
Kokako – NZ Human Powered Flight
Human-powered flight has long been a dream of humanity, fuelled by the desire to soar through the skies like birds. While modern aviation relies heavily on engines and sophisticated technology, human-powered flight harkens back to the simplicity of using human muscle to achieve the extraordinary. In recent years, various competitions and projects have emerged to further push the boundaries of human-powered flight. The Human-Powered Ornithopter Project, for instance, aimed to build an ornithopter (flapping-wing aircraft) capable of sustained flight. While achieving sustained and efficient human-powered flight remains a significant challenge, these endeavors contribute to advancements in materials, aerodynamics, and human endurance. Beyond the technical and engineering aspects, human-powered flight captures the imagination and spirit of innovation. It symbolizes the relentless pursuit of conquering the skies through human ingenuity and determination. As technology continues to evolve, and with a growing emphasis on sustainable and eco-friendly transportation, the dream of widespread human-powered flight may not be as distant as once thought. Perhaps, in the not-too-distant future, we will witness a new era where the skies are shared not only by machines but also by human-powered aircraft, fulfilling the age-old dream of flying under our own power. UoA Engineering School has acknowledged the […]

CANZ – Survey Launch: Composites Waste & Opportunities – We need you!
The survey is live October – November 2023 . Users, sellers, manufacturers, designers, researchers of composites products, including but not limited to Fibreglass, Carbon Fibre & Kevlar. This is a critical time to participate. Please encourage others to complete the survey also! The more data, the better momentum. We all need a solution that actually tackles the challenges and presents the opportunities unique to our NZ context. Now is the time to make sure your unique situation is included. With the support of the professional research team at CIRCUIT (Uni of Auckland) we can do this! Be part of the NZ solution. Contribute data to enable composites recycling. See full details here. Complete survey here.

2023 Conference – 12 & 13 October, Auckland
The 2023 Conference of the Composites Association of New Zealand will be held Thursday 12 and Friday 13 October at the Waipuna Hotel and Conference Centre in Auckland. The Conference is a great opportunity to network with your industry peers and hear from speakers on issues affecting our industry. Programme: This year’s conference theme is “Making a Difference” and will include presentations by the Energy Efficient & Conservation Authority, Massey University Styrene project update, Emirates Team New Zealand, and a workshop on leveraging the composites network for circularity. AGM: As always, the Annual General Meeting will be held during the conference. Conference dinner: The Conference dinner will be held on Thursday 12 October, onsite in the Wellington Restaurant. This is included in your delegate registration fee. Accommodation: Please contact the Waipuna Hotel directly on Tel 09 526 3000 to book your accommodation and quote the code “COMP1023” for the discounted conference accommodation rate of $214 inc GST per night. Breakfast is not included. Please complete the attached Registration Form and return to me to secure your place at the Conference. We look forward to seeing you at this important event for our industry. We thank the following companies for their […]

Composite Technician Apprentice of the Year Tyler Williams, SailGP Technologies
Tyler Williams has been a part of the SailGP Technologies team for the past three years. Throughout his time in the composites industry he has made quite an impact with members both inside SailGP Technologies, Composites Association of NZ and at MAST Academy where Williams recently completed his two-year Composite Technician Apprenticeship and is only one year off completing his Composite Boat Building Apprenticeship. Williams dedication and drive to succeed in the industry has led him to be awarded Composites Technician Apprentice of the Year, presented in 2023 by Composites Association of New Zealand and NZ Marine, recognising excellence within its field. Graeme Allen, an established boat builder and one of the central mentors for Williams at SailGP Technologies commented, “It is no surprise to me that Tyler made the top guy because he stands out across the board. Everything we’d work on from bookwork to boat building, he was enthusiastic and got it done. Did it well. His skill level is very high, amazing.” Williams did not come from a background in boating, but over time he began paving a way for himself in the marine industry. “Tyler always has a consistent, positive approach to his work. And if […]

Advanced Manufacturing Industry Transformation Plan launch livestream – 13 March, 9am
CANZ members are encouraged to join the livestream to launch the Advanced Manufacturing Industry Transformation Plan. This Plan has been co-created and is co-owned by business, unions and workers, government, Māori, Pacific peoples, and the wider sector. This launch will recognise the significant contribution made to the Plan’s development over 18 months through sector Steering, Working and Partnership Groups, and consultations on the draft from Whangarei to Invercargill. We hope you’ll be part of celebrating its launch and discussion on immediate next steps. The Industry Transformation Plan will be introduced by the Minister for Economic Development, Hon Stuart Nash, and then presented by the Steering Group Co-Chairs with opportunity for Q&A. Date and time: 13 March 2023, 9.00amRegister for the livestream by 4.00pm, Friday 10 March 2023. Online registration form for the livestream A link to watch the livestream will be sent to your email prior to the launch. Feel free to share this invitation around your networks.More information about the Industry Transformation Plan is available here

Thank you to our 2022 Conference Sponsors!
We are very grateful to all our sponsors who have made it possible to offer conference attendance to members at no charge.

