RML Automation: Overview

Technologists' Practice	June 2007
Materials Manufacturing Systems	YEARS 11-13

Cover image of case study

RML Automation
RML automation is a Hamilton-based engineering firm that focuses on automated production lines. RML build and market machines globally, and also specialise in developing one-off solutions for companies when required. This project began when Nestlé Ice Cream, a confectionary company based in Melbourne Australia, approached RML with an issue – supermarkets had requested that their ice cream cartons be supplied in a new format that Nestlé's production line machines could not support.
Focus points include:	Additional Material:
Characteristics of Technology Interdisciplinary practice Technological Modelling Functional modelling Prototyping	Company website RML Engineering innovates dairy industry tvnz.co.nz video
Teaching Activities
Discussion starters: Explain how the collaboration of technologists from different disciplines impacted on the technological practice leading to the production of the s540 collator What forms of functional modelling were used to inform the development of the collator? Explain how this evidence informed the development. How was prototyping used to identify and mitigate risk? What refinements were made to the collator as a result of prototyping?