ROSEBANK ENGINEERING MANUFACTURES THE QUEENS RELAY BATON

5 May 2005

Today in the Great Hall of Parliament House, the official launch took place of the 2006 Commonwealth Games relay baton, in particular the baton which will carry the Queen’s message through the Commonwealth on its way to the opening ceremony. The event took place in the presence of the Hon John Howard MP Prime Minister of Australia, the Hon Steve Bracks MP Victorian Premier and Mr. Ronald J Walker AC CBE Chairman of the Melbourne 2006 Commonwealth Games Corporation. All in attendance witnessed the unveiling of the baton body and Queen’s message housing, both manufactured by Rosebank Engineering.

Rosebank was approached by Mr. Paul Charlwood, a Director of Charlwood Design P/L and President, Victoria & Director, Design Institute of Australia, seeking an experienced and innovative engineering and machining company skilled in the technology of advanced and exotic materials, to manufacture the Queen’s relay baton. Rosebank, a Victorian Government Manufacturing hall of fame inductee and with a reputation for innovation with leading edge skills in the defence and aerospace sector was selected for the demanding and challenging program.

“All of Rosebank’s skills and capabilities typically utilized on leading edge defence and aerospace programs were used in the manufacturing program. Rosebank also invested significant resources to support the program as a public service towards the Commonwealth Games” stated Gordon Kennett Managing Director of Rosebank Engineering.

Project Manager David Bridges stated that “the Baton is made from AZ91 magnesium, produced by local Victorian company Magnesium Technologies. We needed to work together on the material sciences necessary to achieve the machinability characteristics needed to produce the baton. This was essential as no suitable traditional overseas sources of Magnesium met our need”.
Rosebank was obliged to develop operational and OH&S procedures especially for the manufacture as a major concern when machining magnesium is the possibility of fire caused by heat generation via the machining process. When machining in an enclosed space, an additional issue was the presence of hydrogen gases when married with magnesium that could cause an explosion.

“Trials in aluminium were initiated to ensure methodology, surface finish (especially critical on the visual side of the baton slot area) and tolerances were met, particularly where the Queen’s message is to be incorporated into the design. Weight was also critical. The requirement to accommodate the complex electronics and camera housing meant that we needed to balance the need for especially thin walls to ensure that the baton was not too heavy for the runners yet retain enough strength to withstand the demands of a multiplicity of runners and environments over the duration of the relay”, stated Mr PingNam.

“Special oils and processes were adopted to ensure that corrosion was avoided throughout the whole process of manufacture and materials handling, with the surface of the Queen’s baton being specially treated” said Peter Hocking Rosebank’s Machine Shop Supervisor.

Additionally a ‘baton bowl’ was also manufactured which will be used when the baton goes into permanent display after the Games and a ‘Water flask’ product is presently being developed in conjunction with Charlwood Design.

“Our company has been built on innovation and value for money for our clients, and this philosophy matched well the aims and objectives of Charlwood and the Melbourne 2006 Commonwealth Games Cooperation organisation. Participation in project allowed us to be part of an exciting step in history and will help us to establish our company as a centre of excellence in all that we do”; Mr. Kennett stated.


For further information contact:
Mr. David Wallace
Head Business Development and Sales
Rosebank Engineering Pty Ltd
Tel No.: 03-9645-3020
Fax No.: 03-9646-3421
Email.: david.wallace@rosebank-eng.com.au


Key project Staff:

David Bridges Team Leader
Development of machine codes, modeling, Tooling, Material sciences and Project Management.

Phil Ellard Tool Designer
Material sciences used to develop the magnesium billets, fixtures and fittings, procurement management

Derrick Thompson Head machinist
Prototyping, finish product, helicoil fitment.

Peter Hocking Manufacturing Supervisor
Surface treatment and finishing development, Production Planning.