NZ Manufacturer February 2022 by Media Hawkes Bay Limited

February 2022

www.nzmanufacturer.co.nz

10 SMART MANUFACTURING

INTERVIEW 17 THE Mike Hendry,

Tech trends that WON’T happen in 2022.

chief digital officer, Steel & Tube.

Listen to uniquely Kiwi stories contributing to New Zealand’s future

www.akiwioriginal.com

CIRCULAR 24 THE ECONOMY Your 2022 sustainability workout programme!

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Foster productivity growth for a strong recovery and better standards An excellent subject for the first issue of NZ Manufacturer for 2022 is productivity and how we need to step up to the mark to make life a whole lot better for all of us. Strong government support to protect jobs and incomes in the face of the pandemic helped New Zealand recover rapidly from the severe Covid-19-induced downturn, but challenges remain to set the economy on a sustainable growth path, according to a new OECD report. The unemployment rate fell to its lowest level since 2007 while the employment rate rose to its highest level on record in the third quarter of 2021. However, inflation and house prices have picked up significantly and both household and government debt have increased. The latest OECD Economic Survey of New Zealand recommends that fiscal policy be adjusted in the near term to help stabilise the economy. Boosting productivity, particularly by making better use of digital technologies, would support further increases in living standards. Economic growth is expected to slow as capacity constraints bite and macroeconomic policies are tightened. Consumption growth is also expected

to ease to a more sustainable pace as employment growth slows. After surging to 4.7% in 2021, New Zealand’s GDP is expected to rise by 3.8% this year before easing to 2.5% growth in 2023. “The near-term economic outlook is positive. The New Zealand economy has recovered strongly from the pandemic. The need for policy action is pressing in a number of areas to make economic growth sustainable. For instance, helping the digital sector to grow would help boost labour productivity.” OECD Secretary-General Mathias Cormann said, presenting the Survey alongside Finance Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Grant Robertson and Minister for the Digital Economy and Communications David Clark.

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“Linking pension eligibility to life expectancy and adopting long-term debt-to-GDP targets would help address the projected increase in government debt.” With affordability for first homebuyers at low levels and a buoyant housing market, it is important for the government to complete reforms to increase housing supply

continued on Page 14

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PUBLISHER Media Hawke’s Bay Ltd, 121 Russell Street North, Hastings, New Zealand 4122.

MANAGING EDITOR Doug Green T: +64 6 870 9029 E: publisher@xtra.co.nz

Read, share, learn, be inspired Welcome to the first issue of NZ Manufacturer for 2022.

CONTRIBUTORS Holly Green, Barbara Nebel HERA, Rajesh Rajamani, Lani Refiti

ADVERTISING Doug Green T: + 64 6 870 9029 E: publisher@xtra.co.nz

Our smorgasbord of articles will, hopefully, satisfy your reading

DESIGN & PRODUCTION

Our lead story (Page 1) reports on the OECD report on productivity

and information needs and get you on the right foot for the challenging business year ahead.

Kim Alves, KA Design T: + 64 6 870 8133 E: kim.alves@xtra.co.nz

in New Zealand. We may or may not be worst in the world with our productivity levels – especially in this time of the virus – but we can always do better.

WEB MASTER

The Interview (Page 17) is on Mike Hendry, chief digital officer,

Julian Goodbehere E: julian@isystems.co.nz

Steel & Tube in which he talks about the future of the steel and construction sectors.

PUBLISHING SERVICES

thinkstep anz is on to it. Their first article for the year (Page 24)

On-Line Publisher Media Hawke’s Bay Ltd

asks business to consider their sustainability workout programme for 2022. In essence, a business plan ensuring your business is

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healthier, opportunities are not missed, strengthen relationships

MEDIA HAWKES BAY LTD

And you will become known as the manufacturer who is doing

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the right thing!

with your team, customers and suppliers.

This is the year of EMEX 2022 and already we are planning ahead with our Preview and Review issues. Looking at the substantial number of exhibitors diversification of activity is the key here to a trade show that is highly anticipated.

Vol.13 No. 1 FEBRUARY 2022

Let me know if you are an exhibitor and would like to be included in the special editions of NZ Manufacturer. And if you have a story to tell, a new development underway or a great idea let me know -I will give you a hand

Copyright: NZ Manufacturer is copyright and may not be reproduced in whole or in part without the written permission of the publisher. Neither editorial opinions expressed, nor facts stated in the advertisements, are necessarily agreed to by the editor or publisher of NZ Manufacturer and, whilst all efforts are made to ensure accuracy, no responsibility will be taken by the publishers for inaccurate information, or for any consequences of reliance on this information. NZ Manufacturer welcomes your contributions which may not necessarily be used because of the philosophy of the publication.

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to have your activities read about. publisher@xtra.co.nz

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Doug Green

Success Through Innovation

Editorial

DEPARTMENTS

1 Contents LEAD

ADVISORS

Get your carbon diet on track.

EDITORIAL 4 DEPARTMENTS When EMEX 2021 comes to town. LEAD 1 BUSINESS NEWSgrowth for a strong 6 Foster productivity

recovery and better standards. Manufacturing in the age of sustainability.

Kirk Hope

Is Chief Executive of BusinessNZ, New Zealand’s largest business advocacy body. He has held a range of senior positions at Westpac and is a barrister and solicitor.

Is NZ’s CovidNEWS response world class? 6 BUSINESS

UKK’s CPTPP a win for exporters. Migrant pay gap research reveals concerning inequities.

MANUFACTURING TECHNOLOGY 8 Resilient Manawatu oozes business NZ Code can make manufacturing more confidence. competitive.

MANUFACTURING 8 SMART Dewalt Design Assist breaking new ground. The advantages of external digester heating. ANALYSIS 10 Tech trends that WON’T happen in 2022.

Ian Walsh

8 10

Ian is Managing Director of Intent Group, a master black belt improvement specialist and global lean practitioner. He is passionate about improving productivity and helping to create world class New Zealand businesses.

Timehippest for change. The supercool science on earth. Anatomy of a data-driven supplyget chain. RS Components helps industries ahead with the Industrial Internet of Things.

EMEX 2021 14 Simcenter 3D extends mechanical performance. Floor Plan and Exhibitors. -15 Open systems the route to the Smart Factory. ANALYSIS 16 4.0 neutrality: One company’s 15 INDUSTRY Achieving carbon lessons learnt. Expanding the manufacturing industry with hybrid cloud.

Leeann Watson

11 9

SMART MANUFACTURING the security challenges of Industry 17 Overcoming 4.0. Australia launches lunar exploration mission. INTERVIEW Cutting edge tool for underwater recovery. 17 THE Mike Hendry, chief empowers digital officer, Steel & for Matrix 320 reader traceability Tube. automation and logistics.

& AUTOMATION 18 QUALITY CONTROL 21 ROBOTICS Autonomous robot control technology

NDC sensors control manufacturing at the enhances efficiency. fromt line. Four industries revolutionised by robots.

NEW PRODUCTS 22 NEW PRODUCTS 20 Structural bearings deliver extreme low-level

Area gripper FMHD in three variants. friction performance. Plastic bevel gears the lubrication – free Cost-effective and for lubrication – free mounting drive around the corner. of solar panels.

Is the Chief Executive of the Canterbury Employers’ Chamber of Commerce (the Chamber).and is a strong voice for Canterbury business.

Lewis Woodward

12 14

Is Managing Director of Connection Technologies Ltd, Wellington and is passionate about industry supporting NZ based companies, which in turn builds local expertise and knowledge, and provides education and employment for future generations.

Brett O’Riley

EMA chief executive Brett O’Riley has a background in technology and economic development. Brett actually grew up with manufacturing, in the family business, Biggins & Co. He currently holds board roles with Wine Grenade and Dotterel Technologies and is also on the NZ Film Commission board.

19 16

Grundfos 50 years pioneeringsafety. pump AC Servo celebrates System provides highest-level technology.

DEVELOPMENTS 25 THE CIRCULAR ECONOMY 24 Mint Innovation raises $20m to build gold

Your 2022 sustainability workout programme! biorefineries.

25 ANALYSIS HRS highlights steam injection for food sterilisation. supply chains – with data. Streamlining Is automotive ready for hydrogen?

26 DEVELOPMENTS chaos of legacy equipment. REAR VIEW 28 The

Fortesque FutureCommission Industries tocalls investigate Climate Change for decisive repurposing parts of NZ oil refinery. action.

17 28

27 THE LAST WORD

How to be cyber resilient in the digital frontier.

19 www.nzmanufacturer.co.nz

NZ Manufacturer February 2022

Business News Migrant pay gap research reveals concerning inequities New research into the migrant pay gap in New Zealand has revealed concerning inequities between migrants from different countries of birth. The report, commissioned by Diversity Works New Zealand, shows that migrants from South Africa, Northern America, the United Kingdom and the rest of Europe all earned a higher average hourly wage than migrants from Asia, the rest of the Americas, Polynesia, Melanesia, and Micronesia. Even when the data was adjusted to compare migrants with similar levels of skills, English language ability, time spent in New Zealand and age, those born in places like Asia and South America earn significantly lower average wages than migrants from Europe and Northern America, says Diversity Works New Zealand Chief Executive Maretha Smit. “In 2018, engineering professionals from the UK, South Africa, and Northern America all earned an average wage above $45 an hour. In contrast, engineering professionals from India, China, and Polynesia all had hourly wages below $40.” Business and Economic Research Limited (BERL) looked a variety of datasets to determine whether there was a migrant pay gap in New Zealand. Key points from the report • Migrants from South Africa, Northern America, the United Kingdom (UK), and the rest of Europe all earn a higher average hourly wage than migrants

from Asia, the rest of the Americas, Polynesia, Melanesia, and Micronesia. • Even when the data was adjusted to compare migrants with similar levels of skills, English language ability, time spent in New Zealand and age, there are inequities based on place of birth and ethnicity. • Contributing factors to the migrant pay gap include cultural and language differences, institutional barriers, structural bias and discrimination. • Migrants who spoke English and another language were more likely to earn a lower wage than migrants who spoke English only. • Migrants from English-speaking, advanced countries can transfer their qualifications to the New Zealand labour market more easily than migrants from other countries. • Large pay gaps between migrant groups with the same occupation, level of education, and industry roles indicate that despite there being several pieces of legislation in New Zealand covering unjust treatment in the workplace, discrimination

and bias persist. • Employers need to develop processes that ensure equitable and fair employment for all. • Pay gap metrics also indicate the extent to which people from specific groups are able to access leadership roles, and the data suggests that this might be a significant barrier for people from non-European countries. • Pay transparency has been very successful in addressing wage gaps. Reporting the pay gaps by gender and ethnicity ensures this issue is brought to light and addressed.

