Competition showcases sheet metal skills

A Metalforming Machinery Makers Association product story

Edited by the Engineeringtalk editorial team Oct 28, 2005

The Metalforming Machinery Makers' Association has confirmed its continued support of the Institute of Sheet Metal Engineering Sheet Metal Skills Competition in 2006.

The Metalforming Machinery Makers' Association (MMMA) has confirmed its continued support of the ISME (Institute of Sheet Metal Engineering) Sheet Metal Skills Competition in 2006.

The MMMA support is given through the presentation of the MMMA Trophy, awarded for the Open Class entry that best demonstrates the use of metalforming machinery in the manufacture of the entrants component.

The Open Class is for competitors of all ages, with no restriction on the size or design of the work piece or on the materials used, the only stipulation being that the piece uses sheet metal as the principal material.

The competition, in association with Jaguar Cars , is primarily for young apprentices, engineers and artisans from the sheet metal industry to measure their skills against others in the industry.

There are two classes of entry, the Open Class and the Test Piece Class, where a piece stipulated by ISME is judged on dimensional accuracy, finish, quality of workmanship, suitability of seams and joints submitted with a written account of the work involved.

In 2005 the MMMA Trophy winner was 18 year old Jamie Adamson, a second year metalworking apprentice at BAE Systems in Brough, Yorkshire who produced a Hawk jacket pipe fitting.

As over the last few years the awards will take place at the Jaguar production plant at Castle Bromwich in the West Midlands during June 2006.

To give added enhancement to the 2006 competition, colour posters are being produced, which can be displayed on college, training establishment and company notice boards.

MMMA Chairman, Mike Hall said: "We are more than pleased to continue supporting ISME in their search for manufacturing excellence in the sheet metal industry".

"Last year this competition produced a Test Piece by a teenager that one of the judges, an engineer with many years experience in the sheet metal industry, said that it was so good, that he could not find any fault with it".

"Comparing the drawing and the test piece produced, the dimensions and details were 100% accurate and the finish was of the highest quality".

"This shows that we have wonderful skills in this country and we would like to see more colleges, training establishments and importantly companies entering their apprentices and young employees for this competition".

"Those that do always tell us it helps with the on going training of their apprentices and young engineers".

"I am always amazed to see the wide range of pieces produced and the skills used to make them".

"It comes as an excellent tonic every year to find we still have many skills in our manufacturing industries".

"Last year I was a judge and I would say it definitely was a pleasure to judge such skills and quality workmanship".