Thomas Hurst
Controls Engineer,
Daifuku Airport Technologies
Tokyo, Japan
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In over 8 years in Japan I have worked in a variety of consultancy positions, learning and applying my knowledge based on the needs of the company. These have been in IT, Building Automation, Renewable Energy and most recently 3D Printing. My work in 3D Printing has allowed me to find a renewed interest in design and improvement. Prior to coming to Japan from New Zealand I worked as an Industrial Automation and Process Control Engineer for 6 years, in this industry I was able to see the importance of how interface design and control programming must work together. Sometimes a simple interface can hide a complex control system and vice versa. In my career I have found that I especially enjoy taking what is available in existing systems and seeing how it can be improved in the most cost effective way. Learning how systems interact and where to focus my efforts. "The trick about life is to make it look easy"
Skills:
automation
HMI Configuration
user interface design
Site Lead Commissioning and Testing Controls Engineer
April 2020 - present (4 years)
Daifuku Oceania is a world leading logistics group and DATJP is the branch for Japan Projects and O&M.
Heading Low Level Controls Commissioning and Testing efforts at the JAL BHS Renewal Project
Haneda Airport Terminal 1, including system improvements, troubleshooting and after SAT
support. The system utilizes the Siemens S7-1500 family and TIA v16.
Bilingual communication to support JAL Project Staff and ATJP Operations & Maintenance Team
for confirmation of upcoming works content and scheduling, and during system operation/fault
finding.
Serve as the link back to NZ/AUS R&D and Project Management Team and site resource to
Heading Low Level Controls Commissioning and Testing efforts at the JAL BHS Renewal Project
Haneda Airport Terminal 1, including system improvements, troubleshooting and after SAT
support. The system utilizes the Siemens S7-1500 family and TIA v16.
Bilingual communication to support JAL Project Staff and ATJP Operations & Maintenance Team
for confirmation of upcoming works content and scheduling, and during system operation/fault
finding.
Serve as the link back to NZ/AUS R&D and Project Management Team and site resource to
3D Printing Development Lead
April 2019 - April 2020 (1 year)
Instalimb is a early stage startup developing low-cost 3D Printed prosthetics for developing countries.
Development of improvements to the currently used 3D Printer to resolve issues and increase
production yield and rate.
Provision of technical expertise to Prosthetics and AI departments to improve internal knowledge
on design for manufacture and 3D Printer function
Investigation into potential for machine vision feedback during manufacture via OpenCV in
Python
Development of improvements to the currently used 3D Printer to resolve issues and increase
production yield and rate.
Provision of technical expertise to Prosthetics and AI departments to improve internal knowledge
on design for manufacture and 3D Printer function
Investigation into potential for machine vision feedback during manufacture via OpenCV in
Python
Engineering Consultant
January 2017 - April 2019 (2 years 3 months)
Engineering Consultant providing Bilingual and Technical Support across a variety of fields including Renewable
Energy Simulation, CAD, Prototyping and 3D Printing.
SMT/島田工業 (Gunma, Japan, 1 Year)
3D CAD modeling and 3D Printing of product prototypes and exploration of 3D Printing
capabilities
Investigations into viability of investment proposals such as high efficiency window framing and
distributed computing uses for cryptocurrency mining hardware
Kuukanseisakusho/空間製作所 (Kagoshima City, Kagoshima, 6 Months)
2D CAD Construction Layout for Solar Panel System
3D CAD modeling of architecture and machinery for production by 3D Printing
Design and prototyping for a handheld anti-static fan
Tamagawa Energy/多摩川エナジー (Yokohama, Japan, 6 Months)
3D CAD modelling for site terrain visualisation including shadowing and obstructions
Provision of technical expertise on Wind Turbine and Solar Panel operation and monitoring for
troubleshooting
Investigation of Meteorological Data sources to increase accuracy of resource estimate simulation
Creation of spreadsheet simulations to show household energy usage and payback periods and
comparison with industry software (PVSyst, Wind Power, RETScreen)
Energy Simulation, CAD, Prototyping and 3D Printing.
SMT/島田工業 (Gunma, Japan, 1 Year)
3D CAD modeling and 3D Printing of product prototypes and exploration of 3D Printing
capabilities
Investigations into viability of investment proposals such as high efficiency window framing and
distributed computing uses for cryptocurrency mining hardware
Kuukanseisakusho/空間製作所 (Kagoshima City, Kagoshima, 6 Months)
2D CAD Construction Layout for Solar Panel System
3D CAD modeling of architecture and machinery for production by 3D Printing
Design and prototyping for a handheld anti-static fan
Tamagawa Energy/多摩川エナジー (Yokohama, Japan, 6 Months)
3D CAD modelling for site terrain visualisation including shadowing and obstructions
Provision of technical expertise on Wind Turbine and Solar Panel operation and monitoring for
troubleshooting
Investigation of Meteorological Data sources to increase accuracy of resource estimate simulation
Creation of spreadsheet simulations to show household energy usage and payback periods and
comparison with industry software (PVSyst, Wind Power, RETScreen)
Automation Engineer
November 2013 - December 2016 (3 years 1 month)
Technical support to international and domestic companies in Tokyo. Tasks were highly varied.
