Development Technology Workshop (DTW) - A short History

By Harold Pearson

DTW’s history goes back to 1994 when I came up with the original concept for developing cost effective quality de-mining equipment to be manufactured in countries affected with land mine and UXO pollution. The main aim of DTW is to provide a research and development, prototyping and where required, a production service to NGO’s and small private sector industry both in Cambodia and where appropriate, internationally.

By 1996 DTW, in association with the University of Warwick, was established as a limited company and a registered British Charity. At that time DTW had already carried out meaningful development work on protective clothing (PPE), visors and body armour as well as the development of de-mining hand tools. A number of us received field training with the British Royal Engineers who also helped us with the field testing of PPE and visors.  Most of the practical work was carried out in the University of Warwick’s workshops where I had very good relations with the workshop technicians or at my home workshop in Solihull in the west midlands.

In 1997 work began in UK on Tempest T1, a remote controlled vegetation cutter, with the completed machine being shipped to Cambodia in Nov 1998 where we had set up a small workshop funded through Norwegian Peoples Aid (NPA) based upon a proposal submitted some 12 month earlier. In 2000, we shipped all of our equipment from UK establishing DTW’s HQ in Cambodia. We do not now have any offices or salaried staff other than a part time accountant in UK, which makes us a very cost effective INGO.

Our engineers are all very experienced but non hold degrees, we use the CAD programme Solid Works and there are only two part time expatriate engineers who are resident in Cambodia

Though our main area of activity centred on demining activities DTW has also been involved in development of other equipment not related to demining, based upon the need identified by the recipient. (Please keep this in mind as it is an important factor when considering DTW’s relative success).

We already had several Cambodians working with us from previous time spent in Cambodia. These people became the core personnel of CDW (Cambodia Demining Workshop) involved with tailoring personal protective equipment (PPE), and visor manufacture.  CDW was handed over around 2001 and all protective equipment is now manufactured in Cambodia through Envostar a branch of Envotec. The Laing Foundation funded much of the PPE programme.

Some of DTW’s development achievements are:

• Tempest - 28 built and operated worldwide. The last two Tempests were withdrawn from service in Mozambique in 2014 after 13 years of service; Note the estimated working life was 3 years!
• PPE – unknown quantities manufactured and in use worldwide.
• De-mining hand tools around 1,000 sets produced in use with various organizations.
• Tractor towed graders developed for FAO, several in use.
• Two Container workshops- These were fully equipped workshops designed for the shipping and in field maintenance of Tempest.
• Folding guide canes for the blind – Several hundred manufactured and distributed as well as a complete manufacturing package of workshop tools and equipment including training being exported to South Africa in 2005 where manufacture continues.
• Development of a low cost Braille typewriter.
• Biogas cooker- Researched and developed by DTW with over 45,000 made and in use, a new model presently being developed. Please refer to the Cambodian National Biogas Programme (NBP) http://nbp.org.kh/
• Development and production of a disruptor/dearming system that utilises a blank cartridge for destroying AP mines in situ or dearming large ordnance by removing the fused cone. There is a hydraulic system for destroying soft targets and IED’s.
• A secure radio detonating system that obviates the use of long lengths of detonating cable when destroying recovered munitions.
• Training programmes in basic fabrication skills, machine shop skills, diesel engine maintenance. We would also be able to train in hydraulics, electrics and radio control systems. 

The above by no means covers all our activities over the last 17 years but I hope gives some idea.

I believe DTW also has design, development and prototyping capacity that is unique in the context of what is available in developing countries.  Complex design and prototyping has been completed by DTW for costs unimaginably low compared with those in developed countries. It is unfortunate the development community both private and humanitarian has failed to recognize this which has resulted in DTW being underutilized and severely underfunded. It is a fact that over the past ten years we have not received a donation or support funding for any projects proposed by us. All our income has been derived from projects requested and specified by outside organisations and completed by DTW according to an agreed contract. DTW differs from most NGOs in that it operates in many ways like a private company, working to contracts, delivering to customer orders, and being paid for goods and services provided.

I would like to address the issue raised by Mr Thrish Nanayakkara concerning the apparent lack of interest by the demining community in new ideas related to mine clearance:

There is an old saying that goes “If it ain’t broke don’t fix it” The operating procedures (SOP’s) for the humanitarian clearance of land mines and UXO have taken years to develop. Operators worldwide tend to work to these standards and therefore the left hand has a good idea what the right hand is doing anywhere in the world.

As I understand the international standard for humanitarian mine clearance is 99% and that to date a machine does not exist to achieve this. Over the years there have been a number of “crackpot” ideas proposed, that have even gained financial support from those who do not know better. Some of you reading this will be aware of current ideas doing the rounds.

The demining community has a problem understanding why they should use a machine that will only partially clear mines as existing processes would still be required to complete the process to a satisfactory standard?

There are good reasons why deminers are reticent to make changes and that is because of the risk involved. There is a parallel here with farmers and farming. Try to get a farmer anywhere in the world to change his practices or equipment and see how far you get! Having worked in rural Africa for 30 years I do know what I am talking about.

So what to do?

First it is very important to convince the potential users you know what you are talking about and fully understand the existing problems and not those related only to clearance. A photograph or video of a prototype working in a nice flat field out the back of a university is unlikely achieve this.

Disposal is becoming more refined, simply blowing things up using HE is becoming less acceptable with demands for more ergonomic methods. With the now present terrorist threat the less HE around the better! 

I can assure the reader that DTW was given the “brush off” on a number of occasions in the early days but gradually gained respect by not trying to impose ideas; rather we requested input concerning the needs of the demining community. This resulted, for example, in requests for a better design of PPE and protective visors more suited to humanitarian needs and cost effective. Being based in Cambodia we were able to develop prototype PPE using cardboard for the filler and appropriate material for the outer covering. The deminers came for fittings and gave their inputs to the design. Then within weeks we had a satisfactory design that continues to set the standard internationally.

Development of the ballistic lining was also carried out by DTW using initially Kevlar but later Twaron. Obtaining official accreditation to be able to manufacture protective clothing is both expensive and time consuming involving international testing at thousands of $ per day. We got round this problem by developing our own ballistic test facility using chronographs and simulated fragments and velocities that conformed to STANAG 2902 - V50. This service is still available should anyone need it?

Upon the completion of our testing samples were sent to the USA, tested and given official accreditation. All this took place from concept to production in just over one year.

The Tempest programme was also a result of requests from the demining community for an affordable easy to fix machine for clearing brush and heavy vegetation, not mines! It was also important the machine was light enough to be carried on a 3 ton truck across the small bridges found in Cambodia and other countries.

I won’t go on only to say that all our projects have been the result of needs as identified by the end users and not DTW promoting its own inventions/innovations. To all the academics, those working on high powered R&D programmes please remember there is no substitute for experience. DTW sits in a unique position of not being a demining organisation but of having 17 years working experience in that field. We are able to communicate with the deminers, to be heard and respected.

Please take the time to look at our website at www.dtw.org.kh

Harold Pearson – DTW General Manager                                                  
Mobile +855(0)12812031