| 57 T T Richard Loader Innovative solutions Energize Technology’s current primary focus is redesigning and producing precision vacuum sowers for New Zealand nurseries. Energize Technology ENGINEERING Energize Technology Ltd was born from Murrays Nurseries’ passion for innovation and development, and the ultimate goal of producing a robotic harvester that will benefit the forestry nursery business both in New Zealand and abroad. Energize Technology operates out of Murrays Nurseries in Woodville, which aims to grow 15.5 to 16 million pinus radiata seedlings this year, primarily for the forestry industry. Murrays Nurseries had already developed a strong R&D focus around its own nursery production and harvest systems. When the opportunity arose to employ two avionics engineers in February 2022, Managing Director Patrick Murray recognised that the company’s strong focus on R&D could be taken to another level, and Energize Technology was born. The two engineers also brought with them a strong interest in solar energy systems, which Patrick saw as a perfect complement to the nursery business. “Forestry is all carbon off-sets,” says Patrick. “So, the two focus areas of Energize Technology is; R&D for our nursery and the broader industry, and solar energy system designs and installations. “From the R&D perspective the forestry nursery industry is in desperate need of equipment to support their seeding systems. Energize Technology’s current primary focus is redesigning and producing precision vacuum sowers for New Zealand nurseries, with the intention of getting into the North and South American markets. “The existing systems cannot be replaced, and the nurseries are quite anxious about their seeders breaking down and not be being able to sow the seeds they have been contracted in the time lines they have. “We’ve taken on the redesign and production of the existing seeder technology, because there’s no other support for that equipment. Energize Technology has focused on redesigning and manufacturing those existing systems, so precision vacuum sowers can be retro-fitted to existing machines, and enable nurseries to have a bed configuration.” Energize Technologies has been heavily involved in further R&D and prototyping to ensure its supply agreements to retrofit precision vacuum sowers to all forestry nurseries can be fulfilled before spring this year. “We bought a 3D printer and the avionics engineers built a 3D motion machine that drills the vacuum holes that the pins go into that push the seeds off, for precision placement. That has provided us with the production capability. “The new precision sowers will provide better utilisation of area and more efficient production processes. The technology enables the seed to be placed very accurately and efficiently, which influences seedling uniformity, yield and health in the micro-environment of the seed bed. Because we have the manufacturing capability, the bed configuration is customisable to clients’ requirements, though so far, apart from us, everyone has maintained the industry standard.” Prior to the establishment of Energize Technology, Murray’s Nurseries had developed a globally unique suite of precision production equipment. Patrick says Energize Technology will now take that precision platform and design and produce a nursery harvester to complete the whole system. “While still in the early conceptual stages, the end game for Energize Technology is to produce a robotic harvester. “To have that you need a precision platform which we have. Once we have the harvester technology, then we will look to make the whole suite and technology available to the wider nursery community.” Wide Area Networks (WAN’s), remote monitoring and control of machine activity within the nursery is another innovative project being looked at by Patrick and the Energize Technology team. “We see huge opportunity in the ‘on-farm’ broad acre system in terms of having remote monitoring and control of activities, and that might also be a solar supported network. “So, we’re developing that kind of system for Murrays Nursery, to enable management decisions to be made remotely. There are a whole range of existing technologies and future technologies where if you have whole farm connectivity you can do so much more. That development could have application for other sites around the country.” Simon Curran Principal, Dip. AG, B.B.S, C.A. ( HELPING GROW YOUR CLOVER AND CASH ) Talk to us today or visit us at: www.mcia.co.nz Dannevirke: (06) 374 7059 Pahiatua: (06) 376 7476 we know farming at its grass roots at MCI & Associates, Principal tree seed supplier to the New Zealand Forest Industry and to Energize Technology Ltd See our catalogue at www.proseed.co.nz Ph. 03 314 8978 Fax. 03 314 8985 Email: seed@proseed.co.nz • Improved radiata pine seedlots • Improved macrocarpa and lusitanica • Durable and non-durable eucalyptus seedlots • New Zealand native species • Wide range of other species B Brox Design Ltd D L Architectural Design / Conceptual Plans / Building Remediation Building Assessments Project Management Licensed Building Practitioners ADNZ Professional Member Registered Building Surveyor Over 35 years in the construction industry Working with you to bring your ideas and concepts into reality with ease. We can organise Quantity Surveying, Geotechnical and Structural Engineering. Our services can encompass other supporting consultants, QS, Geo and Structural Engineers for those more complicated projects. Assessments for compliance to NZ Building Code for weathertightness issues, code management services or options, from tendering to site observations. 06 355 4360 brox@broxdesign.co.nz E www.broxdesign.co.nz Graham Brocklebank P
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