Dotted beautifully across the parcel of land which has a drive-way encompassing it, with covered and uncovered car parks are:

(a) Administrative block housing the Directorate, Board Room, Administrative Department, Accounting Department, Internet Room and other staff offices.

(b) Administrative Annex block houses a Conference hall and other staff offices.

(c) Engineering blocks includes:
• Advanced Manufacturing Technology workshop: Some of the Institute's high-tech machines for advanced manufacturing and research are housed in this block. These include a Virtual Manufacturing Laboratory (VML), a High Power Computing centre (HPC), a Library, manual drafting room and AMT Centre which houses computer numerical control (CNC) lathes, a CNC vertical milling machine, Electric discharge machine (EDM) and a Coordinate Measuring Machine (CMM), etc. The VML and HPC houses 24 and 12 high capacity workstations respectively for design and R & D work. The block also houses R & D departmental staff offices.

(i) Reverse Engineering workshops I: This block houses some manual basic fabrication machines (lathe, millers, shapers, borers and welding machines) and tools for the Institute Reverse Engineering programme. Seven office rooms are available for Manufacturing and Production (M & P) department's engineers, technologists, technicians and craftsmen.
(ii) Reverse Engineering workshops II: Similar in configuration to Reverse Engineering Workshop I. Seven office rooms are available for Engineering and Technical Services (ETS) department's engineers.

(iii) Foundry workshop: The Institute already boasts of a 100kg rotary furnace she acquired in 2005 and has acquired a 250kg induction furnace which she is currently installing. The furnace is intended to boost our operations in ferrous and non-ferrous melting and casting for production of component parts. A mini-plant for heat treatment to meet the heat treatment needs of component parts is attached to the foundry workshop.

(d) Another block houses a canteen that caters for all cadres of staff and run by an independent caterer complements the Institute's complex.

(e) The entire NEDDI complex is powered by a 350KVA sound-proof alternative power source (plant) donated to her by NASENI headquarter. A 300kvA, 33kv, 0.415kv transformer complements the power source. Water is supplied to the Institute complex by a dedicated borehole.

(ii) NAEC Centre of Training: The Institute is a Centre for the training of technicians and craftsmen in collaboration with National Association of Engineering Craftsmen (NAEC). This is done on regular basis.
(iii) Collaborative Manufacturing Scheme (CMS) Programme: This is a collaborative program with local machine shops and fabricators in Nnewi using their available infrastructure to manufacture component parts and equipment working hand in hand with our Engineers. This proved very useful to our engineers' practical knowledge at the initial stage; and helps the machinists and fabricators to learn rudiment of engineering measurements and interpretation of engineering drawings.

(iv) Staff Development. The Institute placed great emphasis on the development of her staff. One, as an engineering design Institute, we must be on top in major engineering design softwares and manufacture being used by the Agency. These include AutoCAD, Autodesk Inventor, SolidWorks, Pro-E mechanical, HYSYS for process engineering.

Two, we regularly update the skills of the staff through in-house training, local training and overseas.

Three, we do deliberately send our staff to our sister Institutes who have practical competence’s in some other areas we considered useful to the mandate of our Institute. This is sometimes for weeks or months. All of these were to update the skills and competences of our staff to enable them contribute meaningfully to the Reverse Engineering programme of the Institute and to our Research and Developmental efforts.

Reverse Engineering is the ability to replicate the machine designs, construct, testing and publication of a manufacturing layout thereby developing requisite skills and technology in its manufacture and mass production. It is the general process of analyzing an object in order to determine how it was designed or how it operates.

In her Reverse Engineering Programme, the Institute has designed and fabricated many types of equipment for agricultural and other allied processing. These include: Laterite Grinding and Mixing machines for building purposes; Woodmaster for sawing, milling and plaining; Component parts of Made-in Nigeria Motorcycle projects, etc. Details of these are shown below. Other projects for reverse engineering of many other types of equipment are ongoing.

(i) Made In Nigeria Motorcycle:
The made in Nigeria motorcycle is one of the pioneer products of the Institute. The purpose of this project is to investigate the possibility of producing a Made in Nigeria motorcycle through reverse engineering, using SME's facilities available in Nnewi Light Engineering Cluster and in Nigeria at large. Particularly, the project is designed to assess the level of local input in the manufacture of the component parts of the motorcycle and the possible ways of improving on the design, quality and quantity of the local content. It is also intended to develop local human capacity in engineering design and development in motorcycle manufacturing industry in Nigeria.

