may just be the solution that helps countries in beating coronavirus now and future viruses that might arise.
For more information call Design Energy +64 3 943 2143.
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BONFIGLIOLI PARTNERS WITH KILIC ENGINEERING ON LARGE GRAIN PROJECT
The company has a long and proud history of excellence in designing, manufacturing and installing a very wide range of conveyors, material handling systems, chute work and associated structural elements.
With an established reputation built over years of operation in the industry, Kilic Engineering looked to a trusted supplier for this mammoth project. Danie de Vries, state manager for VIC, SA and TAS from Bonfiglioli says that the initial challenge was local support.
“While Bonfiglioli is well established in both Australia and New Zealand – 31 years and counting, Kilic Engineering required ongoing local support and on-hand expertise for this project in South Australia. Thanks to our distributor network, we were able to make this happen through our partner, Motion Control in Adelaide”.
THE PROJECT
Craig Dennis, general manager for Kilic Engineering says that this application ultimately formed part of a large system for T-Ports. “T-Ports specialises in innovative solutions for the export of commodities, partnering with customers and investors to use a flexible model that positions port infrastructure close to the product’s origin.”
The application required large amounts of grain products to be handled on a consistent basis. Here, grain is dropped into dual hoppers by trucks. The grain is then moved into silos and finally into a large haul shipping vessel via a boom conveyor. “This boom conveyor is a long conveyor which goes from the land over to the shipping harbor and then into the ship,” explains Craig.
Some 1000 tonnes of grain was needed to be transported per hour to a 24000-ton silo storage. Once ready for loading, the ship is loaded at a capacity of 13800 tonnes per day.
“The locally fabricated Ahrens steel silos can be filled directly by trucks direct from growers or from the nearby bunker site via an internal haul road between the two Lucky Bay sites. The system design made in collaboration with our customer, Ahrens, includes belts, gantries, services, framework, conveyors, piling and concreted works and is based on ‘off the shelf’ solutions,” says Craig.
The port itself underwent a harbour extension in 2014 and now incorporates two berth pockets for simultaneously loading or discharging two 87-metre or longer self-propelled self-discharging vessels.
Previously unseen in Australia for grain exports, the use of a transhipment vessel means T-Ports requires less than four metres of depth in the harbour, eliminating the need for major jetty structures and other port infrastructure.
T-Ports transhipment technology is capable of operating in seas of up to 5m wave height and 30 knot winds.
Due to the port being located close to the product, these facilities substantially reduce the road haulage distances, hence reducing the cost to government for road repairs and maintenance and reducing carbon dioxide emissions considerably.
Handling facilities at the port have been designed to be competitive and efficient for the long-term. They consist of a dual hopper which can facilitate two-truck simultaneous discharge of 1000 tonnes per hour.
BONFIGLIOLI GETS THE THUMBS UP
Danie says that Bonfiglioli’s trusted gear motors were used to drive this large operation. “We used a series of HD and HDO heavy duty gear units for this application”.
Bonfiglioli supplied four conveyor drives and two bucket elevator drives for the project. All of these were locally designed and manufactured at their Sydney facilities.
Known for their high output torque, robust reliability and long operating life, Bonfiglioli’s HD series is made up of high-quality materials and boasts an optimised design. “The HD Series can operate in the harshest environments, as well as explosive atmospheres, with low maintenance costs and long service intervals,” Danie says.
“Finally, drives can be customised thanks to an extremely wide range of options and a large accessories portfolio.
“We were able to deliver on time, on budget as per the scope. We are extremely grateful to Kilic Engineering for giving us the opportunity to prove our products in this application,” he says.
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VOCATIONAL EDUCATION BUDGET PACKAGE CRUCIAL TO COVID-19 RECOVERY
$1.6 billion will be made available in the Trades and Apprenticeships Training package to facilitate the rebuilding of the economy in the aftermath of the COVID-19 lockdown.
Competenz CEO Fiona Kingsford says: “This is the most substantial Budget to support vocational education in recent times. Competenz relishes the opportunity to ensure our industries, apprentices and trainees take full advantage of the incentives and support to enrol new learners and keep existing ones in training.”
Ms Kingsford says the government spend is more important than ever, following a forecast by economics consultancy firm Infometrics, estimating that in a post-COVID-19 economy, sectors Competenz supports such as general manufacturing and mechanical engineering will see employment decline by as much as 10% in the next 12 months. Forestry employment could decline by around five per cent.
Part of the announced package addresses this, with $412 million in support for employers to retain and keep training their apprentices. This incentivises businesses to retain younger and more vulnerable staff members in the recovery process.
A further $320 million targeted investment will also make trades training free in these critical industries, which will make it easier for employers to train up their existing people, help those who have lost jobs to retrain and will be vital to supporting these sectors.
