Helmx design and build Termitemator for research

Helmx are currently assisting the University of Loughborough with a very exciting project for the future of mankind!

We are assisting Dr Rupert Soar in his project to discover the innermost secrets of termite mound technology.

We are currently in the field, in the desert of Namibia, constructing the largest slice and scan machine in the world.This machine has been designed and built by Helm from concept ideas, from the university.

Using our exprtise in engineering, designing and building Turntables,Scissor lifts and Special presentation equipment for exhibitions and product launches, we have turned our hand to the Termitemator!

The machine, which is over 6 Meters high, will slice the mound from top to bottom, takeing slices of just 1 mm each time. Then a digital scan is taken of the surface, showing the inner construction of the mound. This is then repeated over 4000 times, and the compilation of images will then be rebuilt using 3D cad technology. We have access to the same software as was used for the computor genarated graphics on Lord of the Rings.

The project is also being filmed by the BBC for a David Attenborough programme, to be broadcast later in the year.

For more detailed information of the project, please visit our website below.

www.sandkings.co.uk

Termite titbits

There are over 100,000 termites for every human being on the planet.

Termites have been on the earth over 4 million years before humans. Humans have only been here for 400,000 years.

The nest of a termite mound has to be kept at a constant temperature of + or - 1 degree centigrade, yet the surrounding desert temperature varies from +40 to -10 degrees centigrade.

Each grain of sand that is used to construct the termite mound, is mined by the terms, carried upto the human equivalent of 15 miles, cut to an exact shape and bonded together with silicon.

The sand used is an iron oxide based element which not the same sand found in the locality of the mound.

Why? This is for Helm to find out and let you know!