The Institute has successfully fabricated and tested several of the component parts that have been produced completely with their permanent moulds in the Institute; and they compete favourably with the imported ones. They are ready for commercialisation.

Some of the components produced are shown below. More work is going on to produce the Engine block, Top cylinder, Connecting Rod, Crankshaft, etc.

Advanced Manufacturing Technology (AMT) is a modern method of production, incorporating highly automated and sophisticated computerized design and operational systems. AMT aims at manufacturing high quality products at low cost within the shortest delivery time.

Manufacturing around the world is changing rapidly. The use of Computer Numeric Controlled (CNC) machine tools has spread rapidly during the last decade. Almost 80% of machine tools in modern manufacturing industries are computer controlled. Products can now be made better, faster and cheaper and no manufacturer can afford to do otherwise, else such a manufacturer will produce goods that are not globally competitive.

Therefore, the focus of NASENI and all her Institutes in the last few years has been on Advanced Manufacturing Technology (AMT). This is a paradigm shift from conventional manufacturing technology, for global competitiveness of industrial products, hence rapid industrial development. The ultimate purpose of AMT is to create wealth in Nigeria.

Some AMT Facilities:

(i) CNC Equipments.
In NEDDI, the paradigm shift has been embraced. We now have some CNC equipments to aid our capacity development in engineering design and manufacture. These CNC equipments include:
• Computer Numerical Control (CNC) lathe machines for machining and fabrication work – milling, boring, threading, etc.
• CNC Vertical Machines Centre (VMC) for machining and fabrication works - milling, boring, threading, etc.
• An Electric Discharge Machine (EDM) for mould making.
• Coordinate measuring machine (CMM) for engineering design
• A 250kg induction furnace for production of spare parts, etc

More are to be acquired in the near future as resources improve.

(ii) Virtual Manufacturing Laboratory (VML).
The process of machinery development is tedious and unpredictable using the classical design and development approaches. With globalization and the ICT revolution, design, simulation and development of engineering systems are becoming more deterministic.

NASENI has established Virtual Manufacturing Laboratories in NASENI Headquarter, Abuja, NEDDI, Nnewi and PEDI, Ilesa which provide state of the art hardwares, softwares and intellectual capacity for design, engineering simulation, and computer modelling of engineering processes, plants, machinery, spares parts, etc. This will ensure rapid prototyping and hence reduce time and money required from moving from conceptual design to pilot scale plant development. The design of components, simulation of the components to real life data and manufacture can be accomplished in the computer. The codes generated can be sent to a CNC machine for life manufacturing. Very soon, the AMT systems nationwide will be linked by our proposed integrated virtual private network. This will allow all the Institutes of NASENI to talk together and for all tertiary institutions to dial into our network for solution to their design problems.

(iii) High Power Computing (HPC) Laboratory:
The HPC is a supercomputer with the task of addressing the need of getting solutions to complex scientific and engineering challenges encountered in research institutions as well as in the manufacturing sector.

With multiples of processors embedded in it, the HPC helps to reduce computing time on simulations and increases the number of possible simulations per day making it possible to get products to the market faster. This is an advantage in a competitive world. Currently, NASENI hosts Three (3) of the five (5) HPC Labs in Africa. These are located at the NASENI Headquarter in Abuja, NEDDI Nnewi and PEDI Ilesa.

The High-Power Computer Laboratory in NEDDI provides opportunities for engineers and scientists all over the nation to send in their complex designs/calculations works for processing to the main nodes located in the Agency's Hq, NEDDI, Nnewi and PEDI, Ilesa.

The following engineering softwares, among others, are available in the HPC laboratory: Comsol Multiphysics, Pro-Engineer, Granta Design, MATLAB, etc. The Comsol Multiphysics is made up of the following modules: AC/DC Module, Acoustic Module, Chemical Engineering Module, Earth Science Module, Heat Transfer Module¸ MEMS Module, Structural Mechanics Module, CAD Import Module, COMSOL Script, Reaction and Engineering Lab, Optimisation, Signal and Systems Lab, Material Library, etc.

