Spalding manufacturer helps inspire future engineers

Guttridge, which makes bulk materials handling equipment, offered students the chance to take part in the Engineering Education Scheme, an Engineering Development Trust initiative linking engineering companies with youngsters from local schools. The scheme enables students to work on live projects relevant to the company, developing skills for future education and employment. As part of the project, the company briefed the students to design and construct a device to measure wall friction angle, a parameter used to ascertain material flow across a metallic or coated surface. Measuring wall friction angles helps Guttridge's engineers to choose the best construction material for each job and to develop the optimum design specification. The students focused on substances with a particle size greater than 2mm, such as grain and bird seed, and their interaction with the mild, stainless and galvanised steel typically used for bulk handling machinery. Using facilities at Loughborough University to run tests with calibrated weights and scales, and with the help of a mentoring engineer from Guttridge, the students were able to produce useful and relevant information as well as enjoying a very worthwhile experience. Simon Hooper, engineering manager at Guttridge, said, "The Engineering Education Scheme is a brilliant programme that gives students the opportunity to gain work experience and a valuable insight into the engineering industry." Pictured: Boston Grammar School's four students display the results of their project at Guttridge's Spalding factory