Dubai: Emirates has had to change its ultra-long-haul flight from New Zealand to Dubai following a fuel shortage that has impacted a number of airlines flying to and from Auckland Airport.

In a statement sent to Gulf News on Tuesday, the UAE-based carrier confirmed that Emirates flight EK449 will now make a stopover in Melbourne to re-fuel, instead of flying direct to Dubai.Route change

The route change is in effect between September 18 and September 24.

“[The flight] operating from Auckland to Dubai between 18-24 September, will stop in Melbourne for refueling due to the Auckland Airport fuel shortage which has affected most international airlines,” an Emirates spokesperson said.

Passengers affected, however, will not have to disembark in the Australian city.

“Customers holding tickets with onward connections during this time are advised to contact their local Emirates office and check the status of their flight. Connecting flights will be rebooked as required,” the spokesperson added.

The airline launched its first non-stop service between Dubai and Auckland, considered to be one of the world’s longest scheduled flights, in March 2016.

The non-stop journey had an estimated flight time of 17 hours, 15 minutes from New Zealand to Dubai and just under 16 hours from Dubai to New Zealand.Related Links

Thousands stranded due to jet fuel shortage New Zealand’s fuel shortage hits more flights Nepal fuel shortage disrupts Gulf flights

Thousands of flyers have had their trips disrupted due to a fuel shortage caused by a damaged pipeline that brings fuel to Auckland.

The damage, which was discovered last Thursday, has prompted oil companies to ration the amount of fuel they are supplying to airlines operating out of Auckland.

“We are working with the airlines operating out of Auckland to minimize the impact on passengers. We are doing all we can to help people manage through this period of disruption,” Auckland airport said in its public advisory.

As of Tuesday, the fuel shortage caused the cancellation of 28 flights, six of them international, according to Reuters.

Ground-breaking research into design’s economic contribution to New Zealand’s economy has shown that during the last year alone design contributed $10.1b to New Zealand’s GDP (approximately 4.2%). The research launched in late July 2017 by Hon. Steven Joyce Minister of Finance, was undertaken by PwC and commissioned by DesignCo. Professor Claire Robinson, convenor of DesignCo, said at the launch of the research “There is a strong correlation between national prosperity, economic growth and a thriving design sector. International evidence confirms that design leads to more competitive firms making and selling higher value products and services.

“The research reveals that if design were treated as an individual industry its contribution to the New Zealand economy would be larger than agriculture and on a par with retail trade ($10.6b), and food, beverage and tobacco product manufacturing. The sector also provides approximately 94,200 FTE design positions in New Zealand, roughly 4.4% of employment,” Professor Robinson said.

For the purposes of the research the definition of design is broad in nature — it is a process or series of processes to create a proposition in any industry. Design is dynamic and can stretch across a number of applications, industries and occupations. It is because of this broad nature that the project group determined that the current classification system for industries and occupations in New Zealand did not adequately capture design in all its forms. As such, a project reference group developed a classification system for design. The classification has five levels, including the design disciplines of design education, graphic design, innovation / invention, interactive design, motion design, product design, service design, spatial design, and strategy.

The research shows that the manufacturing industry contributed the greatest amount to design-related economic activity in 2016 with $2.7b. Product design and interactive design disciplines are the two biggest individual contributors towards design’s GDP, with over $4.5b of economic activity coming from these two disciplines (46% of the total).

The study indicates a broadening use of design as an effective process; in exporting firms, technology, health, conservation, the public sector and within cities. Ludo Campbell-Reid, head of the Auckland Design Office and Auckland’s design champion said: “There is an international movement that is centred on cities that are transforming themselves through great urban design. We need to make sure that people understand the impact that design can have. Great design is good for the environment, good for business and good for social cohesiveness. Well-designed schools reduce truancy, well designed hospitals are better for your health, and well-designed cities are better for health and happiness. Design in the 21st century, with the rise and rise of technology and interactive and open-source consumer platforms, is being harnessed more frequently, for a wider set of purposes and with increasing impact,” Ludo Campbell-Reid said.

