Product News

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3D printing aircraft parts using new laser technology

A team of RMIT University researchers led by Professor Milan Brandt are using laser metal deposition technology to build and repair defence aircraft parts in a two-year collaboration with RUAG Australia and the Innovative Manufacturing Cooperative Research Centre (IMCRC). The technology feeds metal powder into a laser beam, which when scanned across a surface adds new material in a precise, web-like formation. The metallurgical bond created has mechanical properties similar, or in some cases superior, to those of the original material. “It’s basically a very high-tech welding process where we make or rebuild metal parts layer by layer,” explains Brandt, who says the concept is proven and prospects for its successful development are extremely positive. Head of Research and Technology at RUAG Australia, Neil Matthews, says that by enabling onsite repair and production of parts, the technology could completely transform the concept of warehousing and transporting for defence and other industries. Currently, replacement parts typically need to be transported from local or overseas storage and suppliers. “Instead of waiting for spare parts to arrive from a warehouse, an effective solution will now be on-site,” says Matthews. “For defence forces this means less downtime for repairs and a dramatic increase in the availability and readiness of aircraft.” The technology will apply to existing legacy aircraft as well as the new F35 fleet. The technology is also being adopted in RUAG’s recently established robotic laser additive manufacturing cell. A move to locally printed components could mean big savings on maintenance and spare part purchasing, scrap metal management, warehousing and shipping costs. An independent review, commissioned by BAE Systems, estimated the cost of replacing damaged aircraft components to be more than $230 million a year for the Australian Air Force. CEO and Managing Director of the IMCRC, David Chuter, believes application of this […]

New innovations improving primary industry

Day two of the 50th New Zealand Agricultural Fieldays kicked off with the Innovations Awards breakfast where a selection of New Zealand’s top innovations were on display, all with creative ideas on improving New Zealand’s agricultural industry. New Zealand National Fieldays Society CEO Peter Nation spoke of the importance of innovations at the National Agricultural Fieldays. “One of the main reasons the New Zealand agricultural industry is so recognised and respected around the world is because of the innovations coming from awards like these. The people here today are shaping the future of farming and will be making major changes in in the industry in another 12months.” Says Nation. The entrants were supported by a group of knowledgeable and insightful sponsors who have provided advice around law, research, networking, engineering, technology and science. Judges spoke of how the winners were successful at picking good problems to solve and being very creative in the way they solve them. Innovations that were easy to use, cost-effective, efficient and enhanced value came away with top honours. The 2018 Innovation Award winners are: Fieldays Grassroots Prototype Award – Acuris Systems This prototype robot, autonomously navigates kiwifruit orchards while capturing highly accurate fruit data. This data is then analysed to provide growers with quality information and insights to their orchards performance. Fieldays Grassroots Established Award – Pamu Farming New Zealand Landcorp has just completed its second season of deer milking in partnership with the Peter and Sharon McIntyre. Significant, world first research and intellectual property has been developed from behind the farm gate through to a finished RMP approved product which Pāmu Foods can now use to assess market demand and price tolerance. Fieldays Prototype Highly Commended – Maraeroa C Incorporation. Ginseng Berry Gin is a New Zealand first made from ginseng berries grown in […]

NZ company helping to uberise science

A New Zealand company that is at the forefront of the global fight against air pollution is collaborating with the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to help advance the research and development of next generation air sensor technology. A five-year Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) was signed between the EPA and Aeroqual. The New Zealand-based company has decade long pioneering work in the development of small, low-cost portable equipment that even school children can use. Announcing the agreement, the EPA said next generation air monitoring tools are new technological advances that are increasingly being used by researchers and citizen scientists alike to monitor and measure air quality. EPA’s co-investigators Rachelle Duvall and Russell Long – who will work alongside Aeroqual leads Geoff Henshaw and Kyle Alberti – said the next generation tools are so much more accessible compared to the large, stationary monitors. Duvall says the EPA will benefit from the collaboration by combining their expertise in air measurements with Aeroqual’s expertise in sensor development to advance air quality characterisation using next generation air monitoring tools. “Because these tools are so much more accessible compared to traditional air monitoring equipment and are being used by not only the scientific community but also the general public, it is important for all users to have confidence in the data they are collecting.” The CRADA between Aeroqual and the EPA will investigate new applications, methodologies and technologies for the low-cost measurement of outside air pollutants. While current low-cost air sensors measure common air pollutants, like ozone (O3), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), sulphur dioxide (SO2), particulate matter (PM) (among others), the EPA is also interested in measuring other compounds including air toxics such as volatile organic compounds (VOCs) which cause adverse health effects. Duvall said she hopes the two organisations will improve some […]

