Hi again! We’ve got heaps to talk about in this newsletter. Firstly, our seminar series for 2009 kicked off with a bang on 19th Feb. BRILLIANT presentation from our wonderful staff, but alas, lots of cancellations at the last minute. Still, we were able to meet some really neat new people as well as sharing a great afternoon with some old friends.

As so many of you said you were disappointed that you were unable to attend, we’ve made the decision that our March seminar will see a change in the time and day. We will re-run the FEA & design part of our presentation. Please register ASAP for our next seminar on Friday 20th March at 4pm till 6.30, 7pm (ish).

In this newsletter we introduce you to our secret weapon—our FEA specialist Emmanuel (or as we call him, Noel). We are proud to have him on staff—there certainly aren’t many FEA specialists in mechanical engineering companies in NZ. We also give you a quick look at solid modeling—more about both these exciting tools can be discovered at our next seminar (20th March). We update you on the Randall’s Karting Challenge. And we give you a progress report on our Friday Innovation meetings.

Bev.

.

SEMINAR PROGRAMME—2009

Next seminar:

20th Mar: 4pm to 6.30 or 7pm (ish) (with drinks & nibbles)

Covering Finite Element Analysis (FEA), solid modeling (used in design etc), the brake rule and proposed amendments, what's hot in the engineering field at present, any topics you suggested/wanted to cover after Feb's meeting.

BOOK YOUR SPOT NOW!!! There are no charges for these - you are our guests!

All seminars will be held at the Palmerston North office of Randall & Associates Ltd. Catering will once again be done by Café Brie who make the nicest chicken tenders & savouries out there!!

You are welcome to register your interest in attending them by either phoning us (0800 762 763) or registering online or emailing us. We plan to have action strategies, brilliant idea brainstorming, guest speakers, information, and a jolly nice feed & a few drinks afterwards.

NOTE: Seminar planning is underway for Wanganui and Hawkes Bay too—more details to follow. Please contact us if you’d like to be kept informed about these.

Organisational Change We've made a few exciting changes here at Randalls. We have a new Engineering Manager—Nick Murphy. Nick has worked for us for four years now, and knows the business inside out. Nick will be your first port of call and will ensure your job is given to the specialist in the area you need. He will follow the job through to make sure it is completed in a timely fashion, at the best possible price to you, and is the usual Randall & Associates quality product.

Solid Modelling (3D Modelling)

We have a variety of tools that are considered essential for day to day functioning for engineers, while 3D modelling software is not ‘quite’ in the must have basket for most, it is definitely moving that way. At Randalls we have the software and the staff to turn your ideas and sketches into something you can see, rotate, move (if it has moving parts) and most importantly – you can show someone else, whether this be an investor, or just someone you are bouncing ideas off.

One of the strong points of a 3D model is that it is easy to see. Those who have tried to explain the final appearance of an item from a 2D shop drawing to someone unfamiliar with the drawing format will appreciate how much easier it is for those from outside the industry to see the complete picture. Along the same lines, if aesthetics are important to you, you can get a very accurate idea of how the item will look on the shelf, or in the customers’ hands!

When designing, and manufacturing items, final fit and final appearance are critical. Our 3D modelling software allows us to essentially provide a visual of the final product without once cutting a sheet of steel, or drilling a single hole. It is also a lot cheaper to change a feature of your product at this stage than it is once the item is sitting on a workshop floor. If final fit is of concern to you, you can rotate and zoom in on the model we generate. This is where we can spot issues before they become a reality, this is where it can be noticed that you can’t get a grease gun into an area to service a critical bearing, before the steel is cut and you end up with a large paperweight.

If you want products on the shelves, with a minimal number of prototypes, our design processes in conjunction with our 3D modelling services are the way to go. Contact Nick nick@randall.co.nz) or 0800 762 763 for more details

Handicaps can be converted into stepping stones on which one may climb toward some worthy goal, unless they are accepted as obstacles and used as alibis
Napoleon Hill

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Meet the Staff - EMMANUEL VEGA

It is our pleasure to introduce you to Emmanuel—or as we call him, Noel. Noel is a rare breed of engineer—one who specialises in finite element analysis (FEA).

Noel comes to us with international experience—as FEA/CAE Lead Engineer at Lear Corporation—Engineering & Technological Centre (Michigan USA & Paris, France), FEA/CAE Structural Engineer at Lexmark International (Kentucky, USA), & at CI Munro & Fruehauf Ltd, both in NZ.

