Annual Report 2010 - Plastics New Zealand

www.plasticsnz.comThis trade portal is being revamped withsupport from NZTE. This potentially hugelyimportant business tool to Members will begoing live in the early part of 2010 and, inconjunction with a new style database willbe able to act as a world wide salesman. Apotential customer anywhere in the worldwill be able to log on and make an enquiryfor the supply of product. The effectivenessof the site will largely depend on theaccuracy of the data that members supplyto the database.www.plastics.org.nzThis information site is also being revampedwith the support of NZTE. With a newstructure, a new graphical design andincorporating the latest in technology we arevery excited about the potential of this site.Market SectorDevelopmentThe new National Government is undertakingsome sweeping reviews in a number of areasthat is likely to have a positive impact onthe Plastics Industry. There is considerablesupport for the Aquaculture Industry with6 Ministers being involved with legislativechanges to encourage development ofsuitable shallow and deep water farming.It is likely that the legislation will also allowthe introduction of a levy to fund Researchand Development- a model that the PlasticsIndustry could find appropriate.With the support of NZTE the MedicalTechnologies market has been identifiedas a market where there is considerableopportunity for high value, high added value,export orientated products. This placesthe Plastics Industry in good space to takeadvantage of this support.TrainingThe need for training was identified in theIndustry Research and the Industry StrategicPlan as a fundamental issue if we were tomeet our objectives to reach a turn over of$4 billion by 2015. As a result of this needPlastics New Zealand has worked hard onyour behalf in a number of areas• The University of Auckland will introducea Post Graduate Certificate in PolymerScience in 2010. This will be the firsttertiary level qualification offered in NewZealand. For more information contactnr.edmonds@auckland.ac.nz• This Post Graduate qualification will alsobe offered by Plastics New Zealand, tothose who do not have a first degreebut have the knowledge and skills topass the course. For further informationplease contact robin@plastics.org.nz• Bill Tobin visited New Zealand inMarch with a week of courses opento all members and then a week ofwork at specific individual companies.Both offerings were well received andresulted in some excellent outcomes• The DDSP was again run in Aucklandwith some good attendances andexcellent support from Fisher andPaykel Healthcare. We have started totarget the brand owners and we weresuccessful in attracting some FoodTechnologists. We now want to targetPackaging Technologists and MarketingPersonnel (Marketing Managers andBrand Managers) as plastics used inpackaging is a key element that needsto be addressed. For further informationcontact robin@plastics.org.nz• ITAT continues to thrive (see separatereport)- and as wholly owned subsidiaryof Plastics New Zealand we wouldencourage Members to use theirservices. For further information contactDavid Carruthers on david@itat.co.nzInformingOne of the key responsibilities of PlasticsNew Zealand is to keep Members informedof what is going on in the Industry and theareas of the political, economic and socialaspects of the community we live in. To thisend Plastics New Zealand has delivered thefollowing benefits to its members• Newsletter – we have had 3 of thesethis year that have been distributedelectronically to all Members and otherinterested parties• Branch Activity – see separate reportsfor the details. This year we have hadexcellent support and activities fromthe Branches with both Auckland andSouth Island commemorating their 50thAnniversary with some well attendedevents. The Branches are the life bloodof Plastics New Zealand and theenthusiasm and work done at this level- technical, social and sporting - augerswell for the future• The Annual Conference was held thisyear in Auckland as a 1 day event. Theplanned 3 day event was cancelled asa result of the economic environment.This was attended by over 100Members and was incorporated intoan evening event to commemoratethe 50th Anniversary of the AucklandBranch which also attracted over 100Members. The change to a 1 day eventwas well received and reflected therealities of doing business today• The MECA – as this report is beingwritten the MECA negotiations areincomplete. A mediation session isplanned in mid December. It wouldappear from events to date that theconcept of a MECA, from the employersperspective, is under severe strainANNUAL REPORT 2010IPLASTICS NEW ZEALANDCORPORATE ACTIVITY