The report was commissioned by Diversity Works New Zealand.

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Business News Resilient Manawatu- oozes business confidence Manawatu- has emerged as one of New Zealand’s most resilient regions to come out of Covid-19, with some of the country’s leading companies heavily investing in the region. Strong business investment and an annual GDP growth of 4.6 per cent, coupled with the burgeoning Central New Zealand Distribution Hub (CNZDH) development, Manawatū is primed for unprecedented levels of growth. This investment is backed by annual commercial building consents for the region growing by 91 per cent between 2019 and 2021, compared with just two per cent nationally. CEDA spokesperson Ray Mudgway says the growing attractiveness of Manawatu- for New Zealand and international companies has been aided by the CNZDH development, which will see the region become New Zealand’s central distribution hub. “Covid-19 and the latest lockdown in Auckland have highlighted the vulnerability of global supply chains along with the pressure on the efficient delivery of goods in New Zealand,” says Mudgway. “Businesses are recognising the advantages we have in Manawatu- and the work being done to develop the regions strengths as a multi-modal logistics hub.” Mudgway says more than $8 billion of transport and infrastructure investment is planned and already under way in Palmerston North city and Manawatuin the next 10 years, fuelled by significant public and private investment. New Zealand food giant, Countdown is backing the

region, opening their new $100 million distribution centre three weeks early to cope with demand in their supply chain. Countdown’s National Non-Retail Property & Development Manager, Bruce Waite, says their newly expanded distribution hub has already helped to relieve pressure on their network, exacerbated by the Auckland lockdown. “We’ve been able to supply many of our Waikato stores from our expanded central hub, which we weren’t previously able to do, giving us more flexibility and allowing us to be locationally reactive.” Waite believes Manawatu- is ideally located to service the lower North Island, not only because of its central geographical location, but for its location in relation to transport routes north, south, east and west. “We’re already seeing massive advantages of having a larger presence in the region; it’s a no brainer for us to be here.” Waite says the CNZDH development and potential linkages with rail between distribution centres will support further improvements in their supply chain efficiencies. “Manawatu- is a thriving and growing region that is maturing from a service town into a key player. It’s inevitable that the region would mature into playing a strategic role in New Zealand’s transport network,” he says. Green energy supplier, Hiringa, is also expanding its footprint in the region. Construction of four

high-capacity green hydrogen refuelling stations for zero-emission heavy FCEVs (fuel cell electric vehicles) is now underway, alongside stations in Auckland, Hamilton and Tauranga, all on Waitomo truck stops. Dion Cowley, Hiringa’s Project Development and Public Sector Lead, says Palmerston North was chosen for the prominent role it plays in serving the country’s distribution needs. “Hydrogen refuelling works particularly well when you apply it to a hub model. There are a lot of freight movements in and around Manawatu- involving companies looking to decarbonise, so we see real advantages with Palmerston North included in our initial roll out,” he says. Cowley says Hiringa is looking forward to offering Manawatu- a new zero emission fuel, helping to shift the heavy transport sector towards decarbonisation. “The CNZDH project provides a fresh start, allowing freight to be looked at in a cohesive manner and providing multiple utilities for businesses in one spot.” The CNZDH is a unique, multi-modal transport and logistics system based in Manawatu-. Once fully completed, the hub will provide economic, social and environmental benefits for the region and the country. It will help to reduce emissions through more efficient freight movement and provide more efficient delivery of goods in New Zealand.

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NZ Manufacturer February 2022

ADVISORS Mike Shatford

is an expert in the field of technology development and commercialisation. His company Design Energy Limited has completed over 100 significant projects in this vein by consulting for and partnering with some of New Zealand’s leading producers. Among Mike and his team’s strengths are industrial robotics and automated production where the company puts much of its focus.

Iain Hosie

Iain Hosie, NanoLayr, Technical Director and Founder Iain is the co-Founder and Technical Director of Revolution Fibres. Iain has been deeply involved in nanofibre production and the development of many unique nanofibre products in the past ten years. Iain co-founded Revolution Fibres in 2009 and led the business since 2012, taking it from a small start-up to a recognszed leader in nanofibre production. Iain has recently moved to the Technical Director role – with a focus on keeping Revolution Fibres at the forefront of textiles innovation.

NZ Manufacturer February 2022

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Sandra Lukey

Sandra Lukey is the founder of Shine Group, a consultancy that helps science and technology companies accelerate growth. She is a keen observer of the tech sector and how new developments create opportunity for future business. She has over 20 years’ experience working with companies to boost profile and build influential connections.

Georgina Fenwicke

After working in fast paced Supply Chain and Transport teams at Deloitte and Uber EMEA, Georgina Fenwicke founded Frankie in February 2020. Frankie is an Operations Control Centre for Industrious Property Teams to maintain assets and equipment at scale with their contractors. They work with Industrial, Education and Food processing clients across New Zealand.

titleadvantages of external digester heating The textMatt Hale, International Sales & Marketing Director, HRS Heat Exchangers By Anaerobic digestion (AD) is a well-established technique for the production of renewable energy (biogas) and the management of organic wastes such as sewage sludge, manures and crop wastes. It is also capable of producing a sustainable biological fertiliser in the form of digestate. However, although the technique is well developed, many digester designs still incorporate heating elements within the tank itself (or in the floor or the walls), an outdated design which causes a number of operational difficulties and can lead to unnecessary and expensive downtime. Anaerobic digestion is a naturally occurring biological process which is dependent on the management of a range of microorganisms. As such temperature control is crucial to maintaining a productive and efficient digester. Anaerobic digesters are normally designed to operate in one of two temperature regimes: mesophilic digestion occurs between 30 °C and 38 °C, with a typical set point of 37 °C, while thermophilic digestion occurs at 50 °C to 57 °C with a set point of 55 °C. There are pros and cons to each approach, and the type of digester use will depend on a number of factors including the feedstock to be treated, the availability of heat and energy, and the type of technology used in the design of the plant. Thermophilic digestion is quicker but has a higher energy requirement and is more common in larger

External digester heating has a number of benefits over internal systems.

AD plants, while mesophilic plants have a lower

Several types of bacteria are involved in the anaerobic

energy requirement but a longer processing time;

digestion process, and different temperature regimes

as a result, they are more common in smaller

will suit different bacteria.

continued on Page 18

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Tech trends that WON’T happen in 2022 As 2022 kicks off, predictions abound on the technology advancements and innovations expected in the year ahead. However, several highly anticipated advancements, including the metaverse, mainstream companion robots, a boom in edge computing, and a bounce back in new vehicle sales will NOT happen in 2022, states global technology intelligence firm, ABI Research. In its new whitepaper, 70 Technology Trends That Will—and Will Not—Shape 2022, ABI Research analysts identify 35 trends that will shape the technology market and 35 others that, although attracting huge amounts of speculation and commentary, are less likely to move the needle over the next twelve months. “The fallout from Covid-19 prevention measures, the process of transitioning from pandemic to endemic disease, and global political tensions weigh heavily on the coming year’s fortunes. “This whitepaper is a tool for readers to help shape their understanding of the key critical trends that look set to materialise in 2022 as the world begins to emerge from the shadow of Covid-19. It also highlights those much-vaunted trends that are less likely to have meaningful impact in 2022,” says Stuart Carlaw, Chief Research Officer at ABI Research.

What won’t happen in 2022? The metaverse will not arrive fully formed Despite all the headlines and investments, the metaverse will not arrive in 2022 or, for that matter, within the typical 5-year forecast window. The metaverse is still more of a buzzword and vision than a fully-fledged end goal with a defined arrival date. What we have today is a number of tech companies building their version of a “metaverse,” but this multiverse is not fully interconnected, does not yet widely employ open standards, and certainly has not fully embraced Extended Reality (XR)—all tenets of the metaverse vision (some would also add the crypto economy to the list, which is also not in place).

The exponential boom in edge computing will not come to fruition Edge computing, both Mobile-Access Edge Computing (MEC), and general edge computing, will continue to increase in deployment numbers. However, the deployments in 2022 will be mostly critical ones made by early adopters—not the start of the boom that had been anticipated. Edge computing use cases and financial viability are tightly coupled to 5G cellular networks, both public and private. The availability of affordable 5G services on which edge computing will thrive is not yet a global reality. As a result, edge computing adoption will be slower than anticipated.

Companion robotics will not go mainstream After several years of leading social robotics companies either shutting up shop or withdrawing their commercial offerings, 2021 saw renewed investment and focus on the market and its potential. Amazon’s launch of its first social robot, the Astro, certainly sparked a great deal of attention. However, despite the enormous potential for social/companion

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robotics, 2022 will not be the breakout year the industry is hoping for, despite the scale, pricing, and awareness that a player like Amazon can bring to an emerging technology market.

New vehicle sales will not bounce back The automotive supply chain remains unable to meet pent-up demand, thanks to the shortage of critical semiconductors. A reliance on outdated semiconductor process technologies with limited production capacity, proprietary designs, and an opaque demand-signaling process has prolonged the semiconductor crisis in the automotive sector. There are no quick fixes for problems that have been years in the making. Therefore, the consequences of the decision made by automakers in 2020 to cancel their existing semiconductor orders will last beyond 2022. Ultimately, ABI Research does not expect new vehicle sales to return to the 90 million mark—last seen in 2018—until 2023 at the earliest.

No relief from semiconductor shortage A combination of factors will take until 2023 to resolve shortage issues through additional capacity, verification of real demand (versus panic 2X to 3X orders), and the inflationary impact on consumer spending on products. Continued risk factors include social/political risks and the ability to bring new fab capacity online, on time, especially for tight engineering specified automotive and commercial vehicles. Covid-19 variants and the impact on nations without high vaccination rates also play a role in permitting staffing of facilities and transportation of finished goods and semiconductor supplies. “Our goal is to provide the key decision tools businesses need to act with speed, appropriateness, and efficiency. 2022 will be challenging, but it also holds great promise and great opportunity,” Carlaw concludes.

