Megadale is a provider of precision automation equipment and machine build services to all areas of industry with extensive experience in the medical device, food & beverage and pharmaceutical industries. They specialise in the design and build of custom automation equipment. They have developed a reputation as a creative, trustworthy and highly professional company and supply equipment to some of the world’s leading multinational companies.Responsibilities:• Mechanical design of components and equipment using Solidworks, in accordance with the company standards.• Releasing of drawings using Enterprise PDM and following the quality procedures.• Sourcing equipment and components, including conveyors, pneumatics, robotic grippers and sensors.• Liaising with customers throughout the project lifecycle providing detailed design reviews.• Generating Bill of Materials automatically from Enterprise PDM for the purchasing officer.• Liaising and collaborating with other departments throughout the project lifecycle.• Writing machine user manuals for customers.

JMP Engineering is a supplier of palletising, packaging and handling systems. Over 400 systems have been installed throughout the world. With several hundred Robotic Palletising systems installed around the world, JMP has excellent knowledge and experience in all aspects of material handling across a wide range of industries. Systems are located in New Zealand, Australia, USA, Canada, United Kingdom, Ireland, Indonesia, China, Fiji, Malaysia, South America and Dubai. Their expertise, design capabilities and innovations are respected throughout the industry and around the World.Responsibilities:• Mechanical design of components and equipment using Autocad and Inventor software packages, in accordance with the company standards.• Finalising layouts and specifications to meet customer requirements.• Managing and releasing technical data according to company procedures.• Selection of components including drive motors, pneumatic cylinders and bearings. • Continuous improvement in the design of existing equipment.• Providing production and technical support to floor staff up to testing and commissioning of equipment.• Documenting bill of materials correctly and liaising with the purchasing team, ensuring all components are ordered for the system.• Liaising with members of the production team, ensuring deadlines are met within the required time frame.

Cubic Defence New Zealand Limited is a leading supplier of training systems for defence forces around the world. The CDNZ simulators allow the users to train troops in the field providing a high level of realism, enforcing correct procedures and yielding outcomes that would be expected in actual operation. Training outcomes range from procedural use of equipment and field craft to tactical aspects of an exercise obtained from during/after action review. The current range of in-service products includes infantry, armour/vehicle and Combat Training Centre systems. Responsibilities:• Innovative design of parts, assemblies and drawings in SolidWorks following the company’s value stream map.• Scheduling all tasks from concept design to final release stage using Microsoft Project.• Designing to military specification.• Investigating root causes of complex problems from change order requests and proposing a practical solution to overcome the problem under tight deadlines.• Liaising with suppliers to ensure quality and repeatability.• Simulated stress analysis through the use of finite element analysis (FEA).• Workshop assistance at prototype stage.• Prototype building and testing to validate the product design.• Entering bills of material to the company system using solidworks macro.• Managing and releasing of technical data using Enterprise PDM according to company procedures.• Production assistance, resolving any issues.• Survey participation at military bases in New Zealand and Australia.

Echo Ovens Ltd is a supplier of food processing equipment. The company specialises in equipment design, engineering, process technology and research and development. My key responsibility was the innovative design and engineering of industrial ovens and other food related equipment using SolidWorks/AutoCad. Many machines have been fabricated to suit the needs of customers using current and new designs. Responsibilities: • Liaising with manufacturers re drawings and new designs of current machines. • Creating flat patterns and adding them to drawings for manufacturers. • Component selection including mechanical jack and pneumatic systems, drive motors and fans.• Careful selection of material to suit food grade requirements and high temperatures.• Maintaining and updating company website using Microsoft Frontpage.• Converting SolidWorks design into images using photoworks 3D rendering and adding images to brochures using Microsoft Publisher.• Designing of Food Processing lines through AutoCAD. • Scheduling welding, fitting, electric cabling, installation, etc using Microsoft Project.

My cooperative placement was with Element 6. Element 6 is a global leader and innovator in supermaterials. The company’s activities are organized into four distinct areas – Advanced Materials, Hard Materials, Oil & Gas and Technologies. The company has production sites in China, South Africa, Sweden, The Netherlands, Ukraine, Germany, Ireland and the UK. My key responsibility here was as a team member in a development project to improve the surface finish on the polycrystalline diamond layer of syndite discs.Responsibilities: • Running tests on the EDM machine using certain settings to remove material from the PCD layer of the syndite discs.• Analysing the surface finish of the PCD layer after testing and noting results. Passing discs on for scanning and then to polishing.• Checking disks for cracks, chips or defects after polishing.• Keeping regular contact with project supervisor with up to date progress.• Noting and documenting results and machine settings.