A further $19 million has been set aside for group training organisations (GTOs) to retain apprentices.
“This funding will be critical to support Apprentice Training New Zealand (ATNZ), Competenz’s largest employer of engineering apprentices, who currently employ and second over 370 apprentices around New Zealand,” says Ms Kingsford.
Additionally, the $50 million grant for Māori apprentices will support at-risk youth, especially in sectors like forestry.
These measures will also directly address the skills shortage New Zealand was facing before the pandemic began.
“Only two months ago, prior to the COVID-19 lockdown, our industries were crying out for skilled employees as the skills shortages impacted their businesses. This was a consistent story in the 37 sectors that we support.”
Infometrics estimates over 55% of metal fabricators, over 40% of refrigeration and air-conditioning mechanics, and close to 30% of fitter-welders were roles filled by skilled migrants in the last three years. The domestic market still has considerable labour demands across Competenz sectors that will continue to need to be met.
Now, Ms Kingsford says, acting quickly to implement these initiatives is key.
“It is critical that we don’t pause the momentum to bring young people with new skills into our sectors, especially as a number of these sectors have been reliant on skilled migrant labour, and the future of this labour flow is no longer certain. We will communicate with our employers, learners and industry when we have additional information on how they will be rolled out and the part Competenz will play in that.”
Vocational education budget package crucial to COVID-19 recovery
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NO BIRDS OR PLANE, IT’S ‘SUPERSTEEL’
This ‘Super Steel’ has a yield strength resistance against deformation of around 2 GigaPascals, a fracture toughness of 102 MPa-m½, and a uniform elongation of 1%.
Scientists are saying that they believe this means that it’s stronger and tougher than the Grade 300 maraging steel used in aerospace engineering (at 20% the price tag of manufacturing).
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INDUSTRY LEADER URGES YOUNG WOMEN TO CHOOSE A CAREER IN ENGINEERING
The purpose of this year’s celebration is to raise awareness of the amazing career opportunities available to girls in this exciting industry.
According to the Association of Consulting and Engineering, only around 16% of the current engineering workforce in New Zealand is female.
“Engineering and tech must be people-focussed, and if solutions are to work for all people, then we need to understand how different people experience the world and its problems differently,” says Sina.
“So it is so important that we have gender diversity amongst our engineers. Engineering is a career for everyone.”
Sina has an impressive resume including a PhD in Construction Management, an MBA and a Bachelor of Engineering with Honours in Civil Engineering. She is the Director of Collective Success, a Panel Member of the Christ Church Cathedral Reinstatement Panel, a board member of CEAS and an Independent Director of the North Otago Irrigation Company.
Alongside her many other roles, Sina is a New Zealand judge for the 2020 James Dyson Award, encouraging university students and recent graduates to put their skills to good use.
Sina’s philosophy about engineering aligns perfectly with the James Dyson Award’s purpose of designing something that solves a problem.
“Encouraging our rangatahi – young Kiwis to look for creative ways to solve problems is a kaupapa I endorse whole-heartedly and I’m thrilled to be involved in helping identify the best local designers and engineers and the best ideas that will help to make a real difference in the world,” says Sina.
“Engineering is one of those jobs where you’re part of turning an idea from a pencil sketch into a real life thing, that solves a problem, and that’s satisfying. Most engineers I know are motivated by building a better, safer world for future generations, and that’s what makes it so rewarding. The only question for women considering engineering in Aotearoa-NZ is – why wouldn’t you?”
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OIL INTEL ANNOUNCES JOINT VENTURE WITH TOTAL MARKETING AND SERVICES
The venture represents a drive for proximity to their customers in industries such as mining, industrial, food production, agriculture, automotive, construction and transport.
“Achieving growth by being the best at what we do has always been my key focus, it is what the business was built around,” says managing director and co-shareholder of Oil Intel, Reuben Thickpenny.
“We always felt well-supported in this vision by Total.”
Both parties are further united by a shared mission of conducting business responsibly.
“Over the years, we have taken industry-leading steps towards responsible trading, taking into
consideration environmental impact.”
Oil Intel is one of the leading parties in pushing the Lubricant Container Stewardship Programme, where New Zealand oil companies collectively work towards a sustainable process of recycling lubricant containers.
This is in keeping with Total’s ambition to be the responsible energy major, supported by initiatives such as programs on used oils recycling partnerships or biodegradable lubricant ranges.
“We look forward to the opportunities this Joint Venture partnership brings,” says Total Marketing & Services vice president, specialties and BtoB for the Asia Pacific and Middle Eastern region, Christine Richard.
“I am proud of our collective achievements over the last two decades. Our customers have come to rely on the consistency of quality services, and we are fully committed to deliver innovative and responsible solutions to the New Zealand market,” she says.
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