The hippest supercool science on earth A team of Antarctic scientists is breaking new ground – or ice at least – in scientific research. They’ve designed a cutting-edge device to measure supercooled ocean water under sea ice. The Kiwi-led project, funded by the Marsden Fund, is collaborating with Norwegian and US scientists to build a High Precision Supercooling Measurement Instrument (HiPSMI) that can be sent below the ice on the Icefin (a small, remotely-operated submersible robot) to precisely measure exactly how cold the water gets. Dr Inga Smith, from the University of Otago, says sea ice usually freezes at -1.9 degrees Celsius. But that’s not the case when fresh water flows from beneath an ice shelf and mixes with the salty sea water. “Then it becomes what’s called supercooled, so it’s still liquid but actually below the freezing point. It then snap freezes into these crystals called frazil, they attach to the sea ice and form platelet ice. That means the sea ice in this area is thicker and grows faster than it would otherwise, certainly thicker and faster than you would expect in the Arctic, for

example, in a similar location. “We’re really pushing the edge of polar engineering here, operating in these really cold temperatures and making high-precision measurements of that supercooling,” she says. Maren Richter, a PhD student from University of Otago, says oceans under ice shelves are a large black spot in our knowledge. “We know more about the dark side of the moon than we know about what’s going on underneath the Ross Ice Shelf! “These measurements help to inform understanding of how the system that is the ocean, the ice and the atmosphere works together, and how that all interconnects. These are all calculated by large scale models and the more accurate we can make these models, even on really small scales like this, the more accurate it will be on larger scales like informing weather in the future in New Zealand,” she says.

To test the HiPSMI in Antarctica for the first time, the team worked out of a containerised ice camp on McMurdo Sound. Sarah Williamson, Antarctica New Zealand Chief Executive, says the containerised camp, owned by NIWA, was key for the team’s success. “They managed to collect oceanographic and sea ice data for 17 of the 20 days at the ice camp, and HiPSMI data on eight of those days. It’s always satisfying when we can support this world-leading science so successfully in Antarctica, particularly when it has such important ramifications for the rest of the planet,” she says.

RS Components helps industries get ahead with the Industrial Internet of Things

RS Components has announced a broad range of industrial electronics solutions supporting designers and engineers to meet increasing and evolving electronics demands. Featuring brands by market-leading global manufacturers, the RS industrial electronics solutions offering includes the latest parts and components for designers and engineers creating smart devices and embracing the Industrial Internet of Things (IIOT) to deliver connected solutions for businesses, factory floors, and various industrial environments. Some popular and locally stocked products in Australia and New Zealand include sensors, power and circuit breakers, semiconductors and dev kits as well as test and measurement instruments from leading global brands including Schneider, TE Connectivity, Fluke, Phoenix Contact, Raspberry Pi, and more. Products from the range equip engineers with the tools to unlock productivity through IIOT. High-performance and high-precision tools comply with worldwide standards, and aid in detection

and measurement, smart automation, and precision monitoring.

from over 2,500 leading suppliers, on the RS websites

Engineers are at the forefront of developing solutions that allow organisations to make informed and timely decisions. Harnessing IIOT enables manufacturers and industrial sectors to have better insight and sharing of data, enabling efficient plant maintenance and process improvements.

For more information on the expanded products

“With locally-stocked products, we offer reliable access to industrial electronics solutions to help organisations innovate and get ahead swiftly. RS teams are also committed to working closely with customers who are just beginning their IIOT journey,” says Sean Fredericks, President, Asia Pacific at RS Components. Engineers looking to strengthen their IIOT capabilities can now access a reliable stock of over 650,000 industrial and electronic products, sourced

for Australia and New Zealand. visit: https://au.rs-online.com

Engineers are at the forefront of developing solutions that allow organisations to make informed and timely decisions.

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NZ Manufacturer February 2022

Siemens extends mechanical performance with Simcenter 3D Siemens’ Simcenter 3D software, part of Siemens’ Xcelerator portfolio of software and services, enables engineers to tackle the complexity of product development and innovation with advanced simulation. Among the new capabilities, Simcenter 3D offers increased support for turbomachinery modeling, a dedicated drop test application for handheld devices, tightly integrated topology optimisation with the NX Design environment, and a new acoustic solution method that is up to 10 times faster than standard methods. Simcenter 3D brings together combined expertise and experience across a wide range of industry sectors, capabilities and physics. Customers are finding bold new ways to make use of complex physics simulation to drive innovation across industries. Siemens’ Simcenter 3D 2022.1 release focuses on helping engineers overcome challenges in four key areas:

of the end-user’s experience. Engineers can now mix all contributing sounds and listen to the combined acoustics results to answer questions such as “What will a loudspeaker sound like when you put it in a car and combine it with background noise from the engine, HVAC, wind and road?”

simulation is up to 10 times faster compared to the standard boundary element method, while new load case filtering for aerostructures allows engineers to quickly determine the final critical list of load cases from the thousands of load cases experienced in an airframe.

In this release, topology optimisation is now more tightly integrated with the NX Design environment so that simulations are ‘replayable’ and become easier for designers to create lightweight, yet structurally capable designs.

Stay integrated: Simcenter 3D now connects with Xcelerator Share for Xcelerator as a Service (or XaaS) subscribers. The Xcelerator Share collaborative cloud environment helps users or distributed workgroups seamlessly share files and communicate results to aid ad-hoc collaboration.

Go faster: Two core updates enable customers to break new ground more quickly than ever before. The new high-performance boundary element method with adaptive order solution (BEMAO) used for acoustics

Finally, engineers can now launch simulations remotely to any workstation or HPC cluster right from their desktop.

Model the complexity: The ability to model and understand complex physical phenomena is at the forefront of this Simcenter 3D release. Simcenter 3D’s industry-leading solution for the turbomachinery industry has been extended with additional thermal multiphysics, rotordynamics and thermal fatigue capabilities to more accurately capture the complex physics happening within these machines. A new dedicated set of tools to simulate spiral bevel gears, as often found in automotive differentials, enables accurate, system-level NVH analysis on these mechanisms to reduce gear whine. Additionally, a new dedicated application simplifies and streamlines the drop-test simulation process for electronic and other handheld devices for engineers who are not simulation experts. Explore the possibilities: Acoustics auralisation capabilities allow engineers to not only simulate but also listen to the acoustics/sound within the context

HHP Bluetooth app launched This updated version, allows the app to connect wirelessly to up to four Bluetooth load cells on a single smartphone, versus one with the previous version, following demand from customers.

Bluelink is a 6.5t (14,300 lb.) capacity load cell, targeted at end-users that remain loyal to traditional equipment but benefit from reading the data on an iOS or Android smartphone installed with the app.

Another standout feature is the capability to set a lift threshold; when that is triggered the lift is effectively counted. In other words, if a user has two cranes working alongside each other, they could see how many lifts per day each one has completed and what the productivity is.

The recently launched 4t capacity ChainSafe, for protection of cargo during transport, is a smart dynamic solution for measuring the load on lashing, load securement, tie-downs, and chain sling leg—and is designed for the transportation and construction industries to secure loads and cargo. Towcell, meanwhile, displays wirelessly the weight being towed by road-going vehicles.

Through a series of updates, the app now includes an analogue load indicator on the main screen and is offered in in English, Dutch, Spanish, Norwegian, Japanese, and Chinese.

The free-to-download app, initially launched in 2018, connects their Bluetooth load cells with a wireless range of 100 meters or 328 feet.

The app also automatically adds GPS coordinates into data logging reports and features updated overload and warning alarms to accommodate manual value entries. The HHP app is predominately used with the Bluelink, ChainSafe, and Towcell load cells, Bluelink first introduced Bluetooth technology to users previously utilising outdated mechanical force measurement.

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The upgrade enables monitoring loads in a number of additional applications. Truck haulage with chain lashes will be one of them, for example—a perfect combination with four ChainSafe load cells. Other new features on the Crosby Straightpoint HHP2 Bluetooth app, which can be downloaded in a simulation mode for trials, include audio and visual alarms on overload per channel; option to set and record overload incidents; and recording of total loads, weight, and total lifts, for reports.

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title Open systems the route to the Smart Factory text Francisco Perez, Lantek’s OEM Channel Director Lantek has been a leader in software solutions for the sheet metal industry for 35 years. It has accomplished this by helping OEM machine tool manufacturers optimise the functionality and performance of their machines while enabling sheet metal manufacturing companies take advantage of new, productivity boosting, CAD/CAM, MES, ERP software and cloud-based technologies. Dedicated OEM team, worldwide support Integral to this approach is Lantek’s neutral stance for its OEM partners, giving them the confidence to trust Lantek with information about the individual technology advances each is working to develop. To facilitate this secure coordination, Lantek has established a focused and dedicated department to manage the 150 OEMs it now supports. This special team is giving each OEM individual attention on their Lantek projects and is supporting them in their implementation and market rollouts to ensure the technology works as intended and, that their customers are happy with the results. Lantek has 20 offices in 14 countries and a global dealer network across 100 countries which Lantek puts at the disposal of its OEM partners for professional support. Long term experience and a culture of hard work Software development is a long and complex process. Lantek has been developing its sheet metal CAM, ERP and MES software solutions for 35 years. Mostly, its innovations come from long hours working in partnership with sheet metal manufacturers and machine tool builders, incorporating their requirements while anticipating the direction the industry is heading, providing features and innovations that add real value for customers. This knowledge and experience can only be acquired after years working in partnership with machine tool builders. Since 2019, Lantek’s OEM partnerships have grown

16% with an increase in OEM channel sales of 41%. Special collaborative projects Over the years, Lantek has developed software to support many new sheet metal devices and technologies including bevelling, drilling, inkjet/ laser marking, pallet handling, etc. As these technologies became more common in the market, Lantek implemented generic solutions so that a range of different machines with these capabilities could be driven from Lantek’s standard Expert CAM software simply by configuring the postprocessor to suit the requirements of each machine. There are hundreds of these functions which Lantek has developed with its OEM partners.

Now, with the evolution of Industry 4.0 and the challenges created by the pandemic, this technology is becoming mainstream. Companies of all sizes are examining how smart techniques can be used for their application. Lantek has a clear advantage as its mature products such as Lantek MES and Lantek Analytics are designed specifically for the sheet metal industry. For OEMs these advances are equally important as sheet metal manufacturers will want to integrate their machinery with their customers’ business systems. making collaboration with Lantek even more important as Lantek can supply the tools and the technology for integration at a much deeper level, connecting machine performance with the KPIs that manufacturers wish to monitor.

Many are now part of the standard Lantek Expert system and, as new machine models have been developed, Lantek has customised postprocessors for each of them, irrespective of the OEM, giving Lantek probably the largest library of postprocessors in the industry. Recent projects have included collaboration with OEMs on collision avoidance on their fibre lasers. Its OEM partner, Danobat, is an example where Lantek helped provide collision avoidance for its coil laser cutting machines. Automation for sheet metal machinery is now common and is an area where Lantek collaborated with OEM Euromac. Tube cutting is a rapidly growing technology in the sheet metal industry. Again, Lantek has extensive experience collaborating with leading companies in the industry such as Han’s Laser to develop advances that deliver economies in material usage, the ability to handle new 4X/5X cutting heads and new chuck devices for managing new tube and beam formats. Smart Factory evolution For much of its history in software development, Lantek has been evaluating and working towards the concept of the Smart Factory.

