Engineering Graduate Produces Unique Manufacturing Machine

1 February 2013

“World First” – Engineering Graduate Produces Unique Manufacturing Machine

The superconductor industry, in which New Zealand is an R&D leader, has the potential to deliver enormous energy and cost efficiencies to the conduction of electricity. Integral to the superconductor revolution is Roebel cable, serving an emerging global cable market that is forecast to be worth hundreds of millions of dollars a year

General Cable Superconductors, the only company worldwide that manufactures Roebel cable on a commercial scale, is benefitting from a brand new manufacturing unit which it believes is unique in the world. Designed and produced by Lachlan Clelland, Wellington Institute of Technology Bachelor of Engineering Technology graduate, the Continuous Flexible Winding machine is already in place and improving productivity according to General Cable Superconductors CEO Andrew Priest.

“We’re very impressed this idea has come from such a young engineer. The Continuous Flexible Winding machine designed and produced by Lachlan is a world first. It has made the manufacture of cable more efficient and the process is less complex as a result,” says Andrew Priest.

“Lachlan has demonstrated an extremely high standard of multidisciplinary engineering. Because of this and the innovation and inspiration evident in this product we have decided to recognise Lachlan with an award at the Wellington Institute of Technology graduation on 7 February. This award recognises quite an exceptional engineering project.”

Lachlan Clelland (pictured) is also the recipient of the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET) prize for top Bachelor of Engineering Technology student. IET Council member David Owen said, I am delighted to recognise an outstanding young engineer through the Top Student prize.”

“I’m pretty happy to be receiving these awards. The last three years at WelTec studying on the Bachelor of Engineering Technology have been great. The experience has enabled me to upskill and move on with my career. Now I have a job as a design engineer with Fluid Power Solutions, a hydraulics company in Nelson so my degree has really paid off,” says Lachlan.

Next week’s graduation ceremony will recognise the first graduating class of WelTec’s innovative Bachelor of Engineering Technology degree.

This year WelTec has been awarded additional funding to meet the Government’s call for more engineers with 60 more places available on diploma and degree programmes. WelTec is one of only two Institutes of Technology and Polytechnics nationally that offers all three majors (civil, mechanical and electrical) in the New Zealand Diploma of Engineering and Bachelor of Engineering Technology which are engineering qualifications in high demand by employers.

ENDS

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