(iv) Computer Aided Design and Computer Aided Manufacturing (CAD/CAM):
Computer Aided Design (CAD) is the use of a wide range of computer-based tools that assist engineers, architects and other design professionals in their design activities. While the Computer Aided Manufacturing (CAM) is defined as the use of computer system to plan, manage and control the operations of a manufacturing plant through either direct or indirect computer interface with the plant's production resources. CAD/CAM must be interfaced in order to achieve technology-based improvement in manufacturing and continually improved productivity quality. NEDDI has been training individuals and organisations in CAD/CAM using Pro-Engineer and other softwares.

(iv) Rapid Prototyping (RP):
RP is the creation of complex 3-dimensional physical models of a product directly from CAD drawing with little human intervention. Then the issue of risk and fear that are always expressed by the potential private investors/entrepreneurs will be put to rest as they will now have the opportunity to view plastic prototypes of such products on display as guaranteed and market ready.

To implement the RP processes, NASENI acquired a 3-D scanner, and a 3-D Modeller at her Headquarters Abuja, two Coordinate Measuring Machines (CMM) located at NEDDI, Nnewi and PEDI, Ilesa, and a 3-D Modeller at her Headquarter Abuja. These are first of their kinds in Nigeria. NEDDI is already using her CMM machine for rapid engineering design of components; and also accessing the 3-D scanner/Modeller at the Headquarters in Abuja. Another RP machine to the Institute will soon be delivered.

HIGH POWER COMPUTING LABORATORY

(i) Motorised Gate:
Most available gates mounted at the entrance of residential homes as well as private and public establishments are manually operated. This is fraught with tedium of pushing to and forth. The Institute engineers working with electronic engineers from a sister Institute, ELDI Awka, have perfected the motorized gate which is designed to remove drudgery in the opening and closing of gates in public and private premises or abodes

The motorized gate combines mechanical, electrical and electronics units operations. When the electrical and electronics are disabled, the gate can function manually. It can also be operated electrically from a switch gear by punching a button. The electronics uses a remote control that can be sensed within a radius of ten metres. Another value added feature is that a sensor can be incorporated in all authorized cars which on approaching the gate automatically activate the opening and the closing of the gate. The gate is designed such that if an object is lodged on its track while in motion, it grounds to a halt automatically. And on removing the object, the gate continues its motion automatically. Further R&D work is still being carried out on the gate to make it more robust. The Institute main gate is already being operated using these facilities.

THE INSTITUTE MOTORISED MAIN GATE

(ii) Made In Nigeria Mini Refinery:
The made in Nigeria refinery project is a Research and Development effort intended to investigate the capacity of Nigeria engineers in designing and fabricating a mini refinery. Using data from tests carried out at PTI Warri in Delta State and Aspen HYSYS Process Simulation, MathCAD and DES II software, the Institute process engineers have designed a 755 bpd product capacity mini petroleum refining plant. The design is currently being appraised. Mechanical design and fabrication work will commence shortly.

(iii) Design of a Heat Exchanger for Cooling 'Zobo' Drink:
Zobo is a beverage drink that is popular at social functions and at homes in Nigeria. The traditional method of cooling after it has been extracted from its raw material is to expose the bulk liquid to the atmosphere. This method predisposes the drink to contamination and degradation. Besides, it cannot be used on an industrial scale. The Institute engineers have designed a heat exchanger, again, using Aspen HYSYS simulation, which helps to surmount these limitations. The heat exchanger is just a unit in the proposed Zobo processing plant. Fabrication work will soon begin.

(iv) Table-Top Palm Fruit Milling Machine:
The table-top milling machine is a novel R&D product of the Institute. It is intended to replace the traditional pounding of digested palm fruits used for making 'ofe aku'- a popular delicacy in the south-eastern part of the country. Boiled palm fruit are fed into the machine which is driven by a low torque motor. They are then left to run on a cylindrical spikes arrangement for a few.

TABLE TOP PALM FRUIT MILLING MACHINE

(v) Baby Rocker:
This is yet another R&D product. The baby rocker is built like a typical baby cot. It is, however, designed to rock babies to calm as it moves to and forth when connected to an electric main. The basket in which the baby lies is detachable as it is hung on hooks. This provides the freedom the basket requires to swing. The basket which is connected to a very low speed motor is lined with soft foam material and colourful fabric. All electrical components are well-insulated to prevent electric shock.

