New equipment for Harper engineers

Posted 4 March 2011

Engineering students at Harper Adams  University College now have access to modern welding equipment to aid their studies thanks to support from a local company.

In exchange for the old Mig Tig, manual metal arc welding sets and plasma cutters, the University College has received brand new machines, in line with those used in agricultural equipment manufacturing and maintenance.

These have been sponsored by Farmweld Equipment, a division of Telford Group Ltd – the leading welding equipment wholesaler in Shropshire.

Senior Lecturer in Engineering, Dave Allan, said:  “As most of our students have not come from a technical background it is essential that they develop an understanding of this technology to enable them to be more effective engineers. 

“These facilities will be used by our students to manufacture products that they have designed so that they can experience an appreciation of design for manufacture, and allows them to test and iterate their designs. 

“It is fantastic that a local company has recognised the work that we do here and shown their support in this way. The equipment supplied ensures that students are working with the latest technology and is an enhancement to the excellent facilities that we have here for engineers.”

Courses at the University College that will be using the new equipment include Off Road Vehicle Design and Agricultural Engineering.

Steve Woodhouse, Managing Director of Telford Group Ltd, hopes to encourage more young people to choose a career in engineering.

He said: “The demands within the industry for higher quality welding and the formal qualification of welding personnel, is driving the investment in state-of-the-art equipment to achieve the standard required, and to improve productivity needed to be competitive.

“We have our own welding school in Telford and are committed to supporting training in the welding industry and to re-establish the status of a formally qualified welder as the highly respected skill it deserves.

“Telford Group Ltd hopes that our continued association with Harper Adams University College and other training establishments will encourage more young people to consider a career in engineering to fill the current skill shortage in the industry.”