Engineering today 44 by arthouse

ech naut aina n Ele onic l Civi l Me cal a lear ems Elect Syste otoni stems l Photonics r Nucl Sustai Civil S Nucle Syste Aeron tural A Photo ectrica ical Me ter Nucricultural Aero Biomedical M ical Civil SustDesign Electriectronics Syst hanical Phot Compu Chemica lity Desigd Electronics echanical Phe Computer Agricultural ical Biomedica emical Civil lity Design El d Electronics omechanical are Computeineral Agricul ical Biomed cal Chemical bility Design Electronics Sy ec Compu y El echanica em na ut an d al ni om ut Ag ar bi stainabi Bi M ical l Ch ftware uclear Civil Susign Electrical cs Systems Bi onics SoftwNuclear Miner tural Aerona l Mechanica Civil Sustaina n Electrical ancs Systems otonics Softwter Nuclear ultural Aeronaedical Mechaical Civil Sustain Electrical anSystems Biom ics Software lear Mineral ral Aeronaut Mechanical Chvil SustainabilitElectrical and Systems Biom rN onics So lity De and Electroni echanical Phot Computer ineral Agriculical Biomedicacal Chemical nability Desigl and Electroni echanical Ph are CompuMineral Agric nautical Biom nical Chem bility Desig d Electronics nical Photon mputer Nuceral Agricultul Biomedical l Chemical Ci bility Design d Electronics hanical Phot are Compute eral Agric ftw na ha e Co in ha ai M ec l an in ni om na ro ai ca ut ca ar l an st ec ica M ar So ftw e ec om ca ai M ar Bi l st ha ni om tri le Ae na ca ut ar M Su st Bi le ar So ec Su ha tri le Aer na Su ectri lear Biom vil trica ftw s Bi ical Nuc Aero tural n Elec cs Systems l Photonics mputer Nuc ics Softw stems edical M emical Ci ical Civily Design Elec nics Systems Photonics So mputer Nucricultural Aero omedical Mec emical Civil y Design Elec nics System nical Photonics mputer Nuc Agricultural l Bi ultural Biomed Agricul mputer ca ni y Desig ronics Syhanical Photon Co Co tro l ica lit l Ch l Bi eral bilit ha Ag are Co Mineral Agricronautical Biomechanical Ch Sustainabilit l and Electro Biomechani Software Co lear Mineral l Aeronautical echanical Chem ftware d Electro nautica l MechanicaCivil Sustaina trical and Elecems Biomec ics Softwarer Nuclear Mintural Aeronaut l Mec stainabi s echanica Mineral Biomec otonics Softw ica l Nuclear ricultural Ael Biomedical MChemical Civil sign Electrica nics System cal PhotonicsComputer Nuc on st ec ricultural Biomedical Memical Civil Su n Electrical an stems Biom l Photonics Soter Nuclear ricultural Aero ica te ul r ot El ed Sy ica Ph te ric ed pu Ag l n Ph cs om m em l pu al ca Ag om sig Ag l ni De ni tro m er e y em ec ha l Bi mpu hani nica eral e Co ical Bi y De cal Ch al Ag ectro nics Sy hanica nical Chainability Desig are Co Mineral ronautica echanica Softwar lear Min ronautica ainabilit l and El Biomec nical Chaina Electro ems Biomecha Software Couclear Miner ral Aeronaut ical Mechani Sustainabilit trical and El ems Biomec onics Softwar r Nuclear Minral Aeronautica cs Softwputer NuclearAgricultural AeBiomedical Mical Civil Sust sign Electrica cs Systems cal Photonics mputer Nuc ricultural Ae edical Mecha Sust l Mecha st tu ec N te vil st cal and ed ot ics tu ical CivilDesign Electri ectronics Systnical Photon e Computer ineral Agriculnautical Biom l Chemical Cibility Design ElElectronics Sy echanical Ph are Compuineral Agricul ical Biomedicaemical Civil Susign El e Com lear Mineral Aeronautical hanical Chem ainability De l and Electroni Biomechani Software Coar Mineral Ag nautical Biom M ro d El na cal Chem nica Softw ar M l Ch ro l lity le st echa s naut ftwar Biom and y De uter Nucal Agriculturaomedical Mec ical Civil Su sign Electrica nics System nical Photonicsmputer Nuc ricultural Ae ical Mechanivil Sustainabi n Electrical an stems BiomPhotonics So mputer NucleAgricultural Aeedical Mechaical Civil Sustai n Electrical cs Systems cal Photonics puter Nuclear ultural Aero l Mechanica Sustainabilit Electrical a ni ed ica ric em m Sy tro Ag Co sig Ci l De er Bi n sig vil al ha ni om Co l l y ec ed em al in Ch tro e om De er ec De El lit l Bi ica nics rM are Co ar Mineral Agutical Biom Chemical Ci bility Desig ectronics S echanica Software hanical Softwar nical ChSustainability trical and Elecems Biomecha s Biom ar Miner utical Bi ronautica Electro lear Min l Chem nautica nability cal and stainabi ics Softw ucle ral Aerona staina trical and El stems B nical st tural Ae omedical Mec ical Civil Su Design Electri tronics Systemcal Photonics mputer Nucleultural Aerona l Mechanica l Civil Sustai Electrical and Systems Bioml Photonics mputer Nuc ultural Aero edical Mecha nics Sy Civil Su l Photon puter N sign Elec ical Civil ric tu l Mecha ca Co Bi ica em cs ica ni l Chemstainability De l and ElectroBiomechanica ftware Comineral Agricul l Biomedica cal Chemical lity Design ElecElectronics Syomechan autical echanical Ch Sustainability trical and Elec s Biomecha Software CoMineral Agricutical Biomedhanical Chem bility Designand Electroni s Biomechaniics Software ar Mineral Ag ronautical Biom ca d So ni Bi ica bi le ics echanica ec na aina cal lear edical M n Electri nics Systems l Photonics ter Nuclear Mral Aeronaut edical MechaCivil Sustaina n Electrical annics Systems cal Photon ical Civillity Design Electronics System l Photon mputer Nuc Agricultural Aeomedical M emical Civil Su l Photonmputer Nuc ultural Aero Biomedical M ical Civil Sust sign Electri tronics System sig ca em ca ni De ni Ch ca tu ha y l Bi l ec pu tro Co bi ha sig ni l eral em e Co ineral Agric ronautical lity De cal and Elec anica aina trical and El s Biomec omec Software utica nical Ch Sustainabilit cal and Elec s Biomecha ftware Com ineral Agricul nautical Biomcal Chemica nability De l and Electro s Biomechani ftware C nical Ch lear Min vil Sust M Softwar ems Bi stainabi tri Aerona Mecha Systeml Photonics So puter Nu mical Ci y Design Elec tronics Systeml Photonics puter Nuclear Agricultural Ae edical Mecha ical Civil Suy Design Elec ectronics Syst cal PhotonicsComputer NucAgricultural l Biomedical Chemical Civil Design Electri nics System Photonics Soter Nuclear M ricultural Aero ical Mechaniical Civil Sustai sign Electrica cs ni m tro lit ca ed em ni De l ec y tro l al El om ca e Ag ica pu lit d Ch ec bilit echa ainabi trical and El Biomechani ftware Com lear Mineral nautical Bi are Co l Chem inera echani and Elec nability echanica are Com Softwar Nuclear Miner ral Aeronautical Mechanica Mineral ronautical Biom l and El stainabi hanical trical an Sustaina s Biom echanica vil Sustaisign Electrical Systems Biom otonics Softwter Nuclear M ultura ter Ae l Civil Su sign Electrica Systems Biomonics Softw puter Nuclear gn Elec nics Systems Photonics So mputer Nucricultural Aero omedical Mec emical Civillity Design Elec nics System nical Photonics ricultu ical Biomed edical M emical Ci l Ph cs De ultural mpu ot Compu Agric m tro l Ch Chemica l Bi eral Ag bi y De ha nics Electro omechanical Software Co al Agricronautical Biomechanical Ch Sustainability l and Electroni BiomechanicaSoftware Co lear Mineral Aeronauti ineral Ag nautica l MechanicaCivil Sustaina trical and Elecems Biomec ics Softwarer Nuclear Mintural Aeronaut l Mechanical Sustainabilit l and Electro omechanical Ph Software Co er M in ro M ar Ae l s ics M le Bi uc l ca tems nical Photon mputer Nuc Agricultura tural Ael Biomedical Chemical Civil sign Electri nics System cal PhotonicsComputer N al Agricultura Biomedica omedica emical y Design Elecectronics Systhanical Photon e Compute eral Agricul l BiomedicaChemical Civil sign Electrica Systems Bi cal Photonics puter Nuclear ul Bi Ch l ric l ica ca al Ag l De ni l in tro ica omecha Software Couclear Miner ral Aeronaut ical Mechani Sustainabilit trical and El ems Biomec onics Softwar r Nuclear M ral Aeronaut Mechanical ainability De d Electronicss Biomechani ftware Comlear Mineral l Aeronautica l Mechanica stainability cal and Elec s Biomecha ics Software uclear Miner Aeronautica echanical C otonics Computer N eral Agricultuutical BiomedChemical Civil y Design Elec tronics Syst hanical Phot are Compute al Agricultu l Biomedical ical Civil Sustn Electrical an nics System l Photonics So mputer Nuc al Agricultura l Biomedicaemical Civil SuDesign Electri nics System nical Photon Computer N Agricultural Biomedical M l Civil Su ica l are eral rona Electro s Biomecha nical Sustainabilit cal and Elec ems Biomec onics Softw uclear Miner Aeronautica hanical Chem bility Desig l and Electro omechanica Software Co lear Miner l Aeronautica hanical Ch stainability oftware r Nuclear Min ronautica nical Chem ar Mine lear Min ics Softw l tri uc tural Ae cal and N ec ra na ca l Mecha st vil PhotonComputer NucAgricultural Aeedical Mecha mputer NucleAgricult nics Sy echanical Phote Computer al Agriculturaomedical Mec l Civil SustaiDesign Electri cs Systems Bical Photonics Computer Neral Agricultu Biomedical M emical Civil Su n Electri tronics System ompute ineral Agricul l Biomedica l Chemical Ci lity Design Elec hanical e Electro al Co l ni ni y Desig ec al in uclear Mral Aeronautical Mechanica vil Sustainabi ectrical and stems Biom onics SoftwarNuclear Miner ronautical Bi nical Chemica nability l and Electro s Biomecha onics Softwar r Nuclear M l Aeronautical Mechanical ChSustainabilit trical and El stems Biomec ics Software uclear Miner ronautical Biom ftware Nuclear Minerral Aerona ai So st Su El Sy ha r Ae ics ica l Mec emical Civil sign Electrica nics System nical Phot e Compute Agricultura l Biomedica emical Civil y Design Elecectronics Sy nical Photon Computer N ricultural Ae cal Photon Computer al Agricultu Biomedi gricultu ical Biomed l Chemical Cibility Design d Electronics echanical Phot e Compute Agricultural ica ed ha ar ni l al tro er Ch ha lit e ar El om ut Ch ca d Elec ems Biomec onics Softw uclear Miner l AeronauticaMechanical ainabi ectrical and ems Biomec ics Software ar Mineral Ag s Biomecha ics Softwar Nuclear Min l Aeronautica echanica Aerona ical Mechani l Civil Sustainan Electrical anSystems Biomotonics Softw uclear Mineral ronautical Bi l Mechanical stainability De ot vil Sust l st trical an ra N le El l Photon edical Mical Civil mputer ricultura Biomednical Chemica nability Desigd Electronics echanical Ph Computer NAgricultural Ae l Biomedica emical Civil Suy Design Elec Electronics Sy echanical Phe Computer eral Agricultuical Biomedica l Chemical Cibility Design ectronics Systhanical Photonmputer Nuc tronics System ar echanica Software Coar Mineral Ag nautical Biom ec ut Elec d El nica Min e Co aina Chem bility D Mecha l Civil Sustai Electrical an stems Biom ics Software lear Mineral ral Aeronauticaechanical Ch SustainabilitElectrical and Systems Biom ics Softwter Nuclear ultural Aeronaedical Mechaical Civil Sust n Electrical anSystems Biom ics Softwar Electrical and Systems Biom onics hanical l Aero Nucle na cs cs om sig mpu eral Agric oton y Design em cal Phote Computer al Agriculturaomedical Mec l Civil Sustai sign Ele Chemica bility Design Electronics Sy nical Photon mputer Nuceral Agricultu Biomedical MChemical Civilbility Design d Electronics hanical Photon ni ni Bi ni De l Ph Co Ch tro l y tro l ha e ica ec lit ca ec ca ec ar SustainaElectrical and s Biomecha Software CoNuclear Min Aeronautical l Mechanical Civil Sustaina n Electrical an ems Biomec onics Softw r Nuclear Min tural Aeronautical Mechani vil Sustainabiectrical and El s Biomechani Sustainabilitectrical and El stems Biom onics SoftwarNuclear Miner ronautical Bi nical Chemica stainability De and Elec em l r n ics emical bility Desig ectronics Syst hanical Photare Compute ineral Agricul utical Biomed l Chemical Cility Design El nics System Chemical Civillity Design El Electronics Sy hanical Phot e Computer ricultural Ae edical Mechaemical Civil Susign Electrical nics Sys y Desig ectronics Systnical Photon are Compute al Agricultura ical Biomedica Ch l ca l na Ag ec El ca bi tro d ftwar ar Mineral l Biom hanical Ch nability De l and Electro s Bio l and El s Biomecha onics Softw uclear Miner ral Aeronautedical Mechani l Civil SustaiElectrical and stems Biomotonics Softw ter Nuclear Multural Aeronaical Mechani vil Sustainabi cal and Elec l MechanicaCivil Sustaina Electrical an stems Biomec ec nautica ai ca le em onics So ical Design Electronics Sy hanical Phot mputer Nucricultural Aerol Biomedical M ical Civil SustDesign Electriectronics Syst uclear M puter N eral Agricultu utical Biom nical Chemicality Design Electronics Syechanical Ph are Compu Mineral Agricutical Biomed l Chemical Ci Design Electriical Biomedica em s Systemechanical Phot y m Ch lit l Co bi ca N bi Co d ftw na ha are na Min om uclear tural Aerona l Mechanica stainability ral Aeronaut ical Mechani Civil Sustaina ectrical and ems Biomec Software ar Mineral Ag Aeronautica hanical Chem stainability trical and El Computer ms Biomonics Softw ter Nuclear ricultural Aeroomedical Mec l Civil Sustai n Electrical an Systems Bi l Photonics So l Su Su ica l ec st El tu ec puter N ul ics le al Phot are Compu Mineral Ag ronautical Bi cal Chemicanability Desig d Electronics omechanica ftware Com Mineral Agric utical BiomedChemical Civil ineral Agricul utical Biomednical Chemica bility Design Electronics Sy nical Photon mputer Nuc al AgriculturaBiomedical MChemical Civilbility Design El Nuclear ricultural Ae ical Mechani l Civil Sustai n Electrical an Systems Bi l Photonics So ter Nuclear ultural Aeronal Mechanical ter Nuclear M ultural Aeronaedical Mechal Civil SustainaElectrical and s Biomecha Software CoNuclear MinerAeronautical l Mechanical Civil Sustaina ics Softw cs ed pu mputer Ag otonics e Computer Agricultural l Biomedica cal Chemical Compu Mineral Agric nautical Biom cal Chemica bility Design tronics System are Co lear Mineral nautical Biom nical Chemicanability Desigl and Electroni Biomechanica ftware Com Mineral Agricical Biomedica Ph e l ar ca ni ec ai ha So echani ics Softwar lear Mineral l Aeronauticaical Mechani ral Aero ics Softw Nuclear Sustaina l and El l Mecha uter Nucricultural Aero edical Mec ical Civil Sust sign Electrica nics Systems l Photonics puter Nucleartural Aeronaut ed tura oton puter Nuc mputer eral Agricultu l BiomedicaChemical Civil sign Electrica Systems Biom l Photon Chem ainability De l and Electro omechanica ftware Com eral Agricul eral Ag ronautical Biom Agricul in ica m cs nical Ph l ical Biom De echanica Software Co Bi hanical st ca uclear Mtural Aeronaut l Mechanica stainability l and Electroni s Biomecha Software Couclear Mineral ral Aeronaut ics ar Min Systems Biom ural Ae edical Mec ical Civil Su sign Electri nics Systems l Photonics So Su ica em tu N puter N ul ca Photon ics r Nucle l Chem ainability Deand Electro omechanica e Compute d Electronics omechanical ftware Com Mineral Agric utical BiomedChemical CivilDesign Electri ectronics Systnical Photon e Computer ineral Agricul ca tical Biom ni ha El ar M l st ar l Bi ec trical ancs Systems Bi l Photonics So Nuclear ultural Aeronal Mechanica Sustainability ectrical and ems Biomechaonics Softw ter Nuclear r ec dical M emical Civil Susign Electricanics Systems otonics Softw te El n pu ni m sig nica De Ph al Agricical Biomedica emical Civil lity Design El tronics Syst hanical Photftware Compu anical Ch stainability cal and Electroomechanical stainability Decal and Electros Biomecha Software Co ec ar Miner ut Elec l Ch So nabi l Civil Su sign Electri Systems Bi ical Civil Su Design Electri tronics Systemcal Photonics mputer Nucleultural Aerona l Mechanica l Civil Sustai Electrical and Systems Bioml Photonics ica ica n nica nics tronics hanical Chemstainability cal and Elec Biomechani Software Co ineral Agric ability De y Desig l Biomed Electro cal Chem omecha s ec tri Su and Elec ics lear M l Aeronautica ical Mechanivil SustainabilitElectrical and Systems Bi on uc ot N ectrical Biomedical M emical Civil y Design Electronics System r Ph ed cal tura pute ical Ci bility Design d Electronics em autical Mechanical Ch Sustainabilit cal and Elec s Biomechani ftware Com ineral Agriculronautical Biom Ch l an aina cal nica tri l vil M medica l Chemical Ci y Design Elec tronics Systeml Photonics Soter Nuclear ricultural Ae edical Mecha ical Civil SustDesign Electri chanica Sustainabilittrical and Elec Biomechanicaftware Compulear Mineral Agnautical Biom hanical ChemSustainability ics So mputer Nuc ultural Aero omedical Mec emical Civil cal Civil Design Elec cs Systems y ni Photon l Ch l Bi Agric ca ica al ni ut er ainabilit l and Electro omechanical Software Co ha in ec M rona Nuclear ricultural Ael Biomedical M Electricacs Systems Binical Photonics Ag mputer ectroni s Biomecha Software Co lear Mineral ral Aeronautica uc System l Photonics puter N eral Agricultu ca in e Com mechani ics Softwar ter Nuclear M Photonare Compu Softw