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Foster productivity growth for a strong recovery and better standards and for macro-prudential regulations to be tightened further, the Survey says. Policy settings will need adjusting to avoid population ageing leading to significant additional increases in public debt. Raising the pension eligibility age by linking it to life expectancy, while taking measures to limit the impact on disadvantaged groups, would help address long-term fiscal challenges. Adopting explicit long-term debt-to-GDP targets would represent a clear commitment to improving the country’s fiscal position. Boosting productivity is essential to raising living standards, notably through a better use of digital technologies. Challenges to productivity growth owing to muted product market competition, weak international linkages and innovation, and skills and qualifications mismatches should be addressed. Barriers to competition in the retail grocery sector

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should be removed while R&D tax credits should be complemented with targeted grants to ensure a wider application of innovative technology and practices.

The New Zealand government has improved the legal framework for reducing greenhouse gas emissions but is not on track to meet its 2050 net-zero carbon emissions target.

It is important for New Zealand to implement its new national digitalisation strategy. There are severe shortages of specialised ICT skills in the country, in part owing to Covid-19 related border restrictions.

The carbon price is too low and efficient complementary measures, which address market failures not corrected by carbon pricing alone, still need to be taken.

More intensive use of digital tools is also held back by low availability of high-speed Internet connections in rural areas while weak coordination between export promotion and innovation support hampers export expansion by young, innovative firms.

Boosting productivity is essential to raising

To help unleash the technological transformation, digital apprenticeships should be developed and particular help be provided for women and for Māori in pursuing digital careers.

living standards, notably

The GOVTechTalent graduate programme should be expanded to all public sector organisations.

digital technologies.

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through a better use of

Industry 4.0 Edge Computing: Expanding the manufacturing industry with hybrid cloud - Rajesh Rajamani, senior director edge computing and emerging verticals, Red Hat The manufacturing industry continues to be at the forefront of Industry 4.0, , which is the digital transformation of manufacturing using technologies such as smart manufacturing, cloud computing, internet of things (IoT), artificial intelligence (AI), and edge computing. Innovative companies are deploying these technologies and practices to foster greater ecosystem collaboration with suppliers and customers and to create mutually beneficial opportunities. The successful implementation of these technologies within the manufacturing stream increases the visibility of operations and production processes; and delivers competitive advantage through better product quality and adapting to market demand more quickly. The convergence of information technology (IT) and operational technology (OT) is a cornerstone to cloud and edge computing adoption, moving toward an intelligent enterprise. Edge computing is transforming operations and fueling faster innovation through advanced robotics and machine-to-machine communication closer to the source, rather than sending data to a server for analysis and response. Gathering, analysing, and acting on data on the factory floor in real-time offers benefits including reduction in downtime, accurately predicting maintenance, and improving overall product quality results in higher yield, reduced waste, increased throughput, and lower overall costs.

Hybrid cloud: Fundamental infrastructure to integrate edge computing

The links between people, machines, devices, enterprise systems, and analytic engines form an intricate, intelligent web, ultimately focused on meeting customer requirements.

Build your smart factory on open technology Edge computing can be complex, with technologies spread across multiple hardware and software platforms. Organisations are looking for a common, horizontal, unified platform with a consistent development and operations experience. A platform needs to be modular to be able to adapt to a wide range of footprints, from running on top of existing virtualisation or cloud platforms; to a modern, cloud-native infrastructure virtualisation platform; to small form factor bare-metal clusters; to single-edge gateways and servers. The platform should also be cloud agnostic to allow the organisation the freedom and flexibility to move workloads without deploying a new cloud platform. Edge computing requires industry-wide collaboration to support its broad range of use cases, as no single provider can provide a complete edge computing solution, so finding interoperable solutions is crucial

for manufacturers. Adopting an open source approach plays a critical role in ensuring that these solutions are created and maintained, using a community powered approach to provide the most flexibility possible, allowing manufacturers to quickly adapt their strategy as the market evolves, without having to redo the work previously done. For example, Red Hat’s open hybrid cloud solutions support modern, flexible, interoperable manufacturing and supply chain systems by embracing open source innovation, solving enterprise challenges, and building solutions with best practices spanning IT and OT. As Industry 4.0 becomes a reality, the question for most manufacturers is not whether to shift toward automated, data-centric operations but rather how fast they can do it. They want to know how to sync IT and OT at scale— securely—in a workplace where staff skilled in both OT and cybersecurity disciplines are scarce. To learn how to deploy modern edge computing in hybrid cloud environments at scale and in less time, read the Red Hat overview: Manufacturers can scale edge computing with hybrid cloud.

The edge is an extension of the datacentre footprint beyond the datacenter, virtual, private cloud, and public cloud environments that contain centralised infrastructure. In a sense, edge computing blends pieces from each to create infrastructure built to satisfy specific customer demands. In smart manufacturing, an edge deployment could consist of thousands of sensors connected to a data-aggregation tier. Connecting these sensors to hybrid cloud provides consistency from edge devices to the network to the centralised datacenter, converging IT and OT providing a common foundation. This allows IT teams to manage all networked devices just as they would their centralised IT and also be able to leverage the same solutions across edge and cloud. When combined with hybrid cloud, edge computing promises considerable business value in connecting all the components within an intelligent network that includes abstract and physical resources.

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Industry 4.0 Overcoming the security challenges of Industry 4.0 Article by Lani Refiti, ANZ Regional Director at Claroty The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted every industry in very different ways. The need to maximise remote working has been universal, but certain industries have seen demand for their products and services surge; while for others, demand has diminished to virtually zero in some cases. Manufacturers with heavily digitised and sophisticated operations were well-placed to manage both the transition to remote working and the demand fluctuation for their products and services. They were able to rapidly pivot from in-person to remote working, and to spin up production of high-demand goods such as hand sanitisers, personal protection equipment and ventilators. Meanwhile, manufacturers with less sophisticated operations found themselves scrambling to react. The technological capabilities that enabled manufacturers to successfully adapt their operations during COVID-19 can be summed up in one phrase: Industry 4.0, the next generation of manufacturing technology. The concept was conceived in Germany as Industrie 4.0 and made its debut at the 2011 Hannover Fair. It has come a long way since then and means different things in different countries. The Australian Government says, “Industry 4.0 is transforming how businesses operate by connecting the physical with the digital world.” It gives as examples, “Artificial intelligence, advanced automation and robotics.” Industry 4.0 embraces machine-to-machine communication, human-to-machine communication and the idea of a connected ecosystem that links customers, supply chains and production facilities. It enables real-time communication to ensure smooth operation of supply chains, the tailoring of supply to meet demand and, in more advanced versions, the concept of direct control of production according to demand. Industry 4.0 has increased manufacturers’ flexibility, competitiveness and their ability to exploit new market opportunities.

Industry 4.0: where IT meets OT However, there is a major hurdle to realising the vision of Industry 4.0, one that manufacturers have struggled to overcome since before the concept even emerged: how to integrate their operational technology (OT) – the often-legacy equipment that controls and monitors manufacturing facilities and industrial environments – with more modern information technology (IT) — the computer systems that manage stock control, ordering, invoicing and logistics via internet-connected applications. The integration of IT and OT has enabled production systems to be better managed and operated remotely. It has enabled manufacturers to automate certain functions, save resources, and respond more quickly to changing business priorities and customer requirements. But the worlds of OT and IT have evolved separately over the course of decades. For a start, OT was developed long before the internet came into existence and was never designed to be connected to it. Therefore, marrying the two brings many challenges. The rapidly evolving world of IT is dominated by a few international and de-facto standards. It is very different to the world of OT, where proprietary protocols and legacy technologies that have changed little over many years are extremely common. The security tools that were designed to protect IT systems from the dangers of the internet are unable to access and therefore protect OT networks. The cybersecurity specialists who work with IT are not familiar with OT and its security features either. Also, there are limitations to what can be done to secure legacy OT environments. Bandwidth on many OT networks is limited, so monitoring these networks with IT security tools and techniques can actually disrupt operations. This can have disastrous consequences for manufacturers that can’t afford to have any operational downtime. As a result, many manufacturers are simply going without the proper security tools to manage their

environments, leaving themselves exposed to attack.

How manufacturers can turn up the dial on cyber security Effectively securing integrated OT/IT systems demands a new approach that comprehensively addresses all of these challenges to provide robust and holistic security. An essential first step is to segment the network so there are no unnecessary pathways. In the infamous breach of retail giant Target, attackers gained access to eftpos terminals through a system set up to monitor air conditioners. Similarly, a casino was hacked in 2017 through its aquarium temperature monitor, a simple device that didn’t need to be connected to the internet. Secondly, tools must be deployed that can identify all connected devices on the OT network and build a comprehensive inventory. Manufacturers must be able to gather the necessary data from all devices and map their communication pathways: if you don’t know what you have, you can’t protect it from attack. The security ‘toolbox’ also needs to include monitoring tools that maintain an updated list of all known threats and look out for any signs of these on the networks they monitor. Another equally important defence strategy is to deploy tools that constantly monitor the network to establish a picture of what normal behaviour looks like, detect any change in behaviour, and flag this for investigation as a possible attack. And, particularly in a pandemic-affected world, all these tools need to have their full functionality available via remote access. This of course poses a new security challenge. So manufacturers should invest in tools that enable secure remote access for OT, which provide comprehensive protection against unauthorised access, and track and audit all access attempts. None of this is wishful thinking. All this functionality is available from today’s security technologies. They enable any organisation to realise the potential of Industry 4.0, despite COVID-19, and be ready to take advantage of future Industry 4.0 functionality and the new opportunities that will emerge when the pandemic becomes a thing of the past. For more information on security tools for the manufacturing sector, visit www.Claroty.com.

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The Interview Mike Hendry, chief digital officer, Steel & Tube HERA member, Steel & Tube is one of the oldest and largest providers of steel products and solutions in New Zealand. It sources, processes and distributes steel products to customers across New Zealand through its national network and also makes steel products to order on a project basis. The company has expertise across a broad range of sectors, from residential to commercial construction, large infrastructure products, manufacturing, rural and bespoke design.

been committed to our turnaround journey.

HERA spoke to Chief Digital Officer, Mike Hendry, about the future of the steel and construction sectors and the opportunity and challenges the company faces.

