SILVER VIP DROPS BY
The America’s Cup made a brief appearance at an Onehunga CNC machining and composite engineering facility last week, accompanied by members of Emirates Team New Zealand who’d come to extend a big thank-you.
Jackson Industries produced the precision carbon-fibre foils for ETNZ’S high-flying catamaran which defeated Oracle Team USA 7 – 1 in Bermuda to bring the Auld Mug back to New Zealand.
“We particularly wanted to bring the Cup to the team at Jackson Industries,” said ETNZ Shore Manager Sean Regan, “as a gesture of appreciation for an incredible job, executed perfectly, against an impossible deadline.”
As one of the most crucial components on the catamaran, he added, manufacturing the foils demanded high-spec moulds and tooling, high-tech composite engineering – and finally, precision machining of the foils.
“All of these parameters came under unrelenting pressure as the design of the foils evolved over the months, requiring tweaks and adjustments. With unswerving commitment over the months, this team delivered – and we look forward to working with them again.”
Regan also acknowledged the significance of ETNZ’S victory for New Zealand industry, and believed it heralded a particular boost for the country’s marine industry.
Managing director Jim Jackson said the company has been involved with ETNZ for some 16 years, and had contributed to the development of the AC72 catamaran for the 2013 event in San Francisco.
“This year’s event with the AC50 was very different – not only because the timeframe was so tight, but also because the design and technology of the boats had advanced enormously. We were forced to up our game and invest in higher-spec machinery – and our composite engineering expertise was pushed into uncharted territory – let’s just call it a fairly steep learning curve!
“But working with ETNZ has been an incredible journey. I like to believe we share a common philosophy – there is no such thing as no.”
FOIL PRODUCTION
Each of the AC50’S foils comprise 400 layers of carbon-fibre. To achieve the right density/structural integrity, the layers are cured in stage in ovens and auto-claves. Each foil took around three months to build. The comapny also manufactured other carbon-fibre components for ETNZ’S boat, including the radical pedal-power bikes.
“We particularly wanted to bring the Cup to the team at Jackson Industries...”