Connecting Engineers

Publication of the Chamber of Engineers February 2013 | Issue 44

Postgraduate Biomaterials Research p15

l ronautica ural Ae medical Agricult l Bio Mineral Aeronautica Mechanical al il Nuclear ural mputer neral Agricultutical Biomedicl Chemical Civity Co Softwarer Nuclear Mi ural Aerona al Mechanica il Sustainabil l otonics ute dic ricult ctrica l Civ anical Phftware Compar Mineral Agnautical Biomeical Chemica ity Design Ele onics So an ctr ro bil Biomech cle stems ical Photonics mputer Nu ricultural Ae medical MechCivil Sustaina ctrical and Ele Systems Sy ics Co an ral Ag utical Bio l Chemical n Ele Electronics anical ctron Biomech ics Software ar Mine ch d l and Ele ity Desig rona ica ics Electricaonics Systems ical Photon mputer Nucle ricultural Ae dical Mechan il Sustainabil n Electrical an stems Biome Sy Ag Co l Photonare Design sig ctr l Civ me chan inabilityctrical and Elestems Biome ics Software clear Mineralronautical Bio ical Chemica stainability Deand ElectronicsBiomechanica ics Softwuter il Susta stems ctrical Civil Su Photon ical Civ ity Design EleElectronics Sy anical Photon Computer Nuricultural Ae dical Mechan emical ity Design Ele Electronics Sy mechanical Software Compneral ch Ag me bil d are Ch ical Chem me l ral an Bio ina l ftw l an ne ica Bio sta d So ica Bio ch ica ar Mi ics ctr ms l an Me chan il Su ar Mi ics inabil naut Systemsanical Photon mputer Nucle ricultural medical l Chemical Civ ity Design Electronics Systeanical Photonmputer Nucle ultural Aero Biomedical Meical Civil Susta sign Electrica ics Bio on l Ag bil ric l ch Co ica utica d Ele mech ity De are Co d Electr MineralAeronautical nautica chanical Chem Aerona dical Mechan l Civil SustainaElectrical an stems Biomeics Software ar Mineral Ag stainabiln Electrical an Systems Bio ics Softw Nuclear al al Aero n cle Sy l Civil Su sig onics anical Photon Computer ral Agricultur ical Biomedicall al Biomeanical Chemica bility Desig d Electronics anical Photon mputer Nu ral Agriculturl Biomedical Me d Electr Chemica bility De are ch anica ical an ms Biomech Software CoNuclear MineAeronautica al Mechanical Civil Sustaina n Electrical anstems Biome onics Softw r Nuclear Mineural Aeronaut al Mech l Civil Sustaina al Mech l Civil r n Electr al ical ica l Phot Desig ics Sy mpute Biomedic Agricult Chemica bility Desig ctronics Systeical Photonics Compute Agriculturutical Biomedic ity ical Chem inability l and Electron BiomechanicaSoftware Coclear Mineral Aeronautical chanical Chem an sta ch na Su ro Sustainactrical and Ele Biomechan onics Softwareclear Mineral stainabil il Me al ica Me ics Ae ms Nu r Nu ultural l Biomedical l Chemical CivDesign Electrctronics Systeanical Photon Computer ral Agricultur l Biomedical emical Civil Su n Electrical stems anical Phot ric ute Sy Ag esign Ele mp ics sig ica ne ica ica are ral ity Co ch l Ch ut ics Ele ch ctron ftware Nuclear Mine ural Aerona dical Mechan il Sustainabil ctrical and stems Biomeotonics Softw r Nuclear Miural Aeronautal Mechanica stainability De Electronms and Ele Systems Biome ute r me ult Sy dic onics So n Ele l Civ il Su ical and ste ricult l Ph tronics chanical Phot are Compute ral Agric utical Biomel Chemical Civ Design ElectrElectronics Sy anical ctronics mechanica Software Comp Chemicainability Desig neral Ag ronautical Bio l ne Ele Mi ica d Mi ar na ftw Bio an an ar ch d ity ro ica Biome otonics So Nucle ricultural Ae dical Mech l Civil Susta n Electrical ics Systems ical Photonicsmputer Nucle ricultural Ae dical Mechan il Sustainabil n Electrical an stems Biome mputer Ag Sy Ag Co l Photonare Desig sig ctronics l Civ me chan anical PhSoftware Coclear Mineral nautical Biomeanical Chemica inabilityctrical and Elestems Biome ics Software clear Mineralronautical Bio ical Chemica stainability Deand ElectronicsBiomechanica ftw ro ch So sta ics Nu Ae r Su Me ics on il al Nu an on r ot on ms il Su ical ics Sy anical Phot Computer ricultural Ae dical Mech sign Ele medical ical Civ ricultur Compute ical Civ Design Electr ctronics Syste chanical Phot are Compute tware ar Mineral Ag ronautical Bio anical Chemstainability De l and Electron me ftware l Biome ity neral Ag Softw ical Chem Biomech Mineral d Ele r Nucle ricultural Ae medical Mech ical Civil SuDesign Electricaics Systems l Photonics So r Nuclear Mi al Aeronauticadical Mechan il Sustainabil Electrical an ics Systems Biol Photonics uter Nuclear ultural Comp neral Agronautical Bio chanical Chemstainability l and ElectronBiomechanica are Computeral Agricultur utical Biome l Chemical Civbility Design and Electron Biomechanica ral Agric ical Software clear Mine Aeronaut ms ical Mine anica staina Aerona tural AeBiomedical Meemical Civil Susign Electrica ics Systems otonics Softw Nuclear Agricultural medical Mechemical Civil Su Design Electr ctronics Systeical PhotonicsComputer Nu Agricultural l Biomedical r De on Ph Ch al l l ute ctr ity tic ica ica mp bil Ele au l Ch inability ctrical and Ele Biomechan Software clear Mineral Aeronautica Mechanical mechan are Co clear Mineral ronautical Bio Mechan Sustaina ical and chanica il Susta medical emical Civil Design Electr Systems Biootonics Softw otonics mputer Nu Agricultural l Biomedical l Civil uter Nu ricultural Ae Biomedical MeChemical Civ ity Design Ele onics Systems Co ral anical Ph ica l Chemica l bil ctr Ag nical Ch stainability and Electronics chanical Ph Software Comp nautica al MechanicaCivil Sustaina ical and Ele ms Biomech ics Softwarer Nuclear Mineural Aeronaut Mechanical Sustainabilityl Mineral ctr al l on ica l Civil Su n Electrical Systems Biomel Photonics uter Nuclear ricultural Aero dic ult Civil sign Ele ctronics Syste Compute ral Agric n Electr Chemica ical Phot l Biome Biomedic ica emical lity Desig d Ele ctronics Biomechan ftware Comp ar Mineral AgAeronauticaal Mechanical stainability De mechanics Software Nuclear Mine Aeronautical chanical Ch inability Desig Electronics an Ele l Bio d ica al So cle an d Su ms Me r on ur sta dic Nu ural ste Electr Civil trical onics Systemsl Photonics medical ical Civil Su n Electrical anonics Systemsl l Biome ical Phot Compute mputer neral Agricult Agricult onics Sy Design emical em sig ctr ica Mi ronauticachanical ChSustainability ical and Electrms Biomechanics Software clear MineralAeronautical Bio d ElectrBiomechanica Software Co bility De mechan anical Ch l and Ele Nuclear ural Ae stems ical Photonics Computer neral Agricult l Biomedical Meemical Civil Design Electrctronics Syste anical PhotonComputer Nu Agricultural medical Mechl Civil Sustainasign Electrica Systems Bio l Photonics are mechan ics Softwarer Nuclear Mi Aeronautica Mechanical ChSustainabilityctrical and Ele ms Biomechics Software clear Mineral nautical Bio ical Chemica stainability De d ElectronicsBiomechanica ics Softw on ro ste al Phot are Compute Agricultural l BiomedicalChemical Civil ity Design Ele ctronics Sy anical Photon Computer Nuricultural Ae dical Mechan ical Civil Su n Electrical anics Systems anical Photon Computer Ele em on sig ch l utica s Softw clear Mineral stainabilElectrical andstems Biome ics Software ar Mineral Agnautical Biome chanical Ch inability De ical and Electr ms Biomech onics Software Mineral Su Aerona al Mechanica ar il al cle Nu ur on cle r Civ sta Me ro ot ste ural mpute neral Agricult ical Biomedic l Chemical bility Design Electronics Sychanical Phot mputer Nu ricultural Ae l Biomedical ical Civil Su Design Electr ctronics Sy chanical Ph Computer Nu Agricult ical ral Co ica Ele em ut d me ina Ag ity ne Mi ica are an d me na ut r Ch ftw ea na ar Mi al Mech ical Civil Sustan Electrical anSystems Bioonics Softwareclear Mineral ural Aeronaut Mechanical il Sustainabiln Electrical anics Systems Bio ral Aero r Nucle ricultural Aero medical onics So Nu gricultu ical Biomedic Desig ctron Ag ical Phot l Bio Agricult ctronics Compute ity Desig medical l Chemical Civ ical Phot ical Chem ut mputer inability ctrical and Ele Biomechan Software clear Mineral Aeronautica Mechanical ica Aerona dical MechanCivil Sustainabilctrical and Ele BiomechanSoftware Co clear Mineral ronautical Bio sta an Su ch il ural onics r Nu dical Civil ural Ae Biomedical MeChemical Civ ity Design Ele onics Systems l Biome l Chemical ity Design Eleonics Systemsl Photonics Computer Nu Agricult l Biome ical Phot emical Compute l Agricult ica bil ctr ica Mineral Aeronautica chanical Ch stainability anical il Sustainabilical and Electr Biomechan Software Mechanl Civil Sustainactrical and Ele Biomechan onics Softwareclear Mineral al Aeronautica Me ics ms Nuclear Su al Mech l ural ctr l Civ l Photon Computerneral Agricult l BiomedicalChemical Civil sign Electrica l emica y Design Ele onics Systems anical Phot Computer Nu ral Agriculturutical Biomedicical Chemica ity Design Ele ctronics Syste ica are chanica l Ele ch Aerona dical Mechan il Sustainabil ctrical and stems Biomeotonics Softw r Nuclear Miural Aeronautal Mechanica stainability Deal Aeronauticaal ainabilitical and Electrstems Biome ics Software r Nuclear Mine ute ultural ur Su dic ult Sy Ph dic n Ele il ult l mp ric me ics sig me Civ ric ica Co l Ag n ElectrElectronics Sy anical Photonare Compute Mineral Agric nautical Biomel Chemical Civ on Bio De are l chan ral Ag ical neral ical Bio emica Electr bility chanicail al and ms Biomech onics Softw uter Nuclear ultural Aero al MechanicaCivil Sustaina Electrical and Systems Biomeotonics Softwr Nuclear Miural AeronautMechanical Chr Nuclear Mineural Aeronaut Me al ical Ph medic l Chemical ity Design Electronics mpute ral Agricult dical mpute neral Agricultutical Biomedicl Chemical Civity cs Syste chanical Photftware Comp Mineral Agric are Co mechan ne d bil l Biome are Co ica utical Bio ar chanica stainabil s BiomePhotonics Somputer Nucle ural Aerona dical Mechanl Civil Sustainan Electrical an Systems Bio otonics Softw r Nuclear Mial Aeronauticaotonics Softwuter Nuclear Miultural Aerona dical Me ical Civil Su n Electrical ult ric ur Ph hanical Software Co Mineral Agric utical Biome ical Chemica inability Desigand Electronicsmechanical Ph are Compute Agricult mechanical Software Compar Mineral Agnautical Biome l Chem bility Desig ctronics ral ica na l ftw an ne Bio ro sta ar an So ics ro ica ch Bio cle Mi ch Su Ae cle Ele on d ot ms al Ae dical Me r Nu Electr onics al Me stems ural staina onics clear r Nu Civil ricultur me Civil Su n Electrical anonics Systemsl Agricult ical Biomedicical Chemical bility Design Electronics Sychanical PhotComputer Nu ctronics Systechanical Phot are Compute Compute neral Ag utical Bio emical sig Ele d ctr ica ina ftw me Mineral an me naut ical and Systems Bio Photonics Souter Nuclear Miural Aerona Mechanical Chstainability Dectrical and Ele Biomechan ics Nuclear ultural Aero medical Mech ical Civil Sustan Electrical anSystems Bioonics Software l on ms ult n Electr ric ctronicschanical Phot bility Desig and Electronics mechanica ftware CompMineral Agric l Biomedicalemical Civil Suity Design Ele eral Ag ronautical Bio chanical Cheminability Desig ics Syste chanical Photftware Bio ica ina and Ele l me Electron So inabil tural Ae medical Me ical Civil Susta n Electrical stems Biome l Civil Sustasign Electrica ics Systems l Photonics Souter Nuclearural Aeronaut Mechanical Ch il Susta Electrical and Systems Bio l Photonics ronautical Civ ica Bio sig Sy l on al mp em ult ica De al De em ctr ica ica ics ics n Co dic ric an autic chanical Ch mechanAgricultural Ae inabilityl and ElectronMechanical Chil Sustainabilityctrical and Elems Biomech ics Software ar Mineral Ag utical Biome chanical Chem ity Desig l and Electron sta Bio bil Me Su l ina il ms na ica Syste sign Ele ical Civ r Nucle il Susta ical Civ Electrica Electrica ics Syste Mineral medical al Aero dical Me l Photon al Chem bility Designronautical Bio chanical Chemstainability Del and ElectronBiomechanica are Computeral Agricultur utical Biome l Chemical Civbility Design and Electronicsuter Nuclear Comp Sustaina ricultural Ae medical Meemical Civil Susign Electrica ics Systems otonics SoftwNuclear Mineultural Aeronaal Mechanical Civil Sustaina n Electrical utical Bio chanical Ch stainability Del and Electron chanical Ph Computer Mineral Agric ical Biomedic ical Chemica inability Desig ineral Ag me Aerona are Me sta an naut culturalal Biomedical emical Civil Su sign Electrica Systems Biootonics Softw uter Nuclear al Aero medical Mechemical Civil Su ur ult De mp ics Ch tic ric Ph l Ch Co ity l on l l Bio Ag onau Mechanica d Electr chanica nautica al Mechanica stainabil Mineral Software edical emical Civil Su n Electrical an stems Biomel Photonics uter Nuclear ricultural Aero dic l Biome Ag ics Sy mechanica are Comp nical Ch inability Desig Mineral ronautica Electron Bio ics Softw uter NuclearAgricultural Ae ical and ics Systems vil Susta mp n Electr l Photon y Desig l and Electron mechanica Software Co clear Mineral Bio ica Nu r onics ms Electr Compute ics Syste ical Phot Electron Biomechanonics Software Systems anical Phot Biomech

