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Project Details

Fabric 1

Truck Mesh
Producer/Manufacturer: Shann NZ Ltd
Primary Use: Main Fabric

Design Company
Kernohan Engineering

Please describe the project specifications

This project involved the design and fabrication of five large floating mesh pens and was the result of a collaboration with a large local engineering firm for their overseas client. The 13m diameter top of the pens were fabricated to enclose large buoyancy rings, the pens were designed to extend down 8m into the ocean.

The purpose of the pen was to hold a product that was being trialled as an absorber of CO2.

Webbing attachments were fabricated to allow for securing weights to the net to help suspend the net underwater. The bottom of the mesh was drawn in with ropes through a series of webbing loops to contain the product. The drawstring rope was contained in a pocket to mitigate propellor strike, the drawstring was designed so that the product could be released once the experiment had been completed.

The nets needed to be made to enable them to be filled and deployed from a vessel at sea.

What is unique or complex about the project?

This project was a unique collaboration between local businesses. It involved the use of almost 2000 square metres of fabric. Handing and manipulation of the fabric alone was challenging and the initial trail fit was conducted at a local sports field.

Contraints included sourcing suitable and sufficient fabric at a price point acceptable to our client's customer and required a pivot mid fabrication due to supply issues.

The design process was challenging to get a product that could be deployed and operated from an ocean going vessel in rough sea conditions and met the clients exacting specifications.

Fabric selection was critical to ensure the product was suitably contained whilst allowing sea water to flow through the nets.

Other challenges faced were the impact of tidal movement, as well as the effect of wind and surface waves.

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