P U B L I S H E R ’ S D E S K
INNOVATE, RE-IMAGINE AND
RENEW FOR OPPORTUNITY…
STUDENT VENTURE AIMS TO BRING
AUTOMATION TO HOME BUILDERS
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ntion in New Zealand and the world for 30 years
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0800 692 542
Text 0274 351 069
✉ sales@nyalic.co.nz
Preserves both Metal and Painted
Surfaces
Highly Corrosion Resistant
Highly Cleansable Surface
Restores Paint Appearance
Long Lasting Protection
www.nyalic.co.nz
0800 692 542
Text 0274 351 069
✉ sales@nyalic.co.nz
Superior Corrosion Prevention in New Zealand and the world for 30 years REN152
Clear Hard Protective Coating
Highly Corrosion Resistant in
Aggressive Environments
www.nyalic.co.nz
Clear Protective Coating
Preserves both Metal and Painted
Surfaces
Highly Corrosion Resistant
Highly Cleansable Surface
Restores Paint Appearance
Long Lasting Protection
www.nyalic.co.nz
0800 692 542
Text 0274 351 069
✉ sales@nyalic.co.nz
Clear Hard Protective Coating
Highly Corrosion Resistant in
Aggressive Environments
Ideal for Circuit Boards and
Electrical Connections
Restores Paint Appearance
Long Lasting Protection
www.nyalic.co.nz
0800 692 542
Text 0274 351 069
✉ sales@nyalic.co.nz
Not knowing…. two of the worst words in business.
The COVID-19 lockdown and cycle through the levels
has left many businesses waiting, with bated breath,
in terms of what to do next but it’s the classic case of
those that innovate will thrive.
As the country scaled back to Alert Level 2 many
of you rubbed those engineering hands together in
eagerness at getting back into some sort of normality.
But the landscape has altered and now perhaps you’ve
fast realised that we’ve woken from business isolation
to a different world… and one that does present some
opportunity.
What has been really noticeable is the abundance of
innovation coming from tertiary institutions as they take
hold of such opportunities amid the carnage.
Good leaf from a younger generaion’s book to take…
GregRobertson
C H I T C H A T
Nikau Robotics is utilising leading-edge automation
technology to increase productivity for small and
medium construction businesses. The team is
developing a smart computer numerical control
(CNC) wood router that can intake a stack of wooden
panels and process them automatically to pre-cut,
drill, and carve wooden panels. The machine they
have designed is highly portable to enable onsite use
for fast, accurate cuts of wood without the need for
external suppliers.
The concept is the brainchild of mechatronics
engineering student Harrison Lawton. “It occurred
to me while helping a contractor renovate my family
home for several weeks, how strenuous and repetitive
the work was. Almost the entire woodworking process
was highly predictable and required a great deal of
measuring and precision. From my background in
robotics, I was aware these are the ideal characteristics
for automation. After scouring the internet for
a machine to meet these requirements, it became
apparent there was no product that was able to
effectively satisfy the market's demands, so I began to
design my own.”
Harrison took his idea with him to the Business
School’s Centre for Innovation and Entrepreneurship.
While taking part in its Summer Lab programme, he
formed a motivated and talented team and a suite
of new skills and knowledge. “The programme was
beyond amazing and I would recommend it to anyone”.
A core part of the Summer Lab programme is market
validation; testing assumptions about your idea and
ensuring there is a market of a viable size. The Nikau
Robotics team’s ideas were validated by their research.
Harrison says the problem of inefficient construction
is a global concern. “In the past 20 years there has
only been a 1 percent increase in productivity yet
a 5 percent increase in production in 2019 alone.
Meanwhile, demand for residential construction soars
and skilled labour shortages reduce capacity.
"Small and medium construction companies are unable
to take advantage of the enormous and expensive
A group of engineering and science
students who met during a free
University of Auckland venture
development programme run last
summer, are preparing to take their
building automation ideas to the world.
industrial CNC machines used by larger construction
companies. However, 70% of contractors believe that
advancing technologies can increase productivity.
Here is where we are able to compete in the otherwise
overlooked market segment of small construction firms
which make up a large proportion of global builders. In
New Zealand alone there are over 21,650 construction
companies of which the majority are small residential
firms.”
Since Summer Lab, Nikau Robotics has established
a dedicated team with extensive technical knowledge
in engineering and commerce, as well as a large
experienced mentor board.
The team initiated meetings with several venture
capital firms including UniServices and received
wonderful feedback on everything they’re doing right
and the aspects to improve.
“We have made enormous progress in prototype
development and engineering design. The main
challenge has been a result of Covid-19. Like all
businesses we too have suffered from decreased productivity
and slow supply chains,” he says.
The Nikau Robotics team is excited about the
prototype they are constructing and will soon begin
manufacturing furniture as proof of concept.
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