Malta Engineering Excellence Awards 2012 p24

BOV JEREMIE Financing Package offers tailor-made solutions for SMEs including Micro-Enterprises

Talk to us today and benefit from advantageous terms. Your success is our goal.

BOV SME BUSINESS BANKING 2131 2020 I bov.com

BOV 33072

OUR SPONSOR:

Issued by Bank of Valletta p.l.c. 58, Zachary Street Valletta VLT 1130 - Malta

JEREMIE refers to the Joint European Resources for Micro to Medium Enterprises Initiative. Terms and conditions apply.

Contents

Issue No.44 l Aeronautica ultural l Biomedical ral Agric iar Mine l Aeronauticaanical Chem ultura uter Nucle l Mech ical Civil are Comp Mineral Agricl Biomedica anical Chem inability autica nics Softw Nuclear l Mech Civil Susta ical ical ical Photoare Computer ultural Aeronl Biomedica n Electr ity Desig Electronics ral Agricl Aeronautica Softw Biomechan anical Chem l Mech and ms Systems Sustainabil Photonics Nuclear Mine ultura uter ical CivilDesign Electrical onics Systeical ral Agricautical Biomedica Electronics echanical l Chem ar Mine ity echan ical and Systems Biom Software Comp and Electr n Electr uter Nucle ultural Aeron l Mechanica nics Sustainabil n Electrical Systems Biom Software ity Desig and Electronics ical Photo nics Desig are CompMineral Agric l Biomedica ical Civil ar echan ical ar l Chem Sustainability and Electronics ical Photo uter Nucle autica Sustainabil nics Softw ral echan are Comp ical ical Civil ity Design Electr Systems Biomical Photo Computer Nucleultural Aeron l Mechanica Civil Mine Biom Electr ar ical n Chem ms l Softw uter Nucle are inabil Desig Syste l Chem ral Agric anica Biomedica Electronicsms Biomechan ultural l Mech autical l Mechanica Sustainability Electronics ical Photonics ar Mine nics Softw Civil Susta ical and Comp l Syste ral Agric Biomedica l ChemicalDesign Electr Electronics echanical Photo uter Nucle ultural Aeron SoftwareNuclear Mine l Aeronautica l ical Civil n Electrical and Biomedica Biomechan autical ity are Comp ral Agric l Chem uter ultura l Biomedica Biom Photonics autical ical and Systems l Aeron edical Mechanica ral Agric iSustainabil n Electr SystemsPhotonics SoftwNuclear Mineultural Aeron l Mechanica inability Desig echanicalSoftware Comp Biom Electronics Agricultura ar Mine l Aeronauticaanical Chem ical Civilinability Desig Electronics uter ms Biom autical Biomedicaical Civil Susta Mineral ical and ultura echanical are Comp ar Mineral Agric Photonics uter Nucle l Mech ical Civil Susta ical and autical anical Chem n Electr Electronics Syste Nuclear ultural Aeron echanical l Mech are Compar Mineral Agricl Biomedica anical Chem inability ical Civil Design Electr Systems Biom nics Softw uter Nucle ultural AeronMechanical Chem ity Desig Agric and Biom Computer edica Softw ral Chem ical inabil l Photo ms ity l autica onics are Mech nics Comp Biom Nucle Susta l Agric anica Sustainabil and Electr Electr onics Syste ical Softw Nuclear Mine autical echanical ical Civil Software ar Mineralautical Biomedica ical Civil Susta ical Photo Computer ultural Aeronl Biomedica Design n Electr uter ultural Aeron Biomedical Mech Photonics ical Civil Electrical Systems Biom l Chem onics inability ical and Electr ity Desig Photonics uter Nucle ral Agricl Aeronautica Biomechan Software anical Chem l Aeron echanicalSoftware Comp Design Agric ms echanical are Comp Agricultural edical Mechanicaical Civil Susta anical Chem n Electr onics Systems ical Photonics Nuclear Mine Sustainabil ical and Electr ultura edical Mech ms Biom nics Mineralultural Aeronautica inability and Electronics Syste Biom Civil Mech Desig ar Agric l ral Softw Electr uter Biom ms Syste Chem ity ical Susta l Photo ral n l onics echan Electr Biom edica ical Civil Mine Aeronautica anical Chem uter Nucle ral Agric Electrical onics Systeical Photonics Nuclear Mine autical l Mechanica are Comp ity Desig and Electr echanical ms Biom Sustainabil ical and Electronics echanical l Nuclear Mine Aeronautical Biom Design Electr uter l Aeron l Mech Civil Sustainabil n Electrical Systems Biom Software ical and Systems Biom Software Comp ical Civil Design Electr onics SystePhotonics Softw anical Chem l Nuclear Biomedica inabilityElectrical and ms Biomechan are Compral Agricultura Computer ral Agricultura n Electr nics nics autical Mechanical Chem l Biomedica n inability ical and Electr echanical Syste edical Mech Computer ral Agricultura Civil Susta Software Chemical inability Desig ity Desig and Electronics ical Photo Electronics ical Photo uter Nuclear ar Mine l nics Softw ar Mine Aeron autica Susta Desig are l ical Biom l onics nics l and Biom ity Electr inabil Nucle anica Mine Civil Photo Susta Aeron l Mech echan echan ical ical Electr ar l Chem Sustainabil autica Susta nics Softw Design onics Systemsechanical Photo Computer Mineral uter Nucleral Agricultura l Biomedical Chemical ultural ical CivilDesign Electr Systems Biom Software Comp echanical ical and ical Civil ity Design Electr Systems Biomical Photo Computer Nucleultural Aeron l Mechanica are autica Nuclear ultural inability Mine l Chem ral Agric anica Biomedica ical CivilDesign Electr Systems Biom Software Comp onics echan are Nuclear ultural Aeronedical Mech ical Civil Susta ical and ElectrSystems Biom autical l Mechanica Sustainability Electronics ical Photonics ar Mine nics Softw l Chem ral Agric anical Chem inabil Computer ral Agric Biomedica l l Mech ical Civil Susta ical and ElectrSystems Biom nics Softw onics ar MineAeronautical l Mechanica Sustainability Electronics ical Photonics echan n Electr ical Photo Computer ral Agric uter Nucle ultural Aeron l Biom SoftwareNuclear Mine l Aeronautica l l Chem ical Civil n Electrical and Biomedica l onics edica Civil ms Biom Photonics echan n Electr ical Photo uter Nucle l Biomedica SoftwareNuclear Mine l Aeronautica l Mechanica inability Desig ical and Electr ical and are Comp ral Agric l Chem uter ultura l Biomedica Biomechan autical anical Chem ity Desig ical and Electr Biomechan are Comp ral Agriculturaautical Biom l Chemical n Electr Systems Biom Photonics ral Agric ionics Syste echanical uter ultura l Biomedica Civil Susta Design Electr onics SystemsPhotonics SoftwNuclear Mineultural Aeron l Mechanica inability Desig are Comp Aeronautica l Mech inabil ical ar Mine l Aeronauticaanical Chem ral Agric ical onics ity SystemsPhotonics SoftwNuclear Mineultural Aeron l Mechanica inability Desig uter and Electr ms Biom are Comp nics Softw Biomedicaical Civil Susta Biomedicaical Civil Sustaity Design Electr ar Mine l Aeronauticaanical Chem Sustainabil ical and Electr ultura echanical are Comp ar Mineral Agric edica Civil Susta ical and Electr ms Biomechan uter l Mech Electrical onics Syste ical Photo Computer Nucle Agric ical ical Civil nics Softw Electronics autical n Agric Biom Nucle Biom ral Chem inabil Chem l edica l Syste l Civil ral Comp and ultura Softw ms Electr Chem echan ical Photo Mech Aeron l uter Desig Electr Nucle echan ity n l are Mine l Electr are ical ical anica autica and ral Agricl Biomedica Mechanica cal Civil Susta Design and Electronics ms Biom nics Softw Nuclear Mine autical Bioml Mechanica Sustainabilical echanical ity Desig l Mech Sustainability n Electr Systems Biom nics Softw uter Nuclearultural Aeron onics Systeical Photonics Computer Agricultura are Comp anical Chem anical Chem Electrical ms Biom nics Softw Nuclear Mine ity Desig l Mech Sustainability onics Comp Electr onics Syste ical Photoare Computer ultural Aeronl BiomedicaChemical Civil l Mech Civil Sustainabilical and ElectrBiomechan nics Software ar Mineralautical Biomedica ical Civil Agric Design ical Photo Electrical uter ultural Aeronautica echan Softw Civil Design Nucle l Aeron ical onics Syste ical Photo Sustainabilical and ElectrBiomechan nics Software ar Mineral l Chem l Biomedica inability ical and Electr Design n Electr Photo ral Agricl Aeronautica Biomedica anical Systems ms Biom nics inability and Electronics ms Agric Nucle l Aeronauticaanical Chemical inability ical and Electr Biomechan Software Comp Electr autical ar Mine l Mech Electr ity Desig Electronics Biomechanical are Computer Photo ultura Mechanicaical Civil Susta ms anical Chem ical Susta ms nics Mineral Design l Aeron ical Photo uter Nucle ral Agricultural Biomedica ical Civil Susta Design Electronics Syste onics Syste echanical are Computer ral Agric l Biomedical and Softw ms Sustainabil n Electr onics Systeical ical Civil Design Electr onics Syste ical Photo uter Nuclearral Agricultural Biomedical Mech Agricultura edical Mech Biom inability Mine Aeronautica anical Chem anical Chem and Biomechan are Comp and Electr ical CivilDesign Electrical onics Systeical Photonics Nuclear Mine autica ity Desig and Electr echan echan Electr l Mech Systems Photonics Softw ar Mineral autical Biom l Comp Nuclear Softw Mine anical Chem inability autica Systems Civil Susta n Electrical Electr l Chem uter l Aeron Sustainabil n Electrical Systems Biom Software l Mech ical Civil Susta n Electrical and Systems Biom ical Software uter Nuclear ultural Aeron l Mechanica SustainabilityElectrical and ms Biomechan are Comp Agricultura edical Mech l Biomedica l Chemical ity Desig and Electronics ical Photonicsare Computer ral Agricultura Civil uter Nucle l Aeron edica nics nics echan Desig ical Biom onics onics ral autica l ultura Comp ity n anica Sustainabil Biom Photo uter Nuclear l Biom echan ical Electr l Chem inability Desig and Electr ar Mine l Chem Sustainabil nics Softw ar Mine Agric ral Agric l Biomedica autica Desig are Comp ical Photo l Aeron ical Civil l Mech onics Syste nics Softw Software echanical ical and Mineral Aeronautical Mechanica autica anical Chem Sustainability and Electr echanical Photo uter Nucleral Agricultura l Biomedica Chemical Civil ity Design Electr Systems Biomical Photo Computer Nucleultural Aeron l Mechanica Susta n Electrical ms Biomechan nics Softw Nuclear Mine Mineral ical CivilDesign Electr Systems Biom Software Comp Photonics ultural ical edica Nuclear onics echan ical Civil are autica Nuclear ultural inabil l Mech Mine Syste ical Photo Computer Agricultural Aeron l Chem ral Agric anical Biomedica ical CivilDesign Electr Systems Biom Software Comp Computer Mineral Agric autical Biomanical Chem inability Desig are Nuclear ultural Aeronedical Mech ical Civil Susta ical and ElectrSystems Biom autical l Mechanica Sustainability Electronics ical Photonics ar Mine nics Softw l Chem ral Computer ral Agric Biomedica l Electronicsms Biomechan l Aeron l Mech onics autical l Mechanica Sustainability Electronics ical Photonics ar Mine nics Softw echan n Electr Civil Susta ical and ical Photo Computer ral Agric uter Nucle ultural Aeron l Biom SoftwareNuclear Mine l Aeronautica l l Chem ical Civil n Electrical and Biomedica Electr Electronics Syste ical Photo uter Nucle ultural Aeron Agricultura l Biomedica l Chemical ms Biom Photonics echan SoftwareNuclear Mine l Aeronautica l Mechanica inability Desig ical and Electr are Comp ral Agric l Chem Biomechan autical ical Civil n Electrical and Biomedica Design ical anica l BiomedicaiComputer ral Agricultura ms Biom Photonics edica Susta l Chem onics Syste uter n Electr ultura SystemsPhotonics SoftwNuclear Mineultural Aeron l Mechanica inability Desig Biomechan are Comp ral Agric autical ical and Aeronautica l Mech inability Software ar Mine l Aeronauticaanical Chem edica Civil Susta ical and Electr ms Biomechan ral Agric autical BiomChemical Civilinability Desig Electronics onics Syste echanical SystemsPhotonics SoftwNuclear Mineultural Aeron l Mechanica inability Desig uter are Comp Agric ical nics Nucle Biom Mine ral Biomedicaical Civil Sustaity Design Electr Electr l onics Syste l Softw Civil Biom Comp and ar ultura echan ical uter and are Susta Electrical anica n Electr Electronics echanical Photo ar Minel Aeronautica Biom Biomedicaical Civil Susta inabil ical and Electr echanical are Computer Mineral Agric edical Mechl Chemical ity Systemsical Photonics uter NucleAgricultural Aeron l Chem ral Agric n l Mech are Comp Electrical ical Civil anical Chem autical nics Softw uter Nucle ity Desig Systems and ral Mechanica cal Civil Susta Design and Electronics ms Biom nics Softw Nuclear Mine autical Bioml Mechanica Sustainabilical echan n Electr Systems Biom nics Softw uter Nuclearultural Aeron are Comp anical Chem l Biomedica anical Chem inability DesigElectronicsechanical Photo are Comp ral Agriculturaedical Mech Sustainabil n Electrical ms Biom nics Softw Nuclear Mine ity Desig l Mech Sustainability onics and Comp onics Syste ical Photoare Computer ultural Aeronl BiomedicaChemical Civil l Mech Civil Susta Agric Desig ical Photo n Electr ical Civil Electrical uter ultural Aeronautica nics SoftwNuclear Mine autical Biom echan Softw Civil ical Electrical Systems Biom onics Syste ical Photo Sustainabilical and ElectrBiomechan nics Software ar Mineral autica l Chem onics l Biomedica inability ical and Electr Design ity Desig ral Agric Biomedica anical uter ultural Aeron ical Photo ms Biom ms Design Agric Nucle l Aeronauticaanical Chemical inability ical and Electr Biomechan Software Comp Electr autical Electr Photo Mechanicaical Civil Susta anical Chem Sustainabil ical and Electr ms Photonics Nuclear Mine ultural Aeron Electronics Susta edical Mech ms nics Mineral inability Design l Aeron BiomechanSoftware Comp Design Electronics Syste onics Syste echanical are Computer ral Agric l Biomedical echanical Computer Mineral Agricautical Biom l Chemical CivilDesign ElectrElectronics Syste ical Civility Design Electr onics Syste ical Photo uter Nuclearral Agricultural Biomedical Mech nics Agricultura edical Mech Systems Biom Civil Susta Electrical and ar Mine anical Chem inability anical and Electr l Mech ical Civil Susta n Electrical and Systems Biom Systems Photonics Softw ar Mineral autical Biom inabil ical and Electrms Biomechan are Comp Software uter Nuclear ultural Aeron l Mechanica SustainabilityElectrical and edical Mech Civil Mine Aeronautica anical Chemical ity Design and Electronicsechanical Photo uter Nucle l Aeronautica anical Chem ar edica nics Susta Nucle Mech l ical l Nucle Softw Syste Civil Electr Comp l Biom l Chemical uter l Aeron ral Agric l Biomedica l Mech Civil Sustainabil n Electrical Systems Biom Software Compral Agriculturaautical Biom anical Chem inability Desig and Electronics ical Photo ical Civil ity Design Biomechan are Compral Agriculturaautical Biomedica l Chemical ity Design Electronics ical Photonicsare Computer ral Agricultura Software anica echan ical ral ar Mine Mine l Chem Aeron autica inabil Aeronautica Desig ical Biomedica anica Softw ar Mine inabil Photonics n Electr Softw ms Biom echan ultural edical Mechical Civil Susta l Aeron l Mechanica Civil Susta n Electrical Nuclear ical and Electronics ar Mine Photonics uter Nucle l Chem Aeron autical inability edical Mech Agricultu ical Photonics ultural edical Mechical Civil Susta n Electr Systems Biomical Photonics uter Nucleultural Aeron l Mechanica Civil Susta Electrical and Biomechanical Nucle l Chem inability Desig onics Syste echanical are Comp ral Agricultura Computer Mineral Agric autical Biom l Chem inability Desig autical Biom lear Mineral Electronics Biomedica ical Computer Mineral Agric autical Biomanical Chem inability Desig Softwareuter Nuclear ultural Aeronedical MechanicaCivil Susta ical and ElectrSystems Biom nics Softw are Comp ral Agric Aeron Design autical l Mechanica ar Mine Systems l Chem Biomedica Electronicsms Biomechan r Nuc ultural l Aeron Civil Susta l Mech onics autical l Mechanica Sustainability Electronics ical Photonics ar Mine nics Softw n Electr Civil Susta ical and ical Photo Comp uter Nucle ultural Aeron l Biom Chemical trical and cultural ral Agric Biomedical Chemical Mineral Agric Electr Electronics Syste ical Photo uter Nucle ultural Aeron Agricultura l Biomedica l Chemical Compute echan nics SoftwareNuclear Mine l Aeronautica l Mechanical inability Desig ical and Electr are Comp ral Agric gn Elec Mineral Agri Design Biomechan autical ical Civil n Electrical and anica Design l Biomedica echan are Comp ral Agric anica ms Biom Nuclear SystemsPhotonics SoftwNuclear Mineultural Aeron edical Mech Software ical and Aeronautica l Mech inability ms Biom lear bility Desi Biomedicaical Civil Sustaity Design Electr anical Chem ity Desig onics Syste echanical Photo Softw Mine Computer ral Agricultura bility Aeronautica Computer Photonics uter Agric Biom Electronics l Mech inabil autical Biomedicaical Civil Sustaity Design Electr Nuclear ultural onics Syste Photonics Software SustainaComputer NucCivil Sustaina l Photonics Biom ar Mine l echanical are Comp autical Software and Electr Mineral Sustainabil ical and anical Chem Biomedicaical Civil Susta inabil ical and Electr echanical are Computer Mineral Agric Systemsical Photonics uter NucleAgricultural Aeron l Chem l n Electr Systems Biom nics Softw uter Nuclear ultural Aeron Photonics nica l Mech Electrical echanicaChemical Civil ral ical Civil autical ral Mechanica cal Civil Susta Design and Electronics echan n Electr Systems Biom nics Softw uter Nuclearultural Aeron are Comp anical Chem l Biomedica anical Chem inability DesigElectronicsechanical Photo are Comp Mineral Agric Biomechanical cal cs Software cal Chemica Biomecha Agricultu ems Biom ms Biom nics Softw Nuclear Mine ity Desig l Mech Sustainability onics Comp Softw Nuclear l Mech Civil Susta ms Agric ical Photo Electrical ical and ms Biom ics Systedical Mechani nical Photoni al Mechani ics Systems lear Mineral Mechanical uter ultural Aeronautica Civil ical onics Syste ical Photo Sustainabilical and ElectrBiomechan nics Software ar Mineral l Biomedica Design uter n Electr Photonics Biomedica onics Syste edic Electron ms Agric echa Nucle l Aeronauticaanical Chemical inability ical and Electr Biomechan Software Comp Electr r Nuc Biomedical autical onics Syste echanical ity Desig Photo are Comp and Electr Electron anical Chem Susta ms nics Mineral Design l Aeron mical Civil onics Syste echanical are Computer trical and nautical Biom ms Biom ems Biom nautical Biomtrical and ware Compute Sustainabil ical and Electr nics Softw n Electrical ical Che ical Civility Design Electr onics Syste ical Photo uter Nuclearral Agricultural Biomedical Mech Elec Agricultura edical Mech Syste Biom Civil Syst Photo cal ral and Electr Aero Softw Electr naut gn ms l Civil Desig Chem ical Elec Aero ics n l ical onics ity nics l Biom Syste inabil Mine Aeronautica anical Chem ar Mine anica and Electrms Biomechan are Comp cultural and Electron Agricultural bility Design Photonics Soft cultural Aeroedical Mechani cal Chemica mical ity Desig and Electrms Biomechan Sustainabil bility Desi l Mech ical Photo uter Nucle l Aeronautica l Nuclear Softw Syste Civil Susta Electrical l Mech Civil Sustainabil n Electrical Syste hani ical Civil Che aina Sustainalear Mineral Agri Biomechan are Compral Agriculturaautical Biomedica l Chemical ity Design Electronics ical Photonicsare Computer ral Agricultura nical Mineral Agri ical Biom trical lear Mineral Desig ical Biomedica anica Softw ar Mine inabil Electronics anical Chem mical Civil hanical Softw gn Elec echan ical and ar Mine edical edical Mec l Chem naut Aeron autical l Civil Sust Biomecha inability Nuc Photonics ultural edical Mechical Civil Susta n Electr Systems Biomical Photonics uter Nucleultural Aeron l Mechanica Civil Susta n Electrical and edical Mech Nucle r Nuclear ral Aero nautical BiomBiomedical Mec cal Che Computer ainability DesiComputer Nuccal Chemica ics Systems ical Biom ical Computer Mineral Agric autical Biomanical Chem inability Desig are Comp ral Agric l Chem inability Desig autical Biom al Mechani Software Compute Biomedica hani Sust Agricultu ical tron Electronicsms Biomechan Aeronaut Aero Mine l Aeron Aeron l Mech autical l Mechanica nics Softw Civil Susta ical and edic Syste cs Softwareedical Mectrical and Elec cs Software lear Mineral Agricultural ral Aeronaut Agricultural Nuclear tonics Civil SustaAgricultural l Aeron mical Civil Agricultura l Biomedica l Chemical Biom toni edica n Electr Electronics echanical Photo uter ical Pho Che ultura l toni ical Pho Biom ral Biom Nuc l Desig l Comp anica l Chem Agric nica Mineral Mineral gn Elec nical Pho Agricultu ical and hanical echanica Aeronautical Aeronautica puter l Mech inability ms Biom Software ar Mineral l Aeronautical Mechanicauter Nuclear Mine ral AeronautBiomecha Biom Biomedicaical Civil Sustaity Design Electr Nucle ultura bility Desi Biomecha Software Com puter Nuclear lear Mineral puter Nuclear edica onics Syste Photonics ral cultu edical Mec ems inabil ical and Electr echanical are Computer Mineral Agric autical Biom Software Comp eral Agri l Chem ems ics Syst nautical Biomtronics Systemseral Agricultul Civil Sustaina tonics puter Nuc ware Com ware Com ics Syst Mechanica cal Civil Susta n Electr Systems Biom nics Softw uter Nuclear ultural Aeron Photonics Nuclear Min and Electron lear Min cal Chemical and Electron echanical Pho tonics Soft Software Com tonics Soft ity Desig ral Aero onics l Comp l and Elec echanical ral Agric ical Photo Computer gn Electrica hani Electrica Sustainabilical and ElectrBiomechan nics SoftwareNuclear Mine Systems Biom Agricultu gn Electrica Computer Nuc tonics echanical Pho nical Pho ems Biom ms Software Electr Photo Computer Electronics Desi gn Mineral Desi edical Mec ware ics Syst ems Biomecha echanical Pho Design Biom onics Syste echanical Photonics ainability ical and r NuclearSustainability tonics Soft nautical Biom ainability Desi Biom Software Electron and Electr echanical Biom Systems Systemsical Photonics Design Electr Sust Electrical and Electronics Syst ms Biom l Civil Sust Compute Aero l Civil echanical Pho Systems Electronics inability onics Syste cal Chemica cs Software cultural gn tronics mical Civil Chemica Biomechan l and l and Civil Susta ical and Electr hani hanical Systems Biom Mineral Agri hanical Che ainability Desi gn Electrica trical and Elec gn Electrica Photoni Chemical n Electr Desi Desi edical Mecechanical Biomedical Mec Elec tronics puter Nuclear edical Mec l Civil Sust ity Desig Design Biom ainability ainability ical Biom Biom ical mica l and Elec Sustainabil