Professor Robinson said: “DesignCo partners will continue to connect with the constituent parts of the New Zealand design eco-system in a systematic and regular manner, telling the story of New Zealand’s design excellence, rectifying the paucity of information about the design sector and gathering statistical data on the value and impact of design in New Zealand.

| A DesignCo release  ||  September 20,  2017   |||

Read the report and DesignCo recommendations here

To purchase a printed version of the report click here

NADI |  Local production drives down costs and gives boost to local economy. Bellingham’s decision to move production to Nadi is a win-win for the island nation and local developers.

Nadi, Fiji – 18 September 2017 – The island nation of Fiji is thriving in its seventh straight year of economic growth. From textiles to sugar, one of Fiji’s fastest growing sectors is manufacturing. The country has now expanded into pontoon manufacturing with the announcement of the partnership between Bellingham Marine and Marine Structures and Consultancy (MSC) Limited.

Two of the country’s best-known marine service operators, Hall Dredging and Bob Oldham recently took control of MSC. Both have worked on Bellingham projects over the years and maintain an excellent working relationship with Bellingham Marine New Zealand (BMNZ).

In the final week of July, the first Unifloat pontoons were manufactured in the Fiji plant under the watchful eye of BMNZ management, who gave the pontoons their stamp of approval.

There is great opportunity in the region. Favorable financial and governmental conditions have opened Fiji’s doors to companies like Bellingham Marine that are looking to set-up operations in the South Pacific.

“Having a production plant in Fiji allows us to provide clients in the region with more competitive pricing,” shared Bruce Birtwistle, General Manager of Bellingham Marine New Zealand. “Transportation and production costs are greatly reduced.”

“Our partnership with MSC not only benefits our clients, but the local community,” added Birtwistle. “The plant bring new jobs to the region and helps further bolster the local economy.”

As the world's leading marina design-build construction company, Bellingham Marine specializes in floating dock, floating platform and floating wave attenuation systems for marinas worldwide. The company also produces dry storage systems for the upland storage of boats.

| A Bellingham Marine release  | September 19,  2017   |||

Leading food company Alliance has acquired the business of Goldkiwi Asia, a Singapore -based marketing and sales company, as it seeks to capture more value from its markets in Asia.

Alliance Group chief executive David Surveyor said the new business will be known as Alliance Asia.

Goldkiwi Asia is well established and has built sound customer relationships in China, Hong Kong, Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, Singapore and Indonesia since the early 1990s.

Mr Surveyor said the acquisition represents an important step in the company’s vision to create a stronger co - operative to benefit its 5,000 farmer shareholders and staff.

The acquisition will position Alliance directly in the market a nd accelerate the co-operative’s understanding and responsiveness to its Asia - based customers. “This will ensure we are now closer than ever to our Asian customers and end - consumers with our new Asian headquarters in Singapore connecting us to some of the world’s largest populations and their growing demand for quality foods.

It will also lift Alliance’s visibility and engagement across all steps of the supply chain.”

Alliance has worked closely with Goldkiwi Asia for more than 25 years and the company has played a key role in building Alliance’s presence in the region, he said. “This is a proven relationship and a natural next step in our strategy. Goldkiwi Asia has supported our strategic co-operation with our important Chinese in - market partner Grand Farm. This will continue as we seek to improve the returns and add value to both businesses.”

Goldkiwi Asia staff will transfer to Alliance Asia.

Paul Stephens, Founder and Director of Goldkiwi Asia, said: “The acquisition is at the right time for the business. We are moving up the value chain and we are driven to secure a better return. “Consumers want to know more – not just about the food, but also its story.

Alliance is 100% owned by farmers, who take great care and know their craft. This resonates with consumers.” Mr Surveyor said Alliance Group is developing new approaches to retail and e-commerce and product development in the Asia markets over the coming year.

