2016 has been an encouraging year, fuelled by an exceptional demand in steel construction in response to rebuild and immigration pressures. In June 2016, the reported New Zealand annual heavy steel consumption stood at 170,697 tonnes, exceeding FY2015 with a total annual growth of 8.4%. This reflects a healthy industry responding to strong market conditions,…
2016 was a busy year for the NZ Welding Centre, with around 180 people attending our specialist courses and seminars for engineers, supervisors and welding inspectors. This month, 12 professionals complete their training programme in welding inspection leading to national and international qualifications: the CBIP Certified Welding Inspector (CWI), and the globally-recognised IIW International Welding…
Our industry’s decision to harmonize bridge design with Australia has seen us travel a five year road, and we’re delighted to see it all come together as we announce the availability for public comment of the first joint New Zealand and Australian design standard for steel and composite bridges DR AS/NZS 5100.6. Chaired by our…
As members may have heard from Radio New Zealand’s interview of Stewart Askey on 19 August 2016 -concerns have again been raised on the quality of steel imports. Whilst the interview was largely on steel products used in reinforced concrete construction, comments were made in the closing remarks about sub-standard structural bolts. The Kathryn Ryan-led interview outlined in a…
The steel industry continues to face a challenging economic environment due to the economic slowdown in China, volatility in financial markets, sluggish growth in global trade, and low prices of oil and other commodities. In the first quarter of 2016, per the World Steel Association, global steel production decreased 3.6% to 386 metric tons (Mt)…
It is eight years since the global financial crisis (GFC) started and few would say things are ‘back to normal’. But most companies who survived have adjusted to the new normal of sluggish global growth, and in New Zealand’s case, marginal domestic growth. Looking back its obvious what happened: The GFC caused the purse strings…
The 69th IIW Annual Assembly and International Conference will be held at Melbourne Convention Exhibition Centre, 10 – 15 July 2016. The IIW Annual Assembly & International Conference is a unique global forum that provides the opportunity for professionals from around the world to share and develop scientific and technical knowledge of welding and related…
A number of journal papers have recently been published that have been co-authored by our General Manager Structural SystemsDr Stephen Hicks. They’re now available to members from our library. Details for each of these papers are given below. Safety Factors for the Resistance of Steel Sections Australian Journal of Structural Engineering, by Kang WH, Hicks…