From the Foundation for Research, Science and Technology
Kiwi innovation is helping a New Zealand security equipment company unlock export orders that could result in 80 percent
of its revenue coming from offshore.
Automation Engineering Ltd, of Penrose, Auckland, has developed a new electronic security control system that the
company says solves many user and installation problems.
"We've attracted the interest of several overseas companies," Automation Engineering sales manager Geoff Dawson says.
"One deal we hope to finalise soon is with a British-based firm that is targeting the European and China markets."
"Our vision is to generate at least 80 percent of our income from overseas."
Research to develop the new Infinity control units has been supported by investment from Technology New Zealand, which
helps businesses develop new products, processes or services.
The units are aimed at installers of security systems in houses, buildings and industrial sites.
Mr Dawson says use of a “Neuron” processor allows the controllers to operate several functions at the same time.
"Conventional controllers have just one microprocessor and have to operate sequentially – the Infinity range has the
equivalent of three processors and can be detecting movements in one sector of a building and triggering an alarm even
while it is dialling the monitoring company," he says.
"This adds real power for complex security applications."
The controllers can also be easily upgraded, and if extra circuits need to be wired up, the installer simply plugs new
expansion modules in.
Silicon rather than glass-based fuses help the system operate even when there are partial failures elsewhere in the
security system.
This means the controller can monitor faults and reactivate if the faults rectify – it doesn't just close down.
Mr Dawson says sales will mean more jobs for his company, which already has nine employees.
“It’s also changing our status from being an importer to a manufacturer and exporter.”
He says the Technology New Zealand research investment helped the project “a huge amount – we couldn’t have done it
without the investment”.
-ends-
Contact: · Geoff Dawson, Automation Engineering Ltd, Auckland.
Ph: (09) 571-0073.
Fax: (09) 571-0377.