We have record engagement levels and are investing significantly in our training, development and keeping our people safe.

How are you finding current business conditions? While demand growth for steel has been strong, macro conditions have been challenging with global supply chain constraints, a higher pricing environment and Covid-19 lockdowns and restrictions. The key focus for our team has been to maintain availability of product and high levels of service for our customers while navigating the current market conditions. We have seen strong growth in demand over the past year across a range of sectors and are fortunate to have a significant pipeline of secured contract work in place across the country. The residential construction market remains strong, particularly in Auckland, and government investment is driving large infrastructure projects across the regions. Commercial construction activity has been increasing and manufacturing expanding which is also driving up demand for steel products and solutions. Market conditions look to remain positive. How has your company been impacted by the pandemic? Our scale, diversity across a range of sectors and the ability of our team to adapt to new working conditions have helped to offset the impacts of the pandemic and the current challenging market conditions. We are very proud of our team and their efforts which have ensured we can keep providing our customers with the essential steel products that are a critical part of New Zealand’s ‘built’ environment. Where do you see potential growth for your company? Our strategy is centred around our customers, with our focus on making it easier for our customers to do business with us. We are always looking for ways to work smarter, using technology and great thinking to enable a better business. We already have the broadest range of steel products and solutions in New Zealand and continue to look for ways we can better meet our customers’ needs, whether that be through better customer service, digital offering or expanding our product offer. Staff retention – how easy is it and do you have enough? We are lucky to have a great team of 800+ people working at Steel & Tube across the country who have

There is no doubt there’s competition for talent in the market but our team has been passionate about being part of our success story.

This has helped mitigate attrition, increasing payrates and border restrictions on skilled migrants. Talking technology and Industry 4.0 – is your company taking this on board? Steel & Tube is making significant investments in Industry 4.0 initiatives. This includes:

advanced analytics and AI based monitoring platforms.

• Supply chain integration with electronic message structures and data sharing with both suppliers and customers;

• We have a continual improvement philosophy and will continue to invest to add the best connectivity for our business.

• Manufacturing integration to optimise production processes;

What steps is your company consciously taking to help mitigate climate change?

• Investments in product identification from supply to installation to streamline handling efficiencies and provide end to end product traceability.

Steel & Tube are staying abreast of new innovation in the steel industry and are supportive of steel’s transition to a low-carbon future. We have appointed a dedicated Sustainability resource to champion our strategy and drive our sustainability projects

What sort of 4.0 technologies has your company adopted and what are some of the benefits you are seeing as a result? • Extensive use of standards-based messaging formats between trading partners. This drives operating efficiency and improves quality. • Digital twin technologies in our manufacturing operations – 3D modelling for estimation and detailing large build projects is the standard approach for Steel & Tube Infrastructure Projects. • Extensive use of Azure Cloud services for the development and delivery of new Industry 4 capabilities. • Ongoing and expanding cyber security programme with emphasis on supply chain resilience and data protection. These are standards-based approaches (C.I.S and NIST based) with the goal of providing appropriate controls of customer, product, financial and employee data. Like every company, we are seeing increasing complexity and risk in the cyber security environment. • Use of new Digital platforms in our health and safety areas to allow rapid control of HS&E events and nonconformance (Intelex). • Investigating extension of our existing online e-commerce. What are your future plans in this space? Will you be investing more to achieve ultimate connectivity? • Improved data flow to customers (product data, pricing, freight visibility, etc). • Traceability and end to end product identification from receipt to manufacture, delivery and disposal. • Manufacturing and WMS optimisation utilising Digital Twins, Workflow Automation, and

We are continually looking at ways to improve our operations and reduce our carbon emissions. Our operational initiatives are focused on material efficiency, recycling, reducing energy use, reducing vehicle emissions. We have implemented measuring and monitoring of waste and scrap and a Freight Efficiency Programme is underway. Our national network has been optimised to ensure efficient delivery of products to customers and we are using leading edge technology to optimise material and labour use during manufacture. We also continue to advocate for a holistic cradle-to-cradle or circular economy approach to measuring carbon emissions. We can’t continue to trash our buildings to landfill. We must reuse, repurpose and recycle our valuable materials and move to a circular economy. That is what counts and what makes a real difference. It is also where materials like steel which has a 85% recycling rate in New Zealand stand out. Steel is infinitely recyclable without product degradation and is easily reused and repurposed, it generates minimal construction waste, and renewable energy sources available in New Zealand are used for making steel. HERA is a non-profit research organisation dedicated to serving the needs of metal-based industries in New Zealand. It is the industry stimulus for research, innovation and development, delivering a trusted national centre for design, manufacturing technology and quality assurance.

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Robotics & Automation Autonomous robot control technology enhances efficiency NEC Corporation has developed control technology that doubles the efficiency of autonomous mobile robots (AMR) in warehouses while maintaining a high level of safety. In recent years, the introduction of robots for transporting materials has accelerated due to labour shortages and large warehouses. However, even when robots have been introduced to automate transport work, it has been necessary to reduce traveling speed to ensure safety, and the improvement of transport efficiency has become a challenge. Since it has been necessary to construct passageways and areas dedicated to mobile robots in order accelerate speed while ensuring safety, it has been difficult to introduce robots into existing warehouses. However, NEC has developed “risk-sensitive stochastic control technology”(*) that can control autonomous mobile robots and meet safety demands. This has been accomplished by utilising models that can express uncertain factors that vary from one site to another, such as sensor measurement errors and differences between simulation results and actual robot movements.

Overview of the autonomous mobile robot control technology

Moreover, this new technology has adopted methods that have been used in actuarial finance.

Conversely, robots will travel at a low speed when using routes that are determined to be high risk locations.

As a result, robots can autonomously determine when to travel at high speed, and over the shortest distances, such as when traveling in low risk locations without workers, objects on the floor or other obstacles.

When comparing transport work between a robot applying this technology and a conventional robot, it was confirmed that the work time was halved and the transfer efficiency could be doubled while ensuring safety. In addition, safety and efficiency can

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Going forward, NEC will continue to develop these technologies through on-site demonstration experiments, aiming for their early installation in autonomous mobile robots for a wide range of industries.

The advantages of external digester heating

First-stage bacteria break down carbohydrates during bacterial hydrolysis to produce soluble materials such as sugars and amino acids that are then consumed by acidogenic bacteria which convert them into carbon dioxide, hydrogen, ammonia, and miscellaneous organic acids. These substances are then converted into acetic acid, which is converted by archaea bacteria into methane and carbon dioxide (biogas). The remaining digestate consists of a mixture of water, minerals, and residual organic carbon, which can be used as high-quality fertiliser. Irrespective of which temperature regime is utilised, in many situations some form of digester heating will be required, with even mesophilic plants needing some additional heating in colder conditions. Without this additional heat biogas yields will be below optimum, but from an operational perspective, it is important to consider the thermal energy input required in relation to the energy potential of the biogas produced in order to determine the economic (and environmental) optimum. A biogas plant which consumes more energy than it produces may work from a waste treatment perspective but will generate positive carbon emissions and be economically unviable. In theory the digestate can be heated directly (by injecting steam or hot water into the digestate) or indirectly (using heat exchangers or heating elements), but in practice the disadvantages of direct heating, such as continual dilution of the digestate,

be achieved without dedicated robot areas, making it easy to install in existing warehouses.

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mean that it is seldom employed. In the past the heating system (often comprised of a number of hot water pipes) has been located on or around the floor of the main digester. While this results in good initial heat transfer and creates thermal currents in the digestate to assist mixing, the accumulation of sediment quickly diminishes these properties and regular cleaning (which requires the digester to be emptied each time) is necessary to maintain satisfactory performance with such systems. In some cases, heating units have actually been incorporated into the concrete walls or floor of digesters adding to the potential problems and expense should something go wrong. The solution is to locate the heating unit outside of the digester, an approach which is not new. In fact, one of the earliest uses of an external heater and heat exchanger for a digester in a wastewater setting occurred in Urbana, Illinois in 1946 when the Urbana and Champaign Sanitary District installed an external unit manufactured by the Pacific Flush Tank Company to overcome the recognised disadvantages associated with unexpectedly emptying digesters in order to repair or clean internal heating coils1. Since then, external digester heating based on heat exchangers has been used successfully in AD plants around the world. Over the years the design of heat exchangers has improved considerable and is epitomised by the HRS

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DTI Series of corrugated tube heat exchangers which are ideally suited for the external heating of digester fluids and sludge – and which have been successfully used in a number of such applications. The biggest advantage of external heating is that it can be checked, cleaned or serviced at any time without the need to empty (or enter) the digester, a process that is both costly and potentially dangerous. However, there are a number of other benefits, including the fact that external systems can be designed so that one heat exchanger array heats more than one digester, and that the improved thermal performance reduces heating requirements and improves the overall energy efficiency of the AD plant. Where units are constructed of materials such as stainless steel, operating life is considerably improved compared to internal heating units, and routine maintenance is straightforward. The HRS DTI Series is a true counter-current heat exchanger, meaning that the product flows through the inner tube and the service fluid flows through the surrounding shell. HRS’s corrugation technology increases both heat transfer and efficiency over standard smooth tube heat exchanger designs and minimises fouling, and important consideration when dealing with materials such as digester sludge. Multiple units can be interconnected and have the options of frame mounting, insulated and cladded in stainless steel.

Robotics & Automation Four industries revolutionised by robots Technology has embedded so deeply in our daily lives that it has become difficult to imagine a time when we lived without the benefits of the information age. Robotics, for example, has been around for decades and has forever changed professions, companies, and entire industries around the world. Machines have introduced enhanced efficiency, precision, and reliability, minimising the financial drawbacks and operational difficulties that sometimes stem from human error, according to Konica Minolta. Matthew Hunter, innovation product marketing manager, Konica Minolta, said, “Today, people coexist with robots and the relationship is one that lets us streamline responsibilities, enhance capabilities and provides more time to strive toward innovation and greatness. This is seen around the world with some industries benefiting from their relationships with robots.” Four of the industries that have been revolutionised by robots:

Military and defence Warfare and home defence is longer a matter of amassing people to fight face to face. For years now, the Australian Defence Force has adopted robotic war strategies to maximise combat efficiency and minimise human risk. This has included investing in robotics like autonomous security drones, unmanned aerial and ground vehicles, and digital weapons that incorporate computerised sight and automated firing technology. These developments in modern warfare now make up a growing part of the military to provide security, surveillance, and combat capabilities that

significantly reduce the risk to soldiers and enhance military intelligence.

