Prizewinning design to be manufactured by Shropshire firm

Posted 13 June 2024

An innovative concrete trough design for a Shropshire firm has helped a Harper Adams Engineering student secure a £1,000 prize.

Fourth year MEng Mechanical Engineering student, Will Creed, from Cheshire, was picked as the winning student in a new product competition launched by Elite Precast Concrete, based in Telford.

The newly-established competition included staff from Elite Precast visiting Harper Adams to explain the competition, with Business Development Director Paul Cartwright and Business Development Manager Louise Chouhan-Hodges discussing the company’s current product profile, the manufacturing and quality processes of its concrete products, and the requirements of any new product design.

During the one-day event which included their visit, students were challenged to design a concrete water trough that could be manufactured in Telford commercially.

Harper Adams academics from both the Engineering and Agriculture and Environment departments discussed the brief with students – with Senior Lecturer in Animal Science Dr Emma Bleach talking about the importance of water for livestock and the issues farmers face, and Engineering Lecturer Sarah Pickthall discussing concrete and its manufacturing capabilities.

Several students decided to take on the challenge, and were then invited to visit Elite’s three manufacturing units in Telford to see for themselves the machinery and processes that ensure the quality and durability of the company’s walling, drainage and security products.  During their visit, the students were able to watch the company manufacture concrete blocks which will be used in the Paris Olympics.

Each then went away to work on their designs – with Will’s trough being selected as the winning entry. He returned to the company’s offices to pick up £1,000 prize this month – and will also have the chance to have his entry produced and marketed the company.

Business Development Director Paul Cartwright said: “Working with Harper Adams has been fantastic. Will has taken on the challenge of looking at concrete agri-products and designed a something that takes account of our production techniques, along with customer needs. We are looking forward to making and marketing his designs soon.”

And Will added: “I am truly pleased and honoured to have won Elite's design competition. Participating in this challenge was a great experience, and it is immensely satisfying to see Elite recognise the potential of my design and take it forward into production.

“Many thanks again to Elite for running the competition and providing the opportunity for all of us to engage and compete in some real engineering!”