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…
The media has been rife with stories of non-compliant steel. Where it has either performed poorly or been utilised despite its inability to meet New Zealand standards. Not surprisingly, this has become a key concern for many local structural engineers who are sourcing structural components from overseas. Not only in regards to performance – but…
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…
We’re excited to attend the NAFEMS World Congress 2017 which incorporates the 3rd International Conference on Simulation Process & Data Management next week in Stockholm, Sweden from 11 – 14 June. Bringing together industrial users, technology experts, academics and software vendors, this is an ideal forum to explore advances in numerical simulation, engineering analysis, modelling…
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…
SNC Steel is a Papakura, Auckland based fabricator with the tenets of lean manufacturing at its core, concentrating on quality and service while eliminating unnecessary cost and time waste. Since their focus has been on quality products provided to customers in the safest manner possible to the highest standards, and recognising that quality can be…
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…
Historically, boron has not been intentionally added to structural steel manufactured in New Zealand or Australia to AS or AS/NZS standards. However some overseas steelmakers have added boron to structural steel to take advantage of export subsidies or for other reasons, including improved impact energy. Reports indicated that some imported steel may show elevated levels…
Winning work is imperative for business survival – yet it often comes at a cost to the very environment we live and operate in. But what if there was a way to have one without the expense to the other for the metals industry? Well, it turns out one of the steps you can take…
Effective quality management systems for welded fabrication rely on competent staff – people with the knowledge and ability to ensure welding and fabrication operations are cost-effective. And at HERA we provide education and training for those who have responsibility for the supervision and inspection of welded fabrication, and the qualification of welding procedures and welders…