Delivery and distribution Warehouses that were once run by clipboards, forklifts, and manual labour have now streamlined item logistics thanks to robots. From product loading and unloading to packing and sorting, warehouse robotics add value to warehousing operations by automating the execution of menial, repetitive tasks, letting human workers focus on more complicated tasks. For example, item transportation within a warehouse no longer requires someone to awkwardly manoeuvre a heavy trolley around hazards. Instead, mobile industrial robots can automate the internal transportation of heavy loads and pallets with greater cost effectiveness and an increased ability to withstand dust particles and fluids. These types of robots handle labour-intensive tasks that can often lead to fatigue, which may lead to injury or lapses in judgment, and can complete tasks that would have perhaps taken days in a matter of hours.

Health Robots have significantly reduced the risk and improved the outcomes of a number of surgical operations and other medical procedures. Robotic arms are already being used in minimal access or keyhole procedures, providing a steady and capable hand in the operating room.

Outside of theatre, Australia has begun to introduce robots that can support nurses by interacting with patients in short-stay units, answering questions about what patients can do if they feel unwell, providing information on things like parking, where to get food or drink in the hospital, whether smoking is permitted, and more.

Manufacturing Like the delivery and distribution sector, manufacturing was previously dominated by production lines of human workers who were required to maintain a high level of care and consistency to ensure the quality of the final manufactured product. The industry was revolutionised when machines were introduced to the production line, proving that tasks can be done without stopping or mistakes, essentially guaranteeing increased output, quality, and profits. Robotics has played such a pivotal role in manufacturing that a spot-welding robotic arm or a product packaging machine is almost archaic. The industry is focused on fully automated factories that are run by robots that determine output by algorithms and machine learning, ensuring a factory can efficiently meet the demand at any given time. Matthew Hunter said, “These industries and many others have changed forever as a result of the introduction of robotics. The impact has been so significant that, depending on the industry, robotics is no longer an innovation but the difference between business success or failure.”

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NZ Manufacturer February 2022

New Products Area gripper FMHD in three variants From sawmills to furniture construction – the area gripper FMHD from Treotham is frequently used in wood working. Schmalz developed its area gripper FMHD to allow particularly narrow, heavy, or extra long sections to be lifted quickly and safely.

Three Variants, Three Strengths The area gripper FMHD-3R22 has a suction cell grid with three rows and allows handling of narrow slots with a width of 35 millimeters or more.

Solid wood materials such as cross laminated timber (CLT) exceed previous design limits for wood. Thanks to its high static load-bearing capacity, CLT has long been used for industrial prefabricated houses.

The area gripper FMHD-250 has a wider suction plate for an increased lift capacity. With 3,500 N, its holding force is almost double that of the 3R22. The maximum gripper length is 2,492 millimeters for both variants.

Architects can position doors and windows more flexibly as well as design higher ceilings and wider supports. New formats also mean new possibilities.

The FMHD-2R28 provides greater lengths and can be up to 3,500 millimeters long and handle workpieces with a width of 50 millimeters or more.

Treotham therefore increased the range of applications for its existing Schmalz area gripper FMHD with an extra wide quick-change system, third suction row, and oversized gripper construction.

All three variants have an integrated vacuum reservoir and three-section design. Schmalz thus increases suction force and energy efficiency while also reducing maintenance work.

Unstacking in layers or transferring porous and warped workpieces is easy – even in dusty sawmills.

Plastic bevel gears for the lubrication-free drive around the corner Gears are widely used as drive elements: in clockworks, in e-bike drives as well as actuators and locking systems.

high-performance plastics especially for use with low and medium loads which are available from Treotham

However, if forces have to be transmitted around corners, bevel gears are the means of choice. They can undertake format adjustments in the food industry, for example, via a 90-degree angle, eject packages in logistics and make assembly lines in resource supply departments and automotive industries flexible and quickly adaptable.

iguform S270 is characterised by a low coefficient of friction as well as a low moisture absorption. Bevel gears made of igutek P360 have a very high wear resistance and toughness, which makes the drive elements insensitive to impacts.

igus has developed bevel gears made of two

gears, do not require external lubricants. This reduces maintenance intervals on machines and systems and increases hygiene and cleanliness.

The bevel gears made of the tribologically optimised plastics are popular with users because they are cost-effective, lightweight and, unlike metal bevel

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Lubrication-free bevel gears made of igus high-performance plastics transmit forces at a 90 degree angle. For example, they can undertake format adjustments in food technology.

New Products Grundfos celebrates 50 years pioneering pump technology To celebrate the momentous milestone of delivering 50 years of world-class energy efficiency for industries worldwide with its renowned range of CR pumps, Grundfos has released its latest CR 255 model.

similar large Grundfos CR pumps have demonstrated improved performance by up to 30% compared to regular pumps .

As Grundfos’ largest vertical multistage inline pump to date, this latest addition to the CR portfolio will take current energy efficiency and performance standards for vertical multistage inline pumps to the next level.

More energy-efficient. With its optimised hydraulic design - from impeller and guide vanes to inlet, discharge port, sleeve, and diffuser - the new generation of Grundfos CR offers world-class energy efficiency.

Grundfos’ range of CR pumps are the world’s first vertical multistage centrifugal inline pumps, and are used predominantly for water supply, water treatment and almost all industrial solutions – including those for high-pressure, hot, dangerous, flammable, and aggressive liquids.

More cost-efficient. With power consumption responsible for 90% of a product’s life cycle cost, greater energy efficiency means greater cost savings. Due to its small footprint, the CR pumps are also much easier and less costly to install than other pump designs.

Key benefits of the Grundfos CR pump range include:

Since its inception, over 3.5 million CR pumps now serve industries around the globe.

More reliable. The new generation of large CR pumps has been made even more robust than its forerunners through use of state-of-the-art technology in simulation-design, materials, testing and production. CR pumps are also equipped with predictive monitoring, tracking pump health 24/7 and effectively alerts users to possible process failures, reducing unnecessary and costly downtime and also eliminating the need for regular servicing. More options. The new generation adds even more options to what was already the most modular pump programme in the world. With millions of possible variants in the CR range alone, users can always build a Grundfos CR pump to match their exact specification – whatever the application.

Industrial operations across different sectors – from semi-conductor manufacturing to food and beverage processing – can be water and energy-intensive. Singapore’s non-domestic sector uses about 55% of its current water supply and this is projected to increase to 70% of its future water demand by 2060 . With the need for a constant flow of large quantities of water, Grundfos CR range is the most efficient way of handling the production process. Grundfos’ largest vertical multistage inline pump, the new CR 255 model delivers water pressure of up to 400m and achieves a maximum water flow of up to 320m3/h, the equivalent of supplying water to 9,500 people. For industrial processes such as water booster supply,

Kemppi releases SuperSnake GTX Leading international welding equipment manufacturer, Kemppi, has released its new SuperSnake GTX to expand its range of synchronised sub-feeding systems for hard to reach welding sites.

regulation and fine-tuning. Powerful and durable wire feed mechanism for trouble-free wire loading

The SuperSnake GTX joins the SuperSnake GTO2S and the SuperSnake 8 in providing users with quality distance wire feeding capability for Kemppi’s MIG/ MAG welders.

The SuperSnake GTX features a compact and robust quick-release, twin-drive wire feed mechanism. And the automatic wire loading ensures reliable and trouble-free wire loading up to 30 metres from the primary wire drive system.

The SuperSnake GTX serves the popular Kemppi X5 FastMig family and extends the reach of the standard MIG welding gun to guarantee reliable wire feeding up to 30 meters from the primary wire feeding unit.

Strong and compact metal protection cage

Offering considerable flexibility, the GTX is available in 10, 15, 20 and 25-meter cable package options so that welders can reach the site they need to weld. Plus, the GTX reduces the need for the welder to have to constantly move between the power source and welding station, saving valuable time. The SuperSnake GTX also serves both gas and water-cooled applications, and is the perfect choice for challenging heavy and medium-heavy metal fabrication and installation work. Other features of the GTX include:

Controls at the welder’s fingertips For user convenience, the SuperSnake GTX user interface places parameter adjustments at the welder’s fingertips, including manual wire feed speed and voltage control, or automatic power

SuperSnake, makes the GTX a highly reliable sub-feeding system – one that welders can lift, drag and pull to where their work takes them quickly and easily.

The GTX’s metal protection cage increases robustness, and neatly combines, secures, and supports the cables package, its connectors, and hoses. The cage offers easy access so that welders can quickly configure their cable package. The protection cage can also be used for suspending and hanging the SuperSnake GTX above the work area.

Added safety Every SuperSnake GTX has a safety lock ON/OFF switch which prevents welding when the primary welding system is powered on. This is a particularly handy safety feature during rest breaks and when the welder is moving between welding locations. The overall robustness and high performance of the award-winning

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NZ Manufacturer February 2022

31 May – 2 June 2022 Auckland Showgrounds

Exhibit at NZ’s largest trade-only manufacturing and engineering industry show EMEX showcases the ingenuity in the New Zealand engineering,

manufacturing and automation industries. Display your equipment, tools, products and services that help Kiwi companies succeed on a national and international scale.

Meet face to face with key decision makers and connect your advanced manufacturing technologies to New Zealand’s leading innovators.

4,500+ visitors

www.emex.co.nz 22

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91%

of exhibitors were satisfied with their ability to gather sales leads at EMEX

+$422,000,000 Total buying power

Interested in exhibiting? Limited spaces left.

Don’t miss out, contact us today. Aad van der Poel Exhibition Sales Manager aad@xpo.co.nz 021 314 199

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NZ Food Manufacturer brings you the latest news and developments in food from the land to the plate For further information and to advertise visit

www.nzfoodmanufacturer.co.nz NZ Food Manufacturer

T 0064 6 870 9029

E publisher@xtra.co.nz

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NZ Manufacturer February 2022

The Circular Economy Your 2022 sustainability workout programme! -thinkstep anz Is your business feeling carbon-heavy? Are your waste bins bulging? Is your product a bit out-of-shape? Then a sustainability tune-up’s in order! Here’s our four-step sustainability workout programme to help your business trim down, tone up, and stay in shape in 2022. (And if you already have a sustainability programme, early in the year is a great time to review it.) The good news: this programme is a business plan. So, while your efforts will help sustain the planet and its people, your business will be fitter too. You’ll spot opportunities for your products, uncover risks in your processes, and strengthen relationships with your team, customers, and suppliers. And you’ll become known as a manufacturer who’s doing the right thing. Let’s get started.

