This award recognises an engineer, an engineering technologist, or a team engaged in engineering activities, who have demonstrated a commitment to innovation in engineering.

Don Clucas, Murray Aitken, Len Damiano and Vinod Kumar
Whisper Tech

Whisper Tech and its micro-combined heat and power product, WhisperGen, are a New Zealand engineering innovation
success story.

The WhisperGen concept began with the wobble yoke developed by Don Clucas during his PhD. studies into the Stirling engine at the University of Canterbury over 15 years ago. To commercialise his research, Whisper Tech was established, and the company’s ongoing programme of technology and manufacturing process development led to the WhisperGen system.

A WhisperGen unit generates hot water for home heating and domestic use, as well as electricity for the home or to be fed into the electricity supply grid. The unit is extremely efficient (over 90 per cent) and gives a significant reduction in carbon dioxide emissions when compared to conventional technologies.

Underpinning the commercial development, the Whisper Tech engineering development team has amassed an impressive list of patents in 26 countries, convincingly demonstrating its success in applying new knowledge.

Don and the Whisper Tech team have now sold over 1,000 WhisperGen units into the European home heating market, and are now preparing for large-scale manufacture.

Don Clucas pictured.

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