The baby rocker is useful in maternities, crèche, orphanage, hospitals and private homes.

BABY ROCKER

(vi) Vehicle Wedge:
The wedge is a device for preventing a stationary vehicle from rolling. It often comes handy when the need to change a tire or carry out maintenance on a vehicle arises.

It is a common sight to see sections of our highways littered with stumps, stones and debris used as improvised wedge by motorists who are often in a hurry to get away. This constitutes danger on highways. As a result, the issue of motorist carrying a wedge should be seen as a national one.

The wedge comes in medium sizes (for cars and buses) and large size (for trucks).

TWO TYPES OF VEHICLE WEDGE

HYDRAULIC POWER PRESS

TYPES OF TROLLEY

AUTOMATIC WATER LEVEL CONTROLLER

(x) Design Appraisal and Fabrication of Building Machines

Working in collaboration with one of the parastatals of the Federal Ministry of Science and Technology, NEDDI reappraised the designs, made modifications, produced working engineering drawings and fabricate the laterite Grinder and laterie Mixer machines. These machines are used to grind and mix laterite for the production of blocks.

THE LATERITE MIXER

(i) On-Going Projects:
1. Design and Fabrication of a Smokeless Incinerator
2. Palm Kernel Oil Expeller
3. 3 phase and generator supply change over device
4. Manual Table Top Grinder
5. Oil fired crucible furnace
6. Mini- FM Station (Transmitter)
7. Production of standard bolts and nuts.
8. Production of Ethanol from beer.
9. Design and fabrication of 'zobo' processing plant

(ii) Proposed Projects:
1. Aerodynamic separator. This is used in separating kernel from its shells.
2. Castor seed Sheller.
3. Soap production plant
4. Elevator
5. Tricycle for physically challenge people
6. Wood Shaper machine
7. Portable electric wood cutting machine
8. Reverse engineering of sewing machine
9. Rocket Combustion chamber
10. Automatic soap cutting and stamping machine

11. Palm kernel cracker/separator
12. Hydraulic Car Hanger for Automobile Workshop
13. Single Phase reversal panel
14. Metal Detector
15. Smoke & Gas Detector
16. Electronic library system
17. Security camera for security and traffic monitoring
18. Electronics staff register
19. Design and fabrication of a Biogas Plant in the Refuse Disposal Site at the Entrance of NEDDI Office.
20. Design and Fabrication of Moulds using the Institute's CNC Machines
21. Design and Fabrication of a Manually Operated Truck for Carrying Loads
22. Production of engineering components using Injection moulding machine
23. Design and Fabrication of Palm Log crusher Extractor
24. Design and Construction of an 0.8 L plastic container injection mould.
25. Production of Pest and insect repellent
26. Channel grating (Slab)

The Institute collaborates with allied Institutes as well as tertiary institutions, associations or societies locally and internationally with a view to actualising her mandate. Presently we maintain collaboration with the following organisations:

(i) National Association of Engineering Craftsmen (NAEC) - NEDDI provides the platform on which the rank and file of the association's members are trained in modern engineering software like AutoCAD and 3D Home Architect.
(ii) The Federal Polytechnic Nekede - NEDDI is currently partnering in a R & D work into a tri-cycle for the physically challenged with the Polytechnic.
(iii) Anambra state university Uli (ANSU) - Apart from benefiting from the Advanced Manufacturing Technology (AMT) programme of NASENI headquarter, NEDDI is collaborating with ANSU in the design and fabrication of a 10 ton hydraulic press for closed die forging.

Since moving into her ultra modern office complex in 2009, the Institute has been acquiring state-of-the-art machines and equipment in the area of engineering design, CAD/CAM and foundry. The equipment includes the followings, few of which were provided by NASENI as part of NASENI nodal expansion:

1. Computer Numerical Control (CNC) lathe machines
2. CNC Vertical Milling Centre (VMC)
3. An Electric Discharge Machine (EDM)
4. Coordinate Measuring Machine (CMM)
5. A 250kg induction furnace – to be installed soon.

6. A 100kg rotary furnace
7. Numerous varying welding machines
8. Surface grinding machine
9. Manual lathe, borers and shapers
10. A dedicated 350KVA plant and a 33kvA transformer