Vision • Experience • Commitment

BackgroundBackground

Background

Alan Miles has provided a wide range of computer related products and services as an innovator, developer and IT Manager for small to medium businesses.
Automated WeighingAutomated Weighing

Automated Weighing

Automated Weighing - various applications in dairy and meat industries. Automated milk powder weighing and packaging applications. Convenient weighing, grading and record keeping in meat processing.
BizTermBizTerm

BizTerm

BizTerm™ is a telnet terminal emulator compatible with Windows 7 specifically designed for Pick Systems® D3® multidimensional database.
CrusaderCrusader

Crusader

Crusader is an integrated Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) and financial management solution.
Dough ConsistencyDough Consistency

Dough Consistency

Dough Consistency Controller that automatically adjusts for water content in bread dough.
EDI ServerEDI Server

EDI Server

Business to business electronic document exchange including e-mailed purchase orders, invoices and statements, and various graphically printed documents.
Email ServicesEmail Services

Email Services

An e-mail services facility that allows e-mails to be scheduled on a regular basis, to deliver a wide range of reports.
Enterprise ExplorerEnterprise Explorer

Enterprise Explorer

Enterprise Explorer™ is a business intelligence tool that is intuitive, flexible, comprehensive, and quick to use.
Environmental MonitorEnvironmental Monitor

Environmental Monitor

Environmental Monitoring used in coolstores and greenhouses.
MVMirrorMVMirror

MVMirror

MVMirror is a real-time bidirectional gateway between D3 and SQL Server databases.
Older ProjectsOlder Projects

Older Projects

Summary of early projects and clients
Production MonitoringProduction Monitoring

Production Monitoring

This system was an early and very successful attempt to automate specific manufacturing business processes and monitoring not just the rate of production, but the reasons for and period of down-time.
Timber TreatmentTimber Treatment

Timber Treatment

Automation of a timber pressure treatment plant for the preservation of timber.
Energy ManagementEnergy Management

Energy Management

Automated control of energy usage to reduce cost while maintaining asdequate environmental conditions and production processes.
Energy Management Brochure 1Energy Management Brochure 1

Energy Management Brochure 1

Energy Management Brochure Page 1
Energy Management Brochure 2Energy Management Brochure 2

Energy Management Brochure 2

Energy Management Brochure Page 2
Energy Management Brochure 3Energy Management Brochure 3

Energy Management Brochure 3

Energy Management Brochure Page 3
Energy Management Brochure 4Energy Management Brochure 4

Energy Management Brochure 4

Energy Management Brochure Page 4
Energy Management Brochure 5Energy Management Brochure 5

Energy Management Brochure 5

Energy Management Brochure Page 5
Energy Management Brochure 6Energy Management Brochure 6

Energy Management Brochure 6

Energy Management Brochure Page 6

Timber Treatment



This controller provided total automation of a timber pressure treatment plant which preserved timber by impregnating it with the salts of copper, chrome and arsenic (CCA).  Based on the same hardware as the Energy Management System, the basic design of this controller was also marketable as a general purpose control system suitable for a wide range of sophisticated industrial control applications.

As a timber treatment controller, this equipment was designed to allow for the remote or centralised control of all necessary pumps and valves to provide for the automated control of Hickson's "Tanalith CCA" timber treatment plants.  To be able to design and test this controller it was necessary for me to be fully familiar with the theory and operation of the process.  I was fully trained as an operator and often left in sole charge of the plant at Tuakau for this purpose.  I wrote the operating system and all the control logic code using Motorola 6800 Micro-Assembler.



In 1983 when this was designed (before programmable logic controllers were developed), it was considered radically new and exciting.  Even today it would not be out of place in a similar situation.

The following is a letter of recommendation from M Sutton of Hicksons Timber Impregnation Co.;

Letter from Hicksons Timber Impregnation

Copyright © 2024, Amba Limited, Whanganui, New Zealand. All Rights Reserved.