Overseas confidence in Kiwi engineering sector

Overseas confidence in Kiwi engineering sector

22 March 2010

A strong Australasian showing at EMEX 2010, 4-6 May, New Zealand’s premier engineering and manufacturing event, is further proof that the sector is strong say industry pundits. Statistics New Zealand recorded a December 2009 quarter rise of 3.1 percent in overall manufacturing sales volumes. Structural, sheet and fabricated metal products were up an impressive 7.9 percent, and meat and dairy up 4.6 percent.

Australia’s Machinery House is one supplier that sees more improvement for the sector. Executives Kevin Lamb and Rick Foster agree on an upturn in engineering and manufacturing activity here. “It’s really obvious because of increasing sales. We’re looking forward to being in Auckland and catching up with industry professionals and getting their take on New Zealand’s increasingly bright future.”

The pair say that this country has always been a very important market. “We’ll have a strong presence at EMEX with a team of key personnel to answer questions and demonstrate the technology. We’re expecting to see a wide range of customers from all industries including sheet metal, toolmakers, engineers, fitter turners, and colleges and technical institutes to mention just a few. We’re so confident that we’re investing in the market here and launching new ranges of Metalmaster sheet metal equipment and controllers, band saws and lathes.”

Also from Australia and with a large presence at EMEX 2010 is Furnace Engineering. It’s a leading Australian-owned designer and manufacturer of furnaces and ovens and Steve Strutt is confident that putting in a lot of effort to showcase its product and capabilities at EMEX is a top investment.

“We’ve been in business since 1967 and know how markets are doing. We see New Zealand’s industrial and manufacturing sectors as strong and getting stronger. Our strategic partnerships with several world-leading furnace and oven specialists give us a wide international view. We’re involved with a wide range of industries including aerospace, aluminium processing, burn-off cleaning, defence, electronic, extrusion, food processing, healthcare and pharmaceutical, and scientific research. New Zealand is as advanced as anywhere.

“A good example of how New Zealand is forging ahead was December’s official opening by Prime Minister John Key of the new Ullrich Aluminium extrusion facility in Hamilton. Furnace Engineering did the installation, working with Granco Clark USA and UBE Machinery Japan. It was truly an international project.

“We see the New Zealand market as a major one and on our EMEX stand we will have process and technical specialists from Melbourne all three days.”

Reid Industrial Graphic Products is another big overseas industry supplier. “I’m excited to be involved with EMEX 2010,” says Trevor Johnson. “Our company is proudly Australian made and owned and we have offshore partners who assist with our turn-key projects. But New Zealand’s a vital market in both senses – vital as in crucial to us and vital in the sense of having a thriving and energetic sector. Our prediction is that the engineering and machinery sectors in New Zealand will continue to show good growth. That’s why our managing director, Clem Johnson, will be on the stand for the whole show alongside some of our top technical experts.”

The company is demonstrating its faith in New Zealand’s market by showing its full range of products at EMEX. “Visitors will see products and solutions for all sorts of core human machine interface problems. Everything’s covered, including digital printing, overlay panels, membrane keypads, nameplates and badges, backlighting technologies and capacitive switching and more.”

Innovative local businesses will also feature among more than 150 exhibitors at EMEX 2010. They too believe that the New Zealand engineering and manufacturing sectors are world-leading. One of these is Hylton Parkers Fasteners.

“We’re returning to EMEX after a gap of several years,” says Ian McNeill, National Manager. “We believe that the time is right and our exhibit will feature interactive displays and on-site support from our technical specialists. We’re New Zealand’s only ISO accredited fastening company, able to provide fully RoHS (Restriction of Hazardous Substances) compliant product, and have the capability to manufacture fasteners and components to New Zealand OEM requirements.”

Garry Rayner of Engineering Computing Services (ECS) is also looking forward to meeting and talking to sector professionals at the event. “We’ll be showing Kiwis a world-first with ‘talking’ cables. Our German KAPP-LABEL technology uses radio frequency identification (RFID) to measure temperature, moisture and the bending cycles of cables. This opens fantastic possibilities for anti-theft, maintenance and inventory management for a lot of Kiwi businesses.”

EMEX 2010 is on course to attract 150 exhibiting companies from New Zealand and overseas. At least 20 will be first-time exhibitors – an indication of the vibrancy of the sector in this country. Feedback from EMEX 2008 backs up the value of the event to engineering and manufacturing professionals. This is confirmed by the support of the sector’s professional and association bodies: the Institution of Professional Engineers New Zealand (IPENZ) and the Industrial & Engineering Distributors Association (IDEA).

Entry to EMEX is restricted to those working in engineering, manufacturing or technology roles and is free to attend.

Pre-registration is open at www.emex.co.nz.

ENDS

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