N E W S DISCOVERING THE WELDING CONNECTIONS WORLD HERA, SCNZ and the Institute of Welding have announced a one-day seminar on design and analysis of welded connections, which will be run throughout July and August in Hamilton, Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch and Queenstown. This seminar provides an overview of the theory of design of welded steel structures and components, with plenty of hands-on guidance for structural and mechanical engineers. Delegates are encouraged to bring along their design problems to contribute to discussions and local case studies. The morning session will be presented by Professor Adolf Hobbacher (University of Applied Sciences, Wilhelmshaven, Germany), one of the world’s leading experts on weld design issues. The afternoon session will be jointly presented by Professor Adolf Hobbacher, Dr Stephen Hicks (general manager structural systems, HERA) and Dr Michail Karpenko (general manager welding centre, HERA); and will cover reliability aspects of steel structures, weld quality issues and a fatigue design procedure of new bridge design standard AS/NZS 5100.6. It is suited if you are a designer, structural engineer, consultancy engineer, mechanical engineer, maintenance or quality control engineer working in steel construction, design, fabrication or in maintenance development. For more www.hera.org.nz ENGINEER'S CONFERENCE Reserve November 8, 9 and 10 for the 2016 National Maintenance Engineering Conference in Hamilton at the Claudelands Events Centre. The annual three-day national engineering conference is run by engineers for engineers and NMEC delivers compelling content from thought provoking speakers that will inform your planning and decision making. Learn about industry trends and developments, discover new technologies and solutions that will impact and add value to your business. Benchmark yourself against global best practices. Share your knowledge and build your business contacts within a unique format that maximises interaction and networking with delegates, giving you ample opportunities for quality relationship building. The latest asset management developments will help your organisation identify ways to reduce maintenance costs. Improve safety - a special NMEC forum will discuss ways your organisation can improve the safety of staff and reduce operational incidents. conference@mesnz.org.nz WHITE STAR PURCHASES SWAGETURN S W Settle Ltd and Swageturn Ltd have recently been purchased by White Star Products LP. White Star Products is a manufacturer and distributor of marine products in New Zealand since the early 1950’s and manufacture and export pumps, yacht fittings and winches under established brands. White Star Products has recently relocated into the Swageturn factory in Avondale, supplier of turnbuckles and rigging products, and export in excess of $1 million per year. Company owner and manager, Neil Stubbing, says the joining of the two manufacturing companies has created synergy and growth opportunity across the customer base, built through strong established distribution relationships. 6 August 2016 First high security prisoner engineering graduate Eleven men have graduated from a new Christchurch Men’s Prison engineering training programme providing high security prisoners with employable trade skills. During the six-week training programme, prisoners learn basic engineering skills and earn a basic engineering certificate, forklift certificate and first aid certificate. “The men have gained a great deal out of this course,” says engineering instructor, Peter De Stadler, pictured. “I am impressed by their hunger to learn engineering; most have had previous practical experience but never converted the knowledge in a tangible formal qualification. These men are learning quality welding and health and safety skills which will be required in any engineering workplace. Many of these men show great talent to absorb the training and are excited to use their new skills. Having these skills means that employers can be assured that they are prepared and work ready.” Placement in the high security unit is fluid, with men moving through to other units (dependent on security needs) and this has added complexity to the course with men at different stages of learning. The course duration is four hours a day, four days a week. Most of the men do their studies and homework back in their cells and this allows for more collaboration among them as the individuals who are at a more advanced stage can assist newer students. “Through the four to six weeks, 27 men have taken the course, with eleven graduating. The others will be able to complete their studies Peter De Stadler when they have further training in engineering at another stage of their sentence,” says De Stadler. ‘Robert’ (offender’s real name withheld) is one of the men to have completed the qualification. He says he has greatly enjoyed the course and sees that it will make a big difference in the skillset he can offer future employers. He has worked with sheet metal before but lacked the confidence to go to the next level. He sees his new qualification as the beginning of his training and the opportunity to move his job to a new level and support a change of life on release. The course covers how to use engineering tools correctly, health and safety and good welding practice. “These are skills an employer won’t have to teach us,” he says. “If you have two people and one person has these skills and knows these things and the other doesn’t you have more opportunity to get the job. “Men are lining up to get on the course because they know it leads to employment opportunities.” Robert is making the most of his prison time to get ahead. He has also completed a drug rehabilitation programme, begun an Open Polytechnic maths and literature course and gained certificates in first aid and forklift driving. Employable trade training is an important aspect of prison life, with research showing a strong correlation between employment and maintaining a crime-free life. Until recently there were no training programmes available to offenders in the high risk units and men would have to wait until their risk was reduced through assessment by the prison. REGISTER EMAIL MESNZ A STING IN THIS RAY’S TAIL A team of scientists have used 3D printing and genetic engineering to create a biohybrid animal. The stingray moves by using the mesh rat heart muscle cells inside its silicone body to pulse, allowing the tiny flipper areas of its body to swim through water. It has a skeleton made from 3D printed gold, which allows it to store energy for movement. http://tinyurl.com/h6p75pu
EN-AUG16
To see the actual publication please follow the link above