Mark Davies from of Metalmark thanks Syngineering 

Mark Davies, Director at Metalmark, recently approached the team at Syngineering for verification and optimisation of one of his designs. He wanted them to help him achieve a high performance lifting hook with significant cost savings, and Syngineering utilised FEA (Finite Element Analysis) to achieve the best result.

As Mark explains, “We developed the design to a pretty high standard, so it was quite well-advanced. We then approached Syngineering who suggested some options.”

Stronger and lighter

“Syngineering improved the design by using FEA to identify a stress concentration. They then came back to us with a number of options, including one that was far better than our original design.

Stronger and lighter

“Syngineering improved the design by using FEA to identify a stress concentration. They then came back to us with a number of options, including one that was far better than our original design. By making a few small changes to the shape, they were able to eliminate the stress concentration and make the hook stronger and lighter, but just as effective.”

“For the second part of the process, they carried out further analysis to remove even more material and weight from the product, but without compromising the strength. This made it cheaper for us to manufacture on a per-unit basis, as a different manufacturing process would mean the reduced material savings could be realised.”

“Overall, they optimised our original design and saved us money, which is something we couldn’t have done ourselves.”

Skilled, proactive team

“I like that the team at Syngineering have a proactive approach,” says Mark, “which is the reason we keep going back and working with them.”

“Generally when I work with other engineers, I find that they will dictate terms instead of working with me to come up with a solution. Many of them have problems dealing with jobs on a ‘nuts and bolts’ level—but the team at Syngineering are totally different.

Remain competitive“They’ve obviously come from a manufacturing background and been on the tools themselves. They understand the reality and challenges of getting a product to market—and they take the practical steps needed for me to achieve that end goal.”

“In our industry it’s important to remain competitive. The team at Syngineering help optimise our products and make them as low-cost as they possibly can be. I’d recommend their services to others in need of FEA and  product optimisation.”

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Using this model, the engineers could then optimise the design changing the design of the trommel wheel spokes.

The design improvements were then checked using the original FEA model.

Click here for more information on Syngineering and FEA

The team of experienced engineers and managers at Syngineering have designed, managed and commissioned a wide range of projects in the coal seam gas industry.  These include evaporation dams, feed buffer dams, fuel gas skids, re-injection facilities and water treatment plants.

Whether they are greenfield or brownfield projects, the team from Syngineering can help.

However, we specialise in commissioning “legacy and difficult” projects.  We all have legacy projects that need experienced project  managers to bring them back on plan and in control control.

Coal Seam Gas (CSG) projects

“We rely on the huge amount of detail the Syngineering team put into their engineering drawings.”

When Paul Curley, Operations Manager at Virginia Sheet Metal requires engineering drawings to fabricate products for his clients, he turns to Syngineering — because he knows they’ll always provide him with quality work.

“Syngineering not only give us detailed drawings, but also an incredibly quick turnaround — so we can deliver for our clients.”

“Often our clients will give us a baseline of what they want with some rough sketches,” he says. “Or sometimes they will have done the drawings, but want us to certify the product to make sure it can take the load. We give these to Shane, then he certifies them and draws them, and then he passes them back to us for fabrication.”

“We deal with Syngineering a lot, as these types of requests are becoming increasingly popular. We usually speak to Shane and the team about two or three times a week. They always give us what we need to get the job done!”

Fast turnaround times

Paul also likes dealing with Syngineering because they give him a competitive edge by delivering drawings promptly. He says: “From other engineers you might have to wait about three weeks — and there is always the danger that you might lose the job if the waiting period is too long.”

“Syngineering not only give us detailed drawings, but also an incredibly quick turnaround — so we can deliver for our clients. Obviously, when working on a job, we can’t go any further until we get the required plans, so we like the fact that working with Syngineering isn’t a bottleneck.”

Increased safety awareness

“Everything must be done properly these days, as safety is increasingly important. For example, we might have to produce a stand that will take 500kg, and it will have to come with the certification plates,” says Paul. “The guys at Syngineering help with every aspect — even specifying the fillet size needed, as well as giving us any other information required for us to spec out the job.”

Comprehensive engineering drawings

“When dealing with Syngineering, we rely on the huge amount of detail they include in their engineering drawings. This includes a complete parts and components list, so our fabricators know exactly what they need to do the job.

“The guys in the shop love it, as it takes all the heartache out of the process! I’d definitely recommend their engineering services to other fabricators.”

At Syngineering, we’re passionate about providing you with expert design advice and professional engineering drawings. Call us today to discuss your next project.