Corrosion Instruments develops NT’s first electronics production

Northern Territory based company Corrosion Instruments has launched CI-Tx, a system that remotely monitors and controls the cathodic protection on pipelines, wharves, storage tanks and tunnels.

Previously, monitoring corrosion on such large metal infrastructure was an onerous task that had to be done manually, according to founder and Managing Director, Sam Pattemore.

Pattemore, who has spent years working in the pipeline industry identified a number of potential improvements for monitoring and measuring of cathodic protection systems.

The CI-Tx system released last week extends asset life through continuous, automatic monitoring and control of cathodic protection (CP).

CI-Tx monitors the CP system 24/7, reacting in real time to seasonal changes, soil resistivity and ageing assets, optimising CP system configuration.

Developed over three years, the system involved the creation of NT’s first electronics production manufacturing facility.

Pattemore said the company $110,000 from the NT Government (via the Advanced Manufacturing Ecosystem Fund (AMEF)), matched by $110,000 in company funding, the company has been able to buy machinery and tools, including a PCB prototype printer.

Corrosion Instruments also won $150,000 in investment prize money during Croc Pitch in 2019 which was the leg-up Pattemore needed to turn his sole operator enterprise into a fully incorporated company.

This allows the company to manufacture prototypes in-house, meaning they can commercialise products much more quickly.

Critically, Pattemore is hoping to eventually hire out their in-house equipment to other local businesses to build local capabilities.

Further reading:
FIRST GRANT AWARDED UNDER NEW NT ADVANCED MANUFACTURING ECOSYSTEM FUND

Picture: Darwin Innovation Hub/Corrosion Instruments