Flexi September edition out now
The special Conference edition of our Flexi Magazine is out now. This edition is a bumper edition focussed on the conference theme of sustainability and includes details of the conference programme. Enjoy the read!

CANZ Conference 2022
We are pleased to announce that the CANZ Conference will be held on Monday 17 and Tuesday 18 October. Our conference venue is the Centre for Advanced Composite Materials at the University of Auckland Newmarket campus. We are grateful to the University of Auckland for hosting the conference.Members of CANZ are invited to attend at no charge. The programme is as follows: Day 1 – Monday 17th October 2022 08.00 – 08.30Welcome & President’s address08.30 – 09.00MAST Academy presentationJoe Daw, MAST Academy Training Manager09.00 – 09.30Sustainable Composites and Manufacturing – Solutions to reduce environmental impactsChris Moors & Tony Stanton, Gurit (Asia Pacific) Limited09.30 – 09.45New Product Marketing Session – Synthepol PuttiesHS Composites – Richard Kestle09.45 – 10.00Morning Break10.00 – 10.30CANZ Annual Plan: Prospective Projects for next year Vineeth Babu10.30 – 11.15Manufacturing of Fibre Reinforced Thermoplastic Composites Dr Tom Allen, University of Auckland11.15 – 12.30Annual General Meeting12.30 – 13.30Lunch13.30 – 14.00Feasibility of Mechanically Recycled GFRPTim McCafferty, University of Auckland14.00 – 14.45Delegation from Composites Australia Kerryn Caulfield, CEO, Composites Australia14.45 – 15.15Afternoon Tea15.15 – 15.45Project Progress Update: Styrene Exposure Monitoring Dr Samuel Keer, Massey University15.45 – 16.15Composites Sector Decarbonization Program Insa Errey, Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority16.15 – 16.45Additive Manufacturing demonstration – […]

CANZ joins the Sustainable Business Network
The Composites Association of NZ is pleased to advise that we are now a member of the Sustainable Business Network. Established in 2002, SBN is New Zealand’s largest, longest-standing sustainable business organisation. SBN is a network that enables system change in the areas of climate, waste and nature and it is a social enterprise, a community, and a movement. Their role is to transform leading ideas into action in Aotearoa. The SBN network consists of hundreds of progressive organisations and people that collectively invest in and act on system change. We look forward to benefiting from this membership and helping our members become more sustainable. Subscribe to their free newsletter here https://sustainable.org.nz/

Our 2021 Conference goes virtual!
Due to the ongoing Covid disruption we will now be holding our 2021 Conference and AGM as an on-line event. This is a great opportunity for members and staff from throughout the country to easily join the event and at no charge.

Styrene Exposure in NZ Composites Industry
Vineeth Babu, CANZ Vice President March 09, 2021 Health effects of styrene and other solvents continue to be a significant Occupational Hazard in the composites industry. As styrene is potentially dangerous to the health of workers, WorkSafe New Zealand has lowered the short-term workplace exposure limit for Styrene to 40 ppm and time-weighted average exposure value to 20 ppm. The Health and Safety Work Act 2015 requires the Composites Industry to meet these new exposure standards. To better understand worker exposure to styrene, CANZ has initiated an industry-wide project to gather real-time worker exposure measurements at the manufacturing facilities of some of its members. Read more here.

Conference programme released
This year’s conference programme is slightly different to previous years as we will be focusing on working groups rather than individual upskilling and informative sessions. The working groups will be focusing on recycling, training, architecture, and health and safety (styrene). Our annual AGM will be held on Friday 23 October at 1.30pm. For more information contact Caroline@composites.org.nz

2020 Conference confirmed for 22 and 23 October
The Committee is finalising plans for our 2020 Conference, scheduled for 22 (at University of Canterbury) and 23 October (at Novotel Cathedral Square, Christchurch). The conference will focus on working groups covering recycling of composites, training and health & safety (Styrene). Our AGM will also be held at the conference. We look forward to confirming more soon.