Innovator hopes to slam competition opposition

Kiwi ingenuity icon Burt Munro was the reason American TJ Irvin brought his invention to New Zealand.

This enthusiast for deer culling, white baiting, fishing and “people who make solutions not excuses”, is one of 70 entrants in this year’s Innovation Competition.

“When life throws you lemons, make lemonade,” said TJ.

His all-in-one crowbar, axe, spade, mattock and rammer, the SLAMMER LTD has created a stir of interest since Fielday’s first day.

Comprising a welding axel head and steel bar, the SLAMMER has been a key aide in the restoration of Christchurch in the earthquake aftermath.

Already The First Response teams and Demolition efforts in the garden city are using the tool.

The high tensile steel and bislloy (bulldozer bucket) invention came about after failed attempts to get bamboo out of a motorbike – TJ could have the bike if he could extract the wedged shoots.

TJ was just 17 when he came up with the idea of a tool that could dig out bamboo and developed around
200 SLAMMERs – for his own use.

A love for land untouched-by-man influenced the move to New Zealand, from Hawaii.

Now based at Lake Hawea, near Wanaka with his wife and 1 ½ year old child, TJ has utilised the expertise of engineering firm Templetons & Sons, Otago.

A few engineers of the ‘kings of no. 8 wire’ have been enlisted to produce the versatile tool.

The blade, designed to ‘walk’ its way back out of the ground upon being ‘slammed’ down into it, weighs 9kg.

The SLAMMER has been at the Fieldays for three years now but this year introduces the RAMMER, a BBQ Plate bolt-on attachment to ram soil, fence posts, converting into a sledgehammer.

The patent (right to make/sell) is over $50,000 and is TJ demonstrates the slammer to a keen mix of spectators as useful for basically everything.

Footage of a 4×4 being winched up a slope plays on a TV while TJ slides the handle up and down, forcing the spade-like tool firmly into the ground – saving the laborious bending and straightening involved with using a spade.

“We are looking at selling franchise rights in Australia, the States and Europe.”

At $250, visitors to the Innovation Centre (on the left after the Gallagher arches) can carry a SLAMMER home.

“Although a lot of people would find 9kgs a burden to have to walk around with,” TJ joked.
The Invention Competition has three categories, backyard creations in the ‘Inventions Category,’ and commercial innovations, through the ‘Equipment Category.’

There is also a ‘Young Inventor of the Year’ category for youth under the age of 24.

The Golden Standard Award and other winners were announced at 7am today(Thursday) at the Innovation Centre.