|
|
|
|
|
14/09/2009
 Email to a friend
 Comment on this article
|
Steve Walters, design engineer, Aero Tec Laboratories
 How did you get in to the engineering industry?
My entry into the engineering industry was through my interest in motorsport. On completion of my course I was looking for something in the automotive or motorsport industry. Unfortunately I was unable to find anywhere to apply my new knowledge as there seemed to be no design positions available. However reading one of the weekly Motorsport magazines I came across a company that was practically on my doorstep. This was Aero Tec Laboratories (ATL Ltd) based in Milton Keynes. It was with them that I learned that I'd been living in what is known as motorsport valley. Although I had studied engineering with a view to becoming a design engineer, the position was for a production technician so I worked up from there. It gave me the practical experience necessary for when I did move in to design a couple of years later I had a good understanding of our products and the processes in building them. I've remained in design ever since.
What does your job involve?
We provide Flexible fuel tank solutions to a variety of different industries. I design the flexible fuel tank assemblies and also create the patterns required to build the tanks. We do this on Dassault System's CATIA software. We receive the data to do this in a variety of forms, from hand sketched designs; customer supplied chassis/original fuel tanks through to fully dimensioned drawings or CAD models. The level of design we do then varies with what the customer provides.
What current project are you working on?
I'm currently working on a pair of sill tanks for a Ferrari 512S. This is an essential piece of equipment as the driver sits between both tanks. If those flexible tanks were not present and the driver relied on metal tanks, in a crash situation the metal could split and cover the driver in fuel. The fuel tanks I'm working on will deform in an impact keeping the fuel locked away should the chassis tear.
What is the most interesting project/piece of engineering you have been involved in?
There have been many challenging and interesting projects over the years including extra capacity tanks for a Supermarine Spitfire. But the most interesting project I've worked on is for a Porsche 997. It's the most interesting because it was also the most challenging; a clean sheet project. Almost every aspect of the assembly was different to what we had done before.
Has the engineering industry changed much since you joined?
I do think things have changed a lot, not just in motorsport engineering but in engineering as whole. One of the biggest changes can be summed up as 'responsibility'. The purpose of the designer is now not only to design a product that is fit for purpose but (due to legislation/regulations) to design parts which have less impact on the environment through their life and even at the end of their life. Green issues are no longer a fringe interest but have become mainstream government policy.
The British engineering industry has also become leaner with less waste during the production process. When I was still in college the idea of cutting down waste seemed a fresh new idea now it is very much the norm.
What are the current big issues facing your industry?
Within our field the current main issues are lightness of the material, suitability for use with biofuels and safety. We maintain a position of providing the lightest materials but without losing the strength, which has made us particularly attractive to Formula 1. This enables us to be both competitive and safe. The emerging biofuel market has provided us with a new challenge. Due to the nature of these fuels not all of the metals and fabrics we might traditionally use are suitable. We have therefore researched and then sourced materials or developed processes which allow us to provide for the bio fuel customers.
How do you see the industry changing going forward?
The biggest change and the greatest challenge from the present forward seem to be recruitment. One topic I've heard a lot about recently is that the average age of engineers is rising as less people take up engineering as a career. I think we will see more initiatives such as the Formula student, and the Bloodhound SSC educational programme in an attempt to reverse this trend.
What advice would you give to someone just entering the industry?
In this day and age where no job is likely to be for life, the two pieces of advice I would give would be to listen and to be flexible. Whilst we are equipped with a great deal of knowledge at university, it is mainly theory and hasn't been applied. Listening to your new work colleagues will enable you to apply your knowledge more effectively. Listening may also reveal areas where you can improve the projects you work on. By being flexible we can adapt to any job thus making our transition into different companies and roles easier.
|
|
| |
Author
Justin Cunningham
|
| |
| |
|
| |
This material is protected by Findlay Media copyright 2012.
See Terms and Conditions.
One-off usage is permitted but bulk copying is not.
For multiple copies contact the sales team.
|
| |
|
|
| |
To comment on news stories or blogs you need to complete our 60 second registration
process. Once completed this then allows you to download any and all white papers,
register for e-zines and access our detailed supplier directory for FREE.
If you are all ready a registered user then enter your e-mail address and login.
You will need to have logged in prior to entering your comments in the boxes provided.
|