Its time for some Maintenance Torque

A new era in the Maintenance Engineering Society’s member services unfolded this month with the inaugural publication of the society magazine, Maintenance Torque. Designed as the kind of publication that can lounge around on canteen tables longer than a modern apprenticeship, Maintenance Torque occupies a space outside of the realms of commercial publications, focusing on the members and their stories. While more in-depth coverage on MESNZ activities such as IPENZ, education, network evenings, conference, health and safety and past papers are a bonus, the core of the new publication centres around readers and their stories. Typical reader headings are: • A Day in the Life of... • Workshop Envy. • Big Boys Toys (big lifts, new installations, notable fixes). • Our Brag List. • Jokes. • Letters to the Editor. • Classified Advertising (Employment, plant, etc). Given its position, the magazine acts as an ideal feeder into professional publications such as media supporter DEMM who may choose to pick up on stories that could interest their larger readership. Maintenance Torque editor Lindsay Beer, a self confessed non-engineer, is impressed with the quality and depth of passion within industry, thoroughly enjoying hearing readers stories and helping them turn their story into readable quality articles.

The magazine is absolutely free and MESNZ members are welcome to submit classified advertising at no cost. Meanwhile, validation from industry suppliers has been fantastic, with many supporters choosing to advertise already in the quarterly published magazine. The feedback already is an resounding thumbs up with many applauding the initiative to stick with a hard copy format rather than following the herd with short shelf life electronic versions. For those needing an electronic fix, a pdf copy will also be available on the MESNZ facebook page.

The hard copy magazine is only available to MESNZ members although demand may see distribution carried nationally eventually. For now, if you wish to read the magazine, download a MESNZ membership form from http://www.mesnz.org.nz/ and sign up today. Crikey, the MESNZ membership is cheaper than some subscriptions!

In other news, registrations for the 2015 SKF National Maintenance Engineering Conference, to be held at the Claudelands Event Centre Hamilton on November 18,19 are now open and seats are filling fast. With speakers from as far away as Sweden and as close as Hamilton talking on an eclectic mix of technical and line management papers and the largest exhibition hall ever seen at a society driven event, maintenance engineers are responding earlier than ever before for what is shaping up to be our largest event ever.

Up to date details on papers and presenters, the event timetable, online registration and accommodation links can all be found on the conference website http://www.mesnz. org.nz/conference/. With a speaking programme featuring local and international experts and peers, the 2015 event promises to deliver information and inspiration on technical and line management topics for delegates to take back to their workplaces. More details (and even the highlights video from 2014) and online registration details can be found at