N E W S 14 December 2017 Scott Machinery make Christmas very merry with 10 dozen Speights The Machinerysales ‘Lunchroom’ competition is now over, with the very merry team at Scott Machinery taking out this month’s prize of 10 dozen beer, which no doubt will make for another merry Christmas. Over the course of the year Machierysales has given away in excess of 50 dozen beers to the industry, and the response and your efforts have been notable. Next year we’ll have something different for you to sink your teeth into, but on behalf of Machinerysales and its bigger Slight dip in manufacturing levels New Zealand's manufacturing activity dipped in October, although economists say it's too soon to tell whether the new Labour-led government has had an impact. The BusinessNZ-Bank of New Zealand performance of manufacturing index fell 0.4 of a point to a seasonally adjusted 57.2 in October, extending its run of expansionary readings above 50 in every month since October 2012. BNZ senior economist Craig Ebert says the index had held at a "solidly expansive level", but with the government proclaimed 19 days into the month, "we might prefer to see how the PMI goes in November and December before awarding any merit certificates. But October’s result was certainly encouraging, as was September’s – bearing in mind the PMI is about the nuts and bolts of activity rather than sentiment about where things might be heading." Robotics evolution, humanoid robot does backflip Boston Dynamics’ latest Atlas humanoid robot jumps, hops and gets around like a real human, but it’s latest feat has astounded with the robot performing a backflip – then raises it’ arms in the arm in a very human-like celebration. Atlas is 1.5 metres tall and weighs in at 75kg, capable of carrying an 11kg payload. It is battery powered, features hydraulic actuation and LiDAR and stereo vision perception. York takes Lyttelton helm Richard York has taken up the position of general manager at Lyttelton Engineering, replacing Doug Cockerell. Mr Cockerell held the position for more than 20 years before being appointed as managing director after Rob Gendall passed away. The engineering company is best known for ship repairs, heavy steel fabrication, as well as machining and industrial work. Innovative hydrofoil bike revealed at Big Boys Toys After years of development and hard work, Waikato-based company Manta5 publically revealed the prototype of its innovative on-water hydrofoil e-bike, Hydrofoiler XE-1, at the Big Boys Toys expo in Auckland. “We had huge amount of interest from the public,” says Manta5 marketing manager Louis Wilks. “People loved the design and a lot of them said they attended the expo just to see the bike. That gave us a lot of encouragement and validated what the team has spent so long working on.” Thought to be the world’s first commercially viable hydrofoil e-bike, the Manta5 Hydrofoiler XE-1 has been designed to replicate the cycling experience on water, which means riders can plane over the surface of the water – whether a lake, river or ocean. Despite strong interest from overseas, the production model will first be released to New Zealand customers only, as a limited-edition pre-order with a spring 2018 delivery date. The current production prototype, seen by visitors to the Big Boys Toys Expo, is a pedal-assisted motorized electric bike designed for the recreational user. If a rider becomes tired of pedalling, they can change the level of motor assist and cruise. “We can’t wait to see these in use on New Zealand lakes and beachfronts around the country,” says Wilks. “They appeal to people as a cross training tool, for fitness, but there was also a lot of interest from people who want to use them for fun at their bach over summer.” A unique feature of the bike is its ability to relaunch from a submerged state in the water – a world-first thanks to the company’s team of specialist designers and engineers. To achieve this the bike has two carbon fibre hydrofoils, which are designed to provide enough lift to raise the body of the bike and rider out of the water. At its top motorised speed the bike can reach up to 20 kilometres per hour (but this will likely increase with further research and development). Suitable for use in the ocean as well as the lake, the bike’s design enables it to cut through choppy water and ride over gently rolling waves. The Hydrofoiler XE-1 can used in both fresh and salt water, and its waterproof battery can be removed and recharged on any standard power outlet. Made from strong carbon fibre and aircraft grade aluminium, the bikes are light enough to carry (about 20 kilograms) and buoyant so they float in water. “People at the expo also told us they liked that the bike can be easily broken down for transportation on a car’s roof rack or in the back of a Ute or station wagon,” says Wilks. brother, Engineering News, the team want to wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. But, remember, drink in moderation and responsibly and of greatest importance – be safe – and see you all in 2018.
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