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message from the executive director

Great to see a small but significant change for the better in the BNZ-BusinessNZ Performance of Manufacturing Index.

As BNZ Senior Economist, Doug Steel noted, "the improvement in the PMI is not large, but we see it as important to the broader economic narrative".

In line with the improved overall result, the proportion of positive comments (58.3%) also increased, with demand for products from offshore customers noted throughout.

Catherine Beard

027 463 3212 or cbeard@businessnz.org.nz

Welcome change - PMI

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

The seasonally adjusted PMI for October was 53.5. This was 1.6 points higher than September, and the highest level of activity since May.

The October result was a welcome change from where the survey has sat for the previous four months. More...

Listen on Radio NZ: Manufacturers 'glimmer of hope' good for the economy ->>

National Testing Register available

The National Testing Register is a very valuable resource and source of information for SMEs in New Zealand. Hosted by the NZProduct Accelerator, It was recently updated to include available equipment at the University of Otago and Holmes Solutions operating in both Auckland and Christchurch.

If you need help with your R&D, check out what facilities are available through this extemsive network. It includes laboratories all over the country, including what product and material performance testing they do, plus key contacts and facilities.

View the National Testing Register here->>

Five Reasons to Invest in a Transportation Management System for a More Efficient Business

Specialist guest blog from Cory Levins of Air Sea Containers:

If you are a manufacturer, the owner of a distribution company or anyone else who ships freight on a regular basis, investing in a transportation management system — aka TMS — could help you lower your shipping costs. That’s not the only potential benefit, though.

A transportation management system enables you to transport freight from its origin to its final destination with efficiency and reliability. Therefore, it can help you save money and drive value for your business. Investing in a TMS can also help with things like improving customer service, managing inventory better and increasing warehouse efficiency.
If you are still on the fence about whether a TMS is right for your business, keep reading to learn more...

Fonterra ahead of schedule on emissions reduction

Fonterra says its emission reduction efforts are running about a year ahead of schedule.

The firm, which has pledged to get its 2030 emissions 30 percent below those in 2015, and to have net zero emissions by 2050, today formally opened a co-fired boiler conversion at its Brightwater plant south of Nelson.

The $1.75 million project will reduce the site’s coal use by about 30 percent and its carbon dioxide emissions by about 2,400 tonnes, or the equivalent of 530 cars coming off the road.

Alan van der Nagel, Fonterra’s director of New Zealand manufacturing, said the firm is serious about meeting the goals it has set itself. More...

Made in New Zealand

Locally grown, regionally produced, for Kiwis by Kiwis… these are just some of the advertising slogans our consumers see on products nationwide. But what do they mean, what value does it add to your business, and when, legally, can you make these claims?

One way is to join the BuyNZ Made Capaign, and below Jai Breitnauer explores what the benefits are for your business, and how you can stay within the law. More...

MaD2019: Future-proofing NZ's MaD Economy - CALL for ABSTRACTS

You're invited to MaD2019 to engage in this cross-disciplinary industry and researcher network, focused on future-proofing New Zealand’s manufacturing and design economy.

You will have the opportunity to learn about exciting new manufacturing and design research and to be inspired through examples of positive collaborations between industry and researchers.

MaD2019: Future-proofing New Zealand's Manufacturing and Design Economy is on Monday 20 and Tuesday 21 May, 2019 at The Great Room, Cordis Hotel Auckland.

Call for Abstracts now open. Early submission is recommended. The closing date is 15 February 2019.

More info: www.mad.org.nz

Dairy farmers facing squeeze - Stats NZ

Dairy farmers are getting a lower payout for milk but their costs are rising for goods and services like feed, fuel, and freight, Stats NZ said today.

The prices received by dairy farmers fell (4.8 percent) in the September 2018 quarter, due to a lower farm-gate milk price. In contrast, their costs rose (1.5 percent), mainly influenced by higher prices for animal feed, fuel, and freight.

"Dairy manufacturers paid less to buy raw milk in the latest quarter. They also received higher prices from our export markets and local customers," business prices manager Sarah Johnson said. More...

New Zealand startup Sunfed bags $9.4 million to take plant-based meat global

Auckland-based food startup Sunfed has raised NZD $10 million ($9.38 million) in Series A funding, to lead the charge towards a solar-powered planet.

The funding round was led by Australia’s Blackbird Ventures, and also included the New Zealand Venture Investment Fund, Quadrant Private Equity founder Chris Hadley, and K1W1, the investment company run by New Zealand entrepreneur Stephen Tindall.

A former software engineer, Sunfed founder Shama Sukul Lee turned her hand to the meat-free foods market in 2015.

Over the past three years, the startup has secured a small amount of funding to complete research and development, building its own hardware to replicate the look, feel and texture of meat, using only “clean” plant products. More...

Auckland’s supply chain complications

National Road Carriers Association and the Ports of Auckland are combining forces to promote change in the supply chain to improve delivery times and prevent delays.

This initiative has come about because of supply chain capacity issues which were highlighted following an accident at Ports of Auckland in August. Imported freight has taken longer to deliver and exporters have encountered delays getting their goods away, leading to frustration all round.

“The supply chain is running at capacity, so unexpected problems can have a domino effect,” says David Aitken, National Road Carriers CEO.

“At its heart, the problem is Auckland’s growth. The supply chain needs to evolve and we’re all going to have to change the way we work to prevent future problems. Better planning and coordination are the key.” More...

Contract Manufacturers

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

There are some great resources - see here->>

ManufacturingNZ
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