The seminar forms part of the instruction that Hydro Aluminium Extrusion UK is giving to students who are undertaking the Product Design Practise Module.

The product design option is based on the “Power of Aluminium” competition which is organised by Alfed (Aluminium Federation), the body which represents the aluminium industry in the UK.  

Will Savage, Chief Executive of Alfed explains "the Power of Aluminium is an initiative to raise awareness and understanding in our designers of the future, of the benefits and possibilities of design using aluminium extruded sections."

The programme incorporated wide-ranging subjects: from the production of aluminium, aluminium property and uses to applications and design principles as well as samples to illustrate some of the principles explored during the lecture.

One of the highlights of the talk was the demonstration of the extrusion process using "Play Doh" mini-fun factories which allowed the students to explore the principles of extrusion themselves in a practical and effective way.

Broad base
The content was designed specifically to give the students a broad base of knowledge in order to complete their product design brief. The main criteria are novel design based on use of extrusion, elegance or simplicity in re-designing a product by incorporating extrusions and technical and commercial viability.

The extrusion process was comprehensively demonstrated the following week when students were given the opportunity to visit Hydro's extrusion plant in Birtley, including the thermal break facility.

Glenn McCrickerd, who is business development manager for Hydro's extrusion unit in the UK, says "we wanted to promote the opportunities that aluminium can offer as a material to the next generation of product designers and engineers, as well as supporting our designers and engineers of the future."

He adds that the company will offer ongoing assistance to the students in the form of mentoring sessions throughout the year, giving them the opportunity to discuss personally with Hydro's key technical personnel any challenges that they may face during their project.

Senior lecturer Chris Connor at Northumbria University says that "upon completion of this module our students will be able to satisfactorily demonstrate an ability to plan and implement a design strategy from a brief set by aluminium industry professionals.  The experience that they will have gained during this project will equip them with the knowledge and skills that they will need in their future careers."

Visit www.alfed.org.uk for further information on the Power of Aluminium.