“We are matching our products with markets which requires investment in product development, packaging and services.”

| An Alliance Group release  ||  September 20,  2017   |||

The FoodBowl and DWC FoodTech are pleased to present a tailored one-day training course providing food manufacturers (and supporting industry) the practical information needed to manage heat processing options, health risks, guidelines and compliance.

The continued rapid growth in consumer demand for chilled foods has seen a proliferation of a wide range of products utilising an increasing array of packaging and processing systems. The need for widespread distribution means that manufacturers must maximise shelf life without compromising food safety. Whilst chilled foods are perceived as fresh and healthy, there can be increased risks.

This workshop will address the issues involved in the production and distribution of safe chilled foods.

Continue here for more information and to register . . .

Using connected technologies to gain business value The recent Rockwell Automation TechED event in Melbourne attracted record numbers and revealed the latest techniques and technologies to help maximise manufacturing and production operations. With a focus on advancing industrial automation and solving business challenges, the event brought together the best in the industry including end users, system integrators, distributors, partners and machine builders. “TechED has established a reputation as the industry’s only multi-day, hands-on event focusing on the latest technologies to help maximise assets and information across operations. The number of people attending TechED is growing year upon year because it not only focuses on the latest technologies to enable a Connected Enterprise, but demonstrates first-hand how companies can connect silos of information to extract real business value,” explained Matthew Treeby, commercial marketing manager, Rockwell Automation. The event began with an informative keynote presentation by John Watts, marketing director, Rockwell Automation that highlighted the importance of investing in smart manufacturing and production to remain competitive on a global scale. The growing middle class in emerging countries together with an aging workforce are key market drivers for smart manufacturing and production. As the consumer market grows and demands more choice, manufacturers need to embrace new technologies to address these changing requirements. In light of these macro-trends, the Industrial IoT is estimated to have an economic impact of 4.6 trillion dollars by 2025 as new technologies including analytics, mobility, app platforms and the cloud, help securely connect plant information with enterprise systems. In closing, Watts explained the importance of firstly understanding why you are taking the journey to smart manufacturing. “As a manufacturer, it’s important to have a clear understanding of the productivity and manufacturing issues you are working to solve. It is not all about the technology, think about the people and processes involved. Make sure you understand the business outcomes and why you are heading towards smart manufacturing.” To help customers work towards increased productivity and profitability, he also shared a five-step guide to the Connected Enterprise; the first step being to identify desired business outcomes, then sourcing an outside perspective, assembling the team, starting small by implementing a pilot program and finally scaling for expansion to eventually enable The Connected Enterprise. Michael Pantaleano, global business manager for analytics and cloud, Rockwell Automation, delivered the second keynote presentation focusing on how the company’s latest tools and technologies focus on scalable analytics to help customers meet production and operational goals. Manufacturers rely on production data to solve challenges on the plant floor and across the enterprise. Scalable analytics, performed at the device, system or enterprise level, provide actionable information to the people who need it and a pathway to move data into higher-level systems. Pantaleano emphasised the importance of running analytics where it makes sense, based on the real time nature and power required. For example, analysis of historical data and trends for future optimisation could and should take place in the cloud, whereas detection of device abnormalities requires a real time response and should be handled onsite. The company’s new analytics solutions have the capability to scale from device through to enterprise. The devices that are in machines, lines and applications produce data. To run a connected enterprise, this data must be extracted and sent up to plant-wide and enterprise-wide information systems. The new FactoryTalk Analytics for Devices provides information about the diagnostic health of devices, at the source. With plug-in appliances that automatically detect, digitise, analyse, and act on device data, real-time alerts on critical device and machine health are delivered at the device level. Revealing insights into new and future products, Pantaleano explained that the focus of product development is on simplicity and experience so that devices are easier to use and deploy. In addition, collaboration and mobility requirements are met through the new FactoryTalk TeamONE app, helping to make customers more productive. Another welcome addition to the company’s offering, Rockwell Automation ThinManager helps manage information and streamline workflows for a more connected production environment. ThinManager software allows centralised configuration and management of deliverable content to any combination of user, device or location. Similarly, Studio 5000 Logix Designer has added new features to help improve productivity. It is clear that the company’s focus is on providing appliances that can begin delivering results quickly – products that already have analytics, are easy to use and deploy, readily integrated and scalable for future needs. With more than 60 sessions on offer, attendees were able to experience the latest trends and technologies in the areas of scalable industrial analytics, operational data infrastructure and management, digital transformation, remote access and monitoring, and connected services and solutions. The Process Solutions Users Group (PSUG) provided a unique perspective on how to optimise process applications and the opportunity to interact directly with the Rockwell Automation global process team. For process industries, PlantPAx embraces the cloud, mobility and virtualisation, providing an easy information flow and the flexibility to adapt to new technology. Another area where Rockwell Automation has made significant advances is security. As manufacturing and production facilities connect the plant floor with business systems, a comprehensive approach to industrial security is required. Securing the Connected Enterprise requires a holistic defense-in-depth approach. TechED provided the forum to learn about developing standards and regulations around security and the Rockwell Automation approach for building security into their products. TechED demonstrated the importance of investing in smart manufacturing and production; and the costly danger of missed opportunities. The industrial automation market in Australia and New Zealand is expected to grow consistently over the coming years, making now the right time to reap the rewards of using analytics to transform data from smart, connected industrial assets into meaningful insights. About Rockwell Automation Rockwell Automation Australia and Rockwell Automation New Zealand are subsidiaries of Rockwell Automation, Inc.—a leading global provider of industrial automation and information solutions that helps manufacturers achieve a competitive advantage in their businesses. The company brings together leading global brands in industrial automation which include Allen-Bradley® controls and services and Rockwell Software® factory management software. Its broad product mix includes control logic systems, sensors, human-machine interfaces, drive controllers, power devices, and software.

