Strong industry voice in formation of WDC

Competenz CEO Fiona Kingsford has been appointed to the interim Establishment Board of the Manufacturing, Engineering, Logistics and Technology (MELT) Workforce Development Council (WDC), providing critical industry experience in the formation of the new standards setting body for industry training.

Her appointment will ensure the 37 industries currently represented by industry training organisation Competenz will have a strong voice in the development of the new council, which is part of the Reform of Vocational Education.

“I am delighted to have the opportunity to join this interim Establishment Board, and will advocate to ensure that our future workforce is armed with the skills it needs to navigate the shift to industry 4.0 in this post-COVID-19 world of industry training reforms and critical skills shortages,” says Ms Kingsford.

Throughout her career within the manufacturing, engineering and hospitality sectors, Ms Kingsford has been a strong advocate of work-based learning. Her background includes organisational design and development, vocational education and training, strategy, M&A and change management.

Recently, she was selected by the New Zealand Institute of Skills and Technology Establishment Board as Chair of WorkBased Learning Working Group, providing advice on this critical component to the reform of vocational education.

Ms Kingsford is a member of the Forest Industry Ministerial Advisory Board and Director of Group Training Organisation, ATNZ. She was previously a member of the establishment board and Chair of Auckland Māori and Pasifika Trades Training Consortia.

Five years on!

It’s been an amazing 5 years since we entered the NZ market with our Whiteboard, Jeff Davenport of Daiken Southland says.

“The initial nervousness in introducing a new melamine Whiteboard product into an already well serviced NZ market place back in 2015, has transformed into confidence in our product and our strategy”, Jeff says. By doing things a little differently Daiken Whiteboard has gone well since, with volumes escalating nicely and we now have a decent market share… but obviously we are always looking for more! Having the only NZ Melamine manufacturing plant based next to an existing MDF plant in Mataura (Southland) is one of the benefits, allowing very competitive pricing!

We also tested a small colour range a year or so ago and have now refined this to offer one colour, ‘Black melamine’, currently growing in popularity alongside our WhiteBoard melamine range” Jeff says. Initially introduced by Dongwha NZ as ‘Dongwha WhiteBoard’ in June 2015, the company was purchased by Daiken NZ in 2018, and maintained the WhiteBoard brand as ‘Daiken WhiteBoard’. Daiken were not new to the New Zealand market as they also own an MDF plant in Rangiora, manufacturing Customwood branded MDF. The melamine operation has proven a successful addition to their business.

Based out of their Auckland office Jeff Davenport and Craig Doughty have been in the industry for many years and are more than happy to discuss your ongoing requirements.

Phone 09 278 8150 or via email at nzsales@daiken-nz.com

Sicam revised to October 2021

The twelfth edition of SICAM originally planned for October this year will be held at the same location – the Pordenone trade fair – from Tuesday 12th to Friday 15th of October 2021.

“The current economic situation and the serious problems that have been generated by the pandemic across the globe have convinced us to postpone the twelfth edition of SICAM to next year,” the organiser of the event Carlo Giobbi explained.

A collection of six finished woodgrain panels that are rich in colour and texture.

• Supplied as finished panels so no coating or lacquering is needed

• Consistent colour and pattern

• UV stable for indoor use

• 2800x1220 sheet size

• Matching 22x1mm textured ABS edgetape

• Recommended for vertical use

• 7 year warranty laminex.co.nz

View laminex.co.nz for full range, swatches and brochure. Contact your Laminex representative to find out more.

Textured Finish

Consistent Pattern Repeat

UV Stable Indoor Use

Versus natural timbers

end of one chapter … start of another

Most if not all who have been in the joinery trade for some time will have known Peter King of Kings Fourth Woodworking Company.

His passing on the 9th March 2020 is certainly the end of a chapter. Peter will be remembered for his outside of the box thinking and zest for life. Many will remember him dressed in his home-made wooden suit and his quirky wooden gifts.

Peter took over the helm of Kings Woodworking Co in the late 1970s and became well known for beautiful timber benchtops and prestigious G4 Resin finish. Unfortunately, due to Peter’s deterioration in health Kings Woodworking Company was unable to continue trading. This is how the next chapter started for G4 Timber Benchtops.

The Woodsmiths whom most will also know (after also having supplied the joinery trade with timber tops for 25 years) recognized the value of the G4 Resin Finish for their customers and made the decision to purchase Kings G4 IP etc.

The Woodsmiths are very pleased to be able to continue to grow the legacy of Kings G4 Resin Finished benchtops.