Technology Park-based Scanalyse Pty Ltd has won WA's Inventor of the Year award for its 3D laser scanning technology, MillMapper.
Technology Park-based Scanalyse Pty Ltd has won WA's Inventor of the Year award for its 3D laser scanning technology, MillMapper.
The technology, which also won the 'ready for market' category, measures internal wear in grinding mills used by the mining industry.
It uses a laser scanner to obtain data on the wear rate of liners used inside mills, reducing machinery downtime.
The MillMapper technology was originally developed at Curtin University, with financial assistance from its research and development office and the Melbourne-based Cooperative Research Centre for Spatial Information.
Edith Cowan University's WA Centre of Excellence for MicroPhotonic Systems won the 'early stage' category for its high-speed inter-chip optical interconnect, which may be used in the proposed $1.8 billion Square Kilometre Array radio astronomy project in the Mid-West.
The technology allows computer speeds to exceed 10 gigabytes per second.
East Perth-based Coretrack Ltd received the development category award for its core level indicator system, used in oil and gas coring operations.
The full text of an announcement from the Premier's office is pasted below
A Western Australian invention is set to add millions of dollars in extra revenue to the global resources sector.
Premier and Science and Innovation Minister Alan Carpenter today announced Scanalyse as the winner of the WA Inventor of the Year 2007 for its revolutionary device, the MillMapper.
The MillMapper is an innovative new technology that maps the inner workings of a grinding mill on a mine site, helping to increase safety and saving time and money for the global resources industry.
Scanalyse's MillMapper uses a specially calibrated 3D laser scanner to collect superior data on grinding mill liners.
Liners have a relatively short life span and there is currently no way of monitoring their deterioration without shutting a mill down for extended periods.
The innovative technology will allow the capture of real-time data, which will help increase throughput levels and improve the knowledge of wear liner shapes.
"The unique technology that Scanalyse has developed will save hundreds of thousands of dollars per year in reduced maintenance costs and increase mill throughput resulting in millions of dollars of extra revenue for a mine site," Mr Carpenter said.
"The State is experiencing unprecedented growth in the resources industry and the role that technology plays cannot be underestimated - it underpins everything we do."
The Premier said the calibre of entrants in this year's Inventor of the Year Award was absolutely outstanding.
"The Inventor of the Year Award helps to turn ideas into reality, taking them to the next step and ultimately the end goal of commercialisation," he said.
"Innovation and creativity are key drivers of the global economy and these are recognised by the State Government as vital to ensuring continued economic growth and diversification in WA.
"Western Australia's science community is facilitating some of the most exceptional science, research and innovation in the world.
"We have brilliant, talented and creative people who are achieving big things for the State and these awards are an outstanding indication of the depth of talent in WA."
Mr Carpenter said this year's award was particularly good news for the State's resources industry, with four innovative technologies that were designed to help the industry winning an award.
"This year's award has recognised four innovative technologies; MillMapper, the CryoCell® Technology, T-Line Safety System and the Core Level Indicator System," he said.
"These inventions are set to benefit the onshore and offshore resources industry and further cement WA's position in the global resource services sector."
The Premier said the Inventor of the Year Award was part of the State Government's commitment to WA's vital science and innovation sector.
"Since 2001, the State Government has committed over $220million to critical science research, people and infrastructure in WA and we will continue to provide support and recognition to our science community," he said.
The awards are run by the Department of Industry and Resources through the WA Innovation Centre at Bentley Technology Park.
The program aims to co-ordinate activities that promote the development of innovation across the public, private and education sectors.
For more information on this year's winners and runners up, visit http://www.doir.wa.gov.au/inventor
The winners are:
WA Inventor of the Year 2007 Award
Scanalyse for MillMapper
Ready for Market category
- Winner - Scanalyse for MillMapper;
- Runner Up - Cool Energy for CryoCell® Technology; and
- Certificate of Merit - Meridian Safety for the T-Line Safety System
Development category
- Winner - Coretrack for the Core Level Indicator System; and
- Runner Up - DIVA Solutions for the Avian Influenza Vaccine Marker
Early Stage category
- Winner - Edith Cowan University, Centre of Excellence in MicroPhotonic Systems for High-Speed Inter-Chip Optical Interconnect; and
- Runner Up - Virtual Observer Pty Ltd for Virtual Observer
