Gearing specialist Harmonic Drive UK is calling for universities and academic partners as part of a concerted effort to tackle the graduate skills shortage. One of the recommendations from Lord Perkins’ review of engineering skills urges collaboration between the Government, employers and academics. It explains that, “engineering employers should encourage their staff to share their skills and knowledge.” Harmonic Drive is inviting interested parties to contact gail.softley@harmonicdrive.co.uk.
The use of high precision gears is often critical in robotics, aeronautics and aerospace applications. Here, lightweight and compact gears, featuring zero backlash and high reduction ratios, improve the efficiency and cost effectiveness of development. However, teaching it is not always mandatory on relevant degree syllabuses.
For instance, The Guardian recently highlighted the importance of gearing in the field of robotics, featuring comment from Graham Mackrell, managing director of Harmonic Drive UK. The industry has already taken the manufacturing world by storm and is now diversifying for future use in public and home applications.
“The most direct way of addressing this issue is by directly talking to and informing young people face-to-face,” explained Graham Mackrell, managing director of Harmonic Drive UK. “To make sure that the engineers of tomorrow are equipped with the knowledge and expertise required to face these new challenges, we’re currently developing material to be delivered during a series of guest lectures and campus visits.
“If any universities, lecturers or organisers are interested in enhancing the delivery of their course modules with the latest developments in the robotics, aeronautics or aerospace industry, we urge them to get in touch.”
Harmonic Drive specialises in high precision gears and servo actuators for mission critical industries including offshore oil and gas, aerospace, defence, industrial automation and defence applications. Exhibiting at regular events such as Manufacturing & Engineering Northeast in the summer and Coventry’s Engineering Design Show in the autumn, Harmonic Drive continues to drive innovation in the sector.
