A Huddersfield University graduate is playing a key role in a Government-backed project to ensure that a West Yorkshire company stays at the cutting edge of specialist engineering and expands its order book.
Wakefield-based Stelram Engineering Ltd designs and manufactures bespoke machinery for production lines.
It has provided highly-specialised equipment and automated systems for a wide range of companies in sectors that include car manufacture, food and drink production and consumer goods.
To increase its capacity, it has embarked on strategies to increase standardisation and “mass customisation” so that designers working on bespoke projects will utilise standard components and designs as far as possible.
The firm has embarked on a Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) with the university.
Gareth Eyre, who graduated in 2013 with First Class Honours in motorsport technology, has been appointed KTP associate.
He is supervised by Dr Simon Barrans, reader in turbocharger engineering at the Turbocharger Research Institute, based at the University.
For the next two years, until the completion of the KTP, Mr Eyre will spend most of his time at Stelram, where he previously worked for a short spell as a designer. Part of his task will be to help compile “The Stelram Bible” which will include a procedure system and repository of standard components for designers to use in their bespoke projects.
Dr Barrans, the KTP supervisor, said Mr Eyre was an ideal choice for the project. In addition to his degree, he has considerable practical experience working for engineering companies on the shop floor and in design departments.
Mr Eyre is also undertaking postgraduate study leading to a Master’s degree in mechanical engineering.
The KTP also draws on the expertise of Dr Iain Reid, a senior lecturer in operations management at the university. A qualified engineer, Dr Reid has also researched and written on the subject of “agile manufacturing”, which demonstrates how companies can become more robust .
