In this Issue

	Weetbix All Blacks Obstacle
	The design process.
	Patterning and cutting
	Piecing it all together
	Quality Assured

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Weetbix All Blacks Obstacle

In this months Canvasland Newsletter we thought we'd give you an insight into what happens behind the scenes when it comes to producing an inflatable structure, and introduce you to some of the key staff that make it all happen. This giant 20mtr obstacle course was recently completed for Ogilvy New Zealand on behalf of their clients Sanitarium and the New Zealand Rugby Football Union. The obstacle has been a major feature at this seasons Weetbix Tryathalons which is currently touring the country. The course pitches two competitors against each other as they race though a myriad of rugby based obstacles along the way to scoring a try under the posts.

The design process.

We have a dedicated design team who on a daily basis work with clients ideas to bring them to life. In the early stages Design helps by providing concept drawings to clients. It is from these drawings that an agreed and feasible design is developed. Many hours are spent on the project at this point to ensure the concept can be made from a technical and manufacturing point of view. Scaled models are often used to help with the process.

Patterning and cutting

As part of the design process a pattern is created and a cutting schedule confirmed in the production system. Canvasland has a CAD Plotter which via a computer can accurately and quickly cut each individual component of an inflatable structure. At the time of cutting the plotter prints indications on each component which helps later on when piecing the jigsaw together.

Piecing it all together

Our skilled machinists take charge once all the components are cut and ready. All of the obstacles are sewn together first and put aside until they are ready to be applied to the main structure. The second stage in the sewing process is to work on any internal construction - for example forming the baffles and attaching them to the borders, or external components. The construction and design of baffles is important and needs to be accurate given they form the desired shape for a structure. It can take up to two weeks to cut and sew a large inflatable, like the Weetbix obstacle, together before it is dispatched.

Quality Assured

Before any of our structures are dispatched to a client a full QA procedure is completed during a test inflation done on sight.