Publication of the Chamber of Engineers

Cover Image Engineering leads the search for new life forms with drilling in Antarctica.

February 2013

Aeronaut

Systems

www.coe.org.mt

Aeronaut

Electrica

Software

Com nautical Aero

Che

Sust

bility

Sustaina

Civil Sust

From the Editor

From the President

Kolsterising®: Towards long lasting implants

Getting the best out of training

Postgraduate Biomaterials Research

The Gewiss ReStart - Protection without Compromise

11th Edition Malta Engineering Excellence Awards 2012

Supervisory, Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) Project

Implementation of an Integrated SCADA and F&G System at Gasco LPG Plant

Interview with Ing. Marco Cremona

Painting without paint

Editor Ing. John Pace

Editorial Board

© Chamber of Engineers 2013. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording or otherwise, without the prior permission of the Chamber of Engineers – Malta. Opinions expressed in Engineering Today are not necessarily those of the Chamber of Engineers – Malta. All care has been taken to ensure truth and accuracy, but the Editorial Board cannot be held responsible for errors or omissions in the articles, pictographs or illustrations.

Ing. John Pace Ing. Paul Refalo Ing. Ray Vassallo Prof. Robert Ghirlando Chamber of Engineers, Professional Centre, Sliema Road, Gzira, GZR 1633, Malta Tel: +356 2133 4858 Fax: +356 2134 7118 Email: info@coe.org.mt Web: www.coe.org.mt

Design by:

A member of:

www.darkdragonmedia.com

From the editor by Ing. John Pace

The Engineer in Politics The Maltese public will soon be called to choose who will run the country for the next five years. As Malta becomes more technically oriented I sometimes wonder why engineers are hardly visible in the political world. When constitutional matters were the main issue in politics it was natural that lawyers were at the forefront, and as the nation developed, economists and business consultants felt that they had to contribute by having a say in its administration. We have never yet had a warranted engineer in parliament, while it is exceptional that an engineer will contest the election or involve himself in party politics. Lately two engineers, Mark Sammut and Ryan Callus announced that they will run for the election. They are not the first ones as in the past there were candidates for both the large parties, though this was quite unusual. I put some questions to Mark and Ryan and also to a former candidate for the other party, who, unfortunately declined to reply as he has not been involved in politics for a very long time and is now in his eighties. According to Ryan, politics is about politicians working for the advancement and progress of society in the best interest of the country. It is about providing a selfless service to your country for the common good. It is about common citizens who have had the privilege and honour to be democratically elected by the people to serve as their representatives in Parliament. The politicianâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s mandate is to reflect the peopleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s aspirations. This should not however be done from a populist perspective, promising everything to everyone. The politician must make decisions that are sustainable, just and for the common good. Mark adds that

February 2013

Issue No. 44

the role of the individual politician is to be the voice of his constituents in parliament, raise the issues they are facing for debate, and also to propose solutions. But what has an engineer to offer? Mark says that engineers introduce a scientific approach have a higher degree of understanding of issues such as sustainability and infrastructure than members of other professions. Ryan says that through his involvement in politics he has come to learn that politics is about finding solutions to challenges that vary in scope, nature and extent. He believes engineers tend to be more analytical, pragmatic and oriented on problem solving. Why are persons in certain professions naturally attracted to politics, while engineers as a rule are not? Mark thinks that people like lawyers and doctors regularly meet their constituents in their normal work day, while engineers are busy on projects and in industry where such contact is rare. Ryan thinks this is unfortunate as a more balanced mix of professions is healthy. Engineers should contribute in parliament especially when debating matters such as energy where the engineerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s perspective and contribution becomes more essential. Ryan is emphatic that engineers need politics and politics needs engineers. The same applies for public issues where it should be perfectly acceptable for an engineer to express his/her opinion or criticism as long as it is constructive and non-partisan. If engineers want to remain relevant to our society, besides their everyday role, they must voice their concerns on issues that affect or involve them or their line of work. The public still regards engineers as simply technicians and engineers must work to improve this image.

Both Ryan and Mark deny that involvement of engineers in politics would damage their career. On the contrary, says Mark, having the confidence to express yourself in the public sphere can only reflect positively on your personality. At the time of writing this article the media is inundated with news items and comment on the PL plans on the power stations and the PN counter arguments. We have heard lawyers, dentists and journalists having their say, but engineers were notably absent. The general public is confused as the issue is sometimes far too technical for general consumption. There is also a lot of disinformation on technical issues where the public has to decide between two extreme sources of information without the benefit of a balanced and well informed view.

Mark Sammut has a Masters degree in Wireless Networks and is employed as a systems engineer with a telecommunications company. He has been a Local Councillor in Gudja on behalf of the nationalist party since 2006.

In other countries a technical background has proved no handicap to being at the forefront of politics. China tops the list where Hu Jintao (hydraulic engineer) and Jiang Zemin (electrical engineer) were top people. Boris Yeltsin was a civil engineer and Margaret Thatcher an industrial chemist. ET

Ryan Callus is deputy mayor in Siggiewi Local Council. He obtained a Masters degree in Project Management and was formerly PRO of the Chamber of Engineers.

Ing. John Pace Editor, Engineering Today

February 2013

Issue No. 44

From the President by Ing. Saviour Baldacchino

Dear Colleagues... guests, increased sponsor support and high organisation standard. This gives the organising team remarkable satisfaction and augments their enthusiasm to produce high quality events which merit the profession. During the awards night, the Chamber was honoured with the participation of the Embassy of the United States with whom we look forward to establish stronger cooperation in the coming months. The venue was once again kindly conceded to the Chamber by His Excellency Ambassador, Ingr. Umberto Di Capua, to whom we continue to be most grateful and respectful. Four days into 2013, the Chamber kicked off its training programme for the year with a seminar on basic acoustic concepts. The event was held at a leading hotel in Floriana. It was very well attended and the topic generated a healthy discussion on the subject. Similar events will follow throughout the year.

Time flies and we are four weeks into 2013, preparing for the forthcoming annual general meeting (AGM), annual conference, training programs, profession profile survey, membersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; events, national consultations and more. The Malta Engineering Excellence Awards 2012, closed of the Chamberâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s calendar of events for the year. Congratulations go to the award winners and to all the nominees who not only presented tough competition to their peers but also made us proud of their accomplishments. Last yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s event was a great success in terms of the quality of the nominations, record attendance by members and their

February 2013

Issue No. 44

This was the first in a series of training activities which are being prepared for members. Some months ago, a Training sub-committee was set up to focus on the training function of the Chamber and to come up with a strategy that will position the Chamber as one of the leading training providers on the island. The undersigned is chairing the sub-committee.

The next AGM is going to be held on the Thursday, 28th February 2013 at 18:00. This year, the Chamber will be introducing voting by post to elect the Executive Council. This is another initiative to encourage members’ participation, this time, in the Chamber’s statutory obligations. We still prefer to meet our members face to face at the AGM and they are encouraged to honour us with their presence and participation. Nevertheless, the postal vote should make it easier for those members who couldn’t participate in the AGM, to express their preferences and have a say in the selection of their representatives. The voting process will be overseen by a Notary Public acting as an independent Election Commissioner. The fundamental principles of vote secrecy, anonymity and one vote per member, have been taken into account and incorporated into the voting process. Full details about the latter are being communicated to members in advance.

The topic of this year’s annual engineering conference, which is planned for the first half of May 2013, will be on biomedical engineering. Preparations for this flagship event are on the way and further details will be communicated to members in due course. A call for abstracts will be issued shortly. Our motivation is the well being of the profession and its members. All those who share this ethos are encouraged to come forth and join the team. This is how you may invest in the future of your profession. Please send us your feedback on info@coe.org.mt on anything you would like to see happening at the Chamber. We wish our engineering student members good luck for their mid-semester examinations. ET

25th January 2013 Yours Sincerely,

Ing. Saviour M. Baldacchino President, Chamber of Engineers

president@coe.org.mt http://www.coe.org.mt

Ing. Saviour Baldacchino President, Chamber of Engineers

February 2013

Issue No. 44

Kolsterising®: Towards long lasting implants by Dennis Formosa

Corrosion testing of Kolsterised® Biomedical Ni-Free Stainless Steel. Metallic materials such as stainless steel, cobalt chrome and titanium are commonly used as biomedical implant devices to replace or fix important structural human body components, such as hip joints and bone plates. These implants restore the quality of life to millions of people worldwide. These three metal types are used interchangeably as different devices and situations call for different inherent device properties. This is because from one type to another the material properties such as wear resistance, Young’s modulus, corrosion resistance and cost all vary significantly. Cobalt chrome and titanium alloys have some advantages where it comes to corrosion resistance over common stainless steel alloys, however they cost significantly more. Hence austenitic stainless steels are extensively used to manufacture a variety of biomedical implants. Although biomedical stainless steels came a long way since they were first used in the 20th century, reports of failed devices while in service inside patients are not uncommon. Current implants normally last only 10-20 years, of which 7% require revision surgery after 10 years of service. This short life span is often due to wear and corrosion degradation which leads to aseptic loosening [1]. Corrosion inside the human body can occur either due

February 2013

Issue No. 44

to pitting or crevice corrosion and it is of great medical concern because of the elevated metallic ion release. Nickel and chrome are two constituents of stainless steel, the former is the most common sensitizing (allergy-causing) element and the latter a known carcinogen. Both are toxic when leached into the human body system via corrosion reactions. Replacing the implant is the only reliable way to solve the problem of a corroding in-service implant. This puts additional trauma on the patient and introduces extra expenses and work load on national health care system. These corrosion problems can be alleviated through surface engineering techniques such as ‘S-phase technology’. ‘S-phase’ technology, discovered in 1985 by Prof. Bell and Zhang in stainless steel has been heavily researched upon and applied for multiple industrial applications such as nuclear, automotive and food industry but not for biomedical implants [2, 3]. It includes subjecting a stainless steel component to a thermochemical treatment, using a carbon/ nitrogen rich atmosphere at temperatures under 500°C for extended periods of time (~10-30 hours). This process will form a carbon/ nitrogen diffused surface layer (~10-40 µm thick in depth) on the component. Kolsterising®, a

proprietary service of Bodycote International is an example of a process that produces carbonrich S-phase. This S-phase layer improves surface-related material properties such as: corrosion, wear and fatigue resistance which are vital for biomedical implant material. The Nickel-free alloy is a modern type of biomedical stainless steel which was designed to address problems concerning Nickel hypersensitivity. Nickel-free alloys have improved levels of tensile yield strength, corrosion resistance, fatigue strength and reduced danger of hypersensitivity in patients. The aim of this study was to investigate the feasibility of creating corrosion resistance S-phase layers on Ni-free stainless steel. In this work two Kolsterised® stainless steels were compared: A biomedical Ni-free one against a more studied industrial grade AISI 304 one. Characterisation experiments were performed to ensure the presence of S-phase on the surface. Figure 1 shows such an optical microscopy image of a Kolsterised® Nickel-free alloy. A featureless S-phase layer of around 30µm in thickness can be seen.

Figure 1 - Microstructure crosssection of S-phase layer formed by Kolsterising® on the Ni-free stainless steel alloy. Redrawn from [4]

A number of tests including X-Ray diffraction, surface hardness, glow discharge optical emission, were performed to help characterise any surface changes due Kolsterising®. These tests showed that surface properties changed considerably and was concluded that an S-phase layer was present on both stainless steel alloys. Figure 2 shows improvement in surface hardness due to treatment.

Figure 2 - Surface hardness result comparison. Vickers hardness test at 100g of load. Error bars represent variation of 4 repeats from mean Accelerated corrosion tests following ASTM standard experiments, some medically oriented were conducted. Pitting and crevice corrosion resistance were tested by electrochemical methods (ASTM F746 and standard potentiodynamic polarization) where the samples were immersed in simulated body fluid and an electrical potential applied. This accelerated test is designed to mimic corrosion behaviour response of an implanted material at in vitro conditions. Also, a 72-hour immersion ASTM G48 test in a acidified ferric-chloride solution was performed for classification purposes. This tests, intended to mimic crevice corrosion, consisted of using a jig to impress a crevice washer as shown in Figure 3 against a sample surface.

February 2013

Issue No. 44

picture yourself beyond graduation At Bank of Valletta we understand that youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve worked hard to get here. So weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve put together a financial package designed to get you started, with tailor-made offers on personal loans, overdrafts, business start-ups and home loans, that you can benefit from up to 5 years from graduation. Talk to us about our Graduates Package. Your success is our goal.

BOV GRADUATES

BOV 34521

2131 2020 I bov.com Issued by Bank of Valletta p.l.c. 58, Zachary Street Valletta VLT 1130 - Malta

Terms and conditions apply.

Kolsterising®: Towards long lasting implants (cont.)

Figure 3 - Simplified crevice test enclosure including (A) plunger; (B) crevice washer; (1) outer enclosure; (2) sample; and (3) threaded enclosure plug. Redrawn from: [4]

The Kolsterising® treatment reduced the weight loss (Figure 5) of the Nickel-free alloy by more than an order of magnitude which is evident by the difference in Figures 4 (c) and (d). The AISI 304 showed no significant reduction, which was later associated with the high impurity level of AISI 304 which caused pitting (Figure 4b). One can also notice significant differences between the weight lost by AISI 304 and Nickel-free confirming the superior corrosion resistance of Nickel-free alloy.

The electrochemical tests both corroborated one another showing a general improvement in corrosion resistance for both metal types after Kolsterising®. As it can be seen in Figure 4, crevice corrosion (circular oriented triangle impressions) was reduced in the Kolsterised® samples.

Figure 5 - Average weight loss in mg for treated and untreated AISI 304 and Ni-free alloys following an acidified ferric chloride corrosion test according to adapted ASTM G48. Error bars represent variation of 3 repeats from mean. Redrawn from: [4] After analysing the above results and others, it was concluded that both alloys responded well to the Kolsterising® treatment and had improved corrosion resistance. This study was published in the peer reviewed journal Surface and Coatings Technology [4]. Figure 4 - Macrographs of (a) untreated AISI 304, (b) Kolsterised® AISI 304, (c) untreated Ni-free and (d) Kolsterised® Ni-free samples after corrosion testing, using the 72hr adapted ASTM G48 test in acidified ferric chloride solution. Source: [4]

Although this study was concerned only with corrosion behaviour, such treatments also improve wear resistance. The combination of Nickel-free stainless steel and Kolsterising® might be a possible alternative to used Co-CrMo alloys which are currently the material of

February 2013

Issue No. 44

Kolsterising®: Towards long lasting implants (cont.)

choice in hip-joint replacement. Producing cheaper high-performing articulating and nonarticulating surgical implants translates into longer life and a lower health risk. It should be emphasised that before such surfaces can be utilised in the medical industry, rigorous investigations regarding the long term chemical, mechanical and biological stability of the S-phase layer need to be performed first. ET

Acknowledgements The author would like to thank the University of Malta Research Fund Committee for the financial support and ERDF (Malta) for the financing of the testing equipment (Ref. no. 012 and Ref. no. 018). Special thanks also go to Mr. R. Hunger at Bodycote Hardiff GmbH, Germany for performing the Kolsterising® treatments and Böhler Edelstahl (AT) for supplying the materials. In addition, the author would like to express his appreciation to Dr J. Buhagiar, the staff at the Department of Metallurgy and Materials Engineering, the Chemistry department and correspondents at the University of Birmingham.

References [1] B. D. Ratner, A. S. Hoffman, F. J. Schoen, and J. E. Lemons, Biomaterials Science: An Introduction to Materials in Medicine, Chapters; 2.9, 7.7. London: Elsevier Academic Press, 2004. [2] H. Dong, “S-phase surface engineering of Fe-Cr, Co-Cr and Ni-Cr alloys,” International Materials Reviews, vol. 55, pp. 65-98, 2010. [3] M. K. Lei and X. M. Zhu, “In vitro corrosion resistance of plasma source ion nitrided austenitic stainless steels,” Biomaterials, vol. 22, pp. 641-647, 2001. [4] D. Formosa, R. Hunger, A. Spiteri, H. Dong, E. Sinagra, and J. Buhagiar, “Corrosion behaviour of carbon S-phase created on Nifree biomedical stainless steel,” Surface and Coatings Technology, vol. 206, pp. 3479-3487, 2012.

Dennis Formosa

Graduated as a Mechanical Engineer, University of Malta, Currently reading for a Doctoral Degree at the University of Birmingham (UK)

February 2013

Issue No. 44

Getting the best out of training Having gained a better understanding of what training really is and what it should be designed to achieve, we can now take certain actions to help ensure that the training we obtain will be effective. These actions include the following:

What do we hope to achieve when we send staff for health and safety training? Do we really know? Very often training is seen merely as a way to fulfil legal duties, and it is true that legislation in most countries imposes requirements on employers to ensure that their staff are properly trained in various aspects of health and safety. The big question is however, will the training that we arrange for them fulfil these legal duties - and perhaps as important provide us and them with practical benefits? To answer these questions we need to go back to basics and remind ourselves of the purpose of training. BusinessDirectory.com defines training as, “Organized activity aimed at imparting information and/or instructions to improve the recipient’s performance or to help him or her attain a required level of knowledge or skill”. In other words, training should enable participants to improve their performance and/ or skill. This means that people who undergo training should be able to do something after the training that they could not do before it! Training is also one of the elements of “competence”. It is often said that competence, a term used frequently in health and safety, is a combination of four elements; training, experience, skill and authority. Training is therefore essential to staff working towards competence.

• Take time to decide on the learning outcomes required before deciding on a particular training course. • Decide whether these learning outcomes can be achieved within an off the shelf course syllabus, or if a tailor-made course is required. Speak to potential course providers at this stage. • Decide how important external accreditation is to you and to the delegates, (externally accredited courses eg. NEBOSH, IOSH etc etc require the course-providers to meet certain standards and delegates are assessed independently. Successful candidates are awarded a qualification from the awarding body rather than the provider). • Check the standards, previous track-records, and accreditations of potential training course providers, and check that their methods and their approach to training suit your company. • Check to see how the delegates’ learning will be assessed. • Training involves time and expense; it is an investment in staff, so it is important to get it right! Taking a little care at the planning stage, and following the suggested actions made above, can help ensure that you and your staff achieve the best results and benefit in the ways you hoped. by Chris Hudson

Institute of Health & Safety

99 Mill Street, Qormi QRM3100, Malta Tel: +356 2131 1966 Email: info@ihs.com.mt www.ihs.com.mt

Postgraduate Biomaterials Research by Malcolm Caligari Conti and Luke Formosa

The Department of Metallurgy and Materials Engineering (DMME) is one of six departments which make up the faculty of engineering. The department’s labs have over the past year been upgraded with state of the art equipment, part financed by ERDF (Malta) through the project: “Developing an Interdisciplinary Material Testing and Rapid Prototyping R&D Facility” (Project Ref. no. 012). In recent years the DMME has turned its attention towards the vibrant, emerging field of biomaterials. Biomaterials are by definition biological or synthetic substances which can be introduced into body tissue alone or as part of an implanted medical device. The main requirement of a biomaterial is that it is fully biocompatible with living body tissue. In addition a biomaterial should not degrade in a manner that is detrimental to the patient, and should in general comply with the various constraints set out by the medical professional in tandem with the engineer. At postgraduate level the DMME is currently supporting the research of two full time students in this field, the authors of this article. Malcolm is reading for a Ph.D. focusing on invitro testing of a surface-hardened Co-Cr-Mo alloy, whilst Luke is reading for an M.Sc. by research focusing on modified formulations of a dental root-end filler known as MTA (Mineral Trioxide Aggregate). This article will explore these projects. “In-vitro” Studies of Surface Hardened Biomedical Co-Cr-Mo Alloys used for Orthopaedic Applications Malcolm Caligari Conti (The Department of Metallurgy and Materials Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and The Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine and Surgery) The Ph.D. research is conducted as a joint project between the DMME and the Faculty of Medicine,

Figure 1 – Superposition of a metal-onmetal implant onto an X-ray image of a hip. Adapted from [13,14] and is supervised by Dr. Joseph Buhagiar and Dr. Pierre Schembri Wismayer MD. The project aims to test the in-vitro biocompatibility of Cobalt Chrome when Kolsterising® is applied. Kolsterising® is a low temperature carburizing process that can be used on medical alloys due to the hardness it imparts to the surface, without reducing its corrosion resistance. Kolsterising® is a proprietary surface hardening treatment by Bodycote GmbH. Orthopaedic applications to material science are increasingly becoming one of the most important areas of research, especially during the past fifty years, over which period of time materials intended for biomedical purposes have evolved through three different generations [1]. In this regard, the latest statistics show that the European market for artificial knee and hip joints alone is worth €23.1bn, with €8.6bn being spent on artificial devices annually [2,3]. Smith et al. [4] have reported that; orthopaedic metal-on-metal implants (Figure 1) suffer from high failure rates. Thus by increasing the hardness of Co-Cr-Mo alloy by Kolsterising®,

February 2013

Issue No. 44

Simple SolutionS for Smart SpaceS

Bespoke automation solutions from world-class brands. Design-led innovation in lighting, sound, heating, and security, for both homes and businesses.