At Randall & Associates Ltd, we proudly take FEA as a very serious design tool—we are one of a very few businesses who use the dedicated software for it. Our copy of ALGOR software costs $US30,000 to purchase & then we pay around $US5,000 per year maintenance fee.

But even the best of software is no good if it spits out stuff that nobody can understand—and that’s where Noel comes in. He’s a whizz not only at understanding what comes out, but also in putting sensible stuff in to ensure sensible comes out—and that’s the trick to it all! He SPECIALISES in using FEA - that is, we have him dedicated specifically to finite element analysis.

So What Is FEA?

At the seminar Noel explained that FEA is:
- the application of computer software in engineering to analyse the robustness and performance of components and assemblies.
- encompasses simulation, validation, and optimization of products and manufacturing tools
- the use of computer technology to aid in the design, manufacture, handling, or transport of goods.

Why use FEA?

- To simulate “Real-World” structures
- To solve impractical or impossible hand calculations
- To optimize for best design
- To reduce part or feature failure
- To test “soft” prototypes before building
- To troubleshoot existing failures

FEA performed on a drawbeam. Note the different colours showing different stresses

Once again from Coffee News:

- You can live to be a hundred if you give up all the things that make you want to live to be 100.

- Gravity is a contributing factor in 73% of all accidents involving falling objects

- Motivation is when your dreams put on work clothes

- If evolution really works, how come mothers only have two hands?

Men Are Just Happier People

•  Your last name stays put.

•  The garage is all yours.

•  Wedding plans take care of themselves.

•  Chocolate is just another snack.

•  You can never be pregnant.

•  Car mechanics tell you the truth.

•  The world is your urinal.

•  You never have to drive to another petrol station restroom because this one is just too icky.

•  You don't have to stop and think of which way to turn a nut on a bolt.

•  Same work, more pay.

•  Wrinkles add character.

•  People never stare at your chest when you're talking to them.

•  New shoes don't cut, blister, or mangle your feet.

•  One mood all the time.

•  Phone conversations are over in 30 seconds flat.

•  You know stuff about tanks and engines.

•  A five-day vacation requires only one suitcase.

•  You can open all your own jars.

•  You get extra credit for the slightest act of thoughtfulness.

•  Your underwear is $8.95 for a three-pack.

•  Three pairs of shoes are more than enough.

•  You never have strap problems in public.

•  You are unable to see wrinkles in your clothes.

•  Everything on your face stays its original colour.

•  The same hairstyle lasts for years, maybe decades.

•  You only have to shave your face and neck

•  You can play with toys all your life.

•  One wallet and one pair of shoes -- one colour for all seasons.

•  You can wear shorts no matter how your legs look.

•  You can "do" your nails with a pocket knife.

•  You have freedom of choice concerning growing a moustache.

•  You can do Christmas shopping for 25 relatives on December 24 in 25 minutes .

No wonder men are happier!

RANDALL & ASSOCIATES LTD KARTING CHALLENGE

We have a challenge! The younger guys here at Randall & Associates Ltd are organising a Karting Challenge. We are still working out the details, but it looks like there will be teams of 3-5 drivers (and as many supporters as you can muster) who compete in a Grand Prix at the kart track. We will have more details in our next newsletter, but you might like to float it around at your work smoko breaks & see if you can get together a team to race against us. We hope to have HEAPS of businesses participating and can imagine it will lead to much hilarity, competitiveness, team-building, and possibly a few broken bones. For more information, email our Team Manager—Nick or give him a call at 0800 762 763.

SPACE FOR 3 TEAMS LEFT!!! Book now!

SPECIAL OFFER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

We need your referrals (and I'm sure you'd be happy to have ours as well!). For every new client you refer to us (who undertakes to use our services), we will take $100 off your next account with us. Just introduce your contact to us and we'll do the rest. We PROMISE that we will provide them with our customary best service so that we don't let you down (cos there's nothing worse than referring someone and then finding that the company you referred them to did a dreadful job for them and they are unhappy, not only with that company, but also with you!).

Friday Innovation Frenzy

Work is continuing on our new innovation. It’s a heap of fun on a Friday afternoon—and I never cease to be amazed at the wonderful ideas our engineers have. We get into REAL innovative thinking during our sessions and have some exciting things in the pipeline. Watch this space….

That's it for this time. Please make sure you register for our upcoming seminars. If you are not able to attend on the days mentioned, contact us to see if we can slot another one in somewhere.

Take care and have a wonderful March - April!!

Andrew, Bev, Brenda, Hayden, Marion, Michael, Mike, Nick, Nigel & Noel