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WECA Update June

Hello <<First Name>>

Engineering careers have been in the spotlight in the last few weeks with WECA well-represented at the Waikato Careers Expo and Engineering in Action Day.


News this month:
Waikato Careers Expo 2015: Were you spotted?
Engineering leaders forefront of economic development strategy
Passing the baton at Stafford Engineering
WECA members in FutureForce Waikato 
Forestry planting easier, thanks to PhD project
WECA event: Millennium Plastics
Any news? Tell us!

This month we are very pleased to welcome new WECA sponsor Success Personnel and new members the Gallagher Group and Vertex EngineersRead on for more information.

We hope to see you at our next event at Millennium Plastics on August 4.

All the best,

Sally Birch
WECA co-ordinator

Thank you to WECA sponsors:

                  

WECA Member Event: Diary this date!

Tuesday August 4, 4pm to 6.30pm


HOSTED BY: Millennium Plastics

4.00 to 4.15 Meet and mingle
4.15 to 5.30 Group tours of Millennium Plastics workshop
5.30 to 6.30 Refreshments, WECA and Millennium Plastics Q&A 

Groups will be taken for a tour through Millennium Plastics plant with demonstrations of injection moulding, LSR (liquid silicon rubber) moulding, robotics and automation as well as application of 3D printing.

WHERE:    Millennium Plastics, 2 Udy Place, Te Rapa, Hamilton
RSVP:        July 21 to sally@weca.org.nz 

FREE OF CHARGE:
All WECA members, affiliates, Waikato educators and WECA friends welcome. 

            

Waikato Careers Expo 2015: Were you spotted?

A big thank you to everyone who helped out on the WECA stand at the Waikato Careers Expo this year. The site was busy with hundreds of young people and their parents visiting, chatting and asking questions about engineering careers.Wintec’s interactive automotive models, Bart Engelsman’s Akwakat, Mainline’s metal man Alan and the WECA members' videos meant the stand was interactive and popular.

About 10,000 people attended the two-day expo at Claudelands and WECA's stand was well frequented. It's always heartening to hear the excellent conversations taking place between our members and young people interested in the engineering sector and this year was no exception. WECA's  key messages at this type of event are that skilled engineers from trades to professional level are in demand and that there is excellent training and earning potential in our sector for those with the right attitude.

Many people returned to our stand several times throughout the expo to ask questions, interact with our display and watch the WECA and members' video. The process of engineering design through to completed product definitely captures their imaginations. Stainless Design donated intricately designed laser cut tube key rings and model Jeeps for us to give away at the event and use to demonstrate the design and manufacturing process. The WECA member video showing these products being made is a powerful tool and conversation starter.

Of course, the best part of the WECA stand is our excellent volunteers -- members who give up their time to support and promote the engineering sector. Thanks to you, and all our members, WECA is leading the way and strengthening skills in our industry as New Zealand's only engineering careers association. 

Check out some photos from the event:
Captions (clockwise, from top left): Jeff Hansen (Waikato Bearings) and Peter Pooran (Stainless Design) talk about Stainless Design's laser cut tube key ring; Tom Petchell (University of Waikato) and Aidan Bigham (Wintec) pose for a picture with Alan (Mainline Sheetmetals); Allen Bryce (Competenz) in an intense chess game with young Grace, while Jonathan Scott (University of Waikato) chats with her family (Grace won, despite Allen taking her Queen more than once!); Ben Chang and Ray Pryor (Millennium Plastics) with Sally Birch (WECA); Mel Dellar (NDA) chats engineering; Roger Evans (Stafford Engineering) hands out a copy of the latest FutureForce Waikato.
Captions (clockwise from top left): Hamish Carter (University of Waikato); Peter Pooran (Stainless Design), Morgan Fahey and Jewal Morrison (University of Waikato); Donna Prentice (Hamilton Girls' High) and Vaughan Wetton (Wintec); Scott Pritchard (Stainless Design) and Leighton Cosgrove (Hendl and Murray); Naraya Frank (NDA) with Matt Foulkes (Wintec) and Jeff Hansen (Waikato Bearings); Ali Gheitasi (Wintec). 
Captions (clockwise, from top left): Brent Phillips (Wintec) and Peter Garmonsway (Millennium Plastics); Peter Garmonsway and Dean Renner (Millennium Plastics); Peter Drube (Convex) and Clare Szabo (Longveld); Cormac Flynn (Wintec); Susan Beange (Longveld) and Levinia Paku (Lawson Williams); Levinia and Jared Greaney (Hendl and Murray).
Visit the website for all photos from the event.