Welders’ powered air now more affordable

After hearing the news regarding the reclassification of welding fume by the IARC and putting together a Welding Fume White Paper on what this means for Australian welders, AWS, the sole agent for the 3M Speedglas Brand in Australia and New Zealand, has decided to reposition the 3M Speedglas 9100XXi Air Powered Air Purifying Respirator with a sharper price point to help make powered air respiratory protection more affordable for Aussie and Kiwi welders. The Speedglas 9100 Air The Speedglas 9100 Air coupled with the award winning Adflo PAPR combines the largest viewing area on the market with Speedglas TrueView which allows the welder to view their weld with better clarity and more colour. When combined with the peripheral Side Windows the 9100 Air gives welders vision like no other welding helmet currently on the market. With an External Button that allows the welder to bounce between two saved welding settings and grind mode, the welder never needs to touch the welding lens interface again. Simply switch between welding and grinding tasks with a touch of an external button while maintaining your positive pressure seal and desired level of welding respiratory protection. When selecting a non-flip-up welding helmet with a PAPR consider the following: • Welding Lens Viewing Area: Speedglas 9100 Air, with peripheral SideWindows, has the largest viewing area currently available on the market. • Arc Detection: The 9100 Air has the most powerful arc detection available down to 1amp • Light State and True View Optics: With a light state of 3 and Speedglas TrueView, set-up and inspect with colour and clarity and weld in High Definition. • Controls: With external grind and memory modes, the 9100 Air makes switching applications easy. • Side Windows: If you have never experienced Speedglas Side Window peripheral vision it’s time to […]

Konecranes explores advanced networks with Nokia’s Digital Automation Cloud

Konecranes Executive Vice President, Technologies, Juha Pankakoski (centre) talks about the future of Konecranes digital solutions and the company’s collaboration with Nokia on cloud technology. Konecranes is exploring advanced networks and global digital automation cloud that enable Konecranes to utilise future network technology and develop 5G capabilities already today. Konecranes has been one of the first companies to employ technology giant Nokia’s Digital Automation Cloud. Konecranes Executive Vice President, Technologies, Juha Pankakoski believes that this advanced technology – which was showcased at Hannover Messe this year – has potential to enhance Konecranes’ current offering by increasing network capacity and reducing latency. Mr Pankakoski first discussed the customer benefits of utilising cloud technologies at a Nokia studio broadcast at the end of last month (April), where he was joined by experts from Nokia and Business Finland. Konecranes digital solutions are already implemented in global scale, with over 570,000 digitised service assets in 55,000 locations, including more than 1,500 in Australasia. More connections are being added every day. Real-time equipment monitoring technologies, such as Konecranes’ TRUCONNECT can be employed on any of Konecranes’ broad range of overhead cranes, jib cranes, gantry cranes, and lifting devices, that can typically lift anywhere between 500kgs and more than 2,000 tonnes. Konecranes TRUCONNECT technology monitors equipment in real-time “Konecranes is actively exploring advanced mobile networks that help our customers establish fast and reliable connections to cranes, even in harsh conditions where there is no general network available,” said Mr Pankakoski. “Konecranes equipment is used in a huge variety of industries, from basic manufacturing and assembly through to large logistics hubs and shipyards. There’s no ‘one- size fits all’ approach when it comes to digital solutions for these industries, but the basic outcome remains consistent: to enhance the efficiency, reliability and safety of material handling operations,” he […]

Checkmaster 2 for mobile testing of pluggable surge protection devices

Leading global electrical engineering manufacturer and innovator, Phoenix Contact, has released Checkmaster 2 – a mobile test case that lets technicians quickly and accurately test all Phoenix Contact pluggable surge protection devices. With Checkmaster 2, technicians can check the electrical status of their Phoenix Contact surge protection devices to prevent unexpected failures, and avoid unnecessary service calls. Checkmaster 2 features a convenient, integrated hand scanner that reads and identifies the surge protection device by its barcode. The test object is then simply inserted into the associated test adaptor and the test process started via the touch panel screen. The surge protection device is electrically tested in an automatic test process that compares the current electrical parameters of the components with the specified reference values. To ensure a highly accurate result, all of the installed protective elements of the surge protection device are electrically tested in a single cycle. These include triggered spark gaps, gas-filled surge protectors, varistors and suppressor diodes. The results are easy to see and read on a colour display, and three status levels accurately inform the technician of the current quality of the device. The three status levels are ‘OK: Test passed’, ‘Warning: Tolerance limit reached’, and ‘Defect: Replacement required’. These help the technician make informed decisions about the device to ensure the ongoing availability of systems. The tests undertaken by Checkmaster 2 conform with requirements in IEC 62305-3 and are performed using a high voltage generator. For user convenience, Checkmaster 2 documents and saves all test results to its internal memory. A USB port lets technicians transfer data for further processing as well as update software. Fully portable so that technicians can take it anywhere, the Checkmaster 2 comes in a sturdy protective case that also provides space for documents. Built with the user in mind, […]

Sumitomo Demag’s all electric technology gives manufacturers competitive edge

New Zealand plastics manufacturers have long held a world-wide reputation for innovation, and the uptake of the latest technologies. It is for this reason that many of our companies continue to excel on the world stage. Tasman Machinery is proud to supply many of these world leading organisations. At EMEX 2018 Tasman Machinery (Stand 3005) will be running a live display of a Sumitomo (SHI) Demag all electric injection moulding machine, in combination with a Yushin 3 axis servo driven robot.NZM MEDIA KIT 2018 Features of the Sumitomo (SHI) Demag machine include the latest direct drive servo technology, to ensure the ultimate in accuracy, repeatability, energy efficiency, and durability. Sumitomo’s patented direct drive technology sets it apart from all its competitors and has ensured that Sumitomo (SHI) Demag is the No.1 selling all electric injection moulding machine across the globe, including here in NZ. Included in the display will be the latest robot takeout technology from Yushin. The YCII Series from Yushin combines many interesting features, including carbon fibre reinforced axis, design optimisation for weight reduction, and energy efficiency designs, to ensure the lowest running costs.

