NZAS
| Late Tuesday afternoon on 11 July two buses filled with curious Chamber members left the Chamber Office headed for Tiwai Point to explore the New Zealand Aluminum Smelter. |  |
 | After a drive down we were met at the Security Gatehouse by Andrea Carson (Community Relations Officer) and Stew Hamilton (Business Improvement Manager) who boarded a bus each and gave us a commentary as we drove through the smelter on our way to the meeting room . |
Where we were welcomed by Brian Cooper the General Manger.
Brian gave an interesting and informative presentation covering a wide range of subjects. Built in 1971, this is the 20th largest smelter in the world, producing in excess of 350,000 tonnes last year and |  |
| producing the highest purity aluminum in the world, employing 800 full-time staff and 150 contractors. Safety is extremely important at the smelter and they are continually building on their initiatives to help reach their goal of zero injuries. |  |
 | Their usage of power is monitored closely, as the lake levels are very low, causing issues on price and supply. During the year NZAS has reduced electricity by up to 11%, which equals approximately 15,000 tonnes less production and 60 million in export revenue lost. |
They are still researching options to help subsidise power such as black coal, lignite and the possibility of a wind farm on the premises. In the local community NZAS sponsors the 'Bluff Healthy Homes Project' and are major sponsors of the 'Kakapo Recovery Programme' on Codfish Island. Trades people help out where necessary on the Island, and employees take part in the supplementary Feedout Programme on Codfish Island. Supplementary feeding will occur on Anchor Island in Fiordland this year for the first time, and staff will be taking part in this programme also. NZAS is also partnered with Southland Life Education Trust and administers an Annual Community Assistance Programme, which is open to non-profit organisations, under the umbrella of health, education, welfare and environment.
| Stew Hamilton's Presentation of the 'Lean Production System', was very interesting also, explaining procedures they have put into place to make improvements in the necessary areas. The 'Lean Production System' is a system of methods or systems used to identify waste, remove it and ensure it stays gone. |  |
We then boarded the bus again armed with hardhats and earmuffs and headed over to the power supply area. We entered the Control Room and then ventured outside to see the transformers in action - this is a very high voltage area with large electro-magnetic fields, you really needed to be there to hear this explained. We re-boarded the bus and drove off headed for the Casthouse, passing Potlines, the metal yard and being presented with all sorts of interesting information on the running of the smelter along the way. Once inside the Casthouse we saw the manufacturing of the ingots in action and the huge seven metre extrusion billets being lifted out of their vertical casts - all very amazing! As if this treat wasn't enough you should've seen what was waiting for us when we arrived back at the meeting room -  | WOW! A HUGE FEAST of seafood delicacies and desserts. Just waiting for around 70 newly educated tourists to satisfy their now hungry tummies while they caught up with old friends, made new contacts and generally had a great networking time, |
before dispersing for the last time to our buses and journey back to town alongside the now darkened waters that shimmered from the brightly lit full moon. Brian, Andrea, Stew and other employees(who gave up their evening to help out with our tour) plus the caterers, we thank you for your wonderful hospitality, an amazing and informative evening.
 | Yet another successful Business after 5 held by the Chamber, if you haven't been to one of these I urge you to brave the cold and join us for future events where you will be warmly welcomed and enjoy meeting and networking with other business people in Southland. |
July 2006
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