Wednesday, 17 September 2008
08:00pm

Hosted by the ebullient James O'Loghlin, The New Inventors highlights the brightest new inventions in Australia. Tonight's show features new ideas on how to help truckies tie down a load securely, provide welding students with plenty of pipes, and play tambourine and clave simultaneously with one hand. Deciding the winner of these three inventions are designer and inventor Sally Dominguez, materials engineer Veena Sahajwalla and futurist and author Mark Pesce.

Inventions featured on the program:

Invention 1: Load Choker by inventor Anthony Bourne from VIC.
Like many truck drivers Anthony Bourne was having a lot of trouble safely tying down complicated loads on his trailer. But, it didn't take him long to come up with an invention that solved the problem. Made of drop forged alloy steel, his Load Choker allows drivers to tighten chains and straps whilst maintaining even pressure and choking the load in a way that restricts its movement in all directions. With models for both webbing and chains, the Load Choker means drivers need fewer straps or chains to restrain loads that were once near impossible to secure.Load Choker - ties down a load with double the tension.

Invention 2: Precision Pipe Profiler by inventor Burt Oosterhoff from NSW.
Having spent most of his career as a welding teacher, Burt Oosterhoff has invented a machine that will give welding students more time to hone their skills. His Precision Pipe Profiler is a hand-operated machine that uses a plasma torch to cut profiles in the steel pipe students use to practice their welding. Until now, students have had to spend hours cutting the pipe by hand but, with Burt's invention, they can do the same preparation work in minutes. With the cost of steel pipe rising, the Precision Pipe Profiler also saves money and materials by allowing previously welded pipe to be reused again and again. Precision Pipe Profiler - helps welding students spend more time welding.

Invention 3 - Percusso by inventor Matthew Ledgar from NSW.
Ever wanted to play two musical instruments with one hand? The Percusso makes it possible. Developed over five years by musician Matthew Ledger, it's a new percussion instrument that combines a tambourine and a clave in a design that can be played single handedly. Just use your hand to shake the tambourine whilst your thumb plays the clave. Made from hardened alloy, the Percusso has 36 stainless steel jingles that can be rearranged to create new and different sounds and, it's all played with just one hand. Percusso - play tambourine and clave with one hand.

The New Inventors will be repeated on ABC2 - Saturday, September 20 at 6:05pm