Kiwi academics develop new food design technique

Two leading academics have developed a new food design technique to help inspire the next generation of culinary designers and make artistic food presentation more accessible to New Zealand restaurants. The new technique developed in consultation with EPIC Otago Polytechnic R & D centre and The Food Design Institute at Otago Polytechnic allows chefs to produce large quantities of artistically designed food products by hand on a commercial scale with a small team, and at reduced cost. Otago Polytechnic’s Timothy Lynch, who and lectures on sustainability in the food industry, says they wanted to present ingredients in a way that was consistent with multisensory food design concepts. “The process involves working with natural products to design handcrafted foods that look identical to fruit and vegetables but are filled with contrasting flavours.” “Initially we couldn’t find a way to make these products on a small scale, but a collaboration with the EPIC helped us overcome several barriers, and we were able to develop a method of crafting the lifelike products using food-grade silicon moulds, which we made ourselves,” he says. Lynch says a project of this scale and complexity would require international assistance and a large team of scientists and food specialists. This would have made the project cost prohibitive by New Zealand industry standards, he says. “Thanks to the ingenuity of some of our colleagues and the dedication of our staff and students we have managed to find a way to bring these food creations to life,”- says Lynch. Senior lecturer Tony Heptinstall who has catered for Prince Charles and other royal family members says one of the objectives was to increase current industry capital through being part of an innovative collaboration between the food industry and education. “We were conscious that to inspire the students we needed to take on […]

The Show that can’t be missed!

EMEX 2018 can’t be missed, as over 170 international and local exhibitors will inform, delight, entertain and celebrate kiwi design and innovation across the 3 days. There’s also the serious business of putting forward great commercial deals for the manufacturing community. If you’re in Engineering, Manufacturing or Electronics then you really need to visit this free event to best position your business with the latest technology on offer. DISCOVER – what not to miss! World leading automated and robotic plasma cutting systems, designed and build right here in New Zealand for local and international markets by Plazmax in Rotorua, is highlighting the Kiwi Made Innovation feature at EMEX 2018 showcasing 3 separate automated plasma cutting systems, bringing both new and improved innovation to the market. Plazmax will be showcasing their world class capabilities with live demonstrations for all interested parties. After their introduction at SouthMACH 2017, Caliber Design and Locus Research are back at EMEX 2018 and proud to present some amazing examples of collaborative product design in the newly created Innovation Quarter. The products on display at EMEX 2018; the Stabicraft 1600 Fisher, the Ubco 4 x 4 bike and the 2018 Oscar winning Shotover Camera System, are the result of an intensive interaction during the entire product development process. You’ll be impressed by what you’ll see! ENGAGE – Find the right people for the job The Employment and Training Hub will provide you with the opportunity to discuss the well documented skills shortages in the industry with experts from M.I.T and Competenz. As a manufacturer or engineering company this is your chance to learn more about these highly successful programs. You’ll have your chance to engage potential apprentices who have chosen a career in technology by signing up for the ’speed meets’ that are organised during EMEX 2018. […]

Corrosion impact on bridge infrastructure

Corrosion will affect all types of metals to varying degrees of severity and speed. Unless comprehensive management plans are developed and implemented, steel and other metals will ‘rust’ and reinforced concrete will spall and crack. Corrosion can be prevented or minimised by either ‘isolating’ the material from its environment with some sort of coating or implementing an active intervention system such as cathodic protection. Bridges carry massive loads from moving vehicles which impose vibrational and other stresses onto structures. Approximately 200,000 cars and trucks cross Melbourne’s Westgate Bridge each day. The Auckland Harbour Bridge carries a similar volume of road traffic, although it is estimated that half the people crossing the bridge in the morning peak hour are on buses. The owners and managers of these assets must ensure that bridges are safe, while maintaining acceptable levels of service for the duration of the expected life of the asset. If appropriate asset management strategies are implemented, it is possible to restore an asset to near its original condition and maintain its functionality for the remaining service life and, possibly, even beyond. The two most common causes of concrete corrosion are carbonation and chloride or ‘salt attack’. The alkaline (high pH) conditions in concrete forms a passive film on the surface of the steel reinforcing bars, thus preventing or minimising corrosion. Reduction of the pH caused by “carbonation” or ingress of chloride (salt) causes the passive film to degrade, allowing the reinforcement to corrode in the presence of oxygen and moisture. Leaching of the alkalinity from concrete also lowers pH to cause corrosion of steel reinforcement. Stray electrical currents, most commonly from electrified traction systems, can also breakdown the passive film and cause corrosion of steel reinforced concrete and prestressed concrete elements. As reinforcing bars rust, the volume of the rust […]

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