Latest news with #ScottTechnology
Otago Daily Times
09-07-2025
- Business
- Otago Daily Times
Deputy PM ‘in awe' of work done at city tech firm
Deputy Prime Minister David Seymour has praised a Dunedin robotics company as being "at the forefront of world technology". The Act New Zealand leader — who is also acting prime minister this week — was in Dunedin yesterday and visited local businesses including the Otago Childcare Centre, Progressive Plastics and Scott Technology. Speaking to the media after touring the automation and robotics solutions provider's factory, Mr Seymour said he was "in awe" of what the people at Scott Technology were doing. "They have robotic knives that can strip a sheep's carcass in six seconds, and to think that is happening here in Dunedin ... what they are doing is absolutely at the forefront of world technology." Mr Seymour, who has a degree in electrical engineering, said the company's digital signal processing involved some of the hardest mathematics you could do. The integration of abstract mathematical modelling and robotic programming showed "incredible teamwork". "To have, at one level, your nerds, if you like, and at another level your tradies working together to create one project ... I think that's very, very cool." Comments he had heard during his visit included on the speed at which parts had been able to be ordered and delivered before the Covid-19 pandemic. Global supply chains had been stretched and interrupted by the pandemic as well as global trade uncertainty, and New Zealand needed more capital equipment, capacity and money being laid down, he said. Anything that allowed businesses to do that more easily was very important, he said. Both Scott Technology and Progressive Plastics benefited "substantially" from foreign direct investment — something he believed the country needed to welcome more of. Watching a demonstration of Scott Technology's BladeStop safety bandsaw on the factory floor are (from left) Deputy Prime Minister David Seymour, general manager Andrew Arnold, service technician James Still and chief executive Mike Christman. Photo: Peter McIntosh The Reserve Bank of New Zealand announced yesterday the official cash rate (OCR) would remain at 3.25%, marking a pause in a series of six consecutive cuts since August last year. In a statement, the Reserve Bank said annual consumers' price inflation would likely increase towards the top of the 1% to 3% target band over mid-2025. But due to spare productive capacity in the economy and declining domestic inflation pressures headline inflation was expected to remain within this band and return to around 2% by early next year. The economic outlook remained "highly uncertain", and further data including on the impacts of tariffs would influence the future path of the OCR, the statement said. Mr Seymour said concerns about headline inflation were being heard around the world. "You see the Australians, they cut hard, then they had a rebound, and then they started cutting again. "In New Zealand, we haven't had to do that. "Far better to be falling, pausing and hopefully falling again, than having to go back for a second look, as other countries have had to." When asked about the role uncertainty around United States tariffs may have played in the Reserve Bank's decision, Mr Seymour said he had "no doubt" the bank was looking at international factors. "I think anyone who's done even five minutes of economics will know that our trade as a trading nation is critical to the prices we see, and they'll be sensitive to that."
Otago Daily Times
18-06-2025
- Business
- Otago Daily Times
Scott Tech scores trussing contract in Canada
Scott Technology has inked $27 million in new global automation contracts across the food and beverage sector, including an entry into the Canadian poultry market. It has partnered with Maple Lodge Farms — one of Canada's largest independently-owned poultry processors — to design, build and install two 24-bird-per-minute trussing lines at the company's plant in Brampton. The world-first poultry trusser automated the labour-intensive task of trussing; tying chicken legs and wings. The North American poultry market was a $US95 billion ($NZ157b) industry with more than 900 million rotisserie chickens produced each year. Scott already has its trussing technology in the United States. Other contracts secured included major materials handling projects for brands such as Coca-Cola, DMK, Soubry and Altho. In a trading update, Scott said the group's trading performance for the year to date remained in line with expectations and reflected market conditions. Revenue to the end of the third quarter was down 7% on the previous corresponding period (pcp) while reported ebitda was now ahead of pcp. — APL
Otago Daily Times
28-04-2025
- General
- Otago Daily Times
Tribute paid to employees killed or injured at work
Karen Ferguson still remembers the day her dad, Mick Day, went to work and never came home. More than 35 years later, her emotions were still very raw, she said. "He worked for a construction company repairing things — he was a fix-it man. "But for some unknown reason, they sent him and another man down south to help demolish a bridge. "He could turn his hand at anything, so he thought he was doing the right thing by helping." He was standing on the bridge when it unexpectedly collapsed and killed him. "He was only 18 months off retiring." She said it was very difficult for her late mother and siblings to come to terms with. "I still feel that someone should have been held responsible, but each day, I keep trying to let it go and move on. That's hard to do. "Today is sad, but it's also nice to remember him." Karen Ferguson places a cross bearing her father's name at the Otago Workers' Memorial in Princes St. He was killed in a work accident 35 years ago. PHOTO: PETER MCINTOSH Yesterday, she was among about 40 people who gathered for Workers' Memorial Day at the Otago Workers' Memorial at the Market Reserve in Princes St, Dunedin. The day commemorates the people who were killed or injured at work. Every week in New Zealand, 18 workers are killed as a consequence of work, and every 15 minutes, a worker suffers an injury that requires more than a week off work. Every one of these incidents are preventable. Those present gave speeches about New Zealand's horrendous work safety records, laid wreaths and observed a minute's silence in remembrance of those killed at work. They also paid tribute to the man killed in an accident at Scott Technology last week. Workers' Memorial Day is an international trade union movement that calls for protecting and improving the systems that are intended to keep workers safe and healthy at work. The event was one of four held around the country yesterday.
