Graeme Attey
Industrial Designer / Inventor / Company Founder with 42 years of experience in engineering, scientific research, product development, prototyping and 3D CAD. Applied for 139 different technology patents to date. Responsible for founding a wide range of start-up technology companies including green technology refrigeration, cooling and wind power plus footwear, helmets and a range of leisure, sports and consumer products. Licensed technology to companies as large as Panasonic.
NIA Helmets
2020 - Present day
The patented Nodal Impact Attenuation (NIA) system is not merely a new helmet – it is an innovative impact structure with many real-world applications. For example, it could easily be applied to other forms of sports protective gear, such as body armour. NIA is a network of spheres, distributed and strategically connected via a triangular lattice. The spheres are located at every node of the lattice. Each sphere has a hex-shaped ridge to accommodate the potential development of a hard-shell version in the future. The entire structure is moulded from one-part flexible EVA foam. This system is what makes the NIA helmet over 90% more effective at reducing head acceleration during impact when compared to the four current leading brands of sports headgear. This in turn significantly reduces the risk of concussion. For detail, see : www.niahelmets.com
Carbon-fiber guitars and banjos.
Featured as a prominent West Australian Innovator at the New West Australian Museum (opened November 2020).
Designed the CatFoil Stand-Up Paddleboard which created a new SUP world record flatwater paddling speed of 20.4 kph.
2012-2017. Designed the HEXLID foam helmet for football (and sold to Madison Sport to commercialize).
Industry representative on the Australian Federal Government’s ‘Advisory Council on Intellectual Property‘ (ACIP).
Developed and patented the HIVAP evaporative cooling process and formed HIVAP Pty Ltd. Won the West Australian Government’s prestigious Innovator of the Year Award for 2012 (Emerging Innovation Category) for HIVAP.
Developed the patented WINDPODS modular, silent wind turbine system. 270 Windpods are now installed in the crown of the Shanghai Tower (the world’s second tallest building).
Curtin University
2009 - 2010
Part-time Lecturer/Tutor of Industrial Design
Licensed the giant toy company HASBRO to sell the Dirtsurfer Action Man toy.
Developed and manufactured the patented Dirtsurfer all-terrain, two wheeled skateboard and accessories. Business included export sales, overseas licensing, research, development and design.
Won Best Paper Award at the International Conference on Thermoelectrics in Nagoya Japan.
1998. Won Best Paper Award at the International Conference on Thermoelectrics in Nagoya Japan. 1990 – 1999. Developed and patented the HYDROCOOL thermoelectric cooling system and sold the technology to the Matsushita Refrigeration Company (National/Panasonic) of Japan in 1997.
‘Over-Mould’ surfboard leg-rope system
1994
Designed the ‘Over-Mould’ surfboard leg-rope system for Creatures of Leisure, followed in 2003 by the ‘Revolution’ swivel. Both systems are still used in every surfboard leg-rope in the world today.
Managing Director, Hydrodynamix Pty Ltd
1983 - 1990
Start-up company that went on to establish an international market via 15 overseas distributors for innovative, patented Windsurfing equipment.
Developed a wide-tip sailboard sail, designed to flex and twist in gusts to improve the speed, control and the wind range of a windsurfing sail. This design gradually became copied in the later 80’s and by the 90’s had become the industry standard. The principles of this design are now used in every production sailboard sail in the world and all the world’s racing yacht sails, from dinghies to super-maxis.
Won best overseas exhibit at the London Sail and Surf Show with Lock-Jaw Boom System.
Licensed Multi-Fin Systems Pty Ltd of Byron Bay to manufacture and sell worldwide the ‘Strata Fin’ design for windsurfing.
