Greetings manufacturers, winter is here and the PMI suggests the sector is still in modest expansion.  Callaghan Innovation got some additional funding  from the lastest budget and it looks like some of it will go towards helping manufacturers embrace the much touted industry 4.0 and the "internet of things".  You can check it out here.  https://bit.ly/2WOHzno

Read on for some interesting events coming your way.

Catherine Beard

027 463 3212 or cbeard@businessnz.org.nz

New Zealand's manufacturing sector experienced an increase in expansion for April, according to the latest BNZ - BusinessNZ Performance of Manufacturing Index (PMI).

The seasonally adjusted PMI for April was 53.0 (a PMI reading above 50.0 indicates that manufacturing is generally expanding; below 50.0 that it is declining).  This was 1 point up from March, and close to the value experienced in January.

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A Feilding company has scored a major coup by picking up a contract to supply gear for this year's Rugby World Cup in Japan.

Powa Products will supply scrum machines, corner flags, goal post pads, hit shields, body armour and training aids such as drink bottles for the global tournament in September.

Powa general manager Tim Horgan said five shipping containers of gear would be sent to Japan. One is being loaded with 28 scrum machines this week, while 700 sets of body armour are also being sent.

There are 59 training grounds and 12 match venues in Japan that need to be supplied, so it's a lot of corner flags and pads.

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If you want to supply government (and they are a big spender in the economy at around $40 billion per annum) the latest version of the procurement rules just got more supplier friendly.  There is a new emphasis on procurement managers taking into account the economic, social and environmental impacts of what they are purchasing.  There is a new focus on using procurement as a tool to boost the local economy by ensuring NZ firms get a decent chance to become suppliers and that whole of life value is factored in – rather  than lowest cost.  Check out new Rules 16, 17 and 18 that relate to NZ businesses and getting broader outcomes. 

You can check them out here

This year WorkSafe New Zealand is proposing changes to the WES of 34 substances and the BEI of one substance.

WorkSafe welcomes submissions from all interested parties, including individuals, businesses, industry and professional associations and other groups.  Please feel free to forward this information to other parties that you believe may be interested in making a submission.

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Southern SaaS is a two-day event connecting SaaS business leaders with information and networks to help them grow bigger, faster.

•Gain actionable insights to scale SaaS businesses faster
•Hear from SaaS pioneers who will share their experiences
•Share what participants have learned with each other
•Make connections that matter
•Be part of the New Zealand SaaS success story

This event is for SaaS founders and leaders who are thirsty for knowledge, hungry for success and keen to be part of the New Zealand success story.

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The First Pacific Exposition: Business and Investment Forum will be held on July 12-13, 2019 at Skycity Auckland Convention Center, New Zealand, organized by the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

The aim of this Forum is to provide an opportunity for business leaders from the South Pacific region to promote private sector partnership and strengthen business collaboration in various fields.

The First Pacific Exposition: Business and Investment Forum has chosen the theme: “Fostering Trade and Investment Partnerships in the Pacific Region through Better Connectivity, Market Integration and Infrastructure Development” The theme reflects the growing aspiration of Pacific Countries to further strengthen business partnership and to build sustainable and equitable economic growth of the people.

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This Year’s Theme: The Future of Food

The 2019 Forbes AgTech Summit will bring together over 600 global agriculture leaders and entrepreneurs to tackle some of the world’s most critical challenges.

Held once again under the big tents on historic Main Street Salinas — where the Silicon and Salinas Valleys meet — the Summit will foster lively debate and generate rich networking opportunities. You’ll be introduced to the latest technology startups-to-watch within the global agricultural ecosystem, as we challenge minds to think bigger and bolder.

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This simple workshop will take you through basics of why you need good test practices such as test automation, and the benefits it will deliver to your company. We will cover an overview of test automation and an introduction to the power of collaborative testing including hands on practical examples.

Attendees will be invited to participate in practical exercises demonstrating how to collaboratively define work through examples then convert some of the examples into layered test automation.

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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.

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