News: Prize-winning students show their metal

Six students on the AEM Futures programme run by NAMTEC in Rotherham have become prize-winners thanks to Rotherham-based INOX Solutions.

The undergraduates, Tomas Katafiasz, Lucy Smith, Adam Jones-Bradburn, Peter Halls, Nick Carrier and Saffiya Osman, were chosen from over 20 competitors as winners of the "AEM Futures 2010 Design & Innovation" project for their unique Bespoke Barriers system.

A high-class alternative to common fabric, their innovative solution for use in bars and restaurants is set for trials across Yorkshire before going into production in early 2011.

Having been placed in a dozen different companies by skills and development organisation, AEM Futures, the student competitors were given just four weeks to identify, design and demonstrate a new application for stainless steel.

The teams then presented their ideas to INOX Solutions Managing Director, Nick Cowley, who had the difficult task of choosing one winning group.

"The standards were extremely high," said Nick, "and the level of research and presentation were very impressive. We liked the simplicity of the Bespoke Barrier idea and the details that the group had gone into to prove there was a market for it."

With prototyping and product development already underway, the new designs will be manufactured by INOX Solutions, who currently supply the infrastructure, medical, security and petro-chemical sectors.

To celebrate their success the group were invited to a prestigious awards evening hosted by the Sheffield Metallurgical and Engineering Association and Special Metals Forum at the Cutlers Hall, Sheffield. Dr. Alan Partridge, Chief Executive Officer of NAMTEC, the National Metals Technology Centre, presented the awards and congratulated the group on their exceptional efforts.

Dr Partridge said: "The team deserve all the plaudits. They are a great example of the innovation and skill of young people entering our industry. Our remit is to help businesses invest in new talent to ensure we remain competitive in world markets, and this is a great way of showing what can be achieved. The team have a bright future."

Inox Solutions website
AEM Futures website

Images: aemfutures.com