New Zealand businesses don't need to look offshore for prototyping and automated solutions, with world-class skills and services on offer at Auckland company kanDO Innovation.

Company Overview

kanDO Innovation was formed two years ago by directors Keith Blenkinsopp and Niven Brown, who previously worked for Industrial Research, together with two other kanDO staff members. The group left Industrial Research to form kanDO, employing three additional highly skilled people. "We were all involved in automation at Industrial Research. We saw an opportunity to have a go at commercialising some of the ideas we had been working on," Niven says.

In two years Niven and Keith have built the company into a leading automation and prototyping specialist. Its seven engineers have combined experience in mechanical, electrical and software engineering, working together to create innovative products and solutions. kanDO's collective knowledge and expertise covers a broad range of engineering disciplines, applications and industries. The company provides a complete service, from initial concept design and prototyping work, through to manufacturing, installing and commissioning automation systems.

World-Class Innovations

Niven Brown and Keith Blenkinsopp believe kanDO has a lot to offer New Zealand businesses, which often do not recognise the degree of talent within their own country.

"We're doing some work for an Australasian company, which has grown into developing a prototype machine for a process they are doing," Niven says. "From that we have built the first of a number of machines. Once people understand our capabilities they realise we're not just a design office. We really do go from the innovative ideas through to the working solution that can add value to your business. That's what automation is about — it's a value-add. It keeps New Zealand internationally competitive."

kanDO Innovation has worked with customers in a wide range of industries, including the food industry and manufacturing sector. Food industry work has covered seafood processing systems, robotic systems for automated meat processing and automated process development. kanDO specialises in designing complex automation systems, machines and assemblies. It utilises SolidWorks to quickly develop virtual 3D models for the ultimate design and visualisation tool. The company's software engineering and design capabilities mean staff can develop anything from a stand-alone software application and embedded control to an integrated test and measurement system.

kanDO's staff have years of experience in automation and robotics and deliver creative and intelligent automation solutions for various industries as an expert in sensing techniques and control system design and implementation.

As well as general automation expertise, kanDO is also an expert user of KUKA and ABB industrial robots, including robotic programming, process development and end-effector tool design. In addition, kanDO offers service and support arrangements, for example with printing company Adhesifs, which has a laser cutting system designed by kanDO members when they worked for Industrial Research. "We don't just build machinery — we support it as well," Niven says.