Call us today to explore a whole world of smart spaCe solutions.

ARTEOR ™ | FLOW OF ENERGIES.

Mill Street, Qormi · Tel: 25463000 · info@elektra.com.mt www.elektra.com.mt · Elektra Ltd

Postgraduate Biomaterials Research (cont.)

and therefore making them more comparable to the hardness of ceramics, one hopes to achieve an articulating surface which is both biocompatible and corrosion-wear resistant. The objective of this research is to analyse the biocompatibility of Kolsterised® cobaltchromium-molybdenum alloys, and to characterise the material surface in order to show the advantages gained by using the Kolsterised® material relative to the original untreated alloy, and other materials. This work will be conducted on four approaches including: (1) material characterisation, (2) in-vitro corrosion testing, (3) in-vitro corrosion-wear testing, and (4) biological testing conforming to ASTM F748-04. From preliminary results in the first few months of the Ph.D. study, S-phase1 formation was observed on the Kolsterised® material. The actual thicknessof the S-phase layer, 13.4μm, was confirmed by SEM analysis of the etched 1

sample. Although thinner than the Kolsterising® layer normally created on stainless steels it is still thick enough to protect the underlying softer material. Preliminary nano-indentation tests show that the hardness of the S-phase layer on Kolsterised® Co-Cr-Mo is 17.38 ± 0.30GPa (99% confidence limits) which is 2.5 times greater than the hardness of the untreated material which has a hardness of 6.78 ± 0.08Gpa (99% confidence limits). Cell viability testing and other biocompatibility tests will also be carried out using both mouse and human osteoblast and pre-osteoblast cell lines in the laboratories of the Department of Anatomy which were recently refurbished using funds from ERDF project 081. This will then pave the way for future research to be carried out, in order to ensure that the Kolsterised® CoCr-Mo system is proven to be biocompatible, permitting its use as a material for hip and knee replacements as well as in other biomedical components.

A supersaturated layer which generally retains biocompatibility, whilst imparting a greater hardness to the material surface.

February 2013

Issue No. 44

Postgraduate Biomaterials Research (cont.)

The Investigation of a Novel Biomaterial for use in Dental Applications Luke Formosa (The Department of Metallurgy and Materials Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and the Department of Restorative Dentistry, Faculty of Dental Surgery) This M.Sc. research is a joint project between the DMME and the Department of Restorative Dentistry, Faculty of Dental Surgery of the University of Malta and is supervised by Dr. Bertram Mallia and Prof. Josette Camilleri. Mineral Trioxide Aggregate (MTA) was introduced in 1995 as a dental material for use as a root-end filler during surgery [5] and is

February 2013

Issue No. 44

composed of 80% Portland cement and 20% bismuth oxide [6]. Portland cement, the bulk of the material, provides mechanical strength and can develop its physical properties even in a humid environment (such as the human body). The bismuth oxide is needed to increase the radiopacity, which makes the material distinguishable from body tissue on X-rays to aid post-operative identification. The main advantage of MTA is that it is bioactive - it hydrates in the presence of water to produce calcium hydroxide, which upon reaction with tissue fluids such as blood produces a surface layer of bone-like hydroxyapatite [7]. These appear as spheroidal particles when viewed

under the electron microscope (see figure 2). Being bone-like, this layer gives MTA very good biocompatibility and excellent sealing ability [3]. However its disadvantages include a long setting time (around 3 hours) and poor resistance to washout. Washout is the tendency of freshly placed cement to disintegrate upon premature contact with liquid (such as blood in the surgical site) [8]. This research aims at investigating novel MTA-based materials that attempt to address these shortcomings.

Figure 2 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Micrograph (20,000x zoom) showing apatite spherulites on the surface of an MTA specimen after it had been immersed for 28 days in simulated body fluid (a synthetic analogue of human blood plasma) The new materials include MTA mixed with a proprietary anti-washout gel to impart washout resistance, and MTA mixed with a dental-light curing resin or chemically-curing resin in place of water, to reduce the setting time. Tests conducted to date indicate that the setting time of the MTA with light-curing resin is just 20 seconds under high-intensity light, whilst with chemically curing resin the MTA sets within 22 minutes. This is a significant improvement over the 3 hours reported for MTA.

A novel method for evaluating washout resistance was developed for this research and has been accepted for publication by the International Endodontic Journal [9]. The tests revealed that the anti-washout gel completely eliminated washout. This compared favourably to normal MTA that lost up to 10% of its mass due to washout under the same experimental conditions. A series of tests are being carried out to characterize and study the hydration mechanisms of the novel materials, including scanning electron microscopy (SEM) with X-ray energy dispersive analysis (EDX), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Fourier-Transform Infrared (FTIR) analysis. Furthermore, the materials are being tested for their suitability as dental root-end fillers following ISO standards for testing dental materials (namely ISO 4049 (2009) [10], ISO 9917 (2007) [11] and ISO 6876 (2002) [12]). These tests include assessment of radiopacity, compressive strength, calcium ion release pH, fluid uptake, porosity, micro- and nanohardness, Youngâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s modulus, and the strength with which they adhere to extracted human teeth, measured by means of push-out tests, in each case in simulated body fluid (a synthetic water-based solution identical to human blood plasma). Conclusions Biocompatibility, biomaterials, bioengineering and biotechnology are all fields in which research requires the efforts of multiple disciplines in order to produce a viable and cutting edge result which may one day lead to an enhanced product. Working in this area consequentially becomes an experience the

February 2013

Issue No. 44

Postgraduate Biomaterials Research (cont.)

results of which translate directly to the potential for achievement of a better quality of life. ET

References

Acknowledgements

[1] M. Navarro, et al., “Biomaterials in orthopaedics,” J. R. Soc. Interface, pp. 11371158, 2008.

Malcolm Caligari Conti’s Research is sponsored by Bodycote GMBH.

[2] OECD, “Health at a Glance: Europe 2010,” (2010).

Luke Formosa’s research is funded by the Strategic Educational Pathways Scholarship (STEPS) (Malta). The scholarship is partfinanced by the European Union – European Social Fund (ESF) under Operational Programme II – Cohesion Policy 2007-2013, “Empowering People for More Jobs and a Better Quality of Life”

[3] Healthcare Blue Book. (2012, 28/02). Total Hip Replacement. Available: http:// healthcarebluebook .com/page_Results. aspx?id=28&dataset=MD [4] A.J. Smith et al., Failure rates of stemmed metal on metal hip replacements: analysis of the Data from the national joint registry of England and Wales” The Lancet 379, (2012) 1199-1204

ABERTAX® – Leaders in Battery Ancillaries

Abertax innovative products will ensure a quality battery service www.abertax.com

ABERTAX TECHNOLOGIES Ltd., KW17A Corradino Industrial Estate, Paola PLA 3000, Malta,2013 Tel +356| 23Issue 678100, February No.+356 44 21 660606, Fax +356 21 808625

Through the Partnership of ABERTAX & DIGATRON, Abertax products are now available in China from DIGATRON ELECTRONICS Ltd, No. 33 Xianshandong Road Chengyang District, Qingdao 266108, China TEL +86-532-86089988, www.digatron.com

Patent protection on all products and concepts

Abertax – 25 years experience with High-Tech Battery Ancillaries. World leader with the development and production of Battery Management Units (BMU), Battery Monitoring Systems (BMS), Capacitive electrolyte Level Sensors (CLS), Gas Release Systems for VRLA Batteries (GRS) , Intelligent Battery Concepts (IB) and Washer with Leading Wire (WLW).

[5] Torabinejad M., Hong C.U., Lee S.J., Monsef M. and Pitt Ford T.R., “Investigation of mineral trioxide aggregate for root-end filling in dogs”, Journal of Endodontics, vol. 21, pp. 603-608, 1995 [6] Torabinejad M. and White D.J., “Tooth filling material and use”, US Patent Number 5,769,638 (1995) [7] Sarkar N.K., Caicedo R., Ritwik P., Moiseyeva R., Kawashima I., “Physiochemical basis of the biologic properties of mineral trioxide aggregate”, Journal of Endodontics, vol. 31, pp. 97-100, 2005 [8] Wang X., Chen L., Xiang H. and Ye J., “Influence of anti-washout agents on the rheological properties and injectibility of a calcium phosphate cement”, Journal of Biomedical Materials Research Part B: Applied Biomaterials, Vol. 81, Issue 2, pp. 410-418, 2007

[10] International Standards Organization. Dentistry: Polymer-based restorative materials. ISO 4049, 2009. [11] International Standards Organisation, “Dentistry – Water-based Cements”, BS EN ISO 9917-1, 2007. [12] International Standards Organisation, “Dental root canal sealing materials”, BS EN ISO 6876:2002 [13] http://www.childrenhealthwatch.com/wpcontent/uploads/2010/09/wpid-1285631496_ hip-resurfacing.jpg (viewed: 14/04/2012) [14] http://www.qmtmag.com/images/BHRdevice.jpg (viewed: 14/04/2012)

[9] Formosa L.M., Mallia B. and Camilleri J., “A quantitative method for determining the antiwashout characteristics of cement-based dental materials including mineral trioxide aggregate”. International Endodontic Journal [in press], 2012.

Malcolm Caligari Conti

Obtained his Bachelor’s Degree in Mechanical Engineering in 2011, University of Malta, Currently reading for a Ph.D. in Biomaterials

Luke Formosa

Obtained his Bachelor’s Degree in Mechanical Engineering in 2011, University of Malta, Currently, reading for an M.Sc. by research in materials

February 2013

Issue No. 44

The Gewiss

ReStart

Protection without Compromise The Residual Current Device

The Solution: “ReStart Autotest”

The RCD, an electrical

The ReStart Autotest by GEWISS the only protection

wiring device that protects

device which:

both life and installation, but how many of us take

• Carries out the automatic test every thirty days

the

granted?

• Carries out the periodical check without cutting

How many of us perform

the power supply to the installation, this thanks

unit

for

a periodic test of the device?

to a by-pass circuit. • Guarantees the automatic reset of the electrical system when the electrical power cuts off because

A survey performed in Italy of 1000 households

of a sudden voltage change or a thunderstorm.

showed that 98% of users were confident that their

The ReStart Autotest will reset the current in

RCD was operating correctly. However, only 42% of

less than 10 seconds, after first performing an

those same households knew of the test button on

insulation test of the the circuit. In the case of

the RCD. More staggeringly, less than 25% of users

permanent failure in the circuit, the device will

carried out a test at least once!

remain open circuit and a red warning light will indicate.

So, how safe is the RCD?

• Provides a warning status of long tripping time

Regular use of the Test button, although unpractical

and welded contacts via couloured LED indicators

is advised to ensure a high level of safety. If the

that can also generate a warning message to be

RCD does not trip when the button is pressed, it is

relayed through an auto dialler.

necessary to replace it. All manufacturers strongly recommend the regular use of this test button.

So how do we ensure protection? To increase the safety level in our electrical systems and to ensure that the installed RCD’s fulfil their protection function, it would be advisable: • To free the end-user from the obligation to test the RCD, because carelessness and the lack of

The Gewiss ReStart is available in both two-pole and the four-pole versions, for applications within the domestic, industrial and commercial fields.

knowledge can result in the device becoming inefficient and therefore unsafe. • To provide the service of sending a warning message to the user if and when a fault occurs. The use of devices with automatic test represents a real solution to the problem of the reliability of the protection devices.

The Conclusion The use of devices equipped with Autotest guarantees the total real safety of the system, and: • Guarantees the full functionality of the RCD • Allows

the

user

enjoy

continuous

uninterupted service during testing • Removes the the faulty RCD’s from installations, thus offering total safety for people and

gewiss.com

properties.

Hydrolectric Limited - Triq il-Kappillan Mifsud, Hamrun, HMR 1855, Malta - Tel: 2124 1111 - Email: hydrolectric@hydrolectric.com.mt

11th Edition

Malta Engineering Excellence

AWARDS

2012

An evolving event for an evolving profession by Dr. Daniel Micallef

Another year has passed since the 10th Edition of the Malta Engineering Excellence Awards (MEEAs). The 2012 MEEAs event was very well attended and this reflects the continuous growth of the Chamber of Engineers. The winners of the 2012 awards were the following: 1. Industrial Excellence Award - Hoter Ltd. 2. Leadership Award - Ing. Charles Cuschieri 3. Lifetime Achievement - Prof. Joseph Mifsud

Last year, in issue 40 of the Engineering Today (found at www.coe.org.mt/images/ Engineering-Today), I had written an article on the past, present and future outlook of the MEEAs. This time around, the MEEAs have evolved in various ways.

February 2013

Issue No. 44

To avoid repetition, the reader is encouraged to visit the CoE website http://www.coe.org.mt/ news-a-events for a complete description of the event. As with the 2011 awards,in the MEEAs of 2012 there was strong competition between the nominees. Also, it was observed that the quality of the proposed projects for the Industrial

From left to right: Dr. Daniel Micallef (Activities Secretery, CoE), Ing. Charles Cuschieri (Leadership Award), Prof. Joseph Mifsud (Lifetime Achievement Award), Ing. Marco Cremona representing Hoter Ltd. (Industrial Excellence Award), Lieutenant Commander William Woytyra (US Embassy) and Ing. Saviour Baldacchino (President, CoE) Excellence Award has increased substantially since the 2011 awards. This is a direct proof that our profession is reaching international standards and is something we need to foster and keep up. It is clear that Maltese industry is focusing on engineering excellence thus making the role of engineers fundamental. The professional engineer is no longer a luxury that few can afford but rather a fundamental contributor to maintain a competitive edge. This is, after all, the message that the Chamber of Engineers strives to communicate to society. For the MEEAs of 2012, the ‘Innovation Award’ has been renamed the ‘Industrial Excellence Award’. The reason for this change is that we wanted to have an award which strictly promotes industrial entities and companies.

February 2013

Issue No. 44

2012 High level projects awarded at Malta Engineering Excellence Awards 2012 Professor Joseph Mifsud, Ing. Carmel Cuschieri and Hoter Ltd were the proud winners of the 11th edition of the Malta Engineering Excellence Awards (MEEA) 2012, which was held recently at St John’s Cavalier. Over 250 engineers and guests attended this year’s ceremony, which is organised annually by the Chamber of Engineers (CoE). The MEEAs are an opportunity to recognise the capabilities of engineers in Malta, and is a flagship event of the CoE. CoE President Ing. Saviour Baldacchino and Lieutenant Commander William Woytyra, representing the United States Embassy presented the awards. The award for Industrial Excellence was awarded to Hoter Ltd, run by Ing. Marco Cremona of Sustech Consulting. Ing. Cremona has invented, built and tested the HOTER process leading to the development of the world’s first sewage-to-potable water plant for hotels and large commercial buildings. The Leadership Award went to Ing. Charles Cuschieri. An engineer by profession,

February 2013

Issue No. 44

(cont.)

