N E W S Students gear up for NI robotics comp The future of robotics will be centre stage when a swag of robots from top universities from Australia and New Zealand battle it out in Sydney in the National Instruments Automatic Robotic’s Competition (NI ARC). For 2017, the competition task will revolve around the transportation industry. Built around the theme ‘Smart Transportation’, students will experience using industry leading hardware and software, and how to design an intelligent vehicle which can follow road rules and regulations, giving the students a practical means of understanding various facets of engineering, specifically robotics. The team’s objective is to optimise their robot’s performance to do required tasks with the least amount of time to earn the most amount of points. Students had seven months to develop their entry and a full wrap up of the event will feature in the August issue of Engineering News. Checketts closes 99-year-old doors Invercargill’s Checketts Engineering is closing its doors for good after 99 years in business. The building has been purchased by new owners, with the working forge creating high interest on the market. Beginning in 1918, the main downturn to the business came when vehicle and truck production companies changed the suspension that was being put into cars and trucks meaning newer vehicles were being manufactured with a parabolic spring suspension that could last a million kilometres. Brent Airey, senior engineer at PSP Engineering awaiting the delivery of the company’s second Mazak machine with new Smooth Technology New distributor, direction for Mazak in New Zealand www.engineeringnews.co.nz 11 Mazak will now be distributed in New Zealand by recently-formed NZ Machine Tools Ltd (NZMT). Bill Buckley, founder of Buckley Systems Ltd has secured the Mazak distribution agency and will be distributing under the new company, NZ Machine Tools. NZMT has also entered into a marketing relationship with Iscar Pacific Ltd to distribute Mazak machines nationwide. It’s a revolutionary step for the brand and comes with a total commitment from a leading engineering company, a prominent carbide tooling company, and signals an exciting and innovative direction for the Mazak brand. With experienced and enthusiastic personnel, says NZ Machine Tools, the new venture NZMT is ideally placed to market the quality machining tool range. It says the synergy between successful entrepreneurs is reflected in the revamped organisation, and is a real plus for New Zealand manufacturing. Yamazaki Mazak was established in 1919 and has been contributing to the development of the machine tool industry as a leading global company. Yamazaki Mazak manufactures not only advanced machine tools such as multi tasking centres, CNC turning centres, machining centres and laser processing machines, but also automation systems with the concept of Done-In-One to support global manufacturing by providing exceptional productivity and versatility. “Mazak are famous for many new innovations including the advanced multitasking InterGrex E Series in 2002 which has now evolved to include Compact InterGrex I-50, Variaxis 5-axis multi face machining centres, and laser processing machines, designed to optimise the cutting of a wide range of materials including flat sheet, 3D shape, and pipes,” says the company. “But there’s plenty of innovation from Mazak. Mazak are also famous for the Mazatrol CNC technology, helping generations of engineers step into intuitive programming and the latest innovation Smooth Technology.” NZ Machine Tools says the four core facets of Smooth Technology contribute a host of benefits that maximise a shop’s resources. Smooth Technology is more than the hardware and software advances that you need; the platform contains all the tools necessary to stay competitive, achieve your goals and find new opportunities to grow. Whatever your challenges are, Mazak’s Smooth Technology provides the solutions. “We are confident that companies will benefit from the potential that Mazak has to offer – we are market-driven and recognise the importance of a machine that is fit-for-purpose and has the after sales service that is so essential,” says Bill Buckley, ceo, Buckley Systems. A plant visit is being planned to Mazak Japan. Anyone interested should contact calvin@nzmachinetools.co.nz. Caution needed in hotel boom A hotel development boom is well underway throughout New Zealand, new research from Colliers International shows. Dean Humphries, national director of Hotels at Colliers International, says the country is in the midst of the highest level of development activity in its history as investors look to take advantage of the ongoing tourism boom that started in 2013. “Auckland, our country’s international gateway city, is leading the way with nine projects currently under construction, totalling about 1,400 guest rooms. “We are also aware of at least 30 pipeline projects currently in early planning/design and feasibility phases, representing over 3,500 additional guest rooms. “This level of hotel development activity is unprecedented in the New Zealand context and is a reflection of the exceptional growth in hotel trading conditions over the past four years."
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