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

Rory Flemmer

Rory Flemmer holds a PhD in chemical engineering from the University of Natal in South Africa. Prior to coming to New Zealand he spent 18 years in the United States producing robotic and artificial vision systems for a number of leading industrial and high-technology companies.

His current research areas at Massey University include automated fruit picking and packing, applying machine vision and artificial intelligence, and development of a novel wheel chair.

Rory holds seven full patents and a further four provisional patents for his innovations. His automated fruit packaging system overcomes a number of issues that have not previously been resolved, such as ensuring that each fruit item is correctly oriented prior to being placed in the tray, and that reddest side is uppermost. He has also been addressing the issue of how to automate fruit picking and has several other machines under development.

Rory is an engineering inventor – applying advanced engineering principles in novel and multi-disciplinary ways to overcome obstacles that have deterred others.

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