Engineering a change in attitudes

Renishaw, one of the world’s leading engineering companies, is giving its full backing to a new educational initiative that is running as part of MACH 2010, the UK’s largest exhibition for manufacturing technologies. The Gloucestershire-based company will be supplying apprentices to act as tour guides for groups of potential young engineers, and is also transporting some forty pupils and teachers from three of its local schools to visit the show.

Organisers of the MACH exhibition, the Manufacturing Technologies Association (MTA) have created a unique Education & Training Zone at the heart of the exhibition, which takes place from 7th to 11th June at the NEC, Birmingham. It will bring together teachers, students and engineering businesses, with the MTA aiming “to inspire, prepare and motivate the next generation of British engineers through a rewarding experience.”

Latest engineering technologies

Chris Pockett, Renishaw’s spokesman (pictured right) said, “It’s a great initiative and one that we are very happy to support. Young people will be able to see the latest high-tech engineering technologies on show, from sophisticated CAD/CAM software and high speed machine tools, through to the latest generation measurement products. In the past exhibition organisers have shied away from encouraging students to trade exhibitions, as they are seen by many as an unnecessary distraction, yet the engineering sector often complains about a skills shortage!”

On each day of the exhibition, students and their teachers will be able to view inspiring attractions, including the BLOODHOUND Supersonic Car, the British Gliding Association’s virtual reality demonstrator, and the Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre’s highly impressive MANTRA vehicle (MANufacturing TRAnsporter). The latter is expected to wow young visitors, which includes a virtual reality system which allows engineers to ‘walk inside’ assemblies to see potential design limitations, or for repair and maintenance training – a world away from the general ‘old-world industrial’ image of engineering and manufacturing depicted by much of the national media.

Ambassador apprentices

A key aspect of student visits will be tours of the halls, which each day will be hosted by five apprentices from Renishaw, who are all at different stages of their four-year apprenticeship programme with the company. The tours will visit a range of exhibitor stands, where students will learn about key aspects of the modern production process from design and machining through to final part inspection.

Continued Mr Pockett, “Together with the MTA, we are very keen to put the record straight about the attractive employment opportunities available within manufacturing and we see our young apprentices as great ambassadors to relay a positive story, plus of course they are close in age to the visiting students.”

Find out more information about Renishaw's exhibits at MACH 2010.