While some NZ manufactturers have experienced a slow start to the year as they've focussed on recent uncertainty, BNZ Senior Economist, Craig Ebert suggests that "the international investment cycle is clicking into place and promises to self-sustain the global economic expansion. This should be good for manufacturing industries, New Zealand included".  

Automation is now a key investment focus for manufacturers both here and around the world. According to the Maia Financial’s Equipment Demand Index, we can expect manufacturing to take the lead with a view to implementing industry 4.0 technologies. 

New Zealand manufacturers are focusing on automation in what appears to be a bid to compete with overseas competitors - for example, automation is filling gaps in eastern Europe's factories. See more below...

Catherine Beard
027 463 3212 or cbeard@businessnz.org.nz

New Zealand's level of manufacturing expansion rose in January after experiencing lower expansion for the previous month, according to the BNZ - BusinessNZ Performance of Manufacturing Index (PMI).

The seasonally adjusted PMI for January was 55.6. This was 4.5 points higher than December, although it did not see a return to levels of expansion typically seen during 2017.

While it was positive to see the PMI rebound somewhat after a sizeable drop in expansion during December, comments from manufacturers provide another angle to the story. More...

The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) is a new system of personal data protection requirements adopted in the European Union. It becomes effective on 25 May 2018.

New Zealand exporters are subject to the GDPR. Its requirements go beyond those in NZ’s Privacy Act 1993, meaning that compliance with domestic legislation does not equate to compliance with the GDPR.

Are you compliant with these new rules? Read this advice from Chapman Tripp->>

Capital formation by New Zealand businesses is forecast to reach NZD$65 billion in the 2017 financial year and is expected to set a new record of $70 billion in 2018, according to the latest round of Maia Financial’s Equipment Demand Index (the Index).

The Index found that 42.8% of New Zealand businesses plan to increase their capital expenditure in the next 12 months, with a continued increase to adopt industry 4.0 technology, e.g. IoT, cloud computing, machine learning.

Maia Financial chief executive Daniel Blizzard notes that the Index data showed a “renaissance” for the New Zealand manufacturing sector, where more than half are planning to acquire new assets over the next 12 months, and 44.8% of which intend to increase their 2018 capex budgets.

“Manufacturing and agriculture are taking the lead in terms of increasing their capex spend and asset base, with the view to continue implementing industry 4.0 technologies,” adds Blizzard.

“New Zealand manufacturers are focusing on automation in what appears to be a bid to compete with overseas competitors. The number of manufacturers looking to adopt automation has almost doubled from 11.8% in the March 2017 quarter to 21.4% today.” More...

Entrepreneurs looking to take new products to market or businesses with an eye on exporting, innovation and commercial production may want to add Fine Food New Zealand to their agendas in 2018.

The foodservice, food retail and hospitality trade show takes place 24-26 June 2018 at the ASB Showgrounds and provides an opportunity for industry players at all levels to strengthen their brands through the show’s various initiatives. More...

This is an interesting interview with Sunfed founder Shama Lee about creating a plant-based ‘meat-free meat’ that looks and tastes like the real deal, and the implications for New Zealand's food exports.

“As the first plant-based meat start-up in New Zealand, we have kickstarted and generated momentum towards our vision of creating a brand-new Kiwi industry that will not only diversify our exports, but put us at the forefront of leading the way in producing good clean sustainable food that can feed the growing world population.”

And not only is Sunfed talking the talk on making a difference – it’s walking the walk.

Lee says the company is currently building large-scale plant protein infrastructure in New Zealand. More...

Baked, not fried. Organic, not processed. Chilled, not frozen. Sound healthy?

These macro food trends, combined with a growing global appetite for sustainability, are part of the successful brand story behind Kiwi packaging company Chilltainers.

The thermal packaging literally ticks all boxes, doing away with non-recyclable polystyrene and replacing it with a planet-saving packaging solution that also doesn’t cost the Earth.

Chilltainers boxes are 95-97 per cent recyclable in standard paper recycling, reducing the cost of disposal. And being made from 97 per cent sustainable paper, they’re also carbon neutral, meaning no carbon taxes.

Chilltainers Director Hamish McGregor says the technology behind Chilltainers is exportable in its own right. “The patented design and technology concept can be manufactured anywhere in the world.”

And wherever it’s manufactured the packaging will sport a silver FernMark. The mark is an internationally recognised sign for quality and credibility, he says. More...

Social entrepeneurs, Malcolm and Melanie Rands created Ecostore back in 1993.

It wasn't easy, but the company is now a kiwi success story - making environmentally friendly household cleaners and body care products and selling them internationally.

Now the pair have invested in a much smaller, but growing business called Litte Bird Organics, run by Megan May. Malcolm and Melanie Rands aim to help Megan May's startup grow and hopefully, take on the world.

Malcolm Rands talks to Radio New Zealand about why he is helping others achieve what his company has.

Listen here->>

Taurus Leather has been manufacturing quality leather products for the building, farming and outdoor channels since 1988, but it doesn't stay stuck in the past.

Realising the importance of keeping comptitive in a fast innovating world, while celebrating its 30th year of manufacturing in New Zealand, it has recently invested in cutting edge technology. Now it has its sights set on the Australian market.

"We've just taken delivery of a new computer controlled cutting press - the first press of its type in New Zealand," says Founder & Managing Director, Stuart Savill. More...

If you want to attend the Better by Design CEO Summit on 20-21 March at Auckland's Villa Maria Estate, you'd best grab your tickets now. 

Even more world-class speakers have now been added - Airbnb User Experience Design Manager Jenny Arden, former Uber Product and Engineering Manager Frederique Dame, and Stance Founder and CEO Jeff Kearl have joined an already stellar line-up, including Facebook's Eric Tseng and Allbirds Co-founder Tim Brown.

Tickets will sell out, so book now to secure your spot at this exclusive event.

Learn more and book now->>

‘Age disruption’, led by the fashion industry, challenges our traditional notions of age and shows that ageing doesn’t need to compromise lifestyle and vitality. More tangibly, it is driven by a strong commercial purpose given the wealth tied up in the older third of our society now and going forward. The McKinsey Global Institute has forecast that 51 percent of urban consumer growth to 2030 will come from the 60 plus market.

Dr Ken Dychtwald, one of the world’s leading thought leaders on longevity, states that longevity should be the number one issue on the minds of all marketers but that there are three main reasons why only a small percentage of marketing budgets are focused on the 50 plus market. More...

Companies across eastern Europe are ramping up investment in automation to cope with a labor shortage that started after the 2008 financial crisis and after final curbs were lifted in 2011 on worker flows to richer countries in the European Union.

While policymakers and economists in many parts of the world worry about the potential social negatives of robots displacing humans, here automation is a godsend for companies that want to avoid losing market share.

"Before the crisis, there was not enough capital available, while labor was very cheap and abundant," said Attila Godi, chief executive at Hungarian roof tile maker Terran Tetocserep, which spent 900,000 euros last year to install robots and ancillary equipment at its southern unit.

"This trend has now reversed. Capital is available and this should be invested into modern, functioning technology, while the cost of labor has increased". More...

Don’t forget to check out our contract manufacturers directory if you are looking for contract manufacturing support or you are wanting to advertise your services! 

There are some great resources - see here->>

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