In 1998, Michael Carter and Kevin Ansley tendered to run a
weather station in the remote Kermidec Islands situated
between New Zealand and Tonga. All supplies to the station
are via a one-ton derrick or helicopter.
To minimise freight
costs, the Floatainer team designed a unique modular system,
which could be delivered by passing container ships
So the models SB and SF were born. These two models were comprised of multiple modules,
all of which weighed under 1 ton and fitted within
structures resembling shipping containers.
A further development was to design a system, which was
capable of landing loaded containers on beaches,
yet folded into the configuration of shipping containers.
So was born the Model FCB.
Patenting of this design was instigated in 2000.
By researching commercial and military needs throughout the world, adaptations
of the various designs have been formulated into a series of concepts utilising
the existing bases.
In 2003 Floatainer systems where
approached to design and build road-transportable modules to float 15 ton
earthmoving equipment for dam maintenance.
Currently the design and build team have half completed
the construction of a unique airboat and are negotiating to build
light pleasure craft for a leading New Zealand boat manufacturer. |
Floatainer Systems History:
