Urbis Lighting European Engineering Experience Winner's Trip
Article Date: 23rd September 2009
This year’s winner of the Urbis Lighting European Engineering Experience is David Hewlett of St. Olave's Grammar School, Kent.
David’s project, entitled Concertina Bridge, uses a bow strung arch system and was proven with a variety of materials. His prize was awarded following a successful demonstration of several impressive prototype models at the UK Young Scientists & Engineers ‘Big Bang Fair’ in London back in March. The award is for the Project with the Most Benefit to the Community.
David commenced his recent visit with a tour of our Basingstoke production facility and design offices. This included demonstrations of the 3D design/visualisation software as well as the latest remote monitoring systems for street lighting.
The following day he was flown out to Lisbon, in order to visit Schréder Iluminação, our sister company in Portugal. In the evening, local staff provided a walking tour around the historic city centre taking in several lighting installations, and to save their legs a trip on the Glória funicular.
David was then given the opportunity to visit a high pressure aluminium die-casting plant in Evora. This was of particular interest, as he was able to see several of our product components being cast, and the processes and tooling required to do so.
The return journey to Lisbon took in the 17km Vasco da Gama Bridge, lit with the Tage lantern. Before returning to the UK, David was able to squeeze in some sight seeing in Lisbon, where the hot and sunny weather concluded a very successful visit.
David was accompanied throughout the trip by Jon Gibb, Product Development Manager.
The trip provided a chance to study the role of Professional Engineers in modern product design and to compare manufacturing methods in two very different European countries. David enjoyed the trip immensely, and it gave him an insight into the many varied roles of modern Engineers, which should help him with his choice of future career direction.
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