News from our apprentice – blog 9

Since my last blog I’ve been gaining more experience using the slitting and die-cutting equipment. This included spending three weeks working with one of our machine operators, Rickie on the Croslands, our 30 and 40 tonne clam press equipment. I learnt how to set the depth and run the equipment. There’s definitely an art to using the Croslands; you need practice to get things like kiss cuts right. I enjoyed working with it though as it’s constantly moving, you’re always doing something with it. I also spent some time working with the guillotines, which required a lot less experience to use, however experience of the materials certainly helps when setting up the equipment.

Working with the machinery has also given me the opportunity to get to know more people, as I’ve been working more closely with them. Working with Rickie was nice; it was great to learn from his experience.

Following this, I spent two weeks working with flat-bed die-cutters, on some quite challenging jobs, which I learnt a lot from. I’ve also continued doing some sampling for R&D, including producing some rapid prototypes on our plotter.

My BTEC and NVQ work is going well too; I have nearly finished college for the year, having finished my Mechanical, Electrical and Maths modules already. I have also completed three units of my level 2 NVQ, with just two left to do. I’ll begin level 3 once these are finished.

Outside of the Production Department I continued to work on the planning for our visit to the Big Bang Fair. We needed to come up with something engaging and interactive for our stand that would increase children’s enthusiasm for Engineering subjects. We put together some exciting challenges for the 6,500 9-19 year olds attending, to demonstrate the strength of adhesive tape, as well as the other functions they can provide.

I also attended a Business Breakfast at the school I used to attend; it was good to go back and visit some of my teachers.