4. Design waste out of your products. Circular economy principles are your friend. They’ve seen Wellington manufacturer Reusabowl set up a ‘reuse network’ at food outlets across the capital to reduce the waste single-use takeaway containers create. Or go a step further. Tackle a range of social and environmental impacts and get your product Cradle to Cradle Certified®. (Well done, Eagle Lighting!)

8. Refocus relationships with your suppliers. Many of your business’ environmental and social impacts come through your supply chain, in the goods and services you buy. A responsible procurement strategy will help you reduce them. Manufacturer Eagle Lighting is doing this, with a supplier code of conduct and rules that screen potential suppliers.

5. Tackle your packaging. Consumers are increasingly rejecting single-use packaging. Many are frustrated by restrictions that consign recyclable packaging to landfill. And even if your packaging is 100% recyclable, some consumers see landfill as their first port of call. Redesigning your packaging can reduce these problems.

So, you’re getting back in shape. Well done! Here are some suggestions to stay that way.

Step three: tone up your business

Step one: build a plan Every sustainability programme needs a plan.

Here’s how to build your sustainability muscle.

1. Decide what ‘sustainability’ means for your business. The UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are a good place to start. These 17 inter-related goals form an urgent ‘call to action’ for companies to protect the environment, tackle climate change, and improve people’s lives. The good news? All these actions help businesses like yours get ahead too.

6. Reduce your products’ environmental impacts. A Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) is a good place to start. There are LCAs for many products, including jet engines, drinking cups, computers, and food.

You can’t tackle all 17 goals and you shouldn’t try. Instead, choose four or five SDGs that are relevant to your business: where can you have the greatest impact? Here are some SDGs which fellow manufacturers have chosen. Fisher & Paykel Healthcare has picked SDG 3 (Good Health and Wellbeing) as one of their goals. It’s relevant to their customers and their team. Seafood company Sanford is using SDG 14 (Life Below Water) as one of their goals, to focus their sustainability work. Trans-Tasman manufacturer Eagle Lighting has made SDG 12 (Responsible Production and Consumption) a priority goal. 2. Focus on what matters. Identify your main stakeholders, like your team, customers, investors, local iwi, and suppliers. Seek their views: when it comes to sustainability, what do they care about? Then add a business lens: what matters to your business?

LCA measures your product’s environmental footprint over its life cycle. This footprint could include the energy your manufacturing processes use, the carbon you emit, and the impact of your emissions on local waterways. Armed with this data, you can improve your products and processes to reduce these impacts. Bonus: you’ll reduce your operating risks too! 7. Publish an environmental product declaration (EPD). EPDs summarise a product’s environmental impact over its life cycle. They are based on ISO 14025, independently verified, centrally registered, and publicly available. New Zealand manufacturers who have produced EPDs include Essity (previously Asaleo Care: Purex toilet paper and Tork hand towels), David Trubridge (lights) and Pink® Batts® (insulation). These businesses are using (or plan to use) their EPDs to benchmark their products against competitors’, improve their environmental management systems, and advertise their business’ environmental strengths.

The result will be a list of issues to focus on. They’re likely to include environmental issues (climate change?), social issues (a safe workplace? developing your team?) and general business issues (supplier relationships?) You may not see them as ‘sustainability’ issues, but they are. They’re all essential if you want to succeed in business long term.

Step two: trim down your business Trim before you tone! 3. Reduce your carbon emissions. The global target is challenging: man-made CO2 emissions must fall by 45% by 2030 (from 2010 levels) and reach ‘net zero’ by 2050 if we’re to keep global warming to +1.5°C on pre-industrial levels. Every manufacturer can play a part. Measure your emissions and plan how you’ll reduce them.

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Step four: stay in shape 9. Set sustainability targets. What gets measured gets managed. (It’s a cliché but it’s true.) 10.Report your targets and progress. NZX regulations require listed manufacturers like F&P Healthcare or Sanford to report publicly on their sustainability activities. Reporting benefits smaller, unlisted manufacturers too. It helps you identify risks and opportunities and keeps you accountable for making progress on your sustainability goals. Plus, with customers increasingly asking suppliers to confirm their ‘sustainability credentials’, a report documents what you’re doing. (It can be short and simple!) 11.Keep learning about sustainability. Join like-mined people and learn from them. The Sustainable Business Network, Sustainable Business Council and Climate Leaders Coalition are great places to build your knowledge. Certifications can be useful too. For example, B Corp is a non-profit network ‘transforming the global economy to benefit all people, communities, and the planet’. New Zealand manufacturers who are certified ‘B Corp’ include Synlait Milk, Grounded Packaging, and the Better Packaging Co. You’ll learn a lot from the certification process to help you run your business. Plus, your B Corp certification will show your team, customers, and suppliers that you’re serious about sustainability. So, there it is: your sustainability workout programme for 2022. We wish you well with it. And remember: the hardest step in any workout’s the first one! www.thinkstep-anz.com

HEADING NZ MANUFACTURER Streamlining supply chains – with data By Erich Gerber, SVP EMEA & APJ - TIBCO Supply chains are essential to everyday life and are made up of important links. Those links are people, processes, and facilities; everything that’s needed to deliver goods from one location to the other, and technology plays a critical role in enabling and maintaining those links. If you are simply the recipient of those goods, chances are you don’t think too much about supply chains, until one of those links breaks – just like when the toilet paper supply chain broke in the early days of the Covid-19 pandemic. Despite no inherent weakness in the toilet paper supply chain, undue stress was placed on production companies due to ‘panic buying’ during the pandemic, a completely unpredictable situation. However, the pandemic also resulted in a number of expected and very justifiable demands on supply chains, for example the enormous surge in online shopping, for everything from groceries to fitness equipment. The challenge for all players in the supply chain — manufacturers, importers, warehouses, shippers and retailers — is to meet demand and keep customers happy without any noticeable disruption. The key to this is accurate data and the technology behind it at different touch points throughout the supply chain, which can help businesses analyse the demand and supply so they can plan and execute accordingly. Analytics and data-driven insights allow manufacturers and operators to optimise production and distribution capacity. And signals generated from market changes like seasonality and social events can be used to escalate production or even reallocate distribution.

Using data to manage supply chains For more ambitious supply chain enhancements, the solution is to leverage the same digital technology that is disrupting supply chains and re-invent them for optimal performance. In this digital world, ‘chain’ itself becomes something of a misnomer. Rather than a linear series of steps, where each relies on the one preceding it, a data-driven digital supply chain becomes a mesh of multiple moving parts. These moving parts can communicate with other parts on which they depend, and in turn with those that depend on them. This collective mesh is able to respond to external factors that can impact the chain’s ability to fulfil orders. In short, a data-driven supply chain system allows operators and employees at every level of production to collaborate together proactively and confidently, addressing any issues in sourcing, manufacturing, or delivery. Digital technology enables every link in the supply chain to generate useful data, which can be used to optimise performance: simple in theory, challenging to realise in practice. A fresh perspective on supply chains is needed to achieve this.

FEATURES March 2022 Issue The bottom line is, those that fail to embrace data analytics in the supply chain will be left behind.

THE CIRCULAR ECONOMY

The first step is to realise that, while data generated in one part of a supply chain is useful to another, making sense of that data can be a difficult task. Supply chains are made up of multiple different entities that, traditionally, had little need to exchange digital data. As a result, useful data is generated by multiple different systems in multiple different and incompatible formats, stored in often incompatible siloes and using rules that are unhelpful to another entity. Giving every operator in a supply chain access to all the data it could potentially use, to optimise operations represents an enormous challenge.

PREDICTIVE MAINTENANCE THE FACTORY FLOOR: MACHINE TOOLS CYBER SECURITY

Meet the supply chain’s digital twin Success in building a digitised supply chain depends on collecting, integrating and analysing in real time comprehensive data; from IoT devices, data exchanges, transactional systems, inventory management applications, as well as supplier, partner, and consumer interactions.

ROBOTICS & AUTOMATION

Through successful integration, all this data becomes available for analysis in real time. Through data analytics and connected intelligence, customer behaviour patterns and insights will emerge alongside any inefficiencies, potential supply bottlenecks and shortages.

Advertising Booking Deadline – 7 March 2022 Advertising Copy Deadline – 7 March 2022 Editorial Copy Deadline – 2 March 2022 Advertising – For bookings and further information contact: Doug Green, P O Box 1109, Hastings 4156, Hawke’s Bay Email: publisher@xtra.co.nz

Organisations can view what is running behind schedule and identify any risks associated with over-reliance on single sources and suppliers. This ‘digital twin’ virtual model of the supply chain and all associated processes provides a holistic view, enabling problems to be detected and dealt with, often before anyone would have been aware of them.

Editorial material to be sent to : Doug Green, P O Box 1109, Hastings 4156, Hawke’s Bay

Downtime can be prevented, and it is also possible to simulate scenarios that have not been experienced in the real world, to forestall future issues and develop new market opportunities. Problems aside, the insights gained from a digitised supply chain can enable production and distribution to be fine-tuned and over or under supply avoided. The entire supply chain starts to behave more like a living entity that continuously adapts to its environment.

Discover the power of data analytics

Email: publisher@xtra.co.nz Tel: 06 870 9029

At NZ MANUFACTURER our aim is to keep our readers up to date with the latest industry news and manufacturing advances in a tasty morsel, ensuring they do not get left behind in the highly competitive and rapidly evolving manufacturing world. Opinion

As I See It

The application of data analytics reveals customer behaviour patterns, inefficiencies, choke points, shortages and delays. It can also reveal levels of waste, compliance with quality standards and regulations, and opportunities for optimisation.

Manufacturing Profiles

Business News

Letters to the Editor

Appointments

Politics of Manufacturing

Around New Zealand

It is often said that within every crisis there is opportunity, and Covid-19 is no exception. Those organisations that have implemented fully digitised supply chains in response to Covid-19 disruptions have discovered and developed new ways to boost business resiliency and productivity.

Diary of Events

The bottom line is, those that fail to embrace data analytics in the supply chain will be left behind.

Trade Fair World World Market Report Q/A

Australian Report New to the Market Lean Manufacturing

Export News

Equipment for Sale

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NZ Manufacturer February 2022

Developments The chaos of legacy equipment It’s common for industrial facilities to contain both new, digitalised equipment and legacy equipment that has not been designed with connectivity in mind, other than maybe to the local control room or local dashboard for the operator. Afterall, plant managers are unlikely to dedicate funds to upgrading to the latest model when a piece of legacy equipment is running with no problems. Therefore, it’s normal for businesses to only invest in the new pieces of technology that are needed, finding ways to integrate them into the existing system. In addition, as businesses expand, it’s common for them to acquire new sites. Having a mix of old and new sites can add even more complexity into the mix, making it very difficult to streamline and unify data from all the different locations and pieces of equipment.