Ing. Cuschieri founded his consultancy firm in 1979 together with the late A.G. Camilleri CEng FIEE. In June 1982, he joined the University of Malta as the youngest full time lecturer at the time. He lectured in analogue and digital electronics and later in Power electronics. In 1989 he left lecturing to continue with his consultancy. Professor Joseph Mifsud was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award. Prof. Mifsud began his engineering career at Malta Drydocks when he joined the ship repair yard as an apprentice. His academic studies progressed to a Mechanical Engineering degree at Surrey University. Returning to Malta, he joined the Mechanical Engineering Department, where he was promoted to senior lecturer and later to Head of Department, a post he kept until retirement. During his address, CoE President Ing. Baldacchino noted his satisfaction that the MEEAs give the Chamber the opportunity to recognise engineering excellence in the presence of the largest gathering of professional and prospective engineers. Ing. Baldacchino pointed out that the Awards are publicised

both locally and abroad, with the winners given exposure by the European Federation of Engineering Assocations (FEANI) and the World Federation of Engineering Organisations (WFEO), of which the Chamber is an active member. In conclusion, he congratulated both the nominees and winners for their high level submissions and encouraged all nominees to continue with their excellent work. “Every one of them is making us proud of their engineering contributions,” he said. This year’s edition of the MEEAs 2012 was supported by Bank of Valletta, GO plc, STMicroelectronics Malta Ltd and Dark Dragon Media Ltd.

Ing. Marco Cremona representing Hoter Ltd., winner of the Industrial Excellence Awards

The criteria of this award were based on the European Foundation for Quality Management (EFQM) Excellence model (details can be found at www.efqm.org). This has been applied on the basis of a project carried out by the industrial entity. The method simply involves the consideration of ‘Enablers’ such as leadership, people, strategy etc. and ‘Results’ which for the case of these awards were the achieved project results. On the basis of the EFQM model, a number of criteria were set and a score attributed by a panel of judges to each criteria. The use of this methodology has two particular benefits: 1. It ensures that overall excellence can be gauged with a standard and uniform approach 2. It encourages industrial entities to strive for excellence. The end results depend on the enablers which are mostly engineers. This not only promotes the value of the engineer but also encourages companies to view professional engineers as a revenue generating human resource.

Ing. Charles Cushieri, winner of the Leadership Award

Lieutenant Commander Woytyra presenting the Lifetime Achievement Award to Prof. Joseph Mifsud

The criteria for the Leadership Award were targeted to promote the individual engineer for good leadership skills. In the past, the leadership award was also open to industrial entities. The disadvantage of this was that it was difficult to compare leadership from an individual and leadership of an entity. There was therefore room for improvement in order to ensure an easier judgement. The Lifetime Achievement Award was kept unchanged from previous years. The criteria for this award can be summarized as follows: 1. Contribution to the engineering profession 2. Impact on Maltese society

February 2013

Issue No. 44

The Chamber of Engineers is proud to announce the launch of its 22nd Annual Conference...

“Engineering: the Backbone of Healthcare” The conference will be held 25th April 2013. This year, the theme of the conference will be bio-medical engineering. The venue is still to be confirmed. The objective of this conference is to provide insight to engineers and other professionals on this ever growing branch of engineering. The health sector has no doubt made great leaps forward to the well being of people. Little is however mentioned about the engineering knowledge required to put medical science into practice. In this conference, experts in the field swill shed light on some of the technological developments in the field. In Malta, there are various opportunities in which engineers can be involved in bio-medical engineering due to the fact that the field requires the input of other branches of engineering. The topics which will be addressed include but are not limited to: CT, MRI and Ultrasound technology, implants, biomechanics, biomaterials and medical imaging. The conference will be particularly appealing to: • • • • • • • • •

Engineers Medical doctors Pharmacists Entrepreneurs Scientists Students Academics Industrialists Consultants

Instructions for Abstract Submission: Authors are invited to submit an abstract to the organizing committee by email or by post. A limited number of high quality abstracts will be chosen for an oral presentation and a full paper will be required for publication in the issue following the conference of the CoE’s magazine Engineering Today. The abstract should not exceed one A4 page and should be typed in Times New Roman-12pt., double spaced. The Authors should clearly highlight the objectives, results and outcomes. Authors name, affiliation and address (including e-mail) should be mentioned in the abstract. The following formatting should be used for the names and affiliations: Title of the Abstract (14 point with Bold face) Corresponding Author, Author (12 point with italics with bold face) Full Address of the Author (12 point with italics) Any figures are to be prepared with high resolution.

The deadline for abstract submission will be 4th March 2013.

Further information may be obtained from:

Chamber of Engineers 127, Professional Centre, Sliema Road, Gzira GZR 1633 Tel: 2133 4858 - email: info@coe.org.mt

2012

(cont.)

3. Research that expands the engineering field 4. Contribution to engineering education Thankfully, there are many professionals who fulfil these criteria and therefore, year after year, decisions on this award are painstakingly difficult. Given the ever increasing competition for the MEEAs, the Chamber of Engineers is committed to refine further the award criteria and requirements. This will stimulate further competition and hence improve the overall quality. The Chamber of Engineers is also

The event was ably compered by television presenter Stephanie Spiteri

considering adding more awards in order to reach out for the ever increasing diversity of our profession. We all look forward to see you in our events and encourage you to participate and be active. ET

Dr. Daniel Micallef

Activities Secretary, The Chamber of Engineers

February 2013

Issue No. 44

Supervisory, Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) Project

by Ing. John Caruana

As the Maltese Power Network continued to expand in the 1990s due to load growth, Enemalta felt the need to look into substation automation systems. At the same period, advanced micro processor protection relays were more available in the market and these were replacing the electromechanical type protection relays. Moreover computers were also being implemented in substation automation systems. In view that such automation systems enhance data acquisition and enable engineers to analyse and control substation equipment, Enemalta embarked to install Substation Control Systems in the new Distribution Centres being planned at that time. The first Substation Control System was installed at Mellieha Distribution Centre followed by Kirkop, Valletta and Marsascala Distribution Centres. With the positive experienced gained from these first Substation Control Systems Enemalta decided that all new Distribution Centres must be equipped with such automation. Moreover an engineering analysis was carried out to check the feasibility to also install automation systems in old Distribution Centres. This study concluded that having such automation systems in all Distribution Centres would give the necessary tools to assist Enemalta engineers in the planning of the HV network development, and would reduce restoration time when power interruptions occurs. With eighteen Distribution Centres around the Island and two Power Stations it was required to have an overall system to communicate with all the automation systems installed in each Distribution Centre. A SCADA system was required to achieve this goal. A tender was issued in December 2006 and following lengthy evaluations a successful bidder was chosen. SCADA Project Implementation Enemalta is presently at the final stage of installing a SCADA system, this being part of the multi projects being implemented in the Power

System network. The SCADA system provides a complete graphical view of the 132kV, 33kV and 11kV network from a central control room. This includes a detailed substation single-line display for all Distribution Centres located in Malta, Comino and Gozo together with Marsa and Delimara Power Stations.

Detail of SCADA system graphical representation The information in the SCADA servers is updated automatically from the site Remote Terminal Units (RTU) or the Substation Control Systems (SCS) that are installed in each Distribution Centre and Power Station. The Medium Voltage network, consisting of about 1400 11kV/400V substations located throughout the Maltese Islands, will be modelled in the SCADA system and this will be used for keeping as an operated image of the MV network. Since there is no data acquisition from the distributions substations, data will be entered manually. The SCADA system provides remote control of breakers and isolators that are installed in Distribution Centres. Furthermore transformers tap changers, used to correct voltage automatically are also operated remotely from the central control room. In addition to this the control room engineers, through the event

February 2013

Issue No. 44

Supervisory, Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) Project (cont.)

and alarm handling of the SCADA system, are made aware of disturbances in the network and also be alerted with important events that may occur, such as tripping of circuit breakers, following a fault on the network. Dynamic Network Colouring is used by the SCADA system to display the electrical state of all power lines, cables and equipment in the network. This will assist the control room engineers during normal switching operations, faults and supply restoration. All alarms, events, measurements and operators actions are documented in a historical archive. This data will assist engineers when planning switching operations and reinforcement projects on the high voltage network.

Substation Remote Terminal Unit (RTU) installation The SCADA also includes a switching order management system that enables an interactive definition, pre-implementation testing and operator controlled execution of switching orders directly from the control room. An outage reporting system is also implemented. The outage reports give relevant statistics suited for an electrical distribution company. Outages are stored and further information

February 2013

Issue No. 44

can be added such as classifications, reasons of outage and outage descriptions. The stored data from different outage reports then can be merged to obtain key performance indicators such as Customer Minutes Off Supply, System Average Interruption Duration Index, etc. The project implementation commenced in August 2009 and extends on 3 years of continuous activity consisting of four phases where all major works are carried out by Enemalta engineers and technicians assisted by ABB engineers. Phase 1 included the system design by ABB and system overview training for Enemalta Engineers. In Phase 2 Enemalta engineers commenced with the implementation building of the graphical displays through data engineering using the ABB software provided for this purpose. Together with this activity, site engineers and technicians were working to compile the necessary data and implement the necessary wiring adaptation for the 33kV and 11kV switchgear. Once wiring adaptation and software engineering was finalised in each Distribution Centre, the necessary tests were carried out to confirm the functionality of the SCADA system. Thus the first implemented Distribution Centres were providing real time data acquisition and control. Phase 3 provided the continuation of the site RTU installations and switchgear wiring adaptation together with further data engineering, testing, commissioning and adding further on-line Distribution Centres. Phase 4, being carried out this year, will conclude the implementation of the project

HMX after modification

systems installed, the Load Shedding is being implemented at the Distribution Centres level. This required implementation works in the SCADA system and in the RTUs or Substation Control Systems installed in each Distribution Centre. In each Distribution Centre UnderFrequency relays were installed to monitor the frequency and, if the frequency falls below a set threshold, a trip signal is sent to the substation automation. The SCADA system has a load shedding matrix for feeders and frequency levels. This matrix decides which feeders at 11kV level are tripped when a trip signal is received from the frequency levels. With this Load shedding system shedding loads is more flexible such that the minimum load required is only disconnected to re-establish the electrical system stability in the least minimum time possible. Future Development of the SCADA Project In the coming years more Distribution Centres will be built and commissioned, these will also be integrated with the SCADA project.

33/11kV switchgear wiring adaptation thus project will be fully operational and handed over to Enemalta who will be responsible for the operation and the upkeep of the SCADA project.

The electricity interconnector between Malta and Sicily will also be integrated with the SCADA project thus it assists in the control of power exchange between the two islands. Substations at 11kV levels may also be integrated into the SCADA project but these required extensive switchgear works before such an integration can be implemented. ET

Load Shedding Traditionally load shedding to stabilise the network following loss of generation or major network, was carried out at the Power Stations outgoing feeders. Now, with the SCADA project and the substation automation

Ing. John Caruana

Manager Network Maintenance, Distribution Department, Enemalta Corporation

February 2013

Issue No. 44

Building · Manufacturing · Water · Food & Beverage · Automotive · Marine · Pharmaceutical · Oil & Gas

ESI introduces TIA Portal The cutting edge automation and drive technology from Siemens.

With Totally Integrated Automation [TIA], Siemens is the only vendor of a uniform spectrum of products and systems for automation in all industrial sectors – covering the field level, production control level up to linking to the company management level.

41, Dawret il-Wied, Mosta, MST 2324, Malta.

Tel: +356 2141 0381 Fax: +356 2143 6981

Implementation of an Integrated SCADA and F&G System at Gasco LPG Plant Gasco Energy’s LPG marine terminal, storage and bottling plant started operation in July 2012. This facility has a storage capacity to 4800 metric Tons of LPG. The storage is divided into six bulk underground storage tanks. The supply of gas is received from the vessel moored to a jetty via a pipeline some 1.2km away. ESI (Malta) Ltd were responsible to supply, install, software program, test and commission a SCADA control system and a Fire and Gas detection system (FGDS) for this plant.

Screen shots’ illustrating samples of the software application ESI implemented at Gasco

The SCADA system is based on a Siemens S7300 PLC with a Client/Server architecture and Web Clients. It controls and monitors various parts of the plant; LPG tanks and valves, pumps and compressors, electrical switchgear. The FGDS is fully integrated in the SCADA.

The heart of the system is the PLC, an S7319-3PN/DP. Five other sub-panels house the remote I/Os as PROFINET-IOs. The PROFINET-IO system is distributed over an area of 30,000m2. The system includes over 500 input/output points. High level integrated communications over MODBUS is made with a Dräger fire and gas detection system, tank instrumentation and electrical energy meters. The fire and gas detection system is based on a Dräger REGARD panel and has 50+ field devices connected including UV/IR flame detectors, LPG gas detectors, manual call points, sounders, beacons, et. The client requested to have maximum flexibility in the operation of the plant which required that all the possible combination of the six tanks filling, emptying and transfers would be available at the press of a button. ESI came up with a menu and icon driven SCADA, which the client accepted due to its flexibility and ease of use. This had to be programmed into a cause and effect matrix defining all 118 possible selections. During software tests and actual plant commissioning each selection was tested individually to guarantee correct operation. Additionally, an extensive context sensitive help system enhances the ease of use for the operators. The project is valued at more than €500K and was completed on time in July 2012. The plant will be filling around a million cylinders a year.

Engineering for Science and Industry (Malta) Ltd. 41, Dawret il-Wied, Mosta, MST 2324, Malta Tel: +356 2141 0381 - Fax: +356 2143 6981 Web: www.esimalta.com

Camozzi Pneumatic Solutions Camozzi pneumatic solutions A full range of products

the automation industry

Data logging and recipes options Advanced communication (except Jazzand Series) Data logging recipes Auto-tune control (except Jazz PID Series) Variety ofPID onboard Auto-tune control& Expandable I/O Free Remote Access Variety of onboard & Expandable I/O FreeRemote Programming Free Access software Reduced Programming - a Single Free Programming software Programming environment for Reduced Programming - a Single Both PLC & HMI Applications Programming environment for • Both LessPLC Wiring, less space required & HMI Applications SaveWiring, I/O points and reduces hardware •• Less less space required • Save I/O points and reduces hardware

M I

A full range of products for for the automation industry

•• • • •• •• • • • • •

Camozzi's pneumatic components

Call now for a free demonstration Call now forindustry a freerequirement, demonstration with this

M I X

A full range of products for the automation industry for the automation industry

C O M U N I C A Z I O N E

Camozzi pneumatic solutions Camozzi pneumatic solutions A full range of products

M I

M I X

C O M U N I C A Z I O N E

Special Promotional Prices have been further developed Special Promotional Prices to meet any automation

3D 3D

PRINTER PRINTER

M I X

C O M U N I C A Z I O N E

M I

Rapid RapidPrototyping PrototypingSystem System Camozzi's pneumatic components

tailor-made solutions.

have been further developed

Today Camozzi is an important

to meet any automation

industrial field partner

industry requirement, with this

with worldwide distributors

ever more demanding field looking

and direct branch companies,

for innovation and reliability,

able to provide their customers

Camozzi can offer the flexibility

with the most efficient

and capacity to provide complex,

and fastest assistance anywhere.

RAYAIRAutomation AutomationLtd. Ltd. RAYAIR KW23G,Corradino CorradinoIndustrial Industrial Estate,Paola Estate,Paola KW23G,

industrial field p with worldwide

and direct bran

for innovation and reliability,

able to provide

Camozzi can offer the flexibility

with the most e

and capacity to provide complex,

and fastest assi

tailor-made solutions.

have been further developed

Today Camozzi is an important

to meet any automation

industrial field partner

industry requirement, with this

with worldwide distributors

ever more demanding field looking

and direct branch companies,

for innovation and reliability,

able to provide their customers

Camozzi can offer the flexibility

with the most efficient

and capacity to provide complex,

and fastest assistance anywhere.

Air that moves the Worldwide technical support Customised solutions Global commercial network

Tel: (+356) (+356) 2167 21672497 2497 Air Fax: (+356) (+356) 2180 21805181 5181 info@rayair-automation.com info@rayair-automation.com

that moves the world.

www.camozzi.com

3D PRINTER

Rapid Prototyping System

RAYAIR Automation Ltd. KW23G, Corradino Industrial Estate,Paola

Today Camozzi

ever more demanding field looking

Camozzi's pneumatic components

A Camozzi Group Company

Air that moves the world.

tailor-made solu

Tel: (+356) 2167 2497 Fax: (+356) 2180 5181 info@rayair-automation.com

Interview with Ing. Marco Cremona by Ing. John Pace

The Hotec Process.

The Hotec Process was the winner of the Engineering Excellence Award for Industrial Excellence for 2012. Engineering Today interviewed Ing. Marco Cremona him on this process, which he pioneered. ET: You are a well known figure following your conquest of Everest and your work in Sri Lanka after the tsunami. But tell us something about your background as a hydrologist. MC: I graduated in Mechanical Engineering in 1992 and my final year project at University was the design of a solar powered reverse osmosis unit. I made contact with Panta Lesco who at that time were installing the first reverse osmosis plants in hotels and my first job was with them installing and servicing these plants. In 1995 I attended a Masters course in Hydrology, which

is the science of water in its wide context, rain water, wells, sewage, etc. I was then involved in leading a team in water treatment projects, and was also involved in Environment Impact Assessment of certain large projects including government sewage treatment projects. In 2002 I started as a private consultant in water and sewage matters. ET: What was the origin of the Hoter process? MC: The idea started in 2005. In some countries, typically Malta, potable water is not abundant. It has to be extracted or produced by desalination and then distributed through the piping system. So the consumer is supplied with high quality water, but most of this water is used for toilet flushing, laundry, watering plants, etc, which does not need to be potable water. After use this water becomes a liability, and you have to provide for its disposal. It is no longer permissible to dump this waste in the sea so it has to be treated. The whole system is therefore extremely inefficient. So I have looked at hotels which use large amounts of water and this justifies a two stage process: The first process purifies the waste water and makes

Closing the water loop

HOTER: Development of an innovative wastewater recycling process for hotels/ large commerical buildings / isolated communities for environmental protection and cost recovery

Toilets

Baths

Wash Basin

HOTER HOTER HOTER HOTER

Bowser

MBR

2nd Class Water

70-80% on site

g lin cyc e r er wat

1st Class Water

Mains

Showers

Closing the water loop: 70 - 80% on site water recycling

Sea water RO Sewerage System

Project Partners:

MCST Research & Innovation Programme 2006

February 2013

Issue No. 44

PUB 915013

expert !

A universal Multi-Function Meter range to optimise the measurement, control and management of your electrical installation. > Easy installation and usage > Accurate measurement (class 0,5S) > Customised upgradability (communication protocoles, I / Oâ&#x20AC;Ś) > Ethernet connectivity with embedded web server > IEC 61557-12, IEC 62053-22 / -23

Improve your energy performance with SOCOMEC.

Triq il-Kappillan Mifsud Hamrun, HMR1855 Tel: 21241111 â&#x20AC;˘ Fax: 21243706 Email: hydrolectric@hydrolectric.com.mt

www.socomec.com

DIRIS range

Multi-function meters

Interview with Ing. Marco Cremona (cont.)

Ing. Marco Cremona checking the biological treatment process of HOTER it suitable for toilet flushing, irrigation and maybe swimming pools etc, and that will utilize 40 or even 50 percent of the waste water as second class water, so the quality of the water produced is of the same standard as what is needed. It does not make sense to treat all the waste water and throw away 50 percent of it. It is no longer sewage, but treated effluent. By purifying this water to potable quality it can be used not only for drinking, but also for showers and washhand basins, where the regulations state that it has to be of potable quality. And that is what the Hoter process does. ET: What is innovative in this process? MC: The process is a combination of the two processes, sewage treatment and water purification in the context of a single building, that is not, for example, the public water supply. Hotels are an ideal situation, where the nature of the waste water is consistent and the volume of water involved is predictable, even if it varies with the season. With hotels you have to study the volume of the waste water over the whole year and size the system accordingly. You also have to determine the use of potable and second class water. The system has to be compact and also energy efficient. It has to be cost effective and compare with the available alternatives, such as a reverse osmosis unit to provide drinking water. The advantage of the

system is that you will reuse some 85% of the water â&#x20AC;&#x201C; you will still have to have a source to replenish the other 15% - and another advantage is that you do not have a discharge into the public sewer system. We do not have a sewage tariff in Malta, but in other countries sewage has to be paid for according to its use, applying the Polluter Pays principle. So there is the double saving in water supply and sewage charges. This looks good on paper, but I carried out a project to prove the system. I applied and was given a grant from the Malta Council for Science and Technology and developed and carried out a project at a particular hotel, where I treated part of the sewage, about 10%, equal to about 15 tons a day, and tested the performance of the plant over a whole year. My partner in the project was the Department of Public Health, which is a good thing, as the main obstacle was the acceptance that the quality of the water is guaranteed. I believe that this is the worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s first case of this combined system under one roof, where potable water is produced from sewage. This system is not specifically designed for Malta; in fact it is more suited to other places where access to public water supply is more difficult or where sewage charges apply. ET: What does the system look like? MC: The first stage is buffering, where there is a storage of the untreated sewage. This is because the flow is very variable, being high in the morning and early evening, low at other times and very low during the night. The process ideally works with constant flow. A screen removes solid objects and then there is a biological process where the sewage is treated by means of bacteria which basically need two requirements, air and food, the latter being the

February 2013

Issue No. 44

J H WAT E R TECHNOLOGY & C O N S U LTA N C Y MEDICAL & INDUSTRIAL LABORATORY ANALYSIS

We specialize in water analysis, treatment & corrosion and scaling control for industrial plants, R.O. systems, boilers, swimming pools, fresh water wells, etc. Both bacteriological and chemical analysis are performed.

Quality assurance of your: • Swimming Pool • Fresh Water Well

• R.O. Systems • Industrial Plant Effluent

For more information contact:

JAMAL HAIDER Medical & Industrial Laboratory Scientist

‘Tarshiha’ 68, Manche Street, Pembroke STJ 1112, Malta

Phone: (+356) 2137 3194 Mobile: (+356) 9949 0739 Fax: (+356) 2138 0292 Email: jhaider@shadow.net.mt

Interview with Ing. Marco Cremona (cont.)

sewage itself. Air is provided by aeration using compressors, and a population of bacteria is maintained to digest the sewage. As long as sufficient air is provided the system works well and there are no smells. The resulting liquid contains large amounts of suspended solids, and is brown in colour. Instead of a settling tank as in large sewage works, a membrane filter is used whose pore size is such that bacteria does not go through and the resulting liquid is clean water. This membrane is not the same as in reverse osmosis as dissolved solids are not removed, but the water is free of bacteria and of suspended solids, and is suitable as second class water. The second stage is to produce potable water from this second class water, and it is here that reverse osmosis is used. This is more efficient than using reverse osmosis to produce fresh water from sea water, as the amount of dissolved solids is much less and the amount of water dumped is proportionally less. In the first stage some 99% of the sewage is converted to second class water, while in the second stage I have achieved a production of 75 % of the feed water into potable water. An overall achievement of 85% reuse is the end result of the two processes. The process is flexible as the use of second class water varies with the season, for example if more irrigation is used in summer. ET: Is it safe to drink treated sewage? MC: The standard of the water from the reverse osmosis stage is not inferior to that of mains water. The membrane in the first stage is ultrafiltration, capable of removing bacteria and viruses, and this is more so in the reverse osmosis stage. Additionally the water is dosed by means of chlorination in the same

Incoming sewage; activated sludge; 2nd class water (before disinfection and colour-removal); potable-grade water controlled manner as in mains water. There is real time monitoring at all stages and if there is a malfunction the system is automatically stopped. ET: Is the system specifically for hotels? MC: There are many situations where the system can be used. For instance a high rise residential building is built in a location where the public sewer system is insufficient to cater for the amount of sewage, or a tourist complex in an exotic place where the water supply cannot cope with the demands of the complex. ET: What experience is there on the system? MC: I have installed the system on a prototype with a consumption of 15 cubic meters a day for over a year and I also have a contract with a hotel where I installed and own the system, and sell the treated water to the hotel at favourable prices. The risk is on me but I am confident that the technology is right and will achieve the expected results. ET: Is the system complex to operate, and does it require specialized operators? MC: The system is provided with the right amount of automation and instrumentation for monitoring the performance, but needs regular inspections especially in the initial stages. ET: Does the tariff system in Malta encourage private sewage treatment?

February 2013

Issue No. 44

Interview with Ing. Marco Cremona (cont.)

MC: The Water Service Corporation does not charge for its sewage and this is against EU standards which applies the Polluter Pays principle. Water quality is also problematic and more of the water is coming from reverse osmosis. There is a need to address these problems. HOTER was one of three finalists in the prestigious Euro 250,000-prize CNBC/ Allianz Good Entrepreneur 2009 competition that sought the Best Green Business Idea in Europe, for which there were 250 entries. CNBC produced 4 episodes of 45 minutes each which were broadcast worldwide in November/December 2009 (with repetitions in 2010). Although HOTER did not win the big prize, it was voted as the most popular project among the 250 entries.

HOTER also won the national prize in the Energy Globe awards 2009, which is recognised as the foremost prize for sustainable initiatives in the world. In 2012 Marco Cremona was nominated and shortlisted for the Stockholm Water Prize 2012, which is recognised as the Nobel Prize equivalent in the water sector. Of course, HOTER was a contributing factor in this world-class shortlist. ET

Ing. John Pace Editor, Engineering Today

February 2013

Issue No. 44

improve your current situation.

The digital power supply! The new SM3300 series is digital and is ready for use within a second. The input of the SM3300-series has been designed to be connected to every grid in the world. Single phase or 3 phase, this power supply can handle them both as long as the input voltage is between 180 VAC and 528 VAC. The grapical display, standard ethernet interface and web-server offer extended settings and monitoring.

DELTA MALTA Ltd DC POWER SUPPLIES

Painting without paint by Luke Said

“Investigating the Potential of Aesthetic Laser Marking in the Toy Manufacturing Industry”. This article is about a final year project from the Department of Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering by Mr. Luke Said, supervised by Ing. Pierre Vella and Ing. Emmanuel Francalanza. Environmental friendliness and cost effectiveness are two critical characteristics to take into consideration when selecting a manufacturing process. Laser marking possesses both. Aesthetic laser marking, is a geometrically flexible process used to achieve aesthetic features. This process can be automated using special purpose software which governs the design of the features as well as processing parameters of this process. Playmobil Malta Ltd was interested in the feasibility of this process in order to replace costly conventional pad printing. The latter uses ink whereas laser marking requires no form of material deposition. Hence the only cost involved is the cost to operate the laser. Playmobil Malta Ltd had carried out initial experimentation with laser marking on two existing plastic products which were the ‘Baby Crocodile’ and the ‘Baby Koala’. These two are mass produced using pad printing; and successfully replicating them using laser marking would be very beneficial. These two products can be seen in Figure 1.

Figure 1- Baby Crocodile and Baby Koala

Ethylene Vinyl Acetate (EVA) is the bulk polymer used in both cases, and the both have the same grey ‘masterbatch’. The latter is the colorant of an injection moulded part. The crocodile has the inclusion of a foaming agent, which modifies the mechanical properties of the product. The aim of this process applied to these products, is to achieve a black mark on a grey background. As can be seen clearly in Figure 1, only a darker shade of grey was achieved. Hence further optimization was required in order to make the process feasible. The effects of using a different material were also proposed. The first objective was therefore the optimization of the current marking process, by identifying the most effective process parameters. The second objective was to use the knowledge generated in order to investigate the possibility of using a different material. In order to meet the aforementioned objectives, an understanding of the laser marking process was required. Laser marking simply involves a material reacting to a laser beam. The process is governed by the absorption mechanisms involved in this process; and illustration of so can be seen in Figure 2.

Figure 2- Laser Marking Principle

February 2013

Issue No. 44

Painting without paint (cont.)

The type of reaction that takes place depends on the wavelength of the laser, coupled with the absorption mechanisms of the surface of the material being marked. Two types of wavelengths are used for the marking of plastics; infrared and ultraviolet. The former causes heat induced reactions whereas the latter causes photochemical reactions. An example of a heat induced reaction is carburizing of the material surface. This leads to a darker marking due to the ‘burning’ of the surface. Photochemical reactions involve a molecule absorbing an incident photon and changing chemically. These reactions require the highest photonic energy. An example of a photochemical reaction is the photochemical ‘degradation’ of Titanium Dioxide, which upon exposure to ultraviolet rays turns from white to grey. A Design of Experiments (DOE) approach was employed in this project. This is the systematic design and carrying out of experiments in order to make appropriate conclusions about the results achieved. The phases of this approach involve Planning Experiments, Designing Experiments,

Conducting Experiments, Analysing Results and Conclusions. The first thing that was considered was the laser in use at Playmobil Malta Ltd. This is a 3 Watt, 3555nm wavelength laser. Hence the marking process is photochemical. For the optimization of the baby koala and baby crocodile EVA and a grey ‘masterbatch’ had to be considered; as well as the inclusion of the foaming agent. The majority of products made by pad printing in this company are made of Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS). Hence this was the second material to be considered. White and Natural ABS were considered as well as the addition of a mark enhancing additive for each. The design of the laser marking was achieved using special purpose software. A critical question that was asked at this stage was: “What are we going to measure in order to assess the quality achieved by the material selection and processing parameters used?” The answer was colour. The principles of colourimetry were used in order to measure the colour achieved. This is expressed as the ‘distance’ of an achieved colour from a reference colour.

Figure 3 - Best Results Achieved

February 2013

Issue No. 44

Painting without paint (cont.)

The reference colour used for the EVA products was theoretical pure black whereas for the ABS products, the most aesthetically pleasing result was used as a reference for the Natural and the ‘moss grey’ RAL colour was used for the White. The design of the mark was simply a 20mm circle as was marked on a colour tag shape; which is the flattest available part made by the company. Figure 3 shows the best results achieved. From left to right the materials in Figure 3 are: Grey EVA with (top) and without (bottom) the foaming agent, White ABS with (top) and without (bottom) the mark enhancing additive and Natural ABS with (top) and without (bottom) the mark enhancing additive.

From the results achieved it is evident that the colour achieved is based on the material and laser selection. The contrast achieved is greatly dependent on the processing parameters; the most effective of which is the Pulse Frequency. Further optimization can be achieved as part of future work. Also a different laser and more materials could be tested. Playmobil Malta did not find the current state of aesthetic laser marking feasible for mass production. However regardless of this, this manufacturing process has shown to have great potential. ET

The foaming agent did not affect the mark for EVA. The mark enhancing additive gave slightly better contrast for White ABS, and gave clearly superior results for Natural ABS. The most effective process parameter was found to be the Pulse Frequency (Pulses/second). For a fixed laser power, a lower number of pulses yield a higher pulse power, and hence more photons are available to cause photochemical reactions. The number of photons per pulse can be found using equation 1: Equation 1 Where P is the laser power, λ is the wavelength of the laser beam, F is the pulse frequency, h is Planck’s constant, and c is the speed of light.

Luke Said

Graduated in 2011 Currently reading for a Masters in Mechanical Engineering, Department of Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering, University of Malta

February 2013

Issue No. 44

Layout_Layout 1 05/02/2013 14:58 Page 1