Building Automation Systems troubleshooting
HVAC/Waterworks Site Management
Windows desktop support
Data Centre hardware replacement
Technical advisory services and management for office setup and moves.
Building Automation Systems troubleshooting
HVAC/Waterworks Site Management
Windows desktop support
Data Centre hardware replacement
Technical advisory services and management for office setup and moves.
Automation Engineer
March 2011 - March 2013 (2 years)
In this role I was a trusted full time member of the Control and Automation department overseeing hardware
and software requirements of new installations and providing support to the maintenance of the entire refinery
from raw sugar melting to robotic palletising. Key tasks included:
Hardware/software configuration and installation of PLC components and Control PCs.
Programming of primarily Siemens S7/S7200 PLC in ladder, Graph, STL and SFC. Some Allen
Bradley fault finding.
Breakdown and fault finding assistance for all refinery systems including tri-weekly 24 hour
callout for refinery critical systems.
Assistance provided to Electrical Department with VSD/PLC rack configuration and testing.
Maintenance of refinery Citect SCADA control screens including development and modification of
graphics and functionality to improve usability and performance on PC (Citect) and touch panel
(WinCC).
Consultation and testing services supplied to Process and Maintenance Engineers for the purpose
of upgrades/modifications to existing and new refinery systems. Including explanation and
modification of PLC code, mechanical systems/processes and user interface screens.
Management of junior Automation Engineers including timeline management of new automation
projects/upgrades.
Preparation of functional descriptions, user procedures, software standards for refinery operators
and engineers.
and software requirements of new installations and providing support to the maintenance of the entire refinery
from raw sugar melting to robotic palletising. Key tasks included:
Hardware/software configuration and installation of PLC components and Control PCs.
Programming of primarily Siemens S7/S7200 PLC in ladder, Graph, STL and SFC. Some Allen
Bradley fault finding.
Breakdown and fault finding assistance for all refinery systems including tri-weekly 24 hour
callout for refinery critical systems.
Assistance provided to Electrical Department with VSD/PLC rack configuration and testing.
Maintenance of refinery Citect SCADA control screens including development and modification of
graphics and functionality to improve usability and performance on PC (Citect) and touch panel
(WinCC).
Consultation and testing services supplied to Process and Maintenance Engineers for the purpose
of upgrades/modifications to existing and new refinery systems. Including explanation and
modification of PLC code, mechanical systems/processes and user interface screens.
Management of junior Automation Engineers including timeline management of new automation
projects/upgrades.
Preparation of functional descriptions, user procedures, software standards for refinery operators
and engineers.
Systems Engineer
January 2007 - March 2011 (4 years 2 months)
As a Systems Engineer I was working on either small contract installations or callouts to a variety of industrial
sites, primarily waste water treatment but also including industrial HVAC, food and beverage, robotic welding
and packaging. In this small company responsibilities were varied including:
Programming and fault finding of Schneider Powerlogic and M430 and Siemens S7200, S5 and S7
PLCs.
Maintenance/Service Callout, mainly to unknown Siemens systems.
Citect SCADA and WinCC user interface design and programming including graphics, security and
safety features such as login priorities.
Dbf database setup/manipulation, introductory SQL.
Direct client contact in both receiving and placing calls to verify client requirements and schedule.
Preparation of purchase orders for components and client invoicing.
sites, primarily waste water treatment but also including industrial HVAC, food and beverage, robotic welding
and packaging. In this small company responsibilities were varied including:
Programming and fault finding of Schneider Powerlogic and M430 and Siemens S7200, S5 and S7
PLCs.
Maintenance/Service Callout, mainly to unknown Siemens systems.
Citect SCADA and WinCC user interface design and programming including graphics, security and
safety features such as login priorities.
Dbf database setup/manipulation, introductory SQL.
Direct client contact in both receiving and placing calls to verify client requirements and schedule.
Preparation of purchase orders for components and client invoicing.
University of Auckland
Master of Engineering
Mechatronics
2009 - 2010
M.Eng in Mechatronics (First Class Honours) 2010
Research Thesis: “Design of a Low Cost and Portable Single Finger Assistive Device Using Air Muscles”
“ A low cost and portable single finger assistive device using air muscles.” Int. J. of Biomechatronics and
Biomedical Robotics, 2011 Vol.1, No.3, pp.149 – 159.
Supporting work for thesis includes:
● Mechanical design ProEngineer CAD for rapid prototyping by 3D Printer
● Electronic circuit selection
● Force and range of movement simulation
● Control system programming and User Interface design in LabVIEW
● Practical force testing and analysis
Research Thesis: “Design of a Low Cost and Portable Single Finger Assistive Device Using Air Muscles”
“ A low cost and portable single finger assistive device using air muscles.” Int. J. of Biomechatronics and
Biomedical Robotics, 2011 Vol.1, No.3, pp.149 – 159.
Supporting work for thesis includes:
● Mechanical design ProEngineer CAD for rapid prototyping by 3D Printer
● Electronic circuit selection
● Force and range of movement simulation
● Control system programming and User Interface design in LabVIEW
● Practical force testing and analysis
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