Over the summer, C-Tech had the pleasure of having Alex McGivern, a second-year Mechanical Engineering student from The University of Auckland, and Lochy Naismith a third-year Mechanical Engineering student at the same university, join the team as interns.
Alex has a passion for cars and motorsports and was interested in the composite industry through his involvement with the UOA Formula SAE team. Meanwhile, Lochy is an avid kite foiler who wanted to learn about the production process behind the equipment he uses. Alex chose C-Tech for his internship as he wanted to gain experience in engineering for the composite industry and it was a bonus to be able to work with products, he was personally interested in. During his time here, he manufactured a variety of composite parts, with the Moth main foils and rudders being a particular highlight.
He was overly impressed with the culture at C-Tech, describing it as "As good as it gets!"
Alex found everyone extremely friendly and helpful, and he was fortunate to work in an environment where colleagues were always eager to teach him something new.
Lochy’s few months interning with C-Tech, have allowed him to work on a variety of projects and responsibilities, starting with the manufacture of plate battens and mast tracks and eventually moving on to assisting in the manufacture and assembly of a head holding device for a CT scan. He also took charge of manufacturing small components for the AC40s, which was a highlight. Through his work, Lochy developed his skills in laminating complex molds, producing high-quality products. He found the culture at C-Tech to be close-knit and welcoming, with an emphasis on productivity & high-quality results.
One of Alex’s significant projects was to develop a process that generates cut files for tube laminates automatically at the design stage, increasing manufacturing efficiency and time. He enjoyed the collaboration that took place among the team members to complete this project, and enjoyed the challenge of managing hi sown time to get a project completed on time from start to finish.
C-Tech is known for producing high-quality carbon fiber products and fostering a culture of collaboration and productivity, making it a great place for staff to learn and grow. As Alex heads back to university to complete Part 2 in Mechanical Engineering, he will be applying what he learned at C-Tech to the manufacture of the Formula SAE team's Composite Aerodynamics package. Similarly, Lochy can take pride in the skills and experience he gained during his time with C-Tech as he looks forward to the coming year of kite foiling events.
Overall, both Alex and Lochy's time at C-Tech was a success. They gained valuable industry experience, learned new skills, and enjoyed working with a great team. C-Tech wishes them all the best in their future endeavors.