Otago Daily Times
28-04-2025
- Otago Daily Times
Dad's death in workplace accident leaves 'enormous hole'
Michael Sherry died in a workplace accident at Scott Technology last week. Photo: Supplied A Dunedin father who died in a workplace accident last week has been remembered as a "family man" and a friend to all who met him. On Thursday, Michael Sherry, more commonly known as "Sherry," died at Dunedin robotics company Scott Technology Ltd during a serious accident on the job. He was today named in a death notice and a fundraising page set-up to support his surviving family. Emergency services were called to its Dunedin facility, in Kaikorai Valley Rd, about 3.45pm on Thursday. A police spokeswoman said police were investigating on behalf of the coroner, and a WorkSafe spokesman said they had also been notified of the death and would be investigating. A Givealittle has been set up to support his wife and two young children, aged three and five-months old. "A true lover of music and a friend to all who met him, Sherry's warmth, laughter, and kindness touched countless lives. "His sudden passing leaves an enormous hole in the hearts of everyone who knew and loved him," Mr Sherry was originally from Mackay, Queensland, and had "built a beautiful life with his family in Dunedin". "Sherry's greatest wish was to give his girls the world — to see them dream big, live fully, and know they were endlessly loved." A Scott Technology spokeswoman confirmed to the Otago Daily Times last week that a serious accident had occurred, and one person died. "We are deeply saddened by this tragic event, and our thoughts are with the individual's family, friends, and colleagues during this difficult time. "Our priority is supporting and protecting the family." Mr Sherry was employed as a PLC technician at Scott Technology since September 2023.
Otago Daily Times
28-04-2025
- Otago Daily Times
Workplace death leaves 'enormous hole' for family
Michael Sherry died in a workplace accident at Scott Technology last week. Photo: Supplied A Dunedin father who died in a workplace accident last week has been remembered as a "family man" and a friend to all who met him. On Thursday, Michael Sherry, more commonly known as "Sherry," died at Dunedin robotics company Scott Technology Ltd during a serious accident on the job. He was today named in a death notice and a fundraising page set-up to support his surviving family. Emergency services were called to its Dunedin facility, in Kaikorai Valley Rd, about 3.45pm on Thursday. A police spokeswoman said police were investigating on behalf of the coroner, and a WorkSafe spokesman said they had also been notified of the death and would be investigating. A Givealittle has been set up to support his wife and two young children, aged three and five-months old. "A true lover of music and a friend to all who met him, Sherry's warmth, laughter, and kindness touched countless lives. "His sudden passing leaves an enormous hole in the hearts of everyone who knew and loved him," Mr Sherry was originally from Mackay, Queensland, and had "built a beautiful life with his family in Dunedin". "Sherry's greatest wish was to give his girls the world — to see them dream big, live fully, and know they were endlessly loved." A Scott Technology spokeswoman confirmed to the Otago Daily Times last week that a serious accident had occurred, and one person died. "We are deeply saddened by this tragic event, and our thoughts are with the individual's family, friends, and colleagues during this difficult time. "Our priority is supporting and protecting the family." Mr Sherry was employed as a PLC technician at Scott Technology since September 2023. A police spokeswoman said they were investigating on behalf of the coroner, and a WorkSafe spokesman said they had also been notified of the death and would be investigating.
