Dipl. Ing (1975), Dr. Ing (1982), Technical University Aachen
Member IPENZ
Ernst Hustedt is experienced in a broad field of mechanical engineering, components, machines and structures through the application of static and dynamic testing, on-site measurements and computer simulations. While at University as post-graduate and working on two research projects he produced over 40 reports mainly on failure investigations in and outside of Europe, from vibrations on an industrial weaving loom, stress optimisation of the tie rods of a 1600 MN forging press to the failure of a large bore diesel power generator in Saudi Arabia, vibration control of the steel structure of a sintering plant in Africa, strain measurements on bucket wheel excavators in Spain and strain, torque and temperature measurements on a coal mill of a power station in Australia.
After moving to N.Z. in 1983 his career took him first to Auckland to join the DSIR (crown research institute, now morphed into Callaghan Innovation), where he continued his line of work supporting the local engineering industry mainly with his experience in Finite Element Analysis (FEA). Here Ernst took also an interest in the design of yacht rigs and their dynamic loading.
In 1989 Ernst moved with his family to Christchurch to fill the position of Engineering Manager at STEEL BROTHERS Ltd. and lead the design team to develop a successful new self loading container trailer with sliding modules to handle both 20ft and 40ft ISO containers.
After only one year, however, he started his own consulting company AMES Ltd. in Christchurch providing specialized design and analysis service for local industry and the technical support for users of the commercial ANSYS finite element structural analysis system, which has become his main tool for his engineering work. His clients included most of the larger engineering companies in New Zealand. The work ranged from the fatigue design of extrusion presses, pipe joints, pressure vessels, cranes, hydraulic cylinders and gear design to the optimisation of steel and composite white ware and electronic components, the design calculations for equipment of ANZAC frigates and other industrial equipment. Vibration analyses and the simulations of dynamic loads often were the basis for his work such as the vibration analyses of large compressor units or torsional vibration simulations for the design of an elastic coupling for a V8 aircraft engine or the vibration analysis of the landing gear of commercial aircraft.
In 1996 Ernst left the daily running of his consulting company to a young engineer he had taken on as engineering student and who had by then become a competent engineer with a Master's Degree. Ernst took up a new challenge and joined Air New Zealand at the Christchurch engineering base as aeronautical engineer. After fife years experience in aircraft maintenance and interior design (rapid decompression analysis) Ernst took the opportunity to work for AIRBUS in Germany as senior design engineer on the A380 aircraft in the 'high lift support structure' team. During the following 6 ½ years in addition to guiding a small team in detailed FE stress analyses using MSC/MARC, NASTRAN and ANSYS Ernst developed several analysis procedures and a program for destructive tests, all documented for aircraft certification. He returned to New Zealand October 2007 to continue working in his own company.
Very early on after starting AMES, in 1993, Ernst came also into contact with OCEL and began simulating subsea pipelay operations for OCEL. This has continued for over 20 years and has included providing support in the stress design of marine equipment for coastal and offshore installations: Screw anchors, winch drums, pipe clamps, core sampler rigs, wharf and mooring piles. Ernst has also developed analysis tools for the simulation of pile loads, mooring lines and pipelay operations using the ANSYS program. Continuing to work after retirement Ernst joined OCEL as consultant and senior engineer in 2016.