Click here to view.
Thanks again to everyone who helped at Expo: Aidan Bigham (Wintec), Allen Bryce (Competenz), Ali Gheitasi (Wintec),  Bart Engelsman (Active Plastics), Ben Bamfield (Waikato Bearings), Ben Chang (Millennium Plastics); Brent Phillips (Wintec), Clare Szabo (Longveld), Cormac Flynn (Wintec), Dave Stuart (Stafford Engineering), Dean Renner (Millennium Plastics), Donna Prentice (Hamilton Girls’ High), Hamish Carter (University of Waikato), Harrison Aitken (JP Marshall), Jared Greaney (Hendl and Murray), Jeff Hansen (Waikato Bearings) Jewal Morrison (University of Waikato), Jonathan Scott (University of Waikato), Keith Fraser (Alto), Leighton Cosgrove (Hendl and Murray), Levinia Paku (Lawson Williams), Marcus Heayns (JP Marshall), Matt Foulkes (Wintec),  Matt Fredericksen (Convex Plastics), Mel Dellar (NDA), Michael Walmsley (University of Waikato), Morgan Fahey (University of Waikato), Naraya Frank (NDA), Peter Drube (Convex), Peter Garmonsway (Millennium Plastics), Roger Evans (Stafford Engineering), Scott Pritchard (Stainless Design), Shelley Wilson (Wintec), Simon Finlay (Wintec), Susan Beange (Longveld),  Tom Petchell (University of Waikato), Tony Rutz (Millennium Plastics),Trudy Harris (Wintec), Vaughan Wetton (Wintec).

Engineering leaders forefront in economic development strategy 

Congratulations to WECA member John Cook (Stainless Design) on being named chair of the Waikato Regional Economic Development Strategy - Waikato Means Business and WECA member Margaret Comer O.M (Gallagher Group) for her role on the strategy's governance group.

John, pictured above with WECA's Mary Jensen and Ministry of Education's Jean Paterson at a Waikato Labour Market Workshop, will lead a high calibre team of business and political leaders to oversee the implementation of the strategy, prepared under the mantle of the Waikato Mayoral Forum.

WECA manager Mary Jensen, also involved in the development of the strategy, said the appointments bode well for the regional engineering sector and wider economic development.

John also leads the Waikato Labour Market Strategy component of Waikato Means Business and Mary is a member of this steering group. 
WECA's Roger Evans is the sector lead for the manufacturing and technology sector, including food processing.

"Engineering is a sector vital to our economy so it is excellent to see it well-represented in our region's economic development strategy," Mary said.

Others on the group include Federation of Maori Authorities chair Traci Houpapa, Waikato Tainui CEO Parekawhia McLean (deputy chair), and Hamilton and Waikato Tourism director Don Scarlet, who all helped develop the plan. They have been joined on the project’s governance group for the implementation phase by Wintec CEO Mark Flowers, Fonterra director Michael Spaans, Gallagher corporate services executive Margaret Comer and Enterprise Great Lake Taupo board member Tom Findlay.

Hamilton mayor Julie Hardaker and Waikato Regional Council policy and strategy committee chair Bob Simcock are the other members.

The implementation plan for the strategy has identified seven actions:

1. Developing the Ruakura Hub inland port
2. Completing the Waikato Expressway
3. Creating a new Waikato Plan for the region
4. Undertaking a study of constraints on growth and future investment opportunities
5. Improving the supply of and demand for skilled labour
6. Reducing local government red tape for business
7. Creating a better Waikato marketing “story” to help facilitate growth

Read more here.

