steel-recycling

Resource – 2021 Steel Recycling Report

Please note that this report has since been updated 19 January 2022. For the updated report, click here. Our recently commissioned HERA Report R5-89 shows steel plays a key role in the circular economy. The study was undertaken by thinkstepANZ and showed an impressive 72% of steel scrap in New Zealand is recycled, and that…

industry4.0

Notice – exploring Industry 4.0 opportunity for construction

Aotearoa New Zealand’s construction industry reached over $15 billion in 2019, making it a major contributor to GDP and employment, as well as developer of critical national infrastructure. Despite this, it’s an industry that requires radical transformation and has long been criticised for its low productivity, inefficiencies, and contribution to New Zealand’s carbon emissions. It requires…

multistorey-building

Study shows cast-in-place reinforced concrete more affordable than cross laminated timber in a US-based 10-storey building

A recent technical study has come to HERA’s attention as it highlights our stance that you should choose infrastructure material based on design parameters. The technical study that we refer to was performed by the structural engineering firm Cary Kopczynski & Company in Seattle, WA. It compared the affordability of a hypothetical 10-story residential building…

fire-explosion

Research and evidence gaps on fire performance challenged

A recent John Hopkins University Report validates our concerns at HERA around the lack of data and baseless assumptions relating to mass timber performance in high rise buildings. This is not a new conversation for HERA. We have previously raised concern about the lack of research relating to the fire performance of building materials generally…

john-cole

Ep. 42 | John Cole – The intersection between Mātauranga Māori and Construction 4.0

Mar312021 Listen on Spotify Listen on iTunes Listen on PodBean 31 March 2021 | Ep.42 – The intersection between Mātauranga Māori and Construction 4.0 In this episode of Stirring the Pot we invite University of Auckland Engineering & Law Student John Cole from Episode 41, back into the studio. This time exploring the intersection between…

environment-innovation

Calls for research – HERA sustainability fund open for ideas from our members

We want your ideas – because our HERA sustainability fund is now open for ideas from our members! 2021 is going to be an exciting year for us at HERA in the space of sustainability. Even more so, because we’re so very excited to announce a $80K research fund for projects aimed at improving steel’s…

hawkes-bay-hospital

Case study: 3D scanning as a tool in seismic strengthening of Hawke’s Bay Hospital project

We’re excited to bring to light a New Zealand case study on the use of 3D scanning as a new digital tool by one of our members. Those of you at HERA’s Future Forum: 2020 VISION in February would have heard Des Watkins from Watkins Steel promote the use of digital technologies, including 3D scanning,…

chris-bumby

Ep. 28 | Chris Bumby – Hydrogen: an alternative reductant?

Jun242020 Listen on iTunes Listen on Spotify Listen on PodBean 24 June 2020 | Ep.28 – Hydrogen: an alternative reductant? In this episode of Stirring the Pot, we talk to recent recipient of HERA’s Innovation Award – Chris Bumby. As a Victoria University of Wellingtons Senior Scientist, he has been heading exciting research that is leading towards the…

steel-design

Future-proofing the steel industry with design innovation

HERA recently commissioned an external market research company to figure out what NZ society thinks of our metals industry. The outcome was nothing short of interesting. Why? Because when asked if the steel industry was prepared for future technologies and innovation – only 47% felt we were. And of that, 79% responded that future-proofing the…