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Mech-Tool plays host to Darlington students

On Wednesday 23 November 2011, Mech-Tool Engineering Ltd in Darlington kindly hosted 10 students from Queen Elizabeth Sixth Form College and a similar number from St Aidan’s Academy.  The students were able to visit both sites, the factory in Dodsworth Street, to see the products being manufactured and then on to the Head Office in Whessoe Road.  The groups were met at the factory by Kevin Harland and George Hodgson and saw the factory in action.  Students saw the fabrication of the fire and blast protection products and the new press that Mech–Tool has recently invested heavily in.  Students were then given the opportunity to talk to employees who were on apprenticeships at Mech–Tool or were graduate engineers, and the students were able to ask about their career paths and find out more about engineering as a career.

Then travelling on to the Head Office of Mech–Tool in Whessoe Road, the groups met Ron Davison and Jonathan Harris.  They provided the students with an inspirational presentation on the engineering principles used in the design and manufacture of the wide range of products Mech-Tool produce.  They also demonstrated the software “Autodesk Inventor” which they use to create 3-D images of the products they design.  Ron and Jonathan’s enthusiasm for engineering as a career was very apparent and students left Mech-Tool knowing they were entering a career with excellent prospects.

Student, Dan McGee found the visit extremely informative and commented;“The visit to Mech-Tool was incredibly interesting.  I gained a better insight into both the planning side and the fabrication side of engineering, and learned a great deal more about mechanical engineering.  My favourite part of the tour was learning about how they build blast walls that are able to withstand great shocks and heat and the new ideas that both engineers and fabricators have to come up with to deal with these problems.”

These tours are part of a wider programme currently being developed to encourage greater collaboration and understanding between local employers and educational institutions; to raise the aspirations of young people and also provide a better understanding of local employment opportunities.

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