03 Dec 2018

2018 AEMT Awards Winners Announced

The Winners of the 2018 AEMT Awards were announced during a Gala Presentation Ceremony in Coventry on Thursday 29th November. Attended by over 180 people from across the electrical and mechanical trades arena, the evening once again proved to be a wonderful evening of reward and celebration. In just its second outing, having only been launched in 2017, this year’s awards programme attracted even more entries across the seven categories, all of which were deemed by the independent judging panel to be of the highest quality.

The Judging Session was held at Loughborough University on Friday 5th October, whereby comprehensive assessment protocols and a supporting points scoring system were employed to determine the 34 Finalists.  This process also identified the category Winners, although this information was of course kept under wraps until being revealed by the category sponsors during the charged atmosphere of the Gala Awards Ceremony. 

The 2018 AEMT Awards Winners are as follows: -

PRODUCT OF THE YEAR
Sponsored by PLANT & WORKS ENGINEERING
Byworth Boilers - Unity

Byworth Boilers is a leading British manufacturer of industrial steam and hot water boilers. Its products offer best in class efficiencies across a diverse range of energy sources, including waste heat. Providing industrial heating solutions for 50 years, the company continues to invest heavily in R&D, targeting reduced customer operating costs and enhanced user experience. In 2016, Byworth achieved the prestigious Queens Award for Enterprise in Innovation. The accolade was in recognition of their boiler control system, Unity. The system employs the Internet of Things and advanced data analytics to systematically change boiler-related operations and services.

PROJECT OF THE YEAR
Sponsored by EMIR SOFTWARE
Central Group - Alton Towers Waterpark

As part of a wider project at Alton Towers Waterpark, Central Group worked with Centrica Business Solutions to review the 24 pumps required to operate the waterpark.  Solutions were provided to reduce energy consumption and improve efficiency, leading to additional work being undertaken on the waterpark’s Master Blaster ride.  Central provided solutions for a total of 47 pumps throughout the complex as well as the ride, which also benefitted from a reduction in operational wear and tear.

SERVICE CENTRE OF THE YEAR
Sponsored by ABB
Westin Drives

After a circa £1,000,000 investment in the facilities, incorporating a 20 Tonne lifting capacity, state of the art CNC machinery, and a technical training room, Westin Drives now provides its customers with a broad range of services, all from its Huddersfield based service centre. Westin Drives is set-up well for the future of its industry; it is investing in recruiting and training apprentices, as it sees this as a vital requirement in filling the skills gap the industry is experiencing.

SUPPLIER OF THE YEAR
Sponsored by MUSK PROCESS SERVICES
Wire Electric Supplies

Founded in 1990 as Wire Electric Supplies, WES is one of the UK's foremost suppliers of electrical insulations and conductors. In 2008 WES founded its Covered Conductors Division, manufacturing covered conductors used in large motors, generators, transformers. WES is still the only company in the UK and Europe that can and will manufacture covered conductors within 24-hours and yet still offers unrivalled customer service, quality and price.

CONTRIBUTION TO SKILLS & TRAINING
Sponsored by SULZER
The Faraday Centre

The general ethos of The Faraday Centre is to save lives and avoid accidents by training clients in the correct application of electrical safety rules and procedures. This is achieved by utilising classroom-based presentations and practical hands-on training on operational switchgear, motors and transformers, ranging from 230 volts to 33,000 volts. This training is delivered by their lecturers who are qualified electrical engineers, with many years industrial experience from a range of industries.

RISING STAR AWARD
Sponsored by FANUC UK
Ryan Meierhofer, Apprentice Mechanical Engineer - Musk Process Services

Ryan is in the third year of a mechanical apprenticeship and has been employed in Asset Care teams in the food and chemical sector. He is adept at finding developing-failures and understands the importance of reporting and dealing with faults to ensure no production is lost. Ryan loves engineering and has the ability to spot improvement opportunities and do something about them. He tactfully challenges the ‘norm’ when he sees a better way.

LIFETIME CONTRIBUTION AWARD
Sponsored by AEMT
Andrew Savage, Managing Director - Mid Kent Electrical Engineering Group

Andrew was presented with this prestigious award for his unwavering support of both the electrical and mechanical trades sector and the Association which supports it, throughout the entirety of his long and illustrious career. 

Commenting on the awards dinner, Thomas Marks, Secretariat at the AEMT said, “We were delighted with the entire event from state to finish. The venue, food and drink were all excellent, the entertainment was fantastic, but for me, just seeing so many people from across our sector coming together to recognise and celebrate the excellent work which it collectively carries out every day, is gratification enough.  My congratulations go to each of the Finalists and Winners.”