NZ Manufacturer October 2013 October 2013
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Peventative Maintenance Joel Leonard key note speaker at maintenance conference.
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Analysis Credibility leap in local steel construction conformance.
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www.solidtec.co.nz
The Interview
Ian Wright, CEO,Wrightspeed.
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NZ-First technology revolutionises manufacturing processes
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aikato Institute of Technology (Wintec) has acquired New Zealand’s first ultra high definition, mass production, liquid resin 3D printer – known as the 3D Systems Projet 6000MP. Wintec’s Research Programmes Manager, Dr Henk Roodt, said through use of the 3D printer his industrial design team is “disrupting” his customers’ design processes …but in a good way. “Our unique three-D printer is what we call, a disruptive technology. Through its use, we are working with companies to radically change, for the better, the way they think about and perform industrial design. “For instance, by using this 3D printer a company no longer designs individual components of a part, produces each small component and then assembles it. Instead, we design and print the entire part all at once – internal working components and all,” said Dr Roodt. Although 3D printing is not new, he said Wintec’s Projet 6000MP is unique to New Zealand. “First, Wintec’s liquid resin printer prints at room temperature using high-strength, high temperature resins. This means we can print parts that can be tested in hot spaces, such as car or aircraft applications. In fact, the resin is so robust the printed part can be used in a finished product.
Dr Henk Roodt with 3D printer
“And the second characteristic that makes our printer unique is that it’s fast. In less than 24 hours we can take a customers’ prototype drawing, translate it into a computer model, print it and deliver it into their hands,” said Dr Roodt. Award-winning company, Stainless Design, is Wintec’s first
customer to gain access to the said access to Wintec’s 3D printer printer and take a prototype design “revolutionised” the company’s through to commercialisation. previous design processes by Wintec’s industrial design team integrating 3D prototype drawing helped Stainless Design develop capabilities with a state-of-the-art a component for a nano brewing manufacturing process. machine the company manufactured It also saved the company for a beer brewery. thousands of dollars and up to six Company director, John Cook, weeks in manufacturing time.
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