Retrofit IIoT devices While legacy equipment may have been manufactured before the rise of IIoT, it can be given similar capabilities by retrofitting. This is also known as ‘wrap-and-extend’, where the device ‘wraps’ the piece of equipment with functionality and connectivity, therefore extending its reach in a number of ways. By updating the piece of equipment and increasing its functionality, the manufacturer also extends its life. This is because the machine can fulfil the company’s production requirements for a longer period of time before an upgraded replacement is needed. To gather data on equipment performance, sensors that measure vibration, temperature, or other parameters can be installed. Devices that are retrofitted onto legacy equipment can include Open Platform Communication (OPC) servers, IoT platforms and IoT gateways, which enable communication between new and legacy equipment.

Embrace the edge

was designed with simplicity in mind.

Giving legacy equipment the ability to collect data offers one solution, but managing that data and attaching meaning is where the next challenge lies.

Crosser’s Flow Studio, which is part of the platform, makes system programming easy for employees.

We must first consider that a network comprised of many pieces of new and legacy equipment creates a massive amount of data. The bandwidth necessary to transmit that data to the cloud for storage and analysis can be expensive. This can be mitigated by edge analytics, which can act as a bridge between devices and the cloud, providing a local source of processing and storage. Edge analytics can collect and filter data, storing or sending it to the correct location based on business rules. This means only the necessary data is sent from the edge to on-premise systems, such as a manufacturing execution system (MES) or enterprise resource planning (ERP). Data-reduction offloads the on-premise systems and reduces the amount of data that is transferred to the Cloud, saving Cloud and bandwidth costs. Edge analytics is also capable of conducting down-sampling and summary analytics, which can further reduce the size of the data that must be sent to other areas on-premise. Machine data can be transformed by edge technologies into a common language that is understood by all equipment and devices in the facility, ensuring smooth communication.

The Flow Studio consists of a number of pre-built modules that can be dragged and dropped to easily construct data flows without any formal training or coding knowledge required. The combination of modules created can be tested in a ‘sandbox node’ or on a live edge node before widespread distribution. Once satisfied with the data flow, it can be deployed across an unlimited number of edge nodes in one single operation. The Flow Studio is designed to empower collaboration between users, such as automation engineers, IT teams and data scientists, and is developed to be simple and intuitive to use. IIoT devices are on the rise, but that doesn’t mean old equipment is being left behind. Many facilities rely on a mix of new and legacy equipment, and these systems must be managed effectively to ensure seamless communication and complementary operation. Companies can make the most of a diverse system by retrofitting IIoT devices onto legacy equipment, and using a simple edge analytics platform to process and store all of the data collected.

However, handling a number of devices, a large amount of data, and a variety of different software and systems can soon become incredibly complex. In an area that can cause a cloud of confusion, it’s important to work with a solution provider that can simplify implementation and management of IIoT devices.

Strive for simplicity The Crosser low-code platform for streaming analytics, automation and integration for the IIoT

Fortescue Future Industries to investigate repurposing parts of New Zealand oil refinery Fortescue Future Industries (FFI) and Refining NZ (RNZ) have agreed to investigate repurposing facilities at the RNZ Marsden Point oil refinery to produce green hydrogen and green hydrogen products. FFI and RNZ have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to study the commercial and technical feasibility of producing, storing, distributing, and exporting industrial-scale green hydrogen and green hydrogen products from the decommissioned RNZ site as it transitions to an import-only fuel terminal. FFI will undertake feasibility studies which will assess key operational and commercial projections for the project and enable the development of a project timeline. FFI Chairman and Founder Dr Andrew Forrest AO said this announcement was an important step forward in FFI’s plans to turn fossil fuel emitters into zero carbon green hydrogen producers worldwide. “Green hydrogen can provide all sorts of advantages to local and export economies - and is the answer

NZ Manufacturer February 2022 /

our planet needs now,” he said. “Last week we announced we would look into producing green hydrogen at a retiring coal fired power station in Australia, yesterday we shared our decision to progress to the next stage converting a grey ammonia plant to green, and today we are looking to kick off something similar at Marsden Point oil refinery in New Zealand. “Green hydrogen production at Marsden Point will potentially deliver energy security, good local jobs, and the decarbonisation of local heavy industry – all while reducing emissions for New Zealand,” Dr Forrest said. The existing RNZ site has existing infrastructure such as a deep-water port, proximity to large electricity grid connections and an industrial water supply which FFI will investigate repurposing to produce green products. Chief Executive Officer of RNZ, Naomi James said, “The potential of green hydrogen to support New Zealand’s energy transition is huge, so we are

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delighted that FFI has chosen to partner with us as we jointly investigate what might be possible in years to come.” FFI Director of Australia East and New Zealand, Felicity Underhill said, “As a New Zealander, I am keen for us to harness the immense potential of New Zealand to benefit from a green hydrogen industry. “I look forward to working with RNZ, government, local Iwi and other communities to investigate the possibility of repurposing the Marsden Point site to produce green hydrogen,” Ms Underhill said. In November 2021, the Board of RNZ made a final decision to convert the facility into an import only facility, which meant around 65 per cent of their existing site would be available for future growth opportunities once the transition had taken place, in April 2022. FFI is a global green energy company that is committed to producing zero-emission green hydrogen from 100 per cent renewable sources.

The Last Word How to be cyber resilient in the digital frontier American industrialist Henry Ford II once said that “The best we can do is to size up the chances, calculate the risks involved, estimate our ability to deal with them, and make our plans with confidence.” While Ford and others in the American Industrial Revolution faced vastly different risks compared to today’s modern digital business landscape, the uncertainties of risk and how to best manage these remain a critical advantage in business success. In their 2020 Board of Directors Survey, Gartner, Inc. found that directors see cybersecurity as the second-greatest threat to their businesses, right after regulatory compliance risks. Cyber crime already cost the world at least $6 trillion in 2021 and could lead to over $10 trillion worth of annual damages by 2025. Jerome Powell, US Federal Reserve Chair, recently emphasized that “the risk that we keep our eyes on now most is cyber risk.” Cyber crime will continue to disrupt and bring uncertainty to the global economy. To curb these threats, boards must implement effective strategies to manage their financial exposure and mitigate business impacts. The digital transformation strategies organizations develop must keep pace with today’s cyber security threats and proactively guard against severe disruptions.

A path to cyber resiliency As cyber threats escalate and evolve, businesses are bolstering their cyber-security budgets. For them to see proper returns on these hefty investments, it’s important that clear and effective strategies are in place to counterattack cyber crime are crucial. Clarifying the cyber crime conversation in the boardroom is the first step. Effective communication is a cornerstone of positive outcomes in business. Developing a common language for discussing the complex issues of cyber risk is essential to achieving cyber-risk resilience. This requires simplifying confusing, technical discussions loaded with nuanced security terms into precise economic analysis, which shows how cyber-attacks endanger organisations financially in the short and long term.

the cyber conversation from a highly technical ambiguous security one to one where businesses can understand and effectively manage their financial exposure in relatable business terms. If financial exposures from cyber threats are clear, boards will find it easier to align cyber security strategies with economic cyber risk metrics. When formulating their cyber resiliency plans, boards would do well to ask management questions like: “What is our financial exposure to cyber threats?” “What cyber threats are most likely to have a major financial impact on our business?” “How much financial exposure are we willing to accept across our enterprise and digital supplier ecosystem?” “How can we align our budget, implement controls, and optimise risk transfers to address our cyber risk exposure?” “Are our digital initiatives being developed in a cyber-resilient way?” Developing the organisation’s cyber risk appetite levels in financial terms, based on their unique risk profile, and defining effective remediation and mitigation steps to reduce financial exposure, are important initial steps when planning for cyber resiliency. Boards should keep certain items on the cyber resiliency agenda in their discussions with management. On an ongoing basis, the board should keep abreast of how management uses return-on-investment analysis to align the cybersecurity budget to financial exposure reduction. So too, they should oversee the steps that are taken to practically implement the cybersecurity strategy. It’s important to remember that the success of a financial approach to cyber risk oversight will vary

based on personnel experience and an organisation’s cyber security maturity level. Nevertheless, working alongside management in this manner can be an effective way for organisations to address the financial impact of cyber threats.

The evolving regulatory environment In 2018, the US Securities and Exchange Commission issued guidance on public company cybersecurity disclosures to assist businesses in preparing disclosures related to cyber risks and incidents. This guidance points to several recommended disclosure areas, including the probability of a cyber occurrence and the potential magnitude of cyber incidents. It also pays attention to which aspects of the company’s business and operations have material cyber risks and the potential costs and consequences of these risks. So too, it seeks clarity on the adequacy of preventative actions taken to reduce cyber risks and their associated costs (including the company’s ability to prevent or mitigate certain cyber risks). Existing regulations and emerging policies pressure public companies to address cyber challenges head-on. Ever-growing systemic cyber risk exposures lead to a growing number of legislative hoops to jump through. Effective cybersecurity programs will allow companies to stay ahead of the curve and in line with current legislation. A cyber resiliency plan built on financial exposure analysis will set the groundwork for trustworthy corporate disclosures aligned to regulatory requirements. The US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is developing a cybersecurity risk governance proposal to tighten the screws on incident reporting and cyber hygiene. More robust enforcement action from the SEC will encourage organisations to develop their policies and procedures to manage and minimise cyber-risk exposure.

Building cyber resiliency in an organisation requires proper oversight from the boardroom based on a clear plan built on economic analysis. Industries, like insurance, are basing cyber risk evaluations in their underwriting standards on established and understandable financial exposure analyses.

Organisations will be motivated to write internal guidelines and proactively set up defences in line with emerging cybersecurity technologies.

In doing so, insurance industry players are shifting

Digital trade will unlock major economic gains A report from the New Zealand Institute of Economic Research (NZIER) finds that digital trade solutions have the potential to drive fundamental changes in the supply chain and unlock economic benefits equivalent to a major trade agreement for every country pairing that adopts digital trade. The report titled “Digital Trade is the way forward for New Zealand”, was commissioned by TradeWindow to quantify the possible economic benefits from increased adoption of digital trade.

The study found that a further NZ$9-18 billion of value could be unlocked over 10 years by trade between New Zealand and its APEC trading partners if digital trade is more fully adopted.

NZIER’s Chris Nixon said the New Zealand Government is making positive strides towards operationalising digital trade initiatives.

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NZ Manufacturer February 2022

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