Passing the baton at Stafford Engineering

WECA founder and engineering industry stalwart Roger Evans marked a career milestone recently, passing the baton of the operations side of the business to managing director Kaleb James, sales and engineering manager and current WECA chair Dave Stuart and workshop manager Julian Ford.

The team (from left, Roger, Dave, Julian and Kaleb) marked the milestone at a special function with more than 140 guests from throughout the world, including clients, former staff members, suppliers, colleagues friends and family. Roger was presented with a Graham Brinsley painting of Arthur's Point, near Queenstown. 


"This is a milestone which recognises what has been happening in our business over the last few years. Just like to clarify, I do have a long bucket list but I will be around for some time yet in a different role. We seem to have followed the text book model for succession from within, establishing another generation of management and ownership to drive future prosperity and longevity. It’s now time for Kaleb, Dave and Julian to stamp their own mark on our business allowing me to step away from day to day operation to take up a governance role," Roger said.

FutureForce Waikato hot off the press

Thanks to all the WECA members who supported the engineering section of this year's FutureForce Waikato volume, taking advantage of a discounted advertising rate. The engineering section, with an introduction dominated by WECA, is bigger than ever.

WECA has been given 500 free copies (emblazoned with a WECA 'Engineering your future' sticker) to use in promotional activities. About 3000 copies of the highly anticipated regional careers magazine were distributed at the Careers Expo and another 7000 copies have been couriered to careers teachers throughout the region to use as a classroom resource.

Look out for these members in the latest issue: Stafford Engineering, Stainless Design, Mainline Sheetmetals, Gallagher Group, Tidd Ross Todd, University of Waikato, NDA, Supreme Sheetmetals, Wilkinson Transport Engineers, Millennium Plastics, Thorburn Engineering, Hendl and Murray, Alto and Wintec.

Welcome new sponsor:

Success Personnel

Established in Hamilton in 1998, Success Personnel Ltd offers employment solutions to our clients in the Waikato and Bay of Plenty.

Not just an recruitment agency, we are your one stop employment service. Our broad range of services includes employment documentation, temporary and permanent recruitment, H/R services, grievance and mediation advice.

Over the last 17 years, we have become leading suppliers of high performing people to the manufacturing, engineering, infrastructure, supply chain, operations, and technical sales industries in New Zealand.

If it relates to the area of work, jobs, careers, Human Resources, or employment in New Zealand, then the team at Success Personnel is ready to help you.

Click here for more.


Welcome new member:

Gallagher Group

A company that needs no introduction, Gallagher Group are global leaders in the innovation, manufacture and marketing of animal management, security, fuel systems and contract manufacturing solutions. 

The best solutions combine excellence in design, application and customer insight. To consistently deliver the best, to surprise by innovation and create opportunities, Gallagher Group make sure that every process is designed to excel.

Gallagher often makes the headlines for its award-winning innovative solutions, events, sponsorship and achievements around the world.

Click here for more.



 

Welcome new member:

Vertex Engineers Ltd

Vertex Engineers Ltd combine design innovation + engineering excellence to provide smart, innovative, turnkey solutions to practical problems facing industry. 

Vertex are experienced in conveyor systems, process optimisation, safety guarding, automation, development of custom machinery, project work, design and drafting, factory layouts, 2D and 3D modelling and plant layouts, predominantly for the food processing industry, but anywhere materials handling plays a role.

Read more here.

Forestry planting easier, thanks to PhD project 

A University of Waikato graduate student has devised a system that looks set to enhance forestry planting processes.

Ben McGuinness, studying his PhD in Mechanical Engineering in the Faculty of Science and Engineering, s
ays he's always enjoyed making "useful things."

One of these useful things includes his PhD project – a system that automates the lifting and grading process of seedlings for forestry planting by using a robotic machine.

"Lifting and grading pine seedlings with a machine poses many challenges and it's not something that's been attempted before," he says.

The idea for the yet-to-be-named lifter/grader came when treestock company ArborGen needed help with the lifting and grading process of their seedlings.


Read more here.
Won an award? Moving premises? Want to pick other members' brains? Don't forget to tell us about it! You just might see yourself in the next WECA Update. Email sally@weca.org.nz or click the big purple button.

Thank you again to WECA sponsors: