By JO-MARIE BROWN
A high-pressure environment is set to pay dividends for an Auckland structural-steel firm which has produced a revolutionary cutting machine that emits water at twice the speed of sound.
The Beamline 600, launched yesterday by Glendene's Dixon and Haddon Structural Steel, uses high-pressure water with an added garnet abrasive
to cut three-dimensional shapes into structural steel beams.
Project manager Wayne Carson said the machine had been patented world-wide because of its three-dimensional capacity.
"Traditionally, water-cutting has been confined to flat sheets, whereas we can cut something that has a shape to it. It can go inside a beam, twist up and go all around. It can cut any shape we want."
The $1.5 million machine took two years to develop and received a $245,000 grant from Technology New Zealand.
Howick Engineering and Kinetic Engineering helped Dixon and Haddon in the Beamline 600's research and development.
Mr Carson said overseas interest looked promising.
"This machine is world-leading. We're very positive about the opportunities for international sales of the technology.
"It is computer-controlled and overall provides a better quality product in a faster time."
The technology would allow Dixon and Haddon to increase production and become more competitive within export markets.
The machine was up to seven times faster than manual cutting.
Before the Beamline 600, shapes would have to be manually marked out, cut with a gas cutter and then ground down to produce a smooth finish.
Minister of Research, Science and Technology Maurice Williamson said the development of the Beamline 600 was a stunning project.
"New Zealand needs a lot more of these innovative, world-class, dramatic projects.
"The Beamline machine is a good example of the Technology New Zealand scheme helping New Zealand businesses increase profits through innovation."