Rockwell Automation, Inc. (NYSE:ROK), the world’s largest company dedicated to industrial automation and information, makes its customers more productive and the world more sustainable. Headquartered in Milwaukee, Wis., Rockwell Automation employs approximately 22,000 people serving customers in more than 80 countries.

NEW ZEALAND logistics company C3 runs an operation hauling woodchips from sustainably- grown plantations in southern Western Australia to Albany Port.

The company runs a range of IVECO Stralis models for the job. The Stralis prime movers operate five days per week, averaging more than 400km per day, with the majority of the plantations they service located within a 130km radius of Albany.

Along with the WA-based fleet, C3 also operates several trucks from the city of Portland in south-western Victoria in the same application but configured as B-doubles.

C3 has invested in more than 20 Stralis trucks across several years, comprising of the earlier series AS-Ls and four new AS-L Series II models that have been added in recent months.

C3 Albany operations manager Craig Fildes said some of the first Stralis prime movers on fleet were now approaching a million kilometres.

These were fitted with Cursor 13 engines producing 500 horsepower and the smooth-shifting EuroTronic II 16-speed AMT.

"We began using Stralis AS-L prime movers around six years ago. Some of these are still being used and now have over 800,000km showing,” Craig said.

"When it came time to grow the fleet in this application, we opted to continue using AS-Ls, purchasing four of the latest Series II models in March.

"This time we went for the higher engine output and worked with IVECO to select the best GCM.

"The AS-Ls allow us to work at our desired target of 90 tonnes, which helps productivity.

"The AS-Ls do quite an amazing job, they are a good all-round fit for the application. They're comfortable, quiet, they're easy to work with and are competitively priced.

"A lot of the roads the trucks travel on, especially in the plantations, as you could imagine are not very nice, the trucks can take a battering, but the IVECOs handle it well.

"The drivers are also happy with them, especially with their comfortable, quiet cabin.”

The latest AS-L Series II prime movers feature a 560hp, 13-litre Cursor engine coupled to a ZF Eurotronic II 16-speed transmission.

| An IpswichTimes release  ||  19 September,  2017   |||

The roll-out of a soft plastics recycling scheme in Nelson today means New World, Countdown and Pak’nSave supermarkets in the South Island will offer the service, Environment Minister Dr Nick Smith says.

