HERA

The NZ Heavy Engineering Research Association (HERA) was established in 1978 as an industry owned, non-profit research organisation dedicated to serving the needs of metal-based industries in New Zealand. While the emphasis of its activities is on heavy engineering, HERA also services wider metals industry interests such as light-gauge steel, stainless steels, light alloys and metals-based composites.

HERA has the VISION: To have an internationally competitive New Zealand Metals Engineering Industry which recognises HERA as the leading catalyst for innovation.

And the MISSION: To achieve this vision through assisting the NZ Metals Engineering Industry in accelerating its innovation and by strengthening its combined opportunities through the provision of research, education, marketing and industry advocacy functions.

HERA through its Executiveof elected representatives from the membership maintains a Strategy/Business Planwhich is reviewed annually. HERA members can download the relevant Strategic Summary in the Members Section.

Through its specialist staff it provides a combination of research, training, advisory, industry development and promotional services making it the national centre for metals-based product design, manufacturing technology and inspection and quality assurance.

HERA obtains its income from several sources, notably an industry contribution in the form of a levy on steel and welding consumables, Public Good Science funding for contract research programmes, direct funding from industry for specific programs, consultancy work, seminar and course fees, subscriptions from members and sales of publications.

A history of the first 25 years of HERA was presented to members at the 2nd Metals Industry Conference 2004 in Christchurch. Learn more about the history of HERA in the Our History section.

HERA membership at the end of the 2008/2009 year stood at 634 members. HERA has excellent national and international connections and maintains e.g. formal relations with 12 international research organisations. For more info on HERA membership, please go to the membership section.

The major types of businessrepresented are:

Metal Fabricators: Structural, Pressure Equipment, Stainless Steel, Aluminium, General Engineers, Site Fabricators and Erectors.

Designers: Civil, Mechanical, Chemical Engineers, Architects, and Quantity Surveyors.

Suppliers: Steel, Special Steel, Stainless Steel, Aluminium and Copper Alloys, Welding Consumables, Engineering Component Suppliers, Steel Manufacturers, Metal Forming and Pre-fabrication.

Supporting Companies: Construction, Metal Coating/Preparation and Inspection Companies.

Manufacturing Companies: Engineering products