Happy New Year! It's time to get some dates in the diary and plan ahead for a successful 2018.

There are already some valuble opportunities for Kiwi manufacturers to learn from high profile experts - such as the keynote speakers lined up for MaD2018. Check them out below and secure your early bird registration!

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

New Zealand's level of manufacturing expansion slowed during December, according to the BNZ - BusinessNZ Performance of Manufacturing Index (PMI).

The seasonally adjusted PMI for December was 51.2. This was 6.5 points down from the previous month, and the lowest result since December 2012.  Despite the drop from November, the sector has remained in expansion in all months since October 2012.

BusinessNZ's executive director for manufacturing Catherine Beard said that while it was disappointing to see the last month of 2017 showing a sizeable dip in expansion levels, the wider context of the results needs to be taken into account. More...

Get along to MaD2018 (a Techweek'18 Curated Programme event) to learn about exciting new manufacturing and design research; to be inspired through examples of positive collaborations between industry and researchers; and to hear from high profile Keynote Speakers - including Professor Alexander Slocum from USA, Professor Olaf Diegel (pictured) from Sweden, Sistema founder Brendan Lindsay and Rocket Lab's Peter Beck.

Conference Dates: Monday 21 and Tuesday 22 May 2018

Venue: ANZ Viaduct Event Centre, 161 Halsey Street, Wynyard Quarter, Auckland.

Early Bird Registration is now open. Visit www.mad.org.nz for more conference info.

The enthusiastic response to the crowdfunding campaign to expand the Otago Chocolate Company could lead to another new manufacturing company seeking public funding.
In November a Pledge Me appeal resulted in Ocho amassing $2million in new investment within two days.  

Ocho director Jim O’Malley said Dunedin Manufacturing Holdings (DMH), under whose banner the Ocho campaign was launched, would continue to look for further opportunities to kick-start manufacturing businesses in the city. More...

A Kiwi logistics company is making it easier for manufacturers to do business with China by cutting out middlemen and allowing their products to be sent directly to the buyer.

QEX Logistics was founded by husband and wife team Ronnie and Doreen Xue in their Auckland garage in 2010 when demand was heating up for the types of clean and green products New Zealand was known for.

The company now has revenue of over $22 million and has just completed a $2.5m capital-raising venture. It was ranked last year 13 on the Deloitte Fast 50, up from 42 in 2016.

Ronnie Xue said the service was a big breakaway from traditional export models, where all inventory needed to be sent to China and certified before it could go to market. QEX allowed manufacturers to keep their inventory in New Zealand and let the logistics company do the rest.

"Through our business channels ... we're basically cutting [out] wholesalers, distributors, and retailers in China and we are helping New Zealand manufacturers to sell to Chinese consumers directly." More...

GreenBizCheck and Bureau Veritas will look into how companies will be able to clearly and seamlessly demonstrate responsible supply chains from an ethical and sustainable perspective, in a 40 minute webinar followed by a 20 minute Q&A.

This informative session on 1 February, features four highly qualified speakers and will cover the following topics:

• Ethical Procurement
• Modern Slavery Act
• ISO 20400
• Web-Based Solutions

Date and time: 1 February at 2pm AEST (Australian Eastern Standard Time). Places are limited so please click here to secure your spot.

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

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