“The Love NZ Soft Plastics Recycling Programme is the next logical step for households in reducing waste. It means people can take the likes of bread bags, shopping bags and frozen vege bags to these supermarkets for collection, re-manufacture and re-use,” Dr Smith says.

“Most households now recycle paper, cardboard, glass, metal cans and hard plastic containers, and the extra challenge with soft plastics was finding a practical way of collecting them and keeping them clean enough for re-use. The programme is already running in Auckland, Hamilton, Wellington and Canterbury and will now roll out to stores from Nelson to Invercargill.

“These additional South Island locations mean the programme reaches its goal of 70 per cent of New Zealanders having access to a drop-off facility within 20km of their home.

“A Government Waste Minimisation Fund grant of $700,930 supports this joint initiative between the retail sector, the packaging industry and the Government to enable the recycling of soft plastics.

“The soft plastic collected is turned into useful products such as benches and bollards, extending the life of this valuable resource. The programme will now be available at more than 350 stores nationwide, and includes South Island New World, Countdown and Pak’nSave supermarkets.

“This initiative builds on the work we have done with hard plastics, like the opening last month of the Flight Plastics processing facility in Lower Hutt, which received a $4 million Government grant. This facility has the capacity to turn more than 200 million plastic drink bottles a year into high grade food-safe packaging.

“The soft plastics programme is a great example of how businesses can make positive changes that enable every-day New Zealanders to divert plastic waste from ending up as litter or landfill. Its North Island roll-out will continue next year, with Rotorua, Tauranga and Palmerston North.

“The success of the programme to date clearly shows New Zealanders’ enthusiasm for reducing waste to landfill. This year more than 200 tonnes of soft plastics have already been collected for recycling.

“It is needed regardless of the debate on single use shopping bags. I welcome the announcement yesterday by Foodstuffs that they are exploring a charge on single use supermarket bags but the soft plastics problem is far larger than just the single use supermarket bags.

“This innovative and collaborative approach has proved successful in other locations and I’m looking forward to seeing Nelsonians embrace it,” Dr Smith concluded.

| A Beehive release  ||  September 18,  2017   |||

Freight is rolling again this morning on the South Island’s Main North Line, ten months after November’s Kaikoura earthquake, Transport Minister Simon Bridges announced today.

The first train carrying goods into Christchurch from Picton is due to arrive in Christchurch by 2pm today, marking the start of a five nights per week service.

“Keeping freight flowing easily and efficiently around New Zealand is critical to our economic growth and keeping our communities connected,” Mr Bridges says.

“Having this key freight service running again is an immense achievement, which will take pressure off the inland routes while helping with the rebuild of State Highway 1 during the day.

“Today’s first rail services, even in a limited capacity, will take around 2000 trucks off the road each month, building to 4000 trucks when the line is fully operating again by the end of the year.”

Following November’s earthquake, there were close to 60 major damage sites, including tunnels, bridges and embankments, and the line had been buried under more than 100 slips and landslides. Approximately 60 bridges were damaged and repairs required at more than 750 sites.

“Over 1500 workers from KiwiRail, the NZ Transport Agency and their partners in the North Canterbury Transport Infrastructure Recovery alliance (NCTIR) have done a fantastic job in what have been challenging conditions,” Mr Bridges says.

“The Government is committed to restoring the road and rail services along this important coastal corridor, and it’s great to see the significant progress being made.

“We have also provided a range of business support packages and support for the tourism industry and primary sector to help get the most affected communities back on their feet and rebuilding the local economy.”

| A Beehive release  ||  September 15,  2017   |||

The guys at CADPRO Systems reckon if you haven't seen them yet. Take a look at the awesome machines our friends at Vertigo Technologies are engineering and manufacturing it off Westport. Impressive stuff.

2. www.cadpro.co.nz