The Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) is proposing several amendments to B1/VM1, and it’s important that you have your say in these changes as they’ll affect our steel industry. They intend to: Update Verification Method for B1 Structure (B1/VM1) to cite the latest version of NZS 3101:2006 Concrete Structures Standard: Part 1 – The…
HERA is seeking expressions of interest from members who would like to be on an Advisory Panel for heavy engineering industry development. This objective of this panel will be to provide sound advice and counsel on the future direction for general heavy engineering such as in the petrochemical, marine or transport industry (but with lesser…
The election race is tight and every vote will count. Our director reviews the most important policy relating to our industry’s contribution to creating a prosperous New Zealand. And our view is unshakeably in favour of a policy which supports local manufacturing in the framework of a free trade environment. So we urge all members…
The HERA organised stream at the Metals Industry Conference in Christchurch focused on industry transformation for our members and HERA’s role in it. We think it was very relevant and want to ensure that those who missed out can catch up on those important topics. What a great conference and Awards Gala Dinner to remember!…
Overall, our FY 2017 (Jul16 – Jun17) heavy steel consumption reached just over 173,000 tonnes – 1.4% higher than last year and a new record in our steel statistics. This is a welcome outcome, supported by a buoyant steel construction sector in response to growing demand for seismic strengthened buildings and an expanding population in…
After over 30 years of leadership within HERA, our current Director Dr Wolfgang Scholz has announced his intended retirement at the end of the year. Wolfgang has held this role for the last 17 years and advises with a smile, that he’s enjoyed almost every minute of his job – but its now time to…
As an avid reader of our news updates you’ll be aware of the unique opportunity we offered to leverage significant government co-funding for research activities through our Research Partnership Proposal. Sadly, we report the Research Partnership Proposal has stalled from progressing. Insufficient levels of industry co-funding stopping us from submitting a credible and workable bid…
HERA members associated with the wider steel construction sector will have or will receive a request for co-funding to the steel construction projects of HERA’s research partnership proposal intended to be submitted to MBIE. You may have been aware from last month’s HERA News item, that out of the original 13 applications submitted; we were…
Remember LanzaTech? The New Zealand bio fuel R&D start-up which invented a process to convert carbon-rich gases from steel mills to create the ethanol base of their fuel Lanzanol. Probably not. Since LanzaTech packed their bags quite early in the game and moved to the US with many of their former staff in tow. But…
Recognising the need for risk mitigation in the procurement of fabricated steelwork, HERA and SCNZ in partnership with ASI developed Code of Practice for fabrication and erection of structural steel work and the SFC Rules in 2014. This formed the basis for a joint Standards Australia and Standards New Zealand project to create the first dedicated…
Following MBIE and Commerce Commission announcements of significant building products conformance issues which included steel products, HERA consulted in April 2016 extensively with its membership. The outcome was the wide endorsement by HERA and SCNZ membership of a policy statement requesting that “all critical building work independent of building material should be required to have…
Earlier this year, we applied for the MBIE 2017 Research Partnership Investment Round under the title “Transforming the heavy metals engineering industry through disruptive innovation” – an application now approved by their Science Board to progress to the full proposal stage. While this advance has considerably improved our chance for success, the investment round is…