MTA TDI Awards Success
Published : July 21, 2009
The winners of the MTA’s TDI Awards have been revealed following the finals which took place on Wednesday at Yamazaki Mazak in Worcester. The annual competition organised by the Manufacturing Technologies Association aims to promote careers in engineering to school pupils by rewarding excellence in innovative GCSE and A level design and technology coursework projects.
Once again entrants for the competition were of exceptional quality and finalists ranged from a chair made from sustainable materials to a cycle water bottle, sports MP3 player and a garden watering device. The judges met contestants, discussed their projects and deliberated before deciding on the best three entries in the 15-16 age group and 17-19 age group.
The winners are:
15-16 age group
- 1st – Emma Elliott (Balcarras School, Gloucs), Eco-Grow
An innovative product which will water your garden whilst you are away – no electrics required – just a plastic milk bottle! - 2nd – Natasha Morgan (Royal Grammar School, Worcester), The Morgan Organ
A learning aid for children with disabilities using sight and sound. - 3rd – Sam Brogan (Uppingham Community College, Rutland), Sports Bottle (Cycle) A streamlined, lightweight and aerodynamic water bottle designed for serious racing cyclists.
17-19 Age Group
- 1st – Matthew Lawrence (Royal Grammar School, Worcester), Boat-Up
A specialist lifting device to help rowers to manouvre heavy boats into storage racks. - 2nd – Geoff Baldwin (Simon Langton Grammar School for Boys, Kent), Arc Shelf
A freestanding shelving unit working on a suspension system. - 3rd – Adam Heynes (Royal Grammar School, Worcester), Beating The Gun
A set of sprint running starting blocks designed to help train athletes to improve the time it takes them to leave the blocks.
TDI Judge and MTA President Bob Hunt said “Congratulations must go to all the students who took part in the Awards this year. The standard of their work was of the highest level and showed fantastic amounts of innovation, indicating a bright future for engineering in the UK. We were particularly impressed that all the students were looking at the green impact of their products and their effect on global emissions.”
Every school with a student making it to the finals was awarded a year’s free access to SolidWorks computer-aided design software to help with their future design projects.
