NZTech chief executive Graeme Muller www.engineeringnews.co.nz 11 More than 80 attendees joined Steel Construction New Zealand (SCNZ) in Queenstown recently to celebrate the industry organisation’s 10th anniversary, including special guest Craig Foss, Minister for Small Business. In 2006, SCNZ earned its independence from parent organisation the Heavy Engineering Research Association (HERA) with ambitions to champion the steel construction industry. Today, structural steel holds a dominant 50 percent stake in New Zealand’s multilevel construction market, thanks to the combined efforts of HERA and SCNZ. The Queenstown event featured presentations from industry, the latest Steel Fabricator Certification awards and the launch of two new industry people awards. As the structural steel sector continues to grow and evolve, it must ensure there are sufficient skills and leadership to maintain the momentum. To raise the profile of careers in the sector, SCNZ has created two new people-focused awards: Apprentice of the Year and the Emerging Leader Award. Together the awards will honour upcoming talent, and signal the structural steel industry’s commitment to invest in the future. In his welcome address, SCNZ chairman Bob Hawley drew attention to the fact that 18,500 tonnes of steelwork were lost to overseas fabricators in the last 12 months. Learning to live with the challenge of imports from low-cost economies is a priority for SCNZ and the industry going forward. By engaging with builders to understand their future needs, SCNZ aims to ensure industry remains relevant in the global market. Mr Foss was also on hand to present certificates to the five latest companies to achieve Steel Fabricator Certification (SFC): Patton Engineering, Cambridge Steel Fabricators & Engineers, Weldlok, Action Engineering and Modern Construction. SCNZ senior engineer Chris Burns noted that nearly a quarter of SCNZ fabricator members have now achieved certification under the SFC scheme, ensuring that 70 percent of the local industry output is meeting international best practice. NZ WINS WORLD ROBOTICS CHAMPS 8 YEARS STRAIGHT For the eighth year in a row New Zealand has earned the right to claim world champion status at the VEX world robotics championships held in Louisville, the United States, over Anzac weekend. Auckland’s Lynfield College achieved the ultimate accolade being crowned the winners of the High School Excellence Award, the top award of the championships. Lynfield retained the Excellence Award won for New Zealand last year by Glenfield College. NZTech chief executive Graeme Muller says it is an amazing result for New Zealand schools to win the world robotics championships for the eighth year in succession. Twelve New Zealand school teams and 75 Kiwis travelled to Louisville for the event. “This is quite an outstanding example of the tech sector and schools working together to stimulate interest in technology and demonstrating that Kiwi tech talent is alive and strong. These are the future tech leaders of New Zealand. NZTech is working with Kiwibots and other similar organisations to bring together an Alliance of STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) organisations working together to support the growth of tech skills,” Mr Muller says. David Aston from Glenfield College was inducted into the VEX Robotics STEM Hall of Fame as Teacher of the Year. There are only nine teachers in the world who have received this award. He joins Johan Potgieter who was one of the first inductees in recognition of starting VEX in New Zealand. Lynfield also won the robot skills world champions award for the highest score in a competition where a robot competes alone on the field under driver control for one minute. DB OPENS DOORS FOR MESNZ New Zealand DB Breweries, Timaru is offering the opportunity for MESNZ members and interested persons to tour its facility. The evening will include a tour, capability demonstrations, and light food and refreshments from 5:30pm until Thursday, May 26. There is no cost for first time attendees or MESNZ members (otherwise $10). You must register by May 20. Email info@adminoncall.co.nz Craig Foss, Minister for Small Business Steel: what a difference a decade makes N E W S Engineering gender bender Australia’s engineering body has raised concerns about the gender imbalance and a decline in high school students studying advanced mathematics. This is despite Engineers Australia believing women who make the engineering workforce outperform males. Policy analyst Andre says a number of girls studying physics and advanced mathematics at high school had fallen to just 6.5 per cent. “This underpins the reason why the participation of women generally in engineering is low,” he says. “The astonishing thing, however, is that the number of the young ladies who choose to go from school to engineering do exceptionally well. “Even though there is a very low proportion of girls going into engineering, what we are getting are extremely talented young women. Scan to Email
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