MECHANICAL DESIGN ENGINEER – 1ST IN CATEGORY AT GRADEX EXHIBITION

Here at RMGroup we are passionate about professional development of our engineers and increasing the skill set within the team. We are extremely pleased to announce that our Mechanical Design Engineer Jamie Cochrane who started with the company in 2014 has won first place at Staffordshire University GradEX Exhibition on the 4th May 2018. GradEX is the University’s exhibition of final year project work across a range of disciplines. In 2018 over 400 students took part with 98 industry experts judging work across 23 categories. Competition for prizes was intense with lots of high quality work on display. Jamie said “I was delighted to have the opportunity to put my design ideas and knowledge to the test. I enjoyed the challenge and I am extremely grateful for the support I received from RMGroup and Leuze Electronic. Part of Jamies’ foundation degree in mechanical engineering was to create a work based project and display them at the Gradex exhibition at Staffordshire university. His project came first in the “engineering foundation degree category” Jamie developed a system to detect which way a decorative brick is facing (1 in 4 sides has a hammered natural texture, pretty. The other 3 are sawn cut so smooth). This would be needed when a supplier wants to palletise the bricks with the decorative face always on show (not the sawn cut on the outside of the pallet). The project uses laser sensors to measure the bricks surface and then a Siemens PLC calculates the orientation of the brick. A HDMI screen gives live display graphs of the signal from the sensors and creates the user interface. The project involved 3D design, assembly, wiring and programming the system, with all steel work manufactured in house by RM Group. Jamie learnt how to program the Siemens PLC System and HDMI screen during this project which will assist him in his professional career in this field. Alastair Dawes, Regional Innovation Manager at Staffordshire University commented “GradEX is a vital way in which Staffordshire University connects the fantastic innovation created by students with our industry partners. Innovation through graduates, research and knowledge transfer will be a key metric in the future success of Staffordshire businesses”

For more information on MECHANICAL DESIGN ENGINEER – 1ST IN CATEGORY AT GRADEX EXHIBITION talk to Rees Machinery Group Ltd