Tide changes for marine and offshore systems Synthetic spider silk www.engineeringnews.co.nz 11 service centres – of which Jonels is a major Authorised Distribution and Service Centre – Enerpac is introducing to Australasia the versatility of either single or double-acting XC Series cordless pumps, which offer the performance capabilities of an electric pump with the convenient portability of a hand pump. The range actuates hydraulic tools as fast as a basic electric powered pump and create up to 700 bar (10,000 psi) of pressure. This means that XC-Series cordless pumps are up to five times faster than manual hydraulic pumps and up to two times faster than popular pneumatic powered pumps. Jonel Hydraulics business development manager Shane Quigley was part of the service team that worked with Cavalier Bremworth’s production and OHS staff to introduce the cordless technology to its Auckland plant. “Cavalier Bremworth wanted to achieve a high standard of OHS safety by reducing repetitive pumping operations, while also avoiding the need to have electric cords or pneumatic leads in places where they were vulnerable to tripping hazards or to forklift and wheeled vehicle damage in a busy production environment.” Worldwide, countries are systematically establishing protocol and regulations targeting the building construction industry and its environmental impact. To combat global warming, the United States, the UK, and Europe have expressed a deep desire to achieving unprecedented levels of green living and have begun to establish strict sustainable practices in an effort to achieve these goals To address the changing landscape, the construction industry may have to accept responsibility and make changes in order to keep up with both governmental and public demands. The good news is that there is potential to make a significant dent in the trade’s heavy carbon dioxide emissions, use of volatile organic compounds, and fossil fuel consumption. Here are three cutting-edge building materials that could not only be game changers in how buildings and infrastructure will be built in the future, but are also green as all get out. 1. Self-healing concrete Just as a broken bone will eventually heal itself by regenerating its own osteoblast cells, there is now a new concrete product that is embedded with limestone-producing bacteria and calcium lactate which will actually self-seal cracks. After sealing, these products will recover the original load-bearing capacity of the concrete. Self-healing concrete can have a remarkable impact on public safety. Concrete structures will have a much longer life and the cost of repairs may be reduced by up to 50%. It will also give a positive environmental impact by reducing concrete’s massive carbon footprint. 2. Insect-inspired bioplastics Celluloid (the precursor to plastic), invented by John Wesley Hyatt in 1869 revolutionised the world when it replaced ivory as the material of choice. With the ability to be malleable but also hardened, it could shrug off water and oil. It didn’t turn brittle, crack, or become discoloured, and it could be made to look like most natural materials. Plastic has undoubtedly revolutionised every aspect of our world and is about to revolutionise it once again. There is now a new process that makes thin, clear, flexible, recyclable plastic that is as strong as aluminium at half the weight. Named Shrilk, this next generation of plastic is inspired by insects’ hard outer shells and is made from discarded shrimp shells and proteins derived from silk. Bioplastics have the potential to replace concrete, steel, and wood. Science company giant DuPont believes that this material may replace metal in everything from manufacturing equipment to cars. Coupled with thermoplastic engineering, it provides “excellent creep resistance, can maintain structural performance at high temperatures, and resist corrosion.” 3. Synthetic spider silk “We take a single gene from a golden orb-weaving spider and put it into a goat egg. The idea is to make the goat secrete spider silk into its milk,” says Jeffrey Turner of Nexia Biotechnologies in 2002. Mr Turner’s initial idea never made it out of the lab, but a new product by Spiber has been prototyped. This company is bioengineering bacteria and recombinant DNA to develop a synthetic spider thread with endless variations of versatility. They’ve even been successful at designing a scalable production method. Not only is spider silk 340 times stronger than steel, but in synthetic form it becomes highly customisable and incredibly functional. It is believed that this will become the next generation of high-performance fibre. All signs are pointing to a greener future with a softer environmental footprint. It’s becoming clear that the construction industry will need to look ahead and be prepared to take on this new responsibility. Learn more about the positive effect building materials software can have when producing green building materials. Lloyd’s Register (LR), the global engineering, technical and business services organisation, and the new Technology Centre for Offshore and Marine, Singapore (TCOMS) have agreed to jointly develop technology, infrastructure and skills necessary for future marine and offshore systems, digital and data innovation, and robotic autonomous systems in a marine environment. TCOMS will allow industry partners, technology partners, incubators, regulators and the research community from Singapore and around the world to connect and collaborate through physical and digital modelling of marine and offshore assets. TCOMS will house one of the largest ocean basin test facilities in the world, which will be capable of simulating complex and extreme sea states at water depths of up to 3,000 metres. This state of the art facility will also invest in high performance computing, artificial intelligence, machine learning, big data analytics and cloud computing to push the boundaries of marine and offshore operations. LR’s Technology Radar survey highlighted that digitisation is one of the most effective ways of improving operations, increasing speed to market, enhancing safety, increasing reliability and realising efficiencies. It also points to an increased need for strong capabilities in mathematics, statistics and data alongside the traditional science and engineering skills. However, deployment of new technologies, cultural barriers and mastering advanced technologies are major barriers that need to be overcome in order to realise the benefits of digitisation. Prof Chan Eng Soon, ceo of TCOMS explains: “TCOMS and LR will make an important contribution to the marine and offshore engineering industries in helping stakeholders to adapt and transform their business for the digital economy. We see the world of innovation being one which is about collaboration and co-creation. Efficiency benefits and new business opportunities require innovation and TCOMS will play a key role in fostering fruitful collaborations that will turn bright ideas into impactful real-world applications.” Green building